Chapter 2: Nohara Rin Revived
"This…"
Staring at the mission card, Karin froze for a moment.
Just as she was about to open her mouth and ask some questions—
—she realized Byakuya had already vanished.
This left her slightly depressed.
"Whatever… better complete the mission first."
With that thought, Karin lowered her gaze to the mission card.
The following words were written on it:
[Mission: Go to the Konoha cemetery, locate Nohara Rin's gravestone, and use your skill to revive Nohara Rin.
After revival,
bring Nohara Rin to the bookstore to find me.
Mission requirement: Must not be discovered by anyone throughout the entire process.]
Karin stared at the mission card, feeling a slight tension in her chest.
This was her very first solo mission!
"To stop being a walking medical kit forever.
To avenge Mother.
To gain freedom!
I have to give it my all!"
Karin took a deep breath.
Then she glanced around the room—there was no one else, and no windows either.
So she immediately began changing clothes.
After she finished, she checked herself in the mirror.
Suddenly she realized… this outfit actually looked really cool on her.
And after seeing that there were no more scars on her body, she felt her confidence surge.
"Go for it, Karin!"
Taking another deep breath, she pulled her straw hat low and quickly descended from the attic.
This was a three-story building.
First floor: bookstore.
Second floor: residence.
Third floor: this small windowless attic.
She had barely reached the first floor when she spotted Byakuya dozing off behind the counter.
"Master."
Karin greeted him a little shyly.
"Go on. Have some confidence."
Byakuya nodded expressionlessly.
"Yes!"
Karin responded energetically. Then with a light tap of her toes, her whole body shot forward like an arrow.
While dashing rapidly through the streets of Konoha, she also focused on sensing the changes in her body.
"First, I gained a revival skill.
As long as there's still some lingering aura left behind by the person, I can revive them.
Roughly once per month.
Second, my control over chakra has improved tremendously.
My physical strength has also increased significantly.
Just a little force and I can already leap this far…
Looks like both speed and power have increased by at least three times!
Lastly… my total chakra amount has skyrocketed.
If it used to be 1, now it's at least 100…"
After sensing all of this, Karin couldn't help but gasp inwardly.
She was a descendant of the Uzumaki clan—her chakra reserves were already far greater than ordinary people.
But now…
Her chakra capacity had increased by at least a hundred times!
"Terrifying…
Doesn't that basically make me a human tailed beast now?"
"Uncultured little girl."
"WHO?!"
Karin was startled by the sudden voice in her mind; her footsteps faltered slightly.
Then she quickly realized something and immediately pressed a hand to her lower abdomen.
"You're… the phoenix from that card?"
"Call me Phoenix King.
I'm your partner.
Finish the Holy Master's mission first.
We'll talk properly afterward~
At that time, I'll teach you some special ninjutsu…
Even secret techniques for fusing different nature transformations~"
"O-Oh… okay!"
Karin replied, her heart pounding with excitement.
Then she continued sprinting forward.
"I feel power surging through my entire body…
And I even gained an unbelievably powerful partner.
The Holy Master really is incredible!"
This realization made her feel even more that Byakuya was unfathomably deep.
At the same time, it also deepened her sense of belonging toward this mysterious organization.
"What an enigmatic and powerful group…
Finally… I don't have to be a walking medical kit anymore!"
…
Before long, Karin arrived at Konoha's cemetery.
She first used her Kagura Shisen to carefully scan the surroundings.
After confirming no one was around, she activated the revival skill.
"Buzz—"
The moment the skill was released,
a six-pointed star magic circle appeared on Nohara Rin's gravestone.
The array continuously flickered with seven-colored radiance.
Countless tiny Phoenix Kings danced through the air,
scattering seven-colored powder everywhere.
And that powder gradually gathered and condensed in midair…
Eventually forming the outline of a glowing, seven-colored human figure!
The silhouette slowly solidified, filled out, and expanded…
Until finally, it became a girl radiating dazzling seven-colored light!
"Buzz!"
The magic circle suddenly trembled, then shattered completely.
The seven-colored glow on the ground, in the sky, and on the girl's body all vanished at once.
The girl who had previously shone with rainbow light
returned to the appearance of an ordinary human girl.
Thump—she fell to the ground.
"Uh…"
Karin stared blankly at the unconscious girl who had just been brought back from death.
A moment later, her face flushed red.
She hurriedly took off her cloak and wrapped it around the girl.
"Could it be… the reason the master said not to let anyone see us…
is because he knew people come back naked after being revived?"
Karin didn't think too much about it.
Carrying Nohara Rin, she hurried back toward Byakuya's bookstore,
while staying alert to the surroundings to ensure neither of them was discovered.
Fortunately, it was deep into the night; there were hardly any people outside.
Soon, she successfully delivered Nohara Rin to Byakuya.
"Master!
Mission complete!"
Karin reported excitedly.
This was her first time completing a mission alone, after all.
However, after remembering something,
her expression quickly soured.
"Master…
I sensed people from Kusagakure looking for me.
It seems they've discovered I'm here and are starting to surround the area.
But since this is Konoha,
they haven't dared to make a move yet."
"Oh?"
Byakuya nodded expressionlessly.
Inside, however, he felt a touch of helplessness.
His actual strength was only average—an ordinary jōnin.
It was only natural that Kusagakure would notice when he took their "strategic resource" Karin away.
"You should head back first."
Although Byakuya was essentially invincible inside this bookstore,
to avoid unnecessary trouble,
and even more importantly—to prevent exposing himself,
he could only have Karin leave for now.
"I was originally planning to have Karin help Rin get dressed…
Now that she's gone,
this is going to be a little awkward."
Byakuya sighed silently in his heart.
Then he tossed out a brand-new mission card.
"Here. This is your next mission."