Chapter 54: Whirlpool Kingdom Mission Gathering! Breath from the Ocean!
The next day, early morning!
After the Thirteenth Squad reassembled!
Led by Jonin Shinwa, they once again entered the Hokage Building!
"Mikoto! Seeing you recover, I'm relieved!"
"It seems that letting Tetsuya join the Thirteenth Squad was indeed the right decision!"
Today! Hiruzen Sarutobi's spirits seemed exceptionally high!
Perhaps this is the happiness of adults!
By my calculations!
Asuma's birth should be within these one or two years!
"Yes, Hokage-sama! You've worried about me during this time!"
Facing the Hokage!
Uchiha Mikoto's attitude was still gentle!
But Fujiwara Tetsuya could clearly sense the hidden distance!
This was probably the rift between the Uchiha and the Hokage lineage, deeply rooted in the Uchiha's bones!
"Alright!"
"I hope you three can get along well in the future!"
"After all, you are all people I value!"
The old trickster!
He never forgot to win people's hearts at every moment!
Fujiwara Tetsuya's gaze lingered on Hiruzen Sarutobi for a moment before quickly shifting away!
"Enough chitchat!"
"Jonin Shinwa, you've come at just the right time! I have a B-rank mission here that's perfect for you!"
"This mission requires you to escort the Ninja from Whirlpool Village, who came for the Chunin Exams, safely back to Whirlpool Village!"
"I need to remind you that the Ninja from Whirlpool Village are carrying a letter I wrote to the leader of Whirlpool Village; under no circumstances can anything go wrong!"
"Additionally, the situation in Land of Whirlpools these past few years hasn't been as peaceful as imagined! There's a high probability of encountering combat on this mission! There's a possibility of the mission rank being raised!"
Whirlpool Village, huh!
Listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's explanation!
Fujiwara Tetsuya's gaze gradually darkened!
The destruction of Whirlpool Village probably occurred before the Second Great Ninja War!
Which means, in these recent years!
The biggest instigator behind Whirlpool Village's destruction was the Hidden Mist Village!
But the hidden hands in the dark!
Who knows how many there were!
The current Whirlpool Village was definitely a bottomless whirlpool!
However! The greater the danger!
The greater the opportunity!
The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique!
Undoubtedly, it was the pinnacle of the Ninja World!
Even if he couldn't learn it! Just to witness it would be quite good!
"Is that so!"
Jonin Shinwa's expression showed a slight hesitation!
After glancing back at Fujiwara Tetsuya and the other two!
He immediately made a decision!
"Hokage-sama! Please entrust this mission to our Thirteenth Squad!"
"We will definitely deliver the Ninja from Whirlpool Village safely to Whirlpool Village!"
"Very well! I'll leave this matter to you!"
"I'll send someone to notify the Ninja from Whirlpool Village to gather at the Village gate at 9 AM tomorrow!"
..."It's you!"
When Uzumaki Heiji and Uzumaki Meika saw Fujiwara Tetsuya, Aburame Mokujin, and Uchiha Mikoto!
Their eyes widened in surprise!
"Two from Whirlpool Village! Long time no see!"
"It seems you two have been doing well recently!"
Looking at the two in front of them!
Fujiwara Tetsuya and his two teammates also showed slight smiles and greeted them one after another!
Uzumaki Heiji and Uzumaki Meika's Jonin leader had returned to Whirlpool Village immediately after the Chunin Exams due to an urgent mission!
After all, not every Ninja Village was like the Five Great Ninja Villages, with a systematic training mechanism!
Possessing a large number of Jonin and Elite Jonin!
In some small and medium-sized Ninja Villages!
A Jonin was the pillar of a Village, the highest combat power apart from the leader!
"Since everyone is here! Let's set off!"
After the five exchanged pleasantries!
Jonin Shinwa waved his right hand, and the group immediately sped off into the distance.
Land of Whirlpools is located on a relatively large island in the eastern sea of the Land of Fire!
To the north are the Land of Iron and the Land of Hot Springs! To the south is the Land of Bears!
Further east, across the endless ocean, is the Land of Water, one of the Five Great Nations!
Since the Uzumaki Clan established its nation, it has shared a lot of pressure from the Land of Water for Konoha!
Therefore, compared to the borderlines in the northeast, northwest, and southwest directions!
There were not many Ninja stationed on the eastern border!
It was only in recent years, after the situation in Land of Whirlpools continuously deteriorated!
That the Konoha Higher-Ups dispatched a large squad of Ninja to patrol the eastern border.
Within the borders of the Land of Fire!
Fujiwara Tetsuya, Jonin Shinwa, and their group had a relatively smooth journey!
Apart from conveniently dealing with a few groups of short-sighted bandits along the way, they didn't encounter any other troubles!
During their journey!
Fujiwara Tetsuya and the others finally understood!
Why Uzumaki Heiji and Uzumaki Meika were only now heading back to Land of Whirlpools!
Ultimately!
It was because that person from the Senju missed her homeland!
After the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, passed away!
That person's health deteriorated even further!
For the safety of the Nine-Tailed, she hadn't returned to the Uzumaki Clan for many years!
So, she kept the two juniors, Uzumaki Heiji and Uzumaki Meika, by her side for a period of time!
"We're here!"
After two days of continuous travel!
The magnificent sea finally appeared within Fujiwara Tetsuya and the others' sight!
"This is the sea!"
Breathing in the air carrying the scent of the sea!
Fujiwara Tetsuya felt his spirits lift!
By his count! This was the first time he had seen the ocean since coming to the Ninja World!
What a pity!
He had a mission now!
Otherwise, sunbathing, surfing, and the like!
Would definitely be a good choice!
"Tetsuya! Mikoto! Mokujin!"
"All of you, clear your minds and heighten your vigilance!"
"The sea is different from land! Once you get on a boat, you face unpredictable risks!"
"If it's truly as Hokage-sama said! If we encounter Ninja from Hidden Mist Village, it will be a battle beyond imagination!"
Looking at the ferry port not far away!
Jonin Shinwa's expression gradually became serious!
"Don't worry, Teacher Shinwa! We won't be careless!"
In Konoha Year 35, the Ninja World's black technology was far from the level it would be decades later!
At least!
The wooden sea vessel Fujiwara Tetsuya was standing on was still ancient!
Whether it was speed! Durability! Comfort! It was all far inferior!
This sea vessel's destination was the Land of Water!
However, it would stop for two days when passing through Land of Whirlpools!
Whether it was the specialties of Land of Whirlpools or the specialties of the Land of Water!
After being transported and traded across the sea!
They were enough to earn those merchants traveling east and west several times their profit!
"How about this! Uncle, not only do you own property in the Land of Fire and Land of Whirlpools, but you've also bought a large estate in the Land of Water!"
"Uncle! To achieve financial freedom at your age! It's truly remarkable!"
Uzumaki Heiji and Uzumaki Meika were confined to a guest cabin by Jonin Shinwa!
Although they had Jonin Shinwa's protection!
Fujiwara Tetsuya and his two teammates were not idle!
They roamed around the sea vessel!
Constantly gathering information!
The merchant in front of them, Nakamura Kazuo, who hailed from the Land of Hot Springs! Was one of Fujiwara Tetsuya's suspects!