Chapter 55: Plan to Destroy the Land of Grass  

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Sasuke stood on a high branch, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan spinning in his eyes as he observed the scene below.

He clenched his fists in concentration, channeling his chakra. '[Blood Moon!]'

The two Kusa-nin, Shigeru , suddenly froze. Red bulges began to appear all over their bodies, pulsating as if alive, writhing under their skin.

The next moment, countless blood-red spikes erupted from within them, piercing through their bodies like skewers, leaving them lifeless.

Naruto was shocked, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What just happened? How did they die?"

Panic crept into Naruto's voice. After all, the Chunin Exams were just a competition—killing wasn't allowed!

The blood from the two Kusa-nin splattered onto Karin's face. She watched in horror as her tormentors died before her eyes.

Tears welled up, but more than anything, she was consumed by fear. As long as Kusagakure existed, her nightmare would never end.

Sasuke stepped forward, extending his hand to Karin. His voice was calm yet filled with determination as he said, "From now on, no one can bully you."

There was something magical in Sasuke's words, something that made Karin believe him. Without a word, she took his hand and followed him, her expression blank.

Naruto frowned slightly. "Sasuke, she's from Kusagakure."

Without hesitation, Sasuke drew the Kusanagi sword and swiftly sliced through the headband on Karin's forehead, severing her ties with her village. "Not anymore," Sasuke replied firmly.

Karin's eyes filled with tears, not of sadness, but of relief. She followed closely behind Sasuke, clinging to the hope he had offered.

Hinata, who had been watching silently, noticed the bite marks on Karin's arm. "Karin, what happened to you?" she asked gently, her voice full of concern.

Karin hesitated, but then began to speak, her voice trembling with the weight of her past.

"My mother and I... we're not originally from Kusagakure. We were from Uzushio, the Land of Whirlpools. After it was destroyed, we fled to the Land of Grass, hoping for safety."

She paused, her eyes reflecting the painful memories. "We encountered a severely injured Kusa-nin along the way."

"Out of kindness, my mother fed him a drop of her blood, healing him instantly. But instead of gratitude, he saw our blood as a tool. He captured us and forced us to serve as 'medical tools.' My mother... she protected me, giving up her own blood until she was drained dry."

Karin's voice cracked, and tears streamed down her face. "After she died, they began using me. But my blood wasn't as effective, so they kept me alive, planning to drain me completely when I got older."

Hinata was horrified, her heart aching for the girl before her. "That's terrible... I'm so sorry, Karin."

Sasuke's expression hardened. Hearing Karin's story only solidified the resolve forming in his mind. "Kusagakure must pay for this," he thought, his mind already formulating a plan.

Meanwhile, Naruto, who had been listening intently, finally realized something. "Wait... You're from the Uzumaki clan? Just like me! I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"

Karin barely acknowledged Naruto's words, her focus entirely on Sasuke. Naruto, feeling a bit ignored, pouted slightly and took a few steps forward.

As Sasuke retrieved the blood-stained Scroll of Earth from Shigeru's lifeless hand, he turned to his team. "We have both the Scroll of Heaven and Earth now. Let's get out of this forest."

From the top of a tall tree, the Konoha examiner observed the aftermath.

His stomach churned at the sight of the two Kusa-nin's gruesome deaths, but he knew better than to interfere.

"I didn't see how they died... but if it involves Uchiha Sasuke, I'll just stay out of it," he thought, pulling out a walkie-talkie.

"Third Hokage, this is the proctor."

A crackle came through the device. "What's the situation?" the Third Hokage asked.

The proctor hesitated. "Two Kusa-nin are dead... Blood spikes pierced them from the inside out. Uchiha Sasuke's team found the Scroll of Earth on them and took a female Kusa-nin with them."

There was a long pause. "I see... Continue monitoring. Report any further incidents," the Third Hokage finally responded, his tone unreadable.

As the proctor pocketed the walkie-talkie, his thoughts raced. "If Sasuke really killed them, the Hokage might use this to clamp down on the Uchiha clan. Even though it's only Kusagakure, the political implications during the Chunin Exams are serious."

Meanwhile, as Sasuke, Naruto, Hinata, and Karin made their way through the forest, Hinata noticed the pain and exhaustion in Karin's expression.

"Karin, you've been through so much... but you're safe now. We won't let anyone hurt you again," she reassured, her voice gentle.

Sasuke's thoughts, however, were already elsewhere. The treatment of Karin and her mother by Kusagakure was a crime that couldn't go unpunished.

"The Uchiha clan could take this as an opportunity... We could destroy Kusagakure under the guise of justice," he mused. His eyes narrowed as the plan formed in his mind.

To Sasuke, this wasn't just about revenge—it was about ensuring the future of the Uchiha clan.

If they could justify their actions as righteous, even the other villages would have a hard time opposing them.

"The Land of Grass will fall, and its territory will be divided under the name of justice," Sasuke thought, his resolve solidifying.

He knew that changes were coming in Konoha, and soon, Tsunade would likely become the Fifth Hokage. That would be the perfect time to act.

As the team pressed on through the forest, each member's thoughts were weighed down by the gravity of their situation.

But Sasuke, with Karin at his side, was already thinking ahead to the future—the future of the Uchiha clan, and the fate of Kusagakure.

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