Konoha Notes

Chapter 117 Karin
The fact that Shuuji had returned to Konoha with his men before even visiting Kusagakure surprised Tsunade, who was busy with government affairs.

Upon hearing the report, she met with Shuji together with Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was also concerned about the matter.

"Is Sunagakure in bad shape lately?"

"Even the seals on Jinchūriki are unstable?"

These two pieces of information made Hiruzen Sarutobi fall into deep thought.

“In that case, Sunagakure becomes a dangerous force.” The Third Hokage glanced at Tsunade. “We need to keep a close eye on the Land of Rivers area during this period.”

Tsunade understood: "If Onoki goes and messes with Rasa, who knows what Sunagakure might do if they are pushed to the brink."

"Since Shuji agreed to talk after the Chunin Exams, let's talk to them then."

After reporting, Shuji's team rested briefly in the village. The next morning, they set off again for Kusagakure Village.

The last time I came to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass was during the battle with Iwagakure. At that time, due to tactical positioning issues, Shuji was unable to enter the Land of Grass, let alone have the opportunity to enter Kusagakure.

This village is much like its name suggests: a weather vane, swaying to either side in the wind.

However, being situated between major powers and constantly a battlefield for them, survival is inevitable.

Besides her flexibility, another key element is Hozuki Castle, a ninja prison belonging to Kusagakure, located on an isolated island overseas, and managed by various countries.

It is used to deal with ninjas that various villages neither want to kill nor want to keep in their villages.

The Hidden Grass Village received news of the Konoha ninja's visit early on and dispatched two Chunin to wait at the village entrance to guide them.

Everything seems to be fine.

But when Shuji entered the village, he sensed something was amiss; the patrolling Grass Village ninja squads were moving at an unusually high frequency.

This is not the state a ninja village would be in during peacetime.

The Konoha team was greeted by a Jonin from Kusagakure named Hayami, who was very polite.

Shuji frankly explained his purpose and handed over the invitation letter from Konoha for the Chunin Joint Selection Examination.

After listening, the Kusagakure Jonin gave a polite response: "It is an honor for Konoha to invite our Kusagakure Village to participate in this matter."

"However, this matter concerns the village's training program for genin and the arrangement of subsequent missions, and it is not something I can decide immediately on my own."

"We will be able to give you a clear answer after the village elders have discussed it. Please understand."

Shuji had no objection, expressed his understanding, and stated that he wished to stay in Kusagakure Village for a day or two while awaiting news.

"Of course, please stay in the village for now."

Sujian then arranged for them to stay in the village's guesthouse. The rooms were clean and well-equipped, far more comfortable than the Sand Village Inn in the wind and sand.

Izumo and Kotetsu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that this mission was a textbook example of what normalcy should be—standard procedures and comfortable reception, this is how allies should behave.

Red Bean crossed her arms, pouted, and whispered to her two companions, "Hey, you two, do you really think this place is more comfortable than Sunagakure?"

"There's an indescribable oppressive feeling in the air here, making people feel uncomfortable all over."

Gangzi Tie laughed and said, "Could it be that they also have a tailed beast about to go out of control?"

But Xiu Si's expression was calm, his sharp eyes scanning the view outside the window.

Gangzi Tie's smile froze on his face: "No...no way?"

“Kusagakure doesn’t have any tailed beasts, Zitetsu, you need to go back and catch up on your studies,” Shuuji replied. “But Anko’s feeling was right. The atmosphere here is very unusual. They’re not on ordinary alert; it’s more like they’re on guard against something, or preparing for something.”

He walked to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked at another patrol of Grass Ninja who was walking briskly past outside.

If he were to be sent to one of the other four great ninja villages, even if he sensed something was wrong, Shuji would simply pretend not to know and prepare to flee; he generally wouldn't wander into other places recklessly.

After all, the five great ninja villages are heavily guarded, and a single misstep could trigger a serious chain reaction.

As for now, although it's impolite, Kusagakure is not on the list of places you can't sneak into. In fact, from his perspective, there are no troublesome people in this village for the time being.

Therefore, Shuuji decided to act like a proper ninja and gather intelligence under the cover of night.

“I will personally investigate tonight.” Xiu Si turned around, his voice even lower. “Hong Dou, you stay behind and guard the premises. Chu Yun and Zi Tie, you two provide support inside. Do not make any rash moves without my signal.”

The three men straightened up and whispered their orders.

Night fell as expected, enveloping the entire Kusagakure village. Shuji left a shadow clone in the room, maintaining a seated posture, and cleverly hid a specially made thin wooden piece engraved with the Flying Thunder God Technique under the bed.

Immediately, he formed hand seals and used Wood Release: Transformation Technique. His figure blurred, transforming into an ordinary-looking, unremarkable middle-aged grass ninja. Like water flowing into the shadows, Shuji silently slipped out of the window and disappeared into the thick night.

The nights in Kusagakure are far from peaceful. Lights are scattered, yet shadowy figures are always moving about in the darkness.

Shuji first sneaked into the conference room where he had met Hayami during the day. The room was pitch black and empty. No one was plotting anything there.

