Chapter 30: Surprise and Help

Under Kirito's leadership, the three of them located their target in less than half an hour.

Standing atop a high tree trunk, TenTen crouched to conceal her presence and whispered, "Kirito, are the three below people you know?"

"No," Kirito replied. "Only the red-haired girl at the back."

"?!"

"Let's go down and take a look," Kirito said, leaping from the branch.

The trio from Team Guy appeared in front of the ninjas from the Hidden Grass Village without warning.

"Who's there?!" The Grass ninjas immediately hid behind the surrounding obstacles, eyeing the newcomers warily.

"You two stay back," Kirito said to Lee and TenTen as he stepped forward.

Kirito ignored the two Grass ninjas and walked straight toward the red-haired girl hiding behind them.

"Die!" The two Grass ninjas seized the opportunity to attack Kirito from his blind spot.

Swish!

A cold mist suddenly emanated from Kirito's body, freezing the two attackers instantly. The ice sculptures shattered as they hit the ground, scattering shards across the frosted earth.

The surrounding area, once humid and oppressive, became eerily cold, with frost covering the nearby trees and ground.

"No matter how many times I see that, it's terrifying," TenTen said, folding her arms as if chilled.

"Indeed. Kirito's mastery of ninjutsu is unparalleled," Lee agreed.

Kirito reached the trembling red-haired girl crouched beneath a large tree trunk. She hugged her knees and looked up in fear as he asked, "Are you Karin?"

"!" The girl was stunned that Kirito knew her name but nodded hesitantly.

"Get up," Kirito instructed, helping Karin to her feet. "If you don't want to return to them, I can help you stay in Konoha. You won't have to live in fear anymore."

Karin was one of the supporting characters Kirito remembered vividly from the original storyline. Though she had appeared much later in the plot, her tragic backstory and unique abilities had left an impression on him. Seeing her here, in the Chunin Exam, was unexpected.

"Kirito, is this the person you were looking for?" TenTen asked, stepping closer to get a better look at Karin.

The red-haired girl, clad in a simple grid shirt and khaki coat, looked disheveled. Her glasses framed her striking red eyes, and a Hidden Grass forehead protector hung loosely from her neck.

"This… this is our team's scroll," Karin stammered, holding out the Earth Scroll with trembling hands. "Please, just take it and leave me alone."

"Kirito, bullying the weak is unforgivable," Lee said, his voice filled with disapproval.

Kirito sighed. "Her name is Karin. She's a victim of circumstance—a refugee who ended up in the Hidden Grass Village with her mother. I want to help her escape that life."

He gently took Karin's arm, exposing the bite marks that covered her skin.

"It's too much," TenTen murmured sympathetically, her heart sinking at the sight.

"Who did this?!" Lee shouted, his righteous fury blazing. "Unforgivable!"

"Why… why are you helping me?" Karin asked hesitantly. "You're not after my abilities, are you?"

Kirito extended his unmarked arm to her and said, "You'll know the truth after a bite."

Hesitant but moved by his sincerity, Karin bit Kirito's arm. A surge of life energy flowed into her, healing her exhausted body and restoring her vitality. Overwhelmed by the warmth she hadn't felt in so long, Karin broke down, tears streaming uncontrollably.

"Why… why would you help me…?" she sobbed, biting down harder as her emotions overflowed.

Kirito raised a hand to stop TenTen and Lee from intervening. "Let her cry," he said. "She needs this."

Both TenTen and Lee silently stepped back, their hearts heavy with compassion as they watched Karin cry herself hoarse.

After a long pause, Karin finally calmed down and released Kirito's arm. Her voice trembled as she said, "I… I'm sorry…"

"It's fine," Kirito replied, wiping the marks on his arm with a handkerchief. "Now, will you come with us? I promise they won't hurt you anymore."

Karin hesitated for a moment but then declared, "I'll go with you. I'll never go back to the Hidden Grass Village!"

To prove her resolve, she tore off her forehead protector and slashed it with a kunai.

"You didn't have to do that," Kirito said, mildly exasperated. "I wasn't asking you to become a missing-nin."

"Kirito, how do you plan to handle her situation?" TenTen asked, her tone more practical.

"I'll explain everything to the Third Hokage. Karin is one of the few surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan. I'm confident he'll help her resettle in Konoha."

[And even if he doesn't, I'll bring it up with Lady Tsunade later.]

Kirito didn't want Karin to live in the shadows like in the original story. He aimed to secure her a legitimate place in Konoha, where she could live freely.

The team decided to head for the central tower to complete their exam and see if they could contact the Third Hokage through official channels. Kirito handed the Earth Scroll to TenTen.

"We'll finish the exam first," Kirito said. "Then we can still hunt for more challenges if we want."

"That works for me!" Lee said excitedly.

"Same here," TenTen agreed.

On the way to the tower, Karin gradually opened up, laughing and chatting with TenTen and Lee. When Kirito mentioned he could remove the scars from her body, she cried again, overwhelmed with gratitude.

[Women really are made of water, aren't they?] Kirito mused silently.

With Kirito leading the way, they forged a path straight through the Death Forest. Using his ice ninjutsu, Kirito froze traps, beasts, and even hostile ninjas into ice sculptures, creating a frosty trail to the central tower.

Due to Karin's slower pace, they arrived late at night. To their surprise, many teams were already there, including Gaara's and Hinata's teams.

"Looks like we're not the only ones who rushed here," Kirito observed.

The group opened their scrolls, summoning a familiar Chunin instructor. After explaining Karin's situation, the instructor promised to inform Anko Mitarashi, the chief examiner, when she returned.

With their exam completed, TenTen suggested they have a meal.

"Perfect! I brought tableware and seasoning," TenTen said, pulling out her supplies.

The team enjoyed a warm meal together, laughing and chatting late into the night. Despite the challenges ahead, they felt ready to face whatever awaited them.

(End of Chapter)

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