บท 63: Kid, How About Calling Me Dad

"Uncle, can you let me out?" Karin's small face was full of worry. She was currently in the basement of Kusagakure, being watched over by a Kusagakure genin.

"Shut up, brat!" the Kusagakure genin glared at Karin, his expression uneasy. "You want to get out? I want to get out too!"

The problem was, they couldn't. The genin had no idea what had just happened. All he heard was a deafening roar, and then it felt like the entire basement was about to collapse. The walls were covered in cracks, dust, and debris, making it seem like it could cave in any second.

When the noise finally stopped, the genin tried to see what was going on, only to find the basement entrance blocked. He cursed under his breath, "Damn it... Could the building have collapsed and sealed the entrance?"

That would be disastrous! His mission was to keep Uzumaki's daughter under control. He was supposed to bring the red-haired brat to him if the leader needed her. But now, even if the leader needed her, he couldn't take her out. He couldn't even get out himself!

Feeling pain in his hand, he looked down to see it cut by some debris. "Hey, kid! Come here!" he said, eyes narrowing maliciously.

"Uncle, are you taking me out?" Karin asked hopefully, worried about her mother. She didn't know what had happened to her mother and just hoped she was safe.

"Stop talking and come here!" the genin grabbed Karin's hand, ripping her sleeve off. Under Karin's terrified gaze, he bit down hard on her arm, breaking the skin.

"Ah!! It hurts!!" Karin cried.

After a few sucks, the genin released her, savoring the special blood of the Uzumaki clan. He looked at his hand, seeing the cut already healed. "Amazing," he said, pushing Karin away, making her stumble and fall. "Get lost, you freak! Your blood is the only useful thing about you!"

Suddenly, more debris and dust fell from above. But this time, it seemed like someone was digging. The genin was ecstatic and shouted, "Someone's here! Help me out! There's not much air left down here!"

As he shouted, a large hole opened above him. But before he could celebrate a huge hand reached down, grabbing him tightly. "Wait! No!" he tried to escape, but it was futile. The hand pulled him out.

He should have been happy to be rescued, but seeing the giant, he was terrified. "A monster! A giant!" he exclaimed.

"You Kusagakure ninjas are all disgusting," Whitebeard said, using his powerful Haki to understand what had happened in the basement. His grip tightened around the genin. "Wait, no…" the genin begged, but was cut off as his body exploded, blood splattering but not touching Whitebeard.

"Kusagakure ninja, do you have anything to say?" Whitebeard asked another trembling Anbu, who had brought him here.

"You did the right thing!" the Anbu said, sweating profusely. "Kusagakure's ninja way is twisted; they all deserve death. Except me!" he added quickly. "I can be loyal to you! Being a dog for the Whitebeard Pirates is an honor!"

He still begged for his life, not knowing what the Whitebeard Pirates were. "Please wait, I'll bring Uzumaki's daughter up!" he said, crawling into the basement.

Seeing Karin huddled in fear, tears in her eyes, he said softly, "Little one, don't be scared. The bad man is gone."

Karin, shaking, looked up. "Mama is back?" she asked, standing despite the pain in her legs. With the Anbu's help, she climbed out, only to find no sign of her mother, just a pair of giant shoes. Disappointed, she looked up, her eyes wide with shock at Whitebeard's towering figure.

"This is the one who saved you," the Anbu said.

"Did you save me?" Karin asked, her big eyes shining.

Whitebeard's huge form seemed to glow with a holy light in her eyes. "Red hair and a deep bite mark... Are you Uzumaki's daughter?" he asked, making her hopeful.

"Yes, Uzumaki Karin!" she said, thinking of her mother. "Do you know where my mom is?"

"Grandpa?" Whitebeard chuckled. "Call me dad, and I'll take you to her. How about that?" he joked.

Karin, confused but desperate, said, "Dad…"