NOVEL WEB Chapter 102: Chapter 102
Will there be a counterattack to finish them off?
For the safety of his companions, this was something Tetsuya Fujiwara had to consider no matter what. Moreover, as long as they could bring Muwa's corpse back to Umine Mountain quickly and use special methods to preserve it, they could send it back to Konoha. Surely, something valuable could be uncovered.
The cold blade swept across, and under Muwa's terrified gaze, the life of this Grass Ninja Jonin came to an end.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing a Jonin, gaining 276 points of slaughter value!]
High in the sky, at the moment Tetsuya Fujiwara turned around, rolling thunder resounded, followed by a torrential downpour, continuously falling from the high heavens. Feeling the cool sensation of the rain against his skin, Tetsuya Fujiwara didn't pay attention to Muwa's corpse. He had no time to waste.
Carrying Mist Marrow and the unique ninja blade belonging to Muwa, he quickly rushed toward Aburame Muto. His body felt heavy, his movements slower than before. The wounds on his body made every step agonizing, but he endured. There was no room for hesitation, no time to falter.
Upon seeing Tetsuya Fujiwara's arrival, the remaining three Grass Ninja Chunin couldn't help but grow flustered. Their faces turned pale, and beads of sweat formed on their brows. They exchanged nervous glances, clearly shaken.
And it was at this moment, they finally noticed—unbeknownst to them, the sounds of battle around them had completely disappeared.
"Konoha brat! What about our companions? Where is Lord Muwa?"
The voice of one Grass Ninja trembled slightly as he questioned. He already feared the answer but clung to a sliver of hope.
After gaining a safe distance from Aburame Muto and Koharu Tatsu, Tetsuya stopped. The gazes of the three Grass Ninjas fell entirely on him, their unease palpable.
"Muwa? Of course, he's dead! Likewise, your companions are all dead too! You should recognize this ninja blade, right?"
Glancing at the three Grass Ninjas not far away, Tetsuya Fujiwara slowly walked to Aburame Muto and Koharu Tatsu's side. After confirming they were unharmed, the trace of worry in his heart completely eased. Relief momentarily washed over him, but he quickly pushed it aside.
At the moment he turned his head, he directly tossed Muwa's ninja blade at the feet of the three Grass Ninjas.
"This is... Lord Muwa's personal blade!"
"This! How is this possible?"
Their voices broke as disbelief filled their faces. Just like Muwa, even up until their deaths, they couldn't believe Tetsuya Fujiwara could achieve such a feat.
"There's nothing impossible about it! Gentlemen of Grass Ninja, now it's your turn to decide. Will you stay here and continue fighting us to the bitter end? Or will you take Lord Muwa's ninja blade and return to the Grass Ninja Village to report?"
Tetsuya Fujiwara's voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable weight. His exhaustion was hidden behind his firm gaze, and his grip on Mist Marrow never wavered. To avoid showing any flaws, he did his best to maintain his current momentum. As he spoke coldly, the Mist Marrow in his hand gradually pointed forward.
"Damn it!"
Although they couldn't comprehend why Muwa had fallen in battle, they understood clearly that being inside the Land of Fire's borders and facing an equal number of enemies, a fight to the death was absolutely not the optimal choice.
"Take Lord Muwa's ninja blade! We're leaving!"
After a few seconds of hesitation, the eldest of the three Grass Ninjas gritted his teeth, finally making a decision. With heavy hearts, they retreated, carrying the blade as proof of their leader's demise.
"Have they left?"
After the three Grass Ninjas departed, Tetsuya Fujiwara still didn't relax in the slightest. His senses remained sharp, scanning the surroundings for any sign of betrayal or an ambush. Only after several tens of seconds passed, when Aburame Muto gave him a confirming glance, did Tetsuya Fujiwara's aura suddenly deflate, and his entire body collapsed, falling to the ground.
"Tetsuya!"
"Tetsuya-kun!"
Seeing Tetsuya Fujiwara's change, Aburame Muto and Tatsu's expressions instantly shifted. It was only at this moment that they noticed the countless wounds covering Tetsuya Fujiwara's body. His clothes were torn, stained with blood, and his breathing was shallow.
"Tetsuya-kun! Hold on! I'll heal you right away!"
"No! Tatsu! Don't waste chakra on me! I know my own condition! I'll be fine! Just need a little rest!"
"Go! Save Mikoto! She was severely injured by Muwa! I had my water clone take her south!"
"Muto! Go with Tatsu! No matter what, you must bring Mikoto back alive!"
At this moment, Tetsuya Fujiwara seemed to understand why Tsunade bore so much pressure, demanding that Konoha's higher-ups vigorously train medical ninjas. He realized the immense responsibility a leader bore and the sacrifices required to protect their comrades.
———
"Mikoto!"
At this moment, Aburame Muto and Koharu Tatsu finally shifted their focus to Uchiha Mikoto. No matter what personal matters Koharu Tatsu and Uchiha Mikoto might have privately, at the end of the day, they were teammates—fellow villagers.
"Tetsuya! You're here alone..."
Aburame Muto's expression remained full of hesitation. His instincts told him not to leave Tetsuya in such a vulnerable state.
"Muto! Don't worry! I'm far from reaching my limit! Now, as the captain of Squad Thirteen, I order you! Immediately head south to locate Chunin Mikoto! Ensure her survival!
"And also! After finding Mikoto, head to Umine Mountain as soon as possible! Inform Jonin Ro of the situation here! Request reinforcements from the Border Defense Unit seniors! These goods, we risked our lives to retrieve them! They absolutely cannot be abandoned here!"
The horses and carts transporting goods, during the initial battle, were affected by explosion tags. Most were killed, and only a few were stunned unconscious, barely surviving. However, with such a large haul, relying on Squad Thirteen alone to transport them back would be a joke.
Muto and Tatsu hesitated no longer. They exchanged a quick glance, their resolve evident. Without another word, they rushed southward to carry out their mission.
Tetsuya watched them go, his body slumping further into the dirt. The rain continued to pour, washing away the blood from his wounds and the ground around him. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let unconsciousness take him.
"We will survive this," he muttered under his breath. "We have to."
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