'Where am I...?'
When Karin woke from unconsciousness, what she vaguely saw was a steel ceiling.
Well... calling it a ceiling might not be quite right, because it was far too low, more like an enlarged 'coffin'.
The moment she came to, Karin immediately remembered what she had experienced earlier.
To maintain the seal on Momoshiki, Karin had to pour a portion of her power into the chains.
As a result, after turning ninety percent of Hachinosu into debris, she simply didn't have the strength left to destroy the remaining ten percent.
The last thing Karin saw before losing consciousness was the sea surface getting closer, and the island fragments falling alongside her.
'So what happened after I passed out!?'
'And what about that Momoshiki guy!?'
The moment she thought of Momoshiki, Karin, without even observing her surroundings, instinctively tried to sit up and raise her arm with the seal.
However, the next moment, a familiar voice sounded, freezing Karin's movements.
"It's alright, Karin. I'm here."
"It looks like you've been through a tough journey."
Following the voice, Naruto's smiling face appeared beside Karin, and at the same time, a warm, large hand gently rubbed her head.
Just like when she first met Naruto.
"Naruto... san..."
When she said this, Karin herself didn't notice the slight tremor in her voice.
Although less than half a year had passed since she formally parted ways with Naruto at Sabaody Archipelago, she had already faced several life-and-death crises.
At the same time, Karin also realized that when she had sailed with Naruto before, they had always been protected.
In front of enemies and companions, she had to maintain the dignity of a captain and give her crew enough confidence.
But this also made many people forget that she was actually a girl not yet sixteen years old.
"Is the Captain awake!?"
"Captain Karin!"
Just as Karin was slightly stunned, two figures quickly rushed in from outside the door, throwing themselves directly in front of Karin.
"Thank goodness! Captain, you're finally awake, waaaah..."
Naomi hugged Karin's waist and burst into tears, while Kalifa simply covered her mouth gently, her eyes full of joy.
"I'm just glad you two are safe—"
Karin, like an older sister, instinctively imitated Naruto's way with her and gently patted Naomi's head.
Naruto, watching this scene, smiled and remarked.
"It seems you've met some pretty great companions too, Karin."
Hearing Naruto say this, Karin was momentarily stunned, then, with slightly reddened eyes, she gently nodded.
"Yes, Naruto-san."
Saying this, she lifted Naomi's head and then, as if suddenly noticing something, looked at the other's lower body.
"Naomi? Your tail?"
Hearing this, Naomi seemed to just remember something. She quickly wiped the tears and snot from her face, then stood up straight and spun around in front of Karin.
"Captain, look! I changed back!"
"Did you do this, Naruto-san?"
Karin first nodded at Naomi, then looked towards Naruto.
And Naruto didn't deny it.
"Strictly speaking, your friend didn't undergo mutation, but rather 'evolution'."
"I just gave her the ability to freely switch between the two forms."
Hearing this, Naomi also cooperatively transformed into her snake-man form.
"Captain, in this form, my strength and perception are both enhanced. I requested this from... Naruto-sama."
When mentioning Naruto's name, Naomi's voice faltered slightly.
"Speaking of which... this was also caused by me."
"I should have just killed that Orochimaru guy back then."
From the accounts of others, Naruto had also learned about Orochimaru's actions.
He could only lament that this schemer really never stopped causing trouble anywhere.
Once he finished his business here, he would have to find an opportunity to deal with the original Orochimaru back in the Ninja World as well.
…
"Ah-choo!"
Orochimaru, in the middle of a new experiment, suddenly sneezed. His assistant, Kabuto, immediately asked with concern.
"Orochimaru-sama? Are you feeling unwell? Is it the adaptability of this body—"
Orochimaru simply waved his hand, indicating it was nothing.
"After all, it's not a very strong body. Might just be a cold."
"It's fine. Is the next body ready?"
"It's ready."
The two in the underground laboratory were still unaware that an unprovoked disaster was about to befall them.
…
"Oh, right! And that Momoshiki!"
It was only at this moment that Karin snapped out of her shock at seeing Naruto, remembering the important matter. She quickly extended her other hand.
But there were no chains on it anymore… and no suddenly appearing Rinnegan or mouth either.
"Don't worry. I also extracted something from inside him. Now he doesn't have the ability to break free anymore."
Saying this, Naruto looked at Karin seriously and sincerely suggested.
"But ultimately, that guy still hasn't given up. Karin, do you need me to just—"
As he spoke, Naruto made a throat-slitting gesture.
This time had indeed been quite dangerous.
Who would have thought that Momoshiki, that persistent spirit, would, by some incredible luck, encounter Imu possessing Blackbeard's body, thereby seizing a portion of spiritual power to reshape himself.
The coincidences involved could only be described as 'incredibly fortunate'.
Of course, he still wasn't as lucky as Karin.
At the critical moment of his escape, he ran into Naruto, who had been drawn by the Otsutsuki aura. The result was being knocked back to square one.
However, faced with Naruto's proposal, Karin only hesitated for a moment before ultimately shaking her head.
"Although this guy is restless, if it weren't for him, I might have been done in by that pitch-black guy this time."
Karin shuddered slightly at the memory, but soon perked up again.
"Naruto-san, you should have some confidence in me too."
"Didn't you know? I've gotten a lot stronger. This time was just unlucky that he found a gap. Next time—"
"Next time, can you still blame it on bad luck, little girl?"
A melodious female voice came unhurriedly from outside the door.
Hearing this voice, the smile on Karin's face instantly froze.
Stussy strolled leisurely into the submarine's sickbay… more accurately, the medical room.
In her arms, she held the exquisitely beautiful little Adam, and behind her, never far away, followed S-Snake, who bore a striking resemblance to Hancock... oh, now her name was Medusa.
"You! What are you doing here!?"
Karin instinctively jumped up from the bed, but because she misjudged her strength, she smacked her head directly against the metal ceiling.
'Hiss… that looked painful!'
Watching from the side, Naomi winced and reached out to tug at Kalifa, only to notice her companion's expression was somewhat unnatural.
This was understandable.
Anyone caught between their former boss and their current boss would feel a bit awkward.
But Stussy seemed completely unconcerned, gracefully walking over to Naruto's side.
"What an unpleasant little girl. What do you mean, what am I doing here..."
"Strictly speaking, I'm the one who saved you, and your two 'companions' here."
As she spoke, Stussy placed little Adam into his father's arms, leaving father and son staring at each other wide-eyed. Then she reached out and gently poked Karin's chin.
"But I don't blame you... come, look at my son. Isn't he adorable?"
While saying this, Stussy put an arm around the stunned Karin and gently pulled her closer so she could see Adam's features clearly.
"Mine and Naruto's child."
"Huh?"
"Huh!!!????"