"So that's how it is…"
Itsuki sighed quietly, gaining a clearer understanding of how fabricating the future influenced reality.
If he had gone to find Karin first, her mother would likely have been beyond saving.
But because he happened to notice Kusagakure Hospital and changed course, he managed to find Karin's mother.
By transmitting a trace of life force into her body, he saved the final spark of her life.
It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep her alive until he could take Karin and her mother away from Kusagakure.
After all, the two weren't being held in the same place.
No matter which one he tried to rescue first, it would alert the enemy and make saving the second far more difficult.
Ta-ta-ta!
Footsteps echoed down the hall.
Itsuki soon saw a Kusagakure shinobi—broad-shouldered, rough-faced—dragging Karin by her hair toward the room.
This was the beginning of the scene from the future video.
Itsuki frowned, then glanced at the group chat.
The live broadcast was still going.
Team 3, led by Might Guy, was meeting Kusagakure's leader to discuss the Chunin Exams.
Through the live feed, the girls in the group had all learned about the exam, and Tenten had given them an impromptu explanation.
But Karin hadn't said a word in the chat. She hadn't asked Tenten or the others for help.
Itsuki could guess her reasoning. First, she didn't want to implicate Tenten. Second, she wanted to test the authenticity of the future video herself.
If Itsuki was truly destined to save her and her mother, there was no need to cause extra trouble.
Understanding this, Itsuki quietly retreated into the shadows of the room.
"Mother!!"
Dragged into the room, Karin spotted a cloth-draped body on the bed. Red strands of hair stuck out from beneath the sheet.
She shook free from the shinobi's grip and rushed forward.
In Kusagakure, only she and her mother had red hair.
But before Karin could reach the bed, a pale, thin arm slipped out from under the sheet—marred by grotesque bite marks.
"Ugh!"
Karin doubled over, gagging, unable to control the violent nausea. Tears welled in her eyes.
It was unbearable to imagine the torment her mother had endured.
The Kusagakure shinobi grabbed her by the collar and yanked her back without mercy.
"Let me go! Mom! Mom!!" Karin screamed, struggling.
"This is the only way to protect the village," the shinobi said coldly. "I'm sorry for your mother, but there are still countless wounded to treat."
Dragging Karin, he pulled her into the next ward. The place was crammed with the critically injured, their groans filling the air.
He shoved Karin to the ground and went to speak with the attending doctor.
Karin hesitated for only a second before trying to run.
But the shinobi was vigilant. He caught her again, pulling her back hard.
"No! Let me go!!" Karin cried helplessly.
Even though she knew, deep down, that Itsuki would come for her, fear still consumed her in the moment.
The shinobi sneered. "We took in a stray like you, but you'll have to earn your food."
At that instant, a voice colder than steel sliced through the room—
"So… what if you no longer get the chance to take her in?"
The Kusagakure shinobi froze, hair standing on end. A murderous intent like icy claws locked onto him.
If he dared to move, he was certain he would be split apart instantly.
The air in the ward dropped by several degrees, silence pressing down on everyone.
Step. Step.
The sharp sound of footsteps echoed, each one like the toll of a death bell. Hearts pounded. Breaths caught.
What kind of oppressive aura was this?
Only Karin didn't feel the crushing weight. She turned toward the door with wide eyes.
A figure stepped into view—white-patterned Anbu mask, black robe. His identity hidden, his presence overwhelming.
"This is… Itsuki?"
Hope flooded Karin's chest. Her heart leapt, recognizing him instinctively. She couldn't help but step forward.
This scene wasn't exactly the same as the future video.
In that version, Itsuki only appeared at the last second, when a shinobi was about to bite her.
But reality was reality. The butterfly effect had already altered events.
Since he was prepared, there was no reason to wait dramatically.
"Stop!"
The attending doctor lunged, reaching for Karin's arm.
She was Kusagakure's "human-shaped pill," a key to their wartime advantage. There was no way they'd let her be taken.
The shinobi holding Karin realized with dread that the intruder's target was indeed her.
Slash!
Before the doctor could even touch her, a blur flashed by.
Blood sprayed. His arm spun through the air before hitting the ground.
Itsuki was suddenly behind Karin, shielding her without anyone even noticing when he moved.
A short blade glinted in his hand. Blood dripped slowly from its tip.
And his killing intent remained fixed on the shinobi restraining Karin.
That man had hoped to slip away during the attack—but Itsuki was too fast. He stood frozen in terror.
"Ahhh!!"
Only now did the doctor release a piglike scream, high-pitched enough to echo throughout the hospital.
Inside the ward, silence and fear reigned. Outside, chaos exploded in response to the scream.
"So warm… this is… Itsuki!"
Karin gazed at his back, dazed, her chest swelling with warmth and awe.
That back was the dawn of hope—her lifelong dream and pursuit.
"I'll take you away from here," Itsuki's gentle voice reached her ears.
Karin nodded immediately, whispering, "Yeah."
Then, remembering, she pleaded, "Wait! My mother is next door. Can you take her too?"
"Okay," Itsuki replied.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
A flood of footsteps shook the floor as a large force rushed toward them.
This was Kusagakure's stronghold. Their reinforcements would naturally arrive quickly.
"What happened?"
"Someone's trying to steal our human-shaped pill! Kill him!"
"He's no Anbu of our village!"
In seconds, more than a dozen Kusagakure shinobi surrounded the ward, glaring at Itsuki with hostility.
The shinobi who had dragged Karin here earlier finally exhaled.
The suffocating killing intent had left his back drenched in sweat.