After defeating Kabuto, Lin Chongshu did not kill him. Instead, he let him go, preserving Good Fire Release's zero-kill title.
If he killed Kabuto himself, recruiting Yakushi Nonō would only become troublesome. If she learned that Kabuto had died by his hand, she might make a desperate final stand and fight him to the death.
But if she killed Kabuto herself, the nature of things would be completely different.
Lin Chongshu could even stand on the moral high ground and criticize her.
From the very beginning, Lin Chongshu's early ambush on Kabuto had not been meant to kill him personally.
He was worried that Yakushi Nonō would be unable to defeat Kabuto at full strength, so he needed to drain Kabuto's chakra first.
Kabuto's chakra was now nearly depleted. His breathing was unsteady, and his mind had been repeatedly crushed by genjutsu. His entire body was in a state where he could snap at any moment.
The genjutsu made him constantly see people darting out from behind trees, pouncing down from above, and launching sneak attacks from behind.
The system by Lin Chongshu's ear kept chiming as well.
[Detected intense negative emotions from Kabuto Yakushi toward the host: terror, fear. Reward extraction complete.]
[Obtained: Medical Ninjutsu: Yin Healing Wound Destruction +1]
[Obtained: Medical Ninjutsu: Chakra Scalpel +1]
[Obtained: Medical Ninjutsu: Yin Healing Wound Destruction +1]
Kabuto killed one "assassin" after another. The green glow on his Chakra Blade never faded, while his mind was worn increasingly brittle under the repeated stimulation.
An Eye of Sand floated above his head. He had been continuously guided by the genjutsu, following the route Lin Chongshu had planned out.
Lin Chongshu had also long since spotted Yakushi Nonō, who was hiding at the other end of the forest, through the Eye of Sand.