He then went to several other places that might be used for clandestine activities, but found nothing.

The patrol routes did not have a clear core focus, as if this high-pressure vigilance was aimed at the entire village.

Just as Shuji was considering whether to explore the core area of ​​the village, a suppressed conversation and hurried footsteps caught his attention.

Several grass ninjas were seen carrying a makeshift stretcher with a person lying on it, who appeared to be seriously injured. They were quickly walking towards a secluded corner on the edge of the village.

He followed them quietly. Along the way, the Kusagakure ninjas exchanged some words that piqued Shuji's interest.

"Hurry up! They're urging us urgently!"

"Tsk, this injury is quite serious... Luckily, that woman wasn't sent to Hozuki Castle."

"Her treatment seems to be getting less and less effective..."

"What's there to be afraid of? There's still a little one. If this one... hmph."

Hozuki Castle? What happened over there?

Women...treatment effects...

Regarding the latter, Shuji was reminded of something—Karin, and her mother.

These two members of the Uzumaki clan fled to the Land of Grass. Due to their special constitution, Karin's mother became the "medicine" for the ninjas of Grass Village. When a ninja was injured, he only needed to bite her body and absorb her chakra to recover.

After Xiangling's mother died, it was Xiangling's turn to become the "medicine" of the Kusagakure ninja.

To be honest, this is somewhat perverse. Even for someone like Shuuji, who has become accustomed to the killing in the ninja world, it seems a bit perverse.

The group of grass ninjas eventually stopped in front of a low, dilapidated wooden house on the edge of the village. The leader rudely knocked on the door.

The wooden door creaked open a crack, revealing the face of a pale, haggard woman. She had striking, yet dull, long red hair.

Seeing the ninja and stretcher outside the door, a flicker of weariness and fear crossed her eyes, but it quickly turned into numbness. She nodded silently, squeezed through the door, and followed them out.

As the door opened and closed, Shuji saw a little girl standing in the corner of the room, who also had striking red hair.

She clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, her big eyes gazing at her mother's back, filled with worry and longing. Her lips moved, but she dared not utter a sound.

The woman followed the group of ninja away, their footsteps fading into the distance.

The cabin fell silent, save for the little girl's soft, suppressed sobs.

Shuji watched this scene from the shadows. He had seen too many tragedies and bloodshed in the ninja world, and occasionally he couldn't bear it.

Even disregarding personal conscience, considering only the value of ninjas, Karin and her mother are not insufficient for him to make a move.

However, they cannot do this as envoys of Konoha, and they certainly cannot make a move while they are still in Kusagakure.

A moment later, the Grass Ninja returned. The person on the stretcher seemed to be alright and was able to walk on their own. However, the red-haired woman's face was even paler, and her steps were unsteady; she was practically being half-supported and half-dragged. They took her back to the door of the wooden house, said nothing, and left without a word.

The woman staggered as she pushed open the door and entered the house.

"Mommy!" The little girl rushed over immediately, her voice trembling with tears.

"It's alright, Karin, Mom is alright." The woman forced a smile, her voice weak. She stretched out her hand, revealing two rows of clear, still-unhealed teeth marks on her arm.

"I'm just a little tired... I'll be fine after a rest."

"Mommy, let's leave here, okay? Let's not stay here anymore... Mommy!"

The woman stroked her daughter's hair: "Silly child, where can we go? It's more dangerous outside. Here, at least we can survive... Be good."

"But, but you'll die!"

The woman simply shook her head, offering only weak words of comfort.

Her voice grew softer and softer until she finally fell into a deep sleep due to extreme weakness and depletion of chakra.

Karin didn't want to disturb her mother, so she didn't dare to cry out loud. She just desperately wiped away her tears with her sleeve, but the more she wiped, the more tears she shed.

She stumbled out of the house, squatted in the cold corner, buried her face in her knees, her thin shoulders heaving violently, emitting a mournful whimper like that of a young animal.

Just then, a shadow fell over her.

Karin looked up in terror, her vision blurred by tears, and saw a strange old man from the Grass Ninja clan standing in front of her. She was so frightened that she fell backward, scrambling to move backward on all fours.

Do you want to leave here?

The man's voice was calm and expressionless, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"Take your mother with you."

She longed for it! She longed for it constantly! But her mother's warnings and the terrible rumors circulating about the outside world made her shrink back.

She looked up at the man, and her innate keen senses strangely prevented her from sensing any malice or greed in him.

He was different from the other ninjas who came to "use" his mother.

"You...you can take us..." Her voice was barely audible.

"If you want to leave, then try to live." The man didn't make any promises, but flicked his finger, and a thin piece of wood engraved with strange runes landed silently on the muddy ground in front of Karin. "This was just a chance act of kindness. If you really want to seize the opportunity, hide it well and live."

Before he finished speaking, the man's figure disappeared into the night.

Karin stared blankly at the piece of wood on the ground, then looked in the direction where the man had disappeared. After a long while, she suddenly pounced over, carefully picked it up, and held it tightly in her palm.

She dared not cry anymore, but leaned against the wall, curled up, and buried the piece of wood and her tightly clenched little hand in her arms.

(End of this chapter)