Journey back to the Capital

As we were travelling at a slow pace, Karin lost her shyness bit by bit. She usually wouldn't stutter anymore, but was still a very quiet child.

We travelled by foot for a few hours per day, after that I'd hunt some animals or fish for her to eat, and then made her do a small amount of physical exercise. She was too skinny to do anything really demanding, but running for a bit, plus some push- and sit-ups were fine for now.

The first day she was travelling with me, she woke up a few times during the night and noticed that I wasn't sleeping, but just sitting with my eyes closed, so she asked: "Akio, what are you doing?"

"I am meditating. I don't need much sleep but it helps in keeping my mind sharp and clear, it also brings other benefits as well."

She didn't say much more after that, but the next day she asked me how to meditate, so I explained it to her.

I had her do normal meditation, while focusing on her breath, and since then she had been doing it for about half an hour everyday.

In the late afternoon, I'd fly with her for an hour or two, so that the journey doesn't take too long.

Sometimes she would ask questions and I'd answer, other times it would just be quiet. One time however I asked her a question for once: "Karin, how much do you know of the Uzumaki Clan and it's history?"

"Mhm not much, my mom told me that the Uzumaki were really strong and had special talents in sealing, but the other villages were intimidated by them, and eventually banded together to destroy the home of the Uzumaki."

I was glad that she at least knew some of the history of the Uzumaki and started to explain a few more general things about them to her.

"I see that you have some knowledge and what you said was right, but you don't know many details. The Uzumaki were not only feared because of their ability in the sealing arts. They had extreme talent in it, and with their large chakra reserves and skills in it could even use it during combat.

They also had multiple kekkei genkai, like you for example. You have the ability to heal with bites, but you also have what is called the Minds Eye of the Kagura. This allowed the Uzumaki to sense their environment and other peoples emotions like you.

That is not all however, they also had something called the Adamantine Sealing Chains. They were chakra chains that could not only be used to seal peoples chakra, but also to write seals in the air during combat without hand signs."

She processed everything I told her rather quickly and a few seconds later had little sparkles in her eyes. "So they were very very strong?" she asked to which I replied with a nod.

"Then I will also become so strong that the other villages fear me!" she said with conviction.

I smiled saying: "That is a good to hear, make sure you work hard."

Eventually we arrived at the capital of the Land of Fire and strolled around the city for a while. Karin was observing everything, and got a little happy when she noticed that she wouldn't need to feel the constant scorn other people had for her like in Kusagakure.

We did get quite a few peculiar looks, seeing as a well dressed small boy with white skin and hair was walking with an even smaller poor looking girl with red hair. Eventually we got to a store selling clothes that also had small children sizes and bought some for her.

I got her some everyday clothes she could wear, as well as ones she could work out in, some sandals, a warm coat and we were good to go. She was on the verge of tears as I bought the stuff for her, but after collecting herself she had a beaming smile on her face.

When I got her some meat skewers she got curious and asked: "Akio, why did I never see you eat anything?"

I thought about what to tell her and said: "I told you how your clan, the Uzumaki, had special abilities yes? Well my clan also has some, and one of the side effects is that I have no need for food."

She nodded and and replied: "So what is the name of your clan? Are they also strong and famous?"

"The name shouldn't concern you for now, but yes they are strong. Stronger than any other, but only very few people have ever heard of them."

She accepted my answer and didn't ask any more questions, eventually I got us a hotel room.

During our little journey I had realised that I really needed the Shadow Clone Technique, now more than ever, so I devised a plan to just cause chaos in Konoha and grab what I needed then.

I naturally couldn't take Karin with me, so I explained to her that I would be gone for 2-3 days. She worriedly looked at me and asked: "A-are you s-sure you're coming b-back?"

'It seems she has gotten attached a bit, well better for me anyway.'

"Yes, I am coming back, but you're not strong enough to come with me." I said, hoping to make her motivated to train hard even more.

Karin had obviously already unlocked her chakra, so I left a rock clone with her to keep her company. Even if the clone were to run out of chakra while I was gone, which was unlikely, it could absorb chakra back from her.

The next day I left the slightly depressed Karin back in the hotel. She could explore the city with the clone for a bit while I was gone, so I wasn't worried about how she'd spend her time without me.