Happy Ending

Mo Chen recalled that Kusagakure was divided into two factions, though he couldn't remember the specific names. It was roughly an "eagle" faction and a "dove" faction.

The eagle faction advocated for using any means necessary to make Kusagakure rise and surpass the Five Great Nations. The "Ultimate Treasure Chest" was their doing.

However, the dove faction weren't all saints either. They also wished for their country to become strong, just through more moderate methods.

Regardless of whether they were eagles or doves, they unexpectedly agreed on one thing: how to deal with Karin and her mother.

Almost no one in the entirety of Kusagakure pitied them.

For Ryūsetsu to speak up for Karin and her mother now was truly an anomaly.

Even though Karin and her mother had caused Kusagakure's current awkward situation, no one believed they had done anything wrong.

The ones who deserved the blame weren't them, but the mastermind who kidnapped Karin and her mother, leading to all of this.

"Do you know what you're saying? Based on those words alone, I can consider you a traitor to the village. No one would object even if you were dealt with as a rogue ninja!" the leading Kusagakure ninja shouted angrily.

This wasn't the first time Ryūsetsu had said such things. In the past, no one cared because Ryūsetsu couldn't do anything.

But now, in front of Konoha ninjas, not only did she speak out, but she also launched an attack, drawing the ire of Kusagakure. This had crossed their bottom line.

Ryūsetsu's expression remained stubborn, and she snorted, "We have different paths, so we cannot plan together. If you have the guts, kill me!"

Her childhood friend Muku was already gone, so she had lost hope in this world.

"Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?" the Kusagakure ninja roared in fury. Several of them wanted to act on the spot.

"Wait!" Might Guy spoke up to stop them and asked Ryūsetsu, "I don't know what's going on in your Kusagakure, but what does this have to do with us? Why did you attack us?"

Several Kusagakure ninjas also realized the problem and temporarily stopped their actions.

Ryūsetsu's gaze was somewhat complex, and she sighed, "I'm sorry, but I still have nothing to say!"

"How audacious!" the leading Kusagakure ninja bellowed. "We're in this situation, and you still won't confess honestly!"

"If Kusagakure is destroyed, it will absolutely be because of you!" Ryūsetsu said with a face full of mockery.

"Bastard! Unrepentant, kill her right now!"

"Keeping her around is definitely a disaster. This person isn't on the same page as the village."

"That way of thinking is dangerous. There's no need to keep her alive anymore. Since she won't talk, just kill her!"

The Kusagakure ninjas were all furious, fearing that Konoha would punish Kusagakure because of this, which would be adding insult to injury.

Mo Chen, on the other hand, seemed deep in thought. He guessed, "You're not trying to use Konoha's pursuit of accountability against Kusagakure to indirectly save the village, are you?"

Ryūsetsu's expression froze, and she said guiltily, "I don't understand what you're talking about!"

This was clearly a case of "protesting too much," but the others didn't understand Mo Chen's meaning and began asking questions.

Mo Chen explained, "With Ryūsetsu's strength, no matter how foolish she is, she knows she can't harm the Konoha ninjas. She deliberately came here to die."

"But even if she dies, publicly attacking ninjas from an allied country is a major crime. Konoha will definitely hold Kusagakure accountable and might even send people to question them."

"Once Konoha intervenes, our war with the neighboring country will be interrupted. Even if Kusagakure is pushed to its limits, the neighboring country won't dare to take advantage of the situation at this time."

If she had truly intended to assassinate them, Ryūsetsu's preparations wouldn't have been so simple.

From the beginning, Mo Chen knew she was here to die, but dying needed a reason.

Mo Chen hadn't understood until Ryūsetsu showed guilt towards Guy and the others. That's when Mo Chen guessed the truth.

Everyone present was stunned after hearing Mo Chen's analysis.

"Is that really how it is?"

The Kusagakure ninjas found it hard to accept this answer. Just moments ago, they were shouting for Ryūsetsu's death and calling her a traitor, but now they realized they were the clowns...

However, seeing Ryūsetsu speechless and embarrassed, they knew Mo Chen had guessed correctly.

Might Guy glanced at Ryūsetsu and sighed, "Let her go. We won't pursue this matter further and will report truthfully to the Hokage. However, I can't guarantee what the Hokage will do."

Everyone who was willing to sacrifice themselves for a greater cause deserved respect.

The hostility that Guy's team had felt towards Kusagakure due to the human-shaped pills had also dissipated somewhat because of Ryūsetsu.

"Thank you for your magnanimity!" the leading Kusagakure ninja said with a complex expression. "But regardless, Ryūsetsu's unauthorized actions cannot be ignored. I will report to our leader so he can handle it personally."

Guy opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing more. After bidding farewell to everyone, he left with the members of Team Three.

"Let's go, we're going to see the leader!" the leading Kusagakure ninja said, escorting Ryūsetsu. "Even if your original intention was for the village, I still won't forgive you for speaking up for those ungrateful wretches who took the human-shaped pills!"

The others felt the same way. They had taken in Karin and her mother, and Karin and her mother had contributed to them; everyone felt this was only natural.

"You guys... are truly hopeless!" Ryūsetsu said, exasperated, and walked forward angrily.

The leading Kusagakure ninja turned back to Mo Chen and said, "Kenta, you've made a great contribution this time. I will request a reward for you from the leader."

Soon, only Mo Chen remained at the scene.

"It's a shame there wasn't a fight, but it doesn't matter!" Mo Chen felt a slight regret.

He had hoped the conflict between Guy and Kusagakure would escalate, preferably with Guy unleashing the Seven Gates and crushing Kusagakure.

However, faced with Ryūsetsu's actions, Mo Chen still felt a pang of sympathy, which led him to blurt out the truth.

Ultimately, Mo Chen was only leaving a clone here to complete the mission the Third Hokage had assigned him.

Most of Kusagakure's grudge against Karin and her mother was already settled.

The rest would be for Karin to settle herself once she grew up.

Of course, that was assuming Kusagakure didn't fall before then.

The next moment, Mo Chen also vanished from his spot.

The Chat Group was already buzzing with conversation.

Karin's livestream had ended shortly after Mo Chen rescued her and her mother.

Tenten had also started a livestream when she encountered an attack while leaving Kusagakure.

So, everyone in the group had a general idea of how the entire Kusagakure trip had unfolded.

[Tenten: It's finally over. This mission really gave me a lot to think about.]

[Karin Uzumaki: I didn't expect anyone in Kusagakure to speak up for me and Mom. Ryūsetsu, I'll remember you!]

[Ino Yamanaka: I hope Ryūsetsu doesn't get too severe a punishment. But now that her intentions are exposed, she at least won't be executed, right?]

[Hinata Hyuga: I hope she's okay too.]

[Tenten: Karin and her mother are both safe, Mo Chen wasn't exposed, and our mission was completed successfully. This is quite a Happy Ending.]

[Karin Uzumaki: Thank you, everyone. Mo Chen is taking us to a small town to eat right now. I feel happier than I've ever felt, and I'm full of hope for the future.]

[Karin Uzumaki: It's a shame I can't go to Konoha yet, or I would definitely thank you all in person.]

[Ino Yamanaka: There will be opportunities. And once you're settled, we can visit you when we're out on missions.]

[Hinata Hyuga: I didn't help with anything.]

[Tenten: We're all sisters in the Chat Group, no need to be so formal.]