Chapter 57: Almost Caught
(First PoV)
"Nee-san, I am moving out."
Karin arrived in the evening, her shadow clones carrying a lot of bags. And even before entering home, she told me her decision.
I sighed. I have been thinking that she has been wanting to say something to me for some days. So that was it huh.
I need to somehow convince her to stay. Otherwise, Zetsu might approach us. Afterall, Karin can sense malicious chakra. No wonder no Zetsu has been caught in my trap until now.
"Alright. Let's talk about it inside first. I have a graduation gift for you."
I turned and started heading inside.
But as Karin entered, suddenly, all the alarms started going off, and Karin was buried underground, with chakra suppression seals, 200 ton weight seals all over her, with a sleeping tag on her head.
My heart started beating fast as all the ANBUs inside the palace and Naruto appeared beside me, looking at Karin with caution.
"Shiori-chan, are you alright!? Is this an imposter?"
Why did Karin trigger the trap!?
Is Karin kidnapped and replaced by a Zetsu!?
Hiruzen arrived, and asked me, "Why did Karin trigger the trap?"
"Let me see... Hey Tenzo, use Wood Release to bind her. And remove the sleeping tag."
Maybe she is just angry at me for some reason? But... if it is Zetsu, it must react to Wood Release.
Kinoe did as I told him, and captured her with Wood Release.
Nothing unusual happened.
So it isn't a Zetsu huh?
After the sleeping tag was removed, Karin woke up.
"Huh? What happened?"
Karin seemed to be confused.
And, she wasn't triggering the dark intent barrier that I have created from Nue.
"Karin, what is the last thing that you remember?"
Hiruzen asked.
"Umm, I was in the mall, then I felt someone staring at me... then... I don't know..."
Hiruzen became serious.
"Someone put Karin under genjutsu, without any ANBU guards noticing...
Itachi? Izumi? Or Kakashi testing Naruto?"
I made this conclusion, intentionally saying Itachi.
And, as expected, Nue's barrier got triggered again. Another set of trap captured Karin and put her in sleep.
This brings three suspects.
Orochimaru, Izumi if she is alive, and Obito.
Orochimaru wouldn't be able to control his negativity towards the mention of Itachi. A lot of time has passed, so I don't know Izumi's feelings towards Itachi if she is still alive.
And Obito is a fool, with poor emotional intelligence. Though the possibility of him having negative emotions on the mention of Itachi is doubtful, mentioning Kakashi would surely trigger something.
The person in front of me is undoubtedly Karin. If she was a Zetsu, the trap would have worked immediately as soon as she woke up. And she wasn't stopped by the barriers which checked her chakra signature.
"Old man, let Inochi-san enter her mindscape and find out about who put Karin under a genjutsu."
"Hmm."
Hiruzen nodded, and an ANBU outside went away to bring Inochi.
"Kakashi didn't do it. It should be either Itachi, or Izumi."
Hiruzen said, and looked at Naruto.
I also looked at him, and his eyes were crimson with a slit. And his whiskers were more pronounced.
I gently patter him.
"Naruto, calm down."
"Yeah Shiori-chan."
He returned to normal, and I sighed in relief.
So the seal has started weakening huh. I guess I will have to talk to Kurama soon.
Inochi hurriedly arrived, and put his hand on Karin's head.
We all watched in silence.
Inochi frowned.
"She was angry at Karin and Naruto, for being, *cough*, too chummy without caring that she is in front of them.
She did sense some unknown chakra in the mall, but it was of a bird.
Aside from it, there is nothing unusual. Then she watched a movie, did some shopping, and returned.
And she told Shiori that she wants to move out. I didn't find anything unusual."
I frowned. Perhaps genjutsu was used to alter her memories about her finding the unknown chakra?
"What was the bird?"
Hiruzen asked.
"A crow."
The silence became chilly.
Itachi?
Why would he do it?
I don't think he will.
Oh. Orochimaru must be framing Itachi, and Akatsuki in general. Afterall, Akatsuki is after Orochimaru.
"Naruto, Shiori. I will take Karin to my office-"
"No. Increase the security, but Karin will stay here."
I said resolutely.
Perhaps, after obtaining the body of an Uchiha, he wants an Uzumaki? And he wants to create a misunderstanding between us, so that Karin will be affected more by Curse Mark?
I must make sure that the misunderstanding is resolved properly.
"Alright. But I will send Kakashi over."
Hiruzen relented, but decided to send Kakashi.
"That will be good. And please have a Hyuga check for any residual chakra in Karin."
"It is already done."
Oh? So a Hyuga is an ANBU here?
Well, it makes sense.
"Yo. I guess I will be living with you guys for a while."
After a while, Kakashi arrived.
"Then Kakashi, I will leave the protection of these kids to you."
Hiruzen said, and the ANBU removed the traps and seals on Karin.
"Huh? What happened!?"
"Someone attacked you with a genjutsu, Karin."
"Really!?"
"Yes. So, atleast until you learn to be able to counter genjutsu, I oppose you from living outside the palace."
"...Alright."
This time, no traps were trigger. I guess Karin is safe for now.
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(3rd PoV)
In an underground lab in Otogakure, Izumi's eyes narrowed.
"You failed huh?"
"Shut up Orochimaru."
While Izumi was disappointed to be discovered so easily, and having her clone to flee after getting captured once, she gained many things.
Karin's memories. Full of fuinjutsu with a new script. And the information that there is an artificial tailed beast, that is still worked on, in the depths of that palace.
She has found a weapon that can be used for her goal.
But it seems that Shiori has hidden quite a lot of things from Karin.
Shiori is too cautious for someone her age. Izumi couldn't believe that she almost got caught. If Inochi has checked Karin's mind when she was asleep the first time, she would have been caught.