Chapter 78 — Traces of the Enemy
Night, inside the outpost tent
"Captain Yamaguchi… are we staying here to help garrison the outpost?"
Taichi finally voiced the doubt in his mind.
"Yeah, Captain," Saori added.
"Weren't we supposed to deliver the supplies and head back?"
Before Yamaguchi could answer, Yōhei jumped in:
"You two were busy all day healing wounded people, so you didn't hear.
If an outpost suffers an attack, our squad is obligated to stay and assist."
He turned back toward the captain, eager as a puppy.
"Right, Captain?"
Yamaguchi nodded.
"Yes. Earlier today, Outpost Commander Chiba officially requested reinforcement support.
We'll be stationed here for about three to four days—until Konoha sends backup."
Hearing this, Taichi and Saori didn't complain.
They simply began reorganizing their gear and supplies.
If they were to garrison the outpost, everything had to be in order.
"Captain," Taichi asked while checking his pouches, "does the outpost have spare short swords we can requisition?"
"It does. Only standard-issue ones, though. Every outpost keeps a stockpile since weapons get consumed quickly in battles."
"Good. I'll pick one up tomorrow. My short sword broke during training earlier, and my replacement isn't finished yet."
Taichi looked relieved—his combat capability heavily depended on having a blade.
Saori glanced up at Yōhei, who had been pacing back and forth around the tent for several minutes.
"Yōhei, what are you doing?
You're walking circles instead of preparing your gear."
"A-haha… I'm just a little excited!"
Yōhei grinned broadly.
"I didn't expect we'd run into a mission like this.
I mean, look at the situation—us swooping in with supplies, saving everyone, holding the line until reinforcements arrive—don't you think we're like heroes arriving 'in the nick of time'?
It's exactly like something from a novel!"
Saori stared at him, speechless.
Taichi, still organizing his ninja pouch, delivered a clean jab:
"Reality is usually stranger than novels.
And what you're describing isn't a novel—it's called being a jinx."
Saori covered her mouth and laughed.
Yōhei's face went dark.
---
The Next Morning
At dawn, Taichi headed to the logistics tent.
After showing his ninja ID, he requested a new short sword.
By now, nearly everyone in the outpost recognized him—
after all, he had saved more than half of them the previous day.
"Oh, Taichi? You're the medical ninja, right?
Why do you need a short blade?"
The chūnin in charge asked curiously as he spoke—but his hands moved quickly, already filling out the request log.
He didn't question Taichi too much.
After yesterday's display, no one in the outpost underestimated him anymore.
"I'm actually more of a combat shinobi, you know," Taichi replied with a grin.
"We'll be stationed here for a few days, so having a blade on hand is just precaution."
The chūnin clearly didn't buy that.
With medical skills like Taichi's, how could he possibly have time to train as a frontline fighter?
But he kept his thoughts to himself—
after all, Taichi had saved his life yesterday.
"Haha, right, right—combat ninja. I'll grab you a short sword right away."
He disappeared into the storage room.
Taichi heard a series of metallic clang clang clang noises.
Moments later, the chūnin returned carrying five short swords and laid them out generously.
"Take your pick."
Clearly, he was giving Taichi the privilege of choosing.
Taichi didn't refuse.
He tested each blade one by one, finally selecting the one with the best balance and grip.
After thanking the chūnin, Taichi slung the sword onto his back—
only to see Captain Yamaguchi approaching with Yōhei and Saori.
"Taichi, just the person I was looking for."
Yamaguchi pulled him aside.
"We've received a new assignment—a routine patrol. I'll take you through it once, but after this, you three will handle patrol missions yourselves."
Yōhei and Saori both looked thrilled.
This was their first real wartime patrol.
"Understood, Captain," Taichi said.
"Good timing—I just got my new sword. Are we heading out now?"
Yamaguchi glanced at the blade on Taichi's back and nodded approvingly.
"We move. Now."
He led the way out of the outpost.
---
Patrol
The four formed a 1-2-1 formation as they headed west from the outpost.
The further they went, the fewer signs of human activity remained.
About 20 kilometers out, Yamaguchi finally halted.
"This will be your patrol sector," he explained while they scanned the forest.
He walked with them slowly, teaching as he went:
"Border patrol has three priorities:
One: Watch for unauthorized border crossings.
Two: Observe terrain—any trace of movement matters.
Three: Check all sensory seals placed by the previous shifts.
If a seal was disturbed, someone passed through."
These were lessons no academy book would ever cover.
This was real battlefield experience.
"Captain Yamaguchi, look here!" Saori's voice called out.
The four gathered around a patch of charred ashes—remnants of a campfire.
Yamaguchi squatted, brushing his hand over the still-warm embers.
They didn't even clean their tracks…?
Or have they gotten bold enough to ignore basic concealment?
"Fan out," he ordered.
"Search for more traces."
"Yes, sir!"
The three dispersed, examining trees, soil, footprints, and weapon marks.
After a short while, they regrouped.
Under Yamaguchi's gaze, only Yōhei reported findings:
"To the west—about 200 meters—on a tree.
Clear signs of people stepping or landing there.
Quite a few of them."
Yamaguchi turned toward the direction Yōhei pointed.
That direction… led away from the border.
Meaning the infiltrators came from the Land of Rain.
"Taichi. Yōhei."
Yamaguchi's voice hardened.
"Return to the outpost immediately. Report everything.
Tell them to increase vigilance—the enemy may still be close."
"Yes!"
"Yes, sir!"
Taichi and Yōhei dashed off at full speed—covering the distance in half the time it took earlier.
As they neared the outpost, two patrolling shinobi blocked them.
"Password!"
"Tempura…" Yōhei muttered, his mouth twisting.
"I still want to know who came up with that."
"Focus."
Taichi cut him off.
"Let's go. The intel's urgent."
They rushed in and quickly found Commander Chiba.
"Taichi? Only you two returned?" Chiba's expression darkened.
"Chiba-sama," Taichi said crisply,
"We discovered enemy presence in our patrol sector. Captain believes they may be the same ones who attacked the outpost before.
He sent us back to warn you—prepare for another attack."
Chiba's eyes narrowed.
"So they still won't give up…
Do they really think Konoha is an easy target?"
His face remained calm, but Taichi sensed the simmering anger beneath.
"You two must be exhausted. Go rest for now."
"Yes."
---
Outside the tent, Yōhei leaned close.
"Taichi… you think the enemy will really come again?"
Taichi gave him a strange look.
"Well, you said it.
So of course they will."
"…What kind of logic is that?" Yōhei protested.
"I'm not a real jinx, you know! It's not like everything I say comes true!"
His frustration only made Taichi burst into laughter.
"Haha—alright, alright."
Taichi waved him off.
"I'm heading back to check on the wounded.
If a battle breaks out again, even one more fighter in good condition could change the outcome."
With that, he left Yōhei behind.
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