NOVEL NEXT Chapter 93: Chapter 93
Fujiwara Tetsuya didn't expect this.
Someone had gotten up even earlier than him!
"Tetsuya-oniisan! Mikoto-neechan is here!"
Just as Fujiwara Tetsuya was sipping his morning porridge, accompanied by salted fish, Fujiwara Aiko burst into the room. Behind her stood Uchiha Mikoto, clad in a fitted outfit that highlighted her graceful figure.
"Mikoto, why are you here?"
Facing the girl before him, Fujiwara Tetsuya felt a tinge of guilt creeping in. Suddenly, the porridge in his bowl didn't seem as appetizing.
"I woke up early today and figured you might not have left yet, so I thought I'd drop by," Mikoto said with a smile.
Drop by?
Looking at the girl who had taken the initiative to sit beside him, Fujiwara Tetsuya's lips twitched slightly. The Uchiha clan's territory wasn't exactly close to where the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans were based. Calling this a "drop-by" was akin to saying she had taken a detour through half of Konoha.
"Have you eaten?" he asked. "If not, I can get you a portion."
Though the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans' meals had improved considerably thanks to his efforts, they still couldn't compare to the lavish lifestyle of the Uchiha clan. Yet, his instinctual courtesy—engraved in his soul from his past life—made him offer without hesitation.
"Sure. Thanks, Tetsuya-kun," Mikoto replied softly.
What followed was perhaps the longest breakfast Fujiwara Tetsuya had ever endured since returning from the deserted island. The presence of Uchiha Mikoto made it hard to focus on the meal.
The other members of the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans, sensing the unusual atmosphere, quickly finished their food and left the room. Soon, the spacious dining hall was left with only Tetsuya and Mikoto.
Tetsuya forced himself to control his gaze. If he didn't, he feared he might start swallowing nervously. Today, Mikoto seemed even more charming and gentle than usual, exuding an irresistible allure.
After breakfast, the two left the Fujiwara compound and headed toward the Hokage Tower. Although they were running about half an hour later than Tetsuya had planned, it was still within acceptable limits.
Not long after they arrived, Aburame Muto and Koharu Tatsu also appeared, just minutes before the designated meeting time.
"Mikoto, Muto, Tatsu!" Tetsuya called out, his voice steady yet spirited. "It's time to begin… Team Thirteen's new journey!"
Standing before the towering Hokage Tower, Tetsuya's gaze briefly lingered. Taking a deep breath, he strode forward with firm determination, signaling the start of a new chapter.
---
Perhaps it was because of Team Thirteen's recent A-rank mission, which had successfully severed numerous spy networks from neighboring nations, but the western borders of the Land of Fire had grown increasingly unstable. Reports of merchant caravans being ambushed en route to the Land of Wind, the Land of Rain, and even the Land of Earth were becoming more frequent.
There was no doubt that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes. Team Thirteen's latest mission was to head to the border region where the Land of Fire, the Land of Rain, and the Land of Grass converged and investigate a case of missing goods.
"Tetsuya, that's Mount Umine up ahead," Muto said, pointing to the distant mountain shrouded in mist. "According to Lord Hokage's intel, we need to locate Jonin Inuzuka Ro of the border defense unit once we arrive."
The group moved swiftly through the forest, their figures darting between the trees like phantoms. Despite not being particularly exceptional in combat strength, Koharu Tatsu's solid foundational skills as a ninja were evident. She had managed to keep up with the group's pace without falling behind.
"Got it, Muto," Tetsuya replied. "Stay alert, everyone. The borders are anything but peaceful right now. Be ready for combat at any moment."
Mount Umine was a treacherous peak in the western region of the Land of Fire. To its west and northwest lay the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass, respectively. In recent years, as Hanzo and the Rain Village rose to prominence, Konoha's attention had inevitably shifted toward the Land of Rain. Mount Umine had thus been fortified as a permanent outpost to monitor Rain Village activities.
---
Upon their arrival at Mount Umine, Tetsuya and his team, armed with a personal letter from the Third Hokage, were granted an audience with Inuzuka Ro after a brief security check.
"I didn't expect Lord Hokage to send four brats for this task," Ro said bluntly, scrutinizing them. "This isn't as simple as it seems, kids. Team Thirteen, you'd better prepare yourselves mentally."
Age was an unavoidable hurdle for Tetsuya. Yet, over time, he had learned to let such remarks slide off his back.
"Ro-senpai," Tetsuya said with a respectful nod, "if Lord Hokage entrusted this mission to us, he must have his reasons. I believe in my team's ability to complete the task. Still, thank you for the warning."
Ro smirked. "As the rumors say, you're an interesting kid."
Before Tetsuya could respond, Ro clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder, the force of which nearly made Tetsuya stumble. It was clear Ro's gesture wasn't entirely playful.
"Alright, enough small talk. Let's get to business," Ro said, his tone shifting to one of gravity. "This mission involves the lord of Sakukaze Fortress. When we learned about the missing goods, our border patrols began keeping a close eye on the area. Two days ago, a patrol team discovered traces of a group—likely Rain Village shinobi—about ten miles northwest of the ambush site."
Tetsuya's eyes narrowed. "Rain shinobi?"
Ro nodded, his expression grim. "The patrol team didn't engage due to the enemy's numbers. They tracked them for a short distance before retreating to report back."
Rain Village's growing influence had been a source of constant tension along the borders. Stationed at the frontier, Ro had experienced firsthand the pressure exerted by the Rain shinobi.
"Two days ago… If that's the case, they've likely returned to the Land of Rain by now," Tetsuya muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Ro crossed his arms. "Perhaps. But the trail is still fresh enough for you to pick up where our patrol team left off. Good luck, Team Thirteen. You'll need it."
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