NOVEL NEXT Chapter 96: Chapter 96
After arriving at the lake, the group immediately turned north, moving swiftly. The lost time could only be made up through relentless pursuit. Every second counted.
"Tetsuya!"
Aburame Muto's voice cut through the quiet, sharp and urgent.
In a flash, Fujiwara Tetsuya doubled back, landing beside Uchiha Mikoto and Tatsu near Muto, who was crouched low to the ground. His hands brushed away dried leaves and twigs with deliberate care, revealing the damp soil beneath.
In the soft mud, clear wheel tracks etched deep into the earth were unmistakable.
"Tetsuya! It seems your guess was spot on!" Muto exclaimed, his tone tinged with restrained excitement. "The cargo from Sakuho City—it was definitely taken by Grass Ninja."
The four exchanged glances, a spark of determination igniting in their eyes. Judging by the fresh tracks, the Grass Ninja convoy had only recently passed through. If they pushed hard enough, there was still time to catch up.
"We move," Tetsuya ordered decisively. "But listen closely—do not act rashly until we've assessed their numbers."
Mikoto, Tatsu, and Muto nodded solemnly. They understood the stakes. The situation demanded caution and precision. Their expressions hardened, their resolve mirrored in Tetsuya's eyes.
---
As dawn broke, the fleeting darkness of dusk dissolved under the rising sun. In a dense forest ahead, a convoy of Grass Ninja surrounded a dozen heavily laden carts, steadily advancing toward the Land of Grass. The morning light pierced through the trees, thinning the lingering mist and illuminating the weary faces of those who had traveled through the night.
Several Grass Ninja, seated atop the carts, stifled yawns during brief moments of respite.
"Lord Muwa," one of them called out, breaking the relative quiet. "Once we deliver this cargo safely back to the village, your achievements will surely catch the leader's attention. A promotion to the upper ranks might not be far off!"
"Indeed," another chimed in eagerly. "When that time comes, we hope you'll remember those of us who have served you loyally."
At the head of the convoy, Muwa, a seasoned Jonin from the Grass Village, walked with a calm yet vigilant demeanor. He was the mastermind behind the heist in Sakuho City. Despite the flattery from his subordinates, his expression remained stoic.
"This mission isn't as simple as you think," Muwa said, his voice steady and firm. "Yes, we've gained much from this operation, and the blame has successfully shifted to the Rain Ninja, distracting the Leaf. But don't forget—this mission was only possible because the leader negotiated with a certain someone. Without that, it wouldn't have been this easy."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Rewards will come in time, but as for joining the upper ranks, that's a distant dream for now. My current qualifications are nowhere near sufficient."
Muwa's words wiped the eager grins off his subordinates' faces. They stiffened, exchanging uneasy glances.
"Remember," Muwa added sharply, "this is not something to discuss lightly. If the wrong people hear about it, not even I can protect you."
The reminder sent a shiver down the spines of the Grass Ninja. They lowered their heads in silent acknowledgment, the earlier excitement replaced by nervous sobriety.
---
Back in the forest, Muto's voice broke the silence among Tetsuya's team.
"Tetsuya, the Grass Ninja convoy is just ahead. Based on the information my insects have gathered, our earlier assumptions were correct. There's one Jonin among them—Muwa, likely their leader. In addition, there are about ten Chunin and elite Chunin. As for the genin, there are thirty-seven."
Muto's voice was low, almost a whisper, but the gravity of his report weighed heavily on the group. Tetsuya's brow furrowed as he processed the information.
A Jonin and ten Chunin-level enemies. The genin could be disregarded, but even so, the odds were steep. For Team Thirteen, victory would be anything but assured. The risk of casualties—or outright failure—was real.
Tetsuya's mind raced. Should they engage? Or should they fall back and report to Lord Hokage? The decision loomed large, a battle between caution and courage.
Before he could decide, a firm hand rested on his shoulder. Then another. Mikoto and Muto stood beside him, their eyes unwavering.
"Tetsuya," Mikoto said softly, "let's do this. We're not who we used to be."
Her words carried a quiet conviction, one that resonated deeply. Since the Mist Island mission, Mikoto and Muto had trained relentlessly, sharpening their skills in the shadows of Tetsuya's leadership. This was their chance to prove the fruits of their labor.
"Fine," Tetsuya said at last, a determined grin spreading across his face. "Let's take them down."
The air around them seemed to shift, charged with a collective resolve. Tetsuya's natural defiance flared to life. He had faced Mist Ninja without backing down—why should Grass Ninja be any different?
"All right," he declared, his voice steady. "Let's crush this convoy."
In that moment, his determination spread to his teammates like wildfire. Faith was contagious, and in the face of overwhelming odds, it burned brighter than ever.
---
Tetsuya turned his focus inward, distributing all his accumulated slaughter points into the Water Mirror Technique. Against a Jonin-level opponent, control and speed would be their keys to victory. Neutralizing Muwa quickly was paramount.
[Ding! Slaughter points allocated! Host panel updated!]
[Host: Fujiwara Tetsuya ]
[Rank: Elite Chunin (1289/10000)]
[Bloodline Limit: None]
[Jutsu:
- Lightning Style: Kirin (1/1000 Beginner) — S-rank
- Leaf Style Swordsmanship (1630/5000 Proficient) — A-rank
- Lightning Style: Chidori (428/5000 Proficient) — A-rank
- Water Style: Water Mirror Technique (1136/3000 Advanced) — A-rank
- Water Style: Water Severing Wave (129/3000 Advanced) — A-rank
- Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique (175/3000 Advanced) — A-rank
- Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet (436/500 Intermediate) — B-rank
- Water Style: Water Fang Bullet (103/500 Intermediate) — B-rank
- Water Style: Water Formation Wall (493/500 Intermediate) — B-rank
- Water Style: Water Whip (93/1000 Advanced) — B-rank
- Lightning Style: Thunder Beast Tracking Fang (67/1000 Proficient) — C-rank
- Lightning Style: Earth Walk (172/500 Advanced) — C-rank
- Water Style: Water Clone (449/500 Advanced) — C-rank
- Water Style: Water Prison (201/1000 Proficient) — C-rank
- Body Flicker Technique (Advanced) — D-rank
- Three Basic Techniques (Advanced) — E-rank ]
[Slaughter Points: 0]
---
With their strategy in mind, Tetsuya glanced at the distant convoy. The stakes were high, and their approach had to be flawless. They couldn't afford reckless techniques like Great Waterfall—the risk to the cargo was too great. Every move had to count.
Facing the sheer number of Grass Ninjas, tactical decisions became absolutely critical.
If there weren't the issue of protecting the cargo, two Great Waterfall Techniques would have been enough to significantly ease the pressure on Team Thirteen.
But they couldn't.
The mission parameters were clear: the cargo had to remain intact. Blasting through the enemy with destructive jutsu might win the fight, but it would also destroy what they were tasked to retrieve.
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