Chapter 11: #11 Goodbye Hidden Grass Village
Karin stood by the window of her room, staring out at the faint light of dawn breaking over the Hidden Grass Village. The rhythmic sound of her breathing was the only thing that broke the silence. Today was the day. After weeks of suffering, plotting, and growing stronger, she was finally ready to make her escape.
She had spent the night going over her plan again and again, ironing out every possible flaw. It wasn't perfect, nothing ever was, but Karin didn't need perfection. She needed precision, boldness, and the element of surprise.
Her strategy was simple: avoid stealth for as long as she could. The transformation technique would allow her to walk through the village gates undetected. If anyone got in her way, they wouldn't live to regret it. She had already tested her movement techniques enough to be confident in her ability to outrun or outmaneuver most pursuers.
She knelt down on the cold floor, packing the essentials—a few rations she had stolen over the past week, a kunai she kept hidden under her mattress, and the notebook filled with knowledge from the Chunin. This was all she needed for now.
As the sun climbed higher, Karin initiated her escape plan. She sat cross-legged on her mattress, feigning her usual exhaustion. The guards, used to her docile behavior, paid her no mind as they barked orders at the other captives. When the room finally emptied and she was left alone, Karin sprang into action.
Standing in front of the cracked mirror nailed to the wall, she formed the hand signs for the Transformation Technique. She transformed flawlessly into the Form of the last Chunin she killed.
The transformation was seamless. Karin glanced at her reflection, marveling at how easy it was. Every detail was perfect—the slight scruff on her chin, the scar across her cheek, the confident, upright posture of a seasoned shinobi.
She formed the necessary Seal and used the Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique and leaving her House behind.
Stepping out into the street, Karin moved with purpose, her gait mimicking the confident strides of the shinobi she had studied. Villagers and patrolling guards barely glanced at her as she made her way toward the gates.
When she reached the gate, two Chunin stood on either side, leaning lazily against the wall. They looked bored, their attention half on the road ahead and half on their idle chatter.
Karin approached them, her heart pounding but her face betraying nothing. "Orders from the Above," she said curtly, her tone commanding. "I need to inspect the perimeter."
The guards glanced at each other, their expressions skeptical. One of them stepped forward. "The Captain didn't say anything about—"
'Curse it, Stealth was never my specialty…'
He didn't finish. Karin's kunai struck his throat with surgical precision, silencing him instantly. Before the second guard could react, Karin was on him. She grabbed his arm, twisted it at an unnatural angle, and drove her kunai into his side. He gasped, collapsing to the ground.
Karin quickly dragged their bodies into the nearby brush, ensuring they were hidden from view. Blood spattered her transformation disguise, but it only added to the authenticity of her appearance. If anyone saw her now, they'd assume she had just returned from a fight.
Once outside the village, Karin moved quickly, her feet barely touching the ground as she sprinted into the dense forest. She weaved between the trees, using her Earthbound Eruption Steps to propel herself forward in controlled bursts.
Her movements were calculated. She switched between running, jumping, and sliding to ensure she left no distinct pattern that could be tracked. Using her newfound ability to sense chakra, she kept an eye—or rather, a feel—on her surroundings, ensuring no one was following her.
Karin ran until her legs burned and her lungs screamed for air. Finally, she found a dense thicket of bushes and trees, hidden well enough to catch her breath. She crouched low, pressing her back against a large tree, and let her senses expand. No chakra signatures nearby. She was safe for now.
As she sat there, her chest rising and falling with each labored breath, Karin allowed herself a small smile. For the first time since waking up in this childish body, she was truly free.
But her journey was far from over. She had escaped the village, yes, but the world beyond was vast and unfamiliar. She needed more strength, more knowledge, more Influence, something she lacked at the moment.
The Hidden Grass Village, the shinobi who had humiliated her, and the people who had dared to speak to her as if she were less than human, they would all pay. One day, she would return and leave this Village an Empty Ruin filled with Corpses.
(AN: Okay maybe i used a bit too much Chat gbt here, or do you still think its fine like this ?)