Itsuki remembered that there were two factions within Kusagakure: the hawks and the doves.
The hawks believed in using any means necessary to make Kusagakure rise and surpass the Five Great Nations. They were the ones behind the Chest of Paradise.
The doves weren't saints either. They too wanted Kusagakure to grow stronger, but sought relatively gentler methods.
Yet on one matter, hawks and doves stood united—when it came to Karin and her mother.
In the entire village, almost no one pitied them.
Now Ryūzetsu was speaking up for them, which made her an outlier.
Even though Kusagakure's current crisis had started because of Karin and Kana, no one blamed themselves.
To them, the real enemy was the mysterious man who had stolen the mother and daughter.
"Do you understand what you're saying?" the leading Kusagakure shinobi shouted. "Just those words alone are enough to brand you a traitor. No one would object if we executed you here and now!"
This wasn't the first time Ryūzetsu had spoken against them. Before, no one cared because she had no power to act.
But now—before Konoha shinobi, after launching a reckless attack—she had crossed their bottom line.
Ryūzetsu snorted coldly, her face defiant. "If we don't share the same ideals, then we can't walk the same path. If you've got the guts, kill me!"
Her childhood friend Wuqiu was long gone. Hope in this world had left her.
"You think we won't?" one of the Kusagakure shinobi barked, rage rising as more reached for their weapons.
"Wait!" Might Guy stepped forward, halting them.
He looked at Ryūzetsu. "I don't know what's happening in your village, but what does it have to do with us? Why attack us?"
The Kusagakure shinobi also paused, realizing the contradiction.
Ryūzetsu's eyes flickered with hesitation, then softened with a sigh. "I'm sorry. But I still have nothing more to say."
"You dare!" the leading shinobi thundered. "Even now, you refuse the truth?"
"If Kusagakure is destroyed," Ryūzetsu spat back with bitter sarcasm, "it will be because of you—not me."
"Enough! If she won't repent, kill her!"
"She's dangerous to keep alive!"
"Her thinking will bring ruin. End it here!"
The Kusagakure ninjas were worked into a frenzy, terrified that Konoha would punish their village for her actions.
Itsuki, however, had been silent, watching closely.
Finally, he spoke: "I see. You're trying to use Konoha's retaliation against Kusagakure as a shield to save it, aren't you?"
Ryūzetsu stiffened, her guilty glance confirming everything. "I… don't know what you mean!"
Her denial only made the truth more obvious.
The Kusagakure shinobi looked bewildered, but pressed Itsuki for clarity.
He explained plainly: "With Ryūzetsu's strength, even a fool knows she couldn't harm Team Guy. She came here to die. Her attack was staged, not to kill, but to provoke."
"Openly attacking allied shinobi is a grave crime. Konoha would be forced to investigate. If Konoha turns its attention here, the war with Kusagakure's neighbor will be interrupted. No country would dare exploit Kusagakure under Konoha's gaze. That was her goal."
Everyone fell silent.
They had accused her of betrayal, but in truth she had risked her life to buy Kusagakure time.
Ryūzetsu's silence now confirmed it all.
Might Guy exhaled heavily, then nodded. "Let her go. We won't pursue this. We'll report the truth to the Hokage. What he decides, I can't say. But she deserves respect."
Anyone willing to sacrifice themselves for their village, even in such a twisted way, deserved acknowledgment.
Team Guy's hostility toward Kusagakure, stoked by the human pill revelation, eased slightly thanks to Ryūzetsu's act.
"Thank you for your mercy," the leading Kusagakure shinobi said with a conflicted expression. "But even so, her unauthorized actions cannot be overlooked. I'll report this to our leader personally."
Guy opened his mouth, then simply gave a nod. Saying farewell, he departed with Team 3.
"Come on," the Kusagakure leader ordered, gripping Ryūzetsu by the arm. "Even if your intentions were for the village, I won't forgive you for siding with a white-eyed wolf like the human pill."
The other Kusagakure shinobi nodded grimly. To them, they had sheltered Karin and her mother, bled for them, and deserved obedience in return.
"You're… hopeless!" Ryūzetsu spat, fury in her eyes as she allowed herself to be dragged forward.
The leader turned back to Itsuki. "Kenta, you've done great service today. I'll ensure the leader hears of your contribution."
Soon, they were gone—leaving only Itsuki behind.
"Pity no fight broke out," he muttered. "But it doesn't matter."
He would have loved for tension to escalate—perhaps even for Guy to unleash all Seven Gates and tear through Kusagakure.
But when Ryūzetsu revealed her intent, even Itsuki had felt compelled to speak.
Besides, this was just his clone. His real body had already taken Karin and Kana toward safety.
Kusagakure had taken its revenge on them. The rest… would one day be Karin's to settle. Assuming Kusagakure still stood by then.
With that thought, Itsuki's clone vanished.
In the [Fabrication System Chat Group], conversation lit up again.
Karin's live broadcast had ended shortly after Itsuki rescued them. Tenten had streamed the moment when Team Guy was attacked, so everyone had a sense of what happened in Kusagakure.
[Tenten: It's finally over. This mission left me with so many emotions.]
[Uzumaki Karin: I didn't expect anyone in Kusagakure to stand up for me and my mother. Ryūzetsu, huh? I'll remember you.]
[Yamanaka Ino: I just hope Ryūzetsu won't be punished too harshly. But now that her true intent is known, at least execution should be off the table.]
[Hyuga Hinata: I hope she'll be okay too.]
[Tenten: Karin and her mom were rescued, Itsuki wasn't exposed, and our mission succeeded. That's a happy ending.]
[Uzumaki Karin: Thank you, everyone. Itsuki-kun is taking us to a small town for dinner. I've never felt this happy, and I'm full of anticipation for the future.]
[Uzumaki Karin: It's a pity I can't go to Konoha yet, or I'd thank you all in person.]
[Yamanaka Ino: There will be a chance. Once you're settled, we'll come visit you on missions.]
[Hyuga Hinata: I didn't help at all…]
[Tenten: We're all sisters in the group—no need to be so polite.]