Mo Chen's First Kill: Wood Style Kill

For the past two days, Mo Chen hadn't used his ability to fabricate the future, focusing instead on improving his strength as much as possible.

No matter how many abilities he had, none were as reliable as a solid foundation.

Now that he had the Sharingan and Wood Release, everything else was meaningless unless he improved his actual strength.

By the time he left Yamato's home, it was already getting late.

Mo Chen returned to his own place. The house had been cleaned, and a note had been left on the table.

Tenten had left it after finishing the cleaning and not finding Mo Chen at home.

It said she would be leaving the village early tomorrow morning to carry out a mission, so he should head back and get some rest.

She'd probably be away from Konoha for several days and wouldn't be able to come over and help him clean.

Including today, Tenten had cleaned for him three times, shared dinner with him twice, and trained with him at the training ground twice.

They hadn't spent that much time together, but they'd already grown quite close.

Of Konoha's Four Flowers, Tenten was currently the closest to him. That was the advantage of making the first move.

Meanwhile, after discussing some details about looking after Karin with the others in the Chat Group, Tenten had gone to rest.

Ino, Hinata, and Karin were left chatting idly.

After two days of getting used to things, Karin had gradually started talking more in the group.

The Chat Group had become a sanctuary in Karin's heart, giving her something to look forward to in the future.

The others now knew most of the details of her situation, and were all the more eager to help her escape that living hell in Kusagakure.

Besides, Sakura hadn't said a word in the group since their argument that day, and she hadn't interacted with any of the other members in person either.

She'd kept to herself, tending to her own affairs. It was hard to tell what she was thinking now.

But as long as she didn't back down, the others wouldn't seek her out either. Ino and the others had all agreed on that.

Mo Chen only took the time to catch up on these things by reading the group chat logs. He didn't pay them much attention.

The system had guaranteed that they'd be able to rescue Karin and her mother, so Mo Chen wasn't worried about failing to get them out.

But what to do with them afterward, and how to deal with Kusagakure's retaliation—that was the real issue.

They were taking people from Kusagakure, after all. He couldn't bring them straight to Konoha, or it could easily spark an international dispute.

Mo Chen planned to settle them in the nearest town to Konoha, then find an opportunity to clear their names and have them join Konoha.

"Plans never keep up with changes. There's no point thinking so far ahead now. I'll take things as they come!"

Mo Chen soon stopped dwelling on it and rested up for the missions ahead.

At daybreak the next morning, Might Guy set off with the three youngsters from Team Guy.

Mo Chen changed into the Anbu gear Yamato had given him and followed at a distance.

Thanks to Wood Release, Mo Chen's presence blended into nature while traveling through the wilderness, and his sensory abilities were greatly enhanced.

Among Team Guy, Neji's Byakugan might have detected him, but Neji didn't keep it activated all the time.

Besides, the Byakugan's vision spread out broadly. Unless Neji focused his gaze directly on Mo Chen, it would be difficult to pick him out after he blended into nature, even if he entered Neji's sensory range.

The journey passed without incident. After two days on the road, they arrived safely at Kusagakure.

[Tenten: I've arrived in Kusagakure. Once I hand in the mission item, the mission will be a success. We'll be resting here for half a day afterward.]

[Tenten: But based on what we figured out earlier, Mo Chen should arrive in Kusagakure around this time too. I wonder if I'll run into him.]

[Karin Uzumaki: I... I'm so nervous right now. My mother hasn't come home for several days. Are you sure everything will be okay?]

[Ino Yamanaka: @Tenten, turn on the live video first.]

[Ino Yamanaka: @Karin Uzumaki, don't worry. Didn't we tell you? The contents of the Future videos are beyond question. Your mother will definitely be fine.]

[Hinata Hyuga: I... I believe in Mo Chen-kun too. He can definitely do it.]

[Tenten: All right, I've turned on the live video. Something's strange. Everyone in Kusagakure seems busy and tense. It feels like they're all on high alert.]

[Karin Uzumaki: That's because... there's a war!]

[Karin Uzumaki: Kusagakure is at war with a neighboring country, so there have been a lot of wounded lately. My mother...]

[Hinata Hyuga: War... That word feels so far removed from us.]

[Tenten: I'm suddenly a little nervous too. What if the war affects me?]

[Ino Yamanaka: Could Mo Chen's mission have something to do with this?]

[Tenten: The Future videos didn't reveal that. All we know is that it's his first mission after joining the Anbu. Thinking about it, Anbu missions really are very different from ordinary ninja missions. His first one must be at least B-rank.]

[Hinata Hyuga: After all, Mo Chen-kun is much stronger than we are.]

[Tenten: Well... that's true.]

On the live video, Tenten and the others were following a Kusagakure ninja. Along the way, many Kusagakure ninja hurried past them on both sides.

Mo Chen, who had arrived right after them, stopped outside the village.

Following the experience Yamato had taught him, Mo Chen carefully investigated the surrounding area.

He soon discovered that, unlike Konoha, Kusagakure had no barrier surrounding the entire village.

There were, however, many patrols all around, both in plain sight and concealed.

Those hidden watchers were naturally Kusagakure's Anbu.

Mo Chen grinned. The system really did automatically push events in the direction of the fabricated future.

Without much trouble, Mo Chen quickly took out one of the hidden watchers and used Wood Release to absorb his Chakra.

"Wood Style Kill!"

After changing into the man's clothes, Mo Chen clenched his fist. The trees binding the man instantly crushed him to pulp.

Then, under Mo Chen's control, the trees dragged every trace underground.

This was Mo Chen's first kill in this world. Since he hadn't done it with his own hands, he felt a little sick and queasy, but it wasn't too bad.

He simply looked away, took a few deep breaths, and steadied himself.

"According to the original story, Karin lives in a secluded part of Kusagakure. There's only one small wooden house there, with no neighbors nearby. It shouldn't be too hard to find her!"

Mo Chen slipped into Kusagakure with ease and avoided the public eye.

Even if people saw him in Anbu gear, they wouldn't pay him any attention.

He'd originally planned to find Karin's location first, but then he spotted Kusagakure Hospital.

"I should check the hospital first. Maybe I can rescue Karin's mother before anything else!"

Mo Chen's gaze flickered. He immediately changed course and hurried toward the hospital.

Since it was wartime, people streamed in and out of the hospital, and the whole place was in chaos.

Mo Chen strode straight in through the entrance without attracting the slightest suspicion.

After all, Anbu could get injured too, and they also came to the hospital for treatment.

Just as the system had predicted, Mo Chen found Karin's mother without much trouble. Unfortunately, by the time he found her, she was already beyond saving...