With things reaching this point, the curtain had finally fallen.
Asuna's disappearance quickly triggered a major uproar among the Konoha higher-ups. After relentless efforts by the Hokage's direct ANBU division, they finally tracked her down to the Forest of Death. However, by the time they arrived, the battle on Kirito's side had already ended.
Gaara, thanks to the full protection of the Tailed Beast within him at the last moment, barely clung to life. But due to the aftereffects of partial transformation and severe frostbite across his body, he now lay limp on a stretcher, completely immobilized, like a beaten dog.
Kirito gave the arriving ANBU a brief summary of what had transpired. Afterward, he and Asuna were escorted away from the Forest of Death under their protection. Meanwhile, Hinata and the others continued with the Chūnin Exam's selection trials.
As for Karin, though her teammates were dead, under the rules of the Forest of Death, even incapacitated candidates were required to remain inside until the test concluded.
But Karin was a sensory-type ninja, almost no combat capability. With no teammates to protect her, staying alone in such a perilous forest was nothing short of a death sentence.
So Kirito decided to step in.
He reported the matter to the ANBU. Unlike the emotionless machines of the Root Division, the Hokage's personal ANBU were far more flexible. After considering that Karin had played a vital role in helping rescue the Hyuga princess, and acknowledging Konoha's historically good relationship with the Grass Village, they agreed to handle it with discretion.
And so, Karin was allowed to leave the Forest of Death with Kirito and the others.
Kirito thought little of it, just lending a hand out of basic decency. Besides, he had managed to find Asuna so quickly thanks to Karin's powerful sensory abilities. He owed her a debt, and he had no qualms repaying it.
To Karin, however, Kirito's help meant something far more profound.
In the face of certain death and overwhelming fear, when no one else was left, she had silently prayed for a miracle, and he had appeared. To her, Kirito was the miracle.
She wanted to properly thank him. But as a special-case examinee, she couldn't walk the streets of Konoha openly. So the village arranged a temporary place for her to stay, at least until the Chūnin Exams concluded. For now, Karin had no freedom of movement.
Kirito, on the other hand, escorted Asuna straight back to the Hyuga compound.
What surprised him was that despite the magnitude of the incident, the Third Hokage never summoned him for a face-to-face debrief. Instead, through the ANBU, he was given a mission: escort Asuna safely back to the Hyuga Clan.
"So… he already has a rough idea about the power I've been hiding," Kirito muttered to himself.
Not that he ever went out of his way to hide it. Kirito didn't mind people speculating about his strength. He never flaunted it either, but he had no interest in going to great lengths to keep it secret. If someone figured it out? So be it. Sure, exposure brought trouble, but so did hiding it. And Kirito wasn't someone who had the patience for either nonsense or posturing.
But that was enough about that.
Right now, it was time to check his mission progress.
Mission Completion Rate: 40%
The rescue mission in the Forest of Death had pushed it from 20% to 40%. But Kirito couldn't help but think that felt… a little low.
After all, he had fought the Sand Village's Jinchūriki. He'd lost his M700 sniper rifle. If not for awakening the true power of his Zanpakutō at the critical moment, he might've died.
And even after all that, it still wasn't halfway?
Then just how dangerous were the trials yet to come…?
No point worrying. It wouldn't change anything.
Instead, it was time to see what kind of system rewards he earned from this life-threatening mission, and from losing a sniper rifle in the process.
[Reward Acquired: Bonus Attribute Points × 2]
Even this alone made the mission worthwhile. After the recent battle, Kirito had come to truly understand the power of attribute points. Just two points in Endurance had pushed his physical durability to rival that of a taijutsu specialist.
With that alone, and his Phantom Cloak, which granted resistance to chakra-based attacks, he had survived Gaara's [Sand Binding Coffin] with only minor injuries.
Without hesitation, Kirito allocated both points to Strength.
Direct combat power was what he'd always lacked. But now that he had Sode no Shirayuki, he could finally begin shifting from assassin to warrior. And for that, strength was the top priority.
Clenching his fist, he could already feel the explosive power surging through him. He hadn't even tested it yet, and he could already tell how far his raw strength had improved.
[Second Reward: New Combat Technique Unlocked]
This time, the reward wasn't a weapon or conceptual armament.
It was something he had never received before.
"…Didn't expect the arsenal to include something like this." Kirito stared at the faintly glowing scroll in his hand, eyes wide with surprise.
Unrolling it, the first line leapt out at him:
[Mystic-Rank High-Level Combat Technique: Eight Extremes Collapse] (TL/N: Kinda C)
A close-range combat skills, known for its explosive offensive power.
At mastery, each strike carried eight layers of overlapping internal force. When fully unleashed, its destructive potential rivaled that of a high rank combat techniques.
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45 Advanced Chapters on p(a)treon
p(a)treon.com/Aaltairr
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
Hello guys TL/N: Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed