CH_113

"I'll go get Neru!" Natchi volunteered and ran off.

"Didn't expect the captain to actually make it back in time for our Chūnin Exams." Tōji changed the subject slightly.

"Just lucky timing. But I'm glad you three managed to improve even in these few days." Kenji's voice carried a hint of something—maybe wistfulness—as if he was thinking of something.

"Part of it is the foundation we built on the battlefield, and we also owe a lot to your guidance, Captain." After the pleasantries, Tōji asked, "Is the situation in the Land of Water that difficult? I get the feeling that you came back this time just to ask the Hokage for more manpower."

"Can't hide anything from you." Kenji glanced around, leaned closer, and lowered his voice. "Those of us who didn't enter Kirigakure were fine—most of us came back safe. But none of the others made it out. Rawari, the one you knew, was among them…"

『So it really is an investigation into Kirigakure's civil war.』

Tōji felt a knot in his chest—

Wasn't being dragged into this kind of investigation at this point basically a death sentence?

And since Kenji came back asking for more people, that meant they'd be going beyond just staying outside the village—this would be a deep infiltration… one wrong move, and they'd be taken out by the Kiri-nin secretly controlled by Obito!

The moment they slipped into Kirigakure, White Zetsu would probably know about it… This was practically certain death!

Tōji whispered back to Kenji, "Isn't it a bit reckless to bring rookies who aren't even chūnin yet on such a high-risk mission?"

Kenji noticed Natchi and Neru approaching in the distance and didn't respond.

"Come over, come over! Neru—I watched your match. Great job!" Kenji's enthusiasm felt a little forced now, clearly avoiding Tōji's question.

Though his eyes were on the remaining two matches, Tōji's mind was elsewhere.

The first day's matches wrapped up in just two hours from start to finish—it wasn't even lunchtime yet.

But Shinku had deliberately not held the official selection for the third exam's final round immediately—he was giving the "losers' bracket" more time to choose their opponents and gather more intel.

Tōji, of course, didn't need to rush any extra preparations.

The strongest in the "losers' bracket" were Mizuki and Nio Shinobu—and since Nio Shinobu was a Fire Release user, Tōji's Earth Release would counter him handily.

So right now, his only real worry was the upcoming Water Kingdom mission Kenji was about to drag him into.

After declining Kenji's invitation to go for barbecue, Tōji just waved to his family and headed to the river alone.

It was the same spot where he usually trained his Body Flicker and various escape techniques.

Lying in the shade, Tōji found that even the noisy cicadas and birds weren't as irritating as his own restless thoughts—

Wasn't there supposed to be over a year of "peace" after surviving the Third Great Ninja War? How was he already getting pulled into an investigation of the "Bloody Mist Village"?

Born at the wrong time!

A gentle breeze rustled the deep green leaves. Tōji stared at the motionless clouds in the blue sky and muttered, "Those clouds look fake."

"Complaining about the clouds all alone?" Neru's voice came out of nowhere.

Tōji propped himself up on his hands and turned around—Neru was standing behind him, actually smiling.

The picture itself was nice.

But it was Neru. Tōji only felt uneasy.

The river was so slow it was almost still, only rippling faintly in the breeze. But underneath, the current was far from calm…

"Not saying anything? Not happy to see me?" Neru was still smiling as she sat down beside him without waiting for an invitation.

"You're here to talk about what happens after Kenji's return, aren't you?" Tōji cut straight to the point.