https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-84-Debts-Must-Be-Paid-Even-on-Your-Knees-/12832084/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-86-Come-and-Deceive-Come-and-Ambush-This-Little-Chunin-/12832086/
Chapter 85: A Daily Ninja Gadget!
Chapter 85: A Daily Ninja Gadget!
Inside a training ground within the camp.
"They're here too?"
"Why do we have to team up with them for this mission!"
"What rotten luck!"
...
The three teams of genin whispered among themselves, eyeing Hyuga Seigetsu and Yamashina Koji.
One had a broken leg, and the other had a heart condition. They would only be a burden on the mission.
Neither Hyuga Seigetsu nor Yamashina Koji paid any attention to the murmurs.
If the comments were true, they might have been hurt. But since they were just idle gossip, they held no weight.
At that moment, Douhei arrived.
"I am Uchiha Douhei. I will be in full command of this mission. Let's move out!"
He didn't waste any time and led the group forward.
Ninjas don't have the option to 'disobey' a superior.
Unless you're a jonin or connected to the Hokage, disobeying an order can be punishable by death.
The three teams of genin in front of him were cannon fodder.
Not a single chunin among them, they fit the bill.
Thus, it wasn't surprising that Douhei was the mission commander.
He was, after all, the esteemed 'Chunin-sama.'
If it weren't for knowing Orochimaru's character, one might have suspected he was setting them up.
The only good news was that the mission route would take them around the southern border of the Land of Rivers. It would add considerable distance, but at least they would avoid the war zone.
If they had to escort the convoy through the war zone, Douhei wouldn't have taken the mission.
Still, he was curious about what cargo could be so important to Orochimaru.
After leaving the camp, they had to maintain a normal pace to accommodate the genin teams.
About seventy kilometers per hour!
This was the standard marching speed, allowing genin to travel for eight hours a day, covering nearly six hundred kilometers.
Team 404 took the lead, while the other three teams spread out to the sides and rear.
This formation allowed them to quickly respond to any enemy attacks from any direction.
However, with Hyuga Seigetsu in the group, there was no need to worry about ambushes.
The other three teams were curious about her prosthetic leg, but it wasn't a major concern.
Ninjas were known for turning the impossible into the possible.
Even if blind, they could still function normally, so using a prosthetic leg was no big deal.
"Here!"
While leaping forward, Douhei tossed two wide belts to his teammates.
"What's this?"
Hyuga Seigetsu examined the belt in her hand, noting the vials of potions attached to it.
"A tactical belt!"
Douhei explained.
Ninja tool pouches were good, but they had limited space and were cumbersome to access. Nothing compared to the convenience of this belt he had designed.
For example, when throwing a weapon, a ninja could draw it from the tactical belt much faster than from a tool pouch.
Don't underestimate this small difference!
In a ninja battle, every second counted.
The belt was well-equipped with healing potions, healing essences, antidotes, and more.
"Strange name!"
Hyuga Seigetsu muttered, inspecting the belt with growing interest.
Clearly, she saw the benefits of the design.
It not only allowed ninjas to access items more quickly but also to carry more items.
Like potions!
A tool pouch couldn't hold them, and modifying it was risky and prone to breakage.
But this belt solved the problem perfectly.
A simple yet effective design!
Compared to her, Yamashina Koji had already fastened the belt around his waist in mid-air.
The belt's potion slots had a small protective design, ensuring the vials wouldn't break during rolls or other movements.
"Is this the surprise you prepared for us?"
Hyuga Aozuki remembered the items that Douhei had asked them to find: herbs, test tubes, and so on.
"How about it?"
Douhei was quite pleased with his gift. Of course, the tactical belt was just an added bonus; the real prize was the potions.
"Very nice!"
Sanada Koji stretched, finding that the tactical belt didn't hinder his movements at all, and nodded in satisfaction.
Gulping, Douhei downed the Clarity Potion after presenting the surprise.
His mind quickly began to analyze the information, while still managing to keep an eye on his surroundings.
Multitasking!
This was a new ability he had just discovered. However, it placed a significant burden on the user. Only the strength gained from the Hashirama cells allowed him to handle the strain; otherwise, he would have been unable to sustain it.
Research on Sage Mode, Sage Techniques, and the Long Stairway to Divinity continued in his mind.
Since he couldn't just lay low and blend in, he had to push himself to the limit.
Soon, the team entered the Land of Rivers.
However, when they passed the small island where they had previously camped, Douhei's pace slowed.
Caw, caw!
A flock of crows gathered on the island, drawn by the abundance of 'food'—bodies!
The island's inhabitants had all been turned into corpses, their blood staining the ground red.
"What's wrong?"
Hyuga Aozuki noticed his hesitation.
"Nothing!"
Douhei's gaze moved away from the familiar corpses of the children, and he silently shook his head before continuing forward.
This was the Shinobi world!
Such things were an everyday occurrence.
Didn't he see that the others in their team were completely unfazed?
If it had been the work of Shinobi, they might have taken it more seriously, but it was clear that ordinary bandits had carried out the raid and killings, so they didn't care.
Soon, they entered the Land of Wind.
Amidst the swirling sand, they found the hidden convoy without any issues.
Five carriages!
The wheels had left deep tracks in the sand, indicating that the cargo was extremely heavy.
"Who are you?"
The owner of the convoy was a middle-aged, portly merchant who eyed Douhei and his team warily.
"We are the Leaf Shinobi assigned to escort the convoy!"
Douhei spoke while showing the mission scroll, which bore a highly complex emblem.
Seeing the emblem, the merchant's wariness eased.
"You've finally arrived!"
After confirming Douhei's identity, the merchant wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He knew the risks he had taken to secure this cargo.
But fortune favors the bold.
If this transaction succeeded, he would be set for life.
"Let's get moving now!"
To avoid any unforeseen issues, Douhei suggested they depart immediately.
He had a vague feeling that something was amiss.
If it were just ordinary goods, Orochimaru wouldn't have entrusted him with the task. The sooner they completed it, the better.
"Alright!"
The merchant understood the situation and immediately ordered his subordinates to start the convoy.
It was clear that these carriages had been specially designed to navigate the desert.
The journey went smoothly.
The team soon reached the border of the Land of Wind.
Once they entered the Land of Rivers, the journey would be much safer. Even if the Sand Shinobi pursued them, the Leaf could send reinforcements.
It was at that moment.
"There are pursuers, and one of them is a Kage-level shinobi!"
Hyuga Aozuki whispered to Douhei, who was sitting on the roof of the carriage with him, his nerves on edge.
Because among the pursuers was a Kage-level shinobi.
(End of Chapter)
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