Chapter 85: A New Invention Every Day in the Ninja World!
Inside the camp, there was a training ground.
"Why are those two here?"
"Why do we have to team up with them for this mission?"
"What bad luck!"
...
The genin from the three squads whispered about Hyuga Aotsuki and Yamakawa Koji.
One had a broken leg, and the other had a heart condition. Taking them on a mission seemed like a burden.
Neither Hyuga Aotsuki nor Yamakawa Koji paid any attention to these comments.
If they were true, they would indeed be hurtful.
But if they were false, such words had no power.
Just then, Uchiha Takashi arrived.
"I am Uchiha Takashi. I will be in full command of this mission. Let's move out!"
He didn't waste any time and led the team out.
Because as a ninja, there is no option to 'disobey' a superior.
Unless you're a jonin or part of the Hokage's circle, disobeying orders could cost you your life.
The three ninja squads in front were all genin.
Cannon fodder squads!
Not even a single chunin among them, which indeed made them fit that category.
No wonder Uchiha Takashi could be the mission commander.
He was, after all, a noble 'Chunin Lord.'
If it weren't for knowing Orochimaru's character, one might think he was being set up.
The only good news was that the mission route would detour through the Land of Rivers to the south, which, although longer, kept them away from the war zone.
If they had to escort the convoy through a war zone, Uchiha Takashi wouldn't have taken the mission.
However, he was curious about what kind of cargo was important enough to catch Orochimaru's attention.
After leaving the camp.
To accommodate the genin squads, they had to maintain a normal pace.
About seventy kilometers per hour! This was the standard marching speed, and genin could march for eight hours a day, covering nearly six hundred kilometers.
Team 404 led the way, with the other three squads positioned on the sides and rear.
This way, no matter where the enemy came from, they could respond quickly.
But with Hyuga Aotsuki around, there was no need to worry about surprise attacks.
Of course, during the journey, the other three squads were curious about her prosthetic leg, but not overly concerned.
Because ninjas are known for making the impossible possible.
Even a blind person could move normally, so using a prosthetic to move wasn't that surprising.
"Here!"
While leaping forward, Uchiha Takashi tossed two palm-width belts to his teammates.
"What is this?"
Hyuga Aotsuki curiously examined the belt in her hand, noticing several vials of medicine inserted into it.
"Tactical belt!"
Uchiha Takashi revealed the name of the belt.
Ninja pouches were fine, but their internal space was limited, and retrieving items was cumbersome. In terms of convenience, his self-designed belt was superior.
For instance, when two ninjas throw tools, retrieving them from a ninja pouch is slower than from a tactical belt.
Don't underestimate this small difference! Ninja battles often come down to these crucial moments.
The belt was well-equipped.
It held healing potions, restorative liquids, antidotes, and more.
"What a strange name!"
Hyuga Aotsuki murmured to herself while curiously examining the belt, her eyes gradually lighting up.
Clearly, she recognized the benefits of this item.
Not only did it allow ninjas to retrieve items faster, but it also enabled them to carry more.
Like potions!
A ninja pouch couldn't carry them, requiring modifications that risked breaking.
But this belt elegantly solved that problem.
A simple yet useful design! On the other side, Yamakawa Koji had already fastened it around his waist mid-air.
The potion slots on the belt had small protective designs, so there was no worry about them breaking during a roll.
"Is this the surprise you prepared for us?"
Hyuga Aotsuki recalled the items Uchiha Takashi had asked them to find.
Medicinal herbs, test tubes... and so on. "How is it?"
Uchiha Takashi was quite pleased with his gift.
Of course, the tactical belt was just an extra; the real treasures were those potions.
"Very nice!"
Yamakawa Koji moved around a bit and found that the tactical belt didn't hinder his movements at all, nodding in satisfaction.
Gulp!
After delivering the surprise, Uchiha Takashi took a sip of the clarity potion.
His mind quickly began to research, while still having the capacity to remain aware of his surroundings.
Multitasking! This was a skill he had only recently discovered.
However, doing so placed a significant burden on the user. Thanks to having used Hashirama cells, his body had become much stronger; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sustain the consumption.
Sage Mode, Senjutsu, Ascension Steps... all these studies were advancing in his mind.
Since he couldn't just lay low and be invisible, he had no choice but to push himself to the limit.
Soon, the team entered the Land of Rivers.
However, as they passed by the small island where they had previously camped, Uchiha Takashi slowed down.
Caw, caw!
A flock of crows gathered on the island, drawn by the abundance of 'food.'
Corpses!
The island's residents had all turned into corpses, their fresh blood staining the ground red.
"What's wrong?"
Hyuga Aotsuki noticed something was off with him.
"Nothing."
Uchiha Takashi withdrew his gaze from the familiar faces of the children's corpses, silently shook his head, and continued forward.
This is the ninja world! Such things are commonplace.
Didn't you see how the rest of the team was completely indifferent?
If it had been the work of a ninja, they might have been concerned, but it was clear that ordinary bandits had plundered and slaughtered, so they naturally didn't care.
Soon, they entered the Land of Wind.
Beneath the endless yellow sand, they successfully found the hidden convoy waiting for them.
Five carriages!
The wheels had pressed deep tracks into the sand, indicating that the cargo was extremely heavy.
"Who are you?"
The owner of the convoy, a portly middle-aged merchant, eyed Uchiha Takashi and his team warily.
"We're the Konoha ninja sent to escort the convoy!"
Uchiha Takashi spoke while presenting a mission scroll, which bore a complex pattern.
Upon seeing the pattern, the merchant relaxed his guard.
"You're finally here!"
After confirming Uchiha Takashi and his team's identity, the middle-aged merchant wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He knew the risks he had taken for this shipment.
But fortune favors the bold.
If this transaction succeeded, he would be set for life.
"Let's set off immediately!"
To avoid any unforeseen complications, Uchiha Takashi suggested they depart right away.
He had a nagging feeling that something was amiss.
If it were just ordinary goods, Orochimaru wouldn't have assigned him to escort them, so the sooner they completed the task, the better.
"Alright!"
The merchant understood the situation and promptly ordered his men to drive the carriages forward.
It was evident that these carriages had been specially designed to traverse the desert with ease.
Everything 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 Sand Ninja continued to pursue them, Konoha could send reinforcements.
It was at this moment.
"We have pursuers, and there's a Kage-level ninja!!"
Hyuga Aotsuki quietly alerted Uchiha Takashi, who was sitting with him atop the carriage, and tensed up.
Because among the pursuers, there was a Kage-level ninja.
(End of Chapter)