In order to improve his strength over the past two days, Itsuki had not used his ability to fabricate the future.
No matter how many abilities you have, they are never as reliable as a solid foundation.
Now, with the Sharingan and Wood Release in his arsenal, as long as he continued to strengthen his raw power, everything else would fall into place.
It was already late by the time he left Tenzō's house.
When Itsuki returned home, he found the house spotless. On the table was a note.
This note appeared every day after the place was cleaned, right before Itsuki came back.
The content reminded him that he would need to leave the village early tomorrow for a mission, so he should rest early tonight.
It also explained that the cleaner would be away from Konoha for several days and wouldn't be able to help.
So far, she had cleaned three times, shared dinner with him twice, and practiced alongside him at the training ground twice.
Though their interactions had been limited, they had quickly grown familiar with one another.
Among Konoha's four beauties, Tenten was currently the one closest to him. That was the advantage of striking first.
At this time, Tenten discussed a few details about taking care of Karin with others in the chat group before heading off to bed.
The remaining three—Ino, Hinata, and Karin—were chatting idly.
After two days of adapting, Karin gradually became more talkative in the group.
The chat group had become a safe haven in her heart, giving her something to look forward to in the future.
The others also understood her situation more clearly now and became more determined to help her escape from the hell she endured in Kusagakure.
Meanwhile, Sakura hadn't appeared in the group since that conflict and hadn't interacted with anyone in real life either.
She was simply guarding her own small corner, her thoughts unknown.
Still, as long as she didn't lower her pride, no one else would go out of their way to approach her. That was the unspoken agreement between Ino and the others.
As for all this, Itsuki merely skimmed through the group's chat logs and didn't think much of it.
Since the operation to rescue Karin and her mother was backed by the system, he wasn't worried about failure.
The real concern was what to do afterward—where to place them and how to deal with Kusagakure's inevitable response.
After all, they were effectively being snatched from Kusagakure. Bringing them directly into Konoha could easily spark international conflict.
Itsuki planned to first settle them in the nearest town outside Konoha, then find an opportunity to legitimize their status and eventually integrate them into the village.
"Plans can't keep up with changes. No point overthinking it. Let's just take it step by step."
He let out a long breath, clearing his mind and gathering energy for the mission ahead.
At dawn the next day, Might Guy set off with the three members of Team 3.
Itsuki donned the Anbu gear Tenzō had given him and followed from a distance.
Thanks to Wood Release, he could merge his chakra into nature when traveling through the wild, greatly enhancing his ability to conceal himself.
Among Team 3, Neji's Byakugan might have been able to spot him—but Neji didn't keep his eyes open all the time.
Besides, the Byakugan's vision was wide and unfocused. Unless Neji locked his gaze directly on him, Itsuki could blend into nature and go unnoticed even within his range.
The journey went smoothly. After two days of travel, the group finally arrived at Kusagakure.
[Tenten: I've arrived at Kusagakure. Once I hand over the quest item, the mission will be complete. I'll rest here for half a day.]
[Tenten: But based on earlier speculation, Itsuki should be arriving around this time too. I wonder if I'll run into him.]
[Uzumaki Karin: I… I'm so nervous right now. My mom hasn't been home for days. Is she really okay?]
[Yamanaka Ino: @Tenten, turn on the live video first.]
[Yamanaka Ino: @Uzumaki Karin, don't worry. Didn't we tell you? The content of the future videos is beyond doubt. Your mother will definitely be fine.]
[Hyuga Hinata: I-I believe in Itsuki-kun too. He can definitely do it.]
[Tenten: Okay, the live feed is on. It's strange though—the Kusagakure shinobi all look tense and hurried. The atmosphere is making me uneasy.]
[Uzumaki Karin: That's because… of the war!]
[Uzumaki Karin: Kusagakure is at war with a neighboring country. There've been many casualties recently. My mother…]
[Hyuga Hinata: War… it feels so distant to us.]
[Tenten: Now I'm nervous too. Could the war affect me?]
[Yamanaka Ino: Could Itsuki's mission be connected to all this?]
[Tenten: The video didn't reveal that. But we know this was his first mission as an Anbu. Thinking about it, an Anbu mission would definitely be higher-ranked than a normal one. At least B-rank or above.]
[Hyuga Hinata: After all, Itsuki-kun's strength is on a completely different level from ours.]
[Tenten: True…]
In the broadcast, Tenten and her group followed a Kusagakure shinobi. On both sides, more Kusagakure ninjas hurried past them.
Outside the village, Itsuki observed carefully, just as Tenzō had taught him.
He quickly noticed that unlike Konoha, Kusagakure didn't have a large barrier covering the whole village.
Instead, many patrols were stationed around the perimeter, both visible and hidden.
Those hidden ones were, of course, Kusagakure's Anbu.
Itsuki smirked. As expected, the system was pushing events toward the fabricated future.
Without much effort, he swiftly eliminated one of the secret sentries, using Wood Release to drain the man's chakra.
"Tree Binding Death!"
After changing into the enemy's clothes, Itsuki clenched his fist. The tree wrapped around the shinobi instantly crushed him into pulp.
Then, under Itsuki's control, the roots dragged all evidence underground.
This was his first kill in this world.
Because he hadn't done it directly with his own hands, only through Wood Release, he still felt a wave of nausea—but not so overwhelming that it broke him.
Taking a few deep breaths, he steadied himself.
"According to the original story, Karin lives in a remote part of Kusagakure. Just a small, isolated cabin with no neighbors nearby. It shouldn't be hard to find her."
Itsuki slipped into Kusagakure, avoiding crowds.
Dressed in Anbu gear, even if someone noticed him, they wouldn't think twice.
He originally planned to confirm Karin's location first, but on the way, he came across Kusagakure Hospital.
"Better check the hospital first. Maybe I can save Karin's mother."
His eyes flickered as he adjusted his plan and headed for the hospital.
Because of the war, the hospital was overcrowded, chaotic from the endless casualties.
Itsuki entered through the front, arousing no suspicion—Anbu often required treatment too.
Just as the system foresaw, Itsuki found Karin's mother quickly.
But by the time he arrived, she was already dead.