NOVEL NEXT Chapter 94: Chapter 94
Fujiwara Tetsuya was deep in thought, his mind racing.
If this group of infiltrating Rain-nin managed to return to the Land of Rain with the looted goods, the mission would effectively fail—even if it involved high-ranking nobles of the Land of Fire. At that point, they'd have no choice but to abandon the mission entirely.
The current state of the Land of Rain, specifically Amegakure, was one of absolute peril for any foreign shinobi. For ninja villages outside of Rain, Amegakure was considered a forbidden zone, one of the most treacherous territories to enter.
With just the four of them?
Even if they managed to sneak across the borders, surviving more than three days in Rain territory would be nothing short of a miracle.
"No," Tetsuya finally spoke, shaking his head. "While we don't know exactly where that group of Rain-nin is hiding, one thing is certain—they haven't returned to Amegakure yet."
The group looked at him with curiosity as he continued. "The amount of goods stolen from Sakuho City far exceeds what's mentioned in your mission scrolls. To transport such a large quantity of items back to the Land of Rain, avoiding detection by the border patrol, isn't something that can be done in just two days."
Hearing Tetsuya's explanation, Inuzuka Ro nodded thoughtfully. His eyes became sharp, his expression turning serious as he absorbed the implications.
From Ro's words, two key points emerged:
First, they still had time. They could comb through the area systematically and possibly catch this group of Rain-nin before they completed their mission.
Second, the city lord of Sakuho had deliberately underreported the amount of goods stolen when filing the mission request.
Tetsuya's eyes narrowed, his gaze turning contemplative.
An individual as powerful as the lord of Sakuho City held significant influence in the Land of Fire. Even with the daimyo, he would possess some level of authority.
So why would he lie? What exactly was hidden among the stolen items that he chose to conceal the true amount?
And what could be his motive for such deception?
Was it possible that the loss of these items was somehow linked to the city lord himself?
"Jonin Ro," Tetsuya said respectfully, breaking out of his thoughts. "Thank you for the information. We'll take it to heart."
"There's no need for thanks," Ro replied with a faint smile. "Whether as a senior or as a member of the border defense corps, it's my duty. In fact, I should apologize instead. Due to the lack of manpower at the western border, this is all the support I can provide you."
Tetsuya acknowledged the words with a nod, silently appreciating the man's candor. When it came to selecting Jonin, Konoha—or more accurately, Sarutobi Hiruzen—was exceptionally careful. In Tetsuya's one year as a shinobi, the majority of Konoha's Jonin he'd met had been respectable individuals who took their responsibilities seriously. Shinobi like Ro gave him hope that not all veterans would turn out like Kaharu Takuno, the proverbial rat in the gutter.
"Senior, you're too polite," Tetsuya replied with a small bow. "Time is of the essence, so we'll be taking our leave."
As they departed from Umine Mountain, Team 13 moved swiftly toward the last known location of the Rain-nin. Trees blurred past them as they darted through the forest, their movements fluid and coordinated. Thanks to the border patrol's earlier sweeps, this area had already been cleared of potential ambushes, allowing the team to focus on their mission without immediate threats.
---
"Tetsuya, this is the place," Uchiha Mikoto said as they halted at a seemingly nondescript part of the forest.
Faint tracks from wagon wheels, though deliberately obscured, had been discovered after the four teammates split up to search. Piecing together the scattered clues, they had finally uncovered the Rain-nin's trail.
"Muto," Tetsuya said, glancing at Aburame Muto. "Send out your insects. Everyone, assume battle formation."
The tracks were deep, suggesting the wagons were heavily loaded. The scattered evidence along the route corroborated Ro's earlier analysis—this group of ninja was moving far slower than anticipated.
Hours passed as the team pressed on, following the faint trail. However, the tracks abruptly disappeared when they reached a large lake that had suddenly appeared in their path.
"Tetsuya, do we cross the lake?" Uchiha Mikoto asked, frowning slightly as she surveyed the wide expanse of water.
Even for a team of Chunin, crossing a lake of this size using the Water Surface Walking Technique would be challenging. Building a raft, on the other hand, would take at least two to three hours.
Tetsuya glanced at the steep mountains flanking the lake. After a moment's thought, he made his decision.
"We'll build a raft," he said decisively. "Mikoto, Tatsu, take a break and eat something. Muto, come with me."
Fortunately, the area around the lake was rich with bamboo, making the task of constructing a raft much easier.
---
Tetsuya hadn't anticipated that his first mission with Mist Marrow, his chakra-metal sword, would see the weapon reduced to the role of a machete. The sharp blade gleamed as it cut effortlessly through the bamboo stalks, sending smooth segments falling neatly at Muto's feet.
"Tetsuya, your swordsmanship has become even more impressive," Muto commented, his voice tinged with admiration. "Setting aside ninjutsu, your blade alone gives me the feeling that I wouldn't stand a chance."
Muto glanced down at the kunai in his hand, then let out a resigned sigh before stepping aside to let Tetsuya work.
---
The raft was completed much faster than expected. With favorable winds and calm waters, the team didn't need to worry about waves hindering their crossing.
However, their progress came to a frustrating halt once they reached the other side of the lake. The trail they'd been following had vanished completely. Despite combing the lakeshore thoroughly, Team 13 couldn't find a single clue to indicate where the Rain-nin had gone.
"Tetsuya-kun, should we keep searching?" Mikoto asked. The team had regrouped around him, their expressions serious yet unwavering.
Tetsuya pondered for a moment before speaking. "We'll continue pursuing them, but not immediately. If the Rain-nin have erased their tracks so thoroughly, it's likely they've already rendezvoused with their reinforcements."
His gaze swept over his teammates. "The enemies we face next may be far more formidable than the ones described in Ro's intel. Everyone, rest for three hours. We'll need to be at full strength for what lies ahead."
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