Chapter 172: To the Past
Karin's strength lay in her mastery of sealing techniques, her swift movements, her precise execution, and the explosive power generated by her vast chakra reserves. It wasn't flashy, but it was highly effective.
By the time Team 3 arrived, the battle was already over. The remains of puppets were scattered everywhere. Karin's hair was slightly disheveled, ruffled by the smoke and dust, but she was otherwise unharmed. The rogue ninja from Sand Village, "Mukade," was in a pitiful state. His limbs were bound by golden chains, and his left hand was reduced to half its size.
"So fast," Tenten marveled.
They had fought Mukade before. Although he wasn't an elite, he was still at the jōnin level—experienced and extremely cunning. In familiar surroundings, he was hard to capture. If Naruto had been the one to act, it would have made sense. But it seemed Karin had fought alone. Their speed might have been slower, but the difference couldn't have been more than a few minutes.
"You only grow stronger when you're with the strong," Neji said in a low voice.
He remembered Karin from three years ago during the "Joint Chūnin Exams" in Konoha. At that time, she was just an ordinary genin who couldn't even pass the second stage of the exam. She was weak and talentless—that was the assessment back then. But now... even he wasn't confident he could defeat her.
Karin stood on tiptoe, completely ignoring Team 3 as they arrived, and waved in a particular direction. "Naruto, how did I do?"
"Very well done." Naruto was standing nearby, smiling and clapping for her.
Tenten wanted to speak up, but after glancing at Neji and remembering his earlier attitude, she swallowed her words.