Chapter 346: Return! New Generation! Funeral! Second update, please give me a ticket, brothers!
Land of Rain, Konoha Camp.
Fujiwara Tetsuya did not bring Fujiwara Aiko, Uesugi Mako, and others back to Konoha, but returned to the front-line camp.
He handed the five over to their respective squads again.
Strictly speaking, this was not Fujiwara Tetsuya's decision, but a joint decision made by Fujiwara Aiko and the other four.
After the kidnapping incident and the Ryūchi Cave incident, the five children had clearly grown beyond imagination.
Compared to avoiding reality, facing reality offers endless possibilities.
"Senior Orochimaru, Senior Tsunade, Ryoui... Teacher Mako, I'll see you off here."
"I will safely escort them back..."
The next morning, the sky was still covered with thick dark clouds... and in the depths of the darkness, muffled thunder occasionally rumbled.
Under the gaze of dozens of eyes, Fujiwara Tetsuya led several Ninja squads, driving more than a dozen carriages, fully loaded with those who had lost their combat ability... and the bodies of Konoha Ninja who had died in battle over the past half-month, slowly heading in the direction of the Land of Fire.
Because of the 'black technology' of scrolls, there was no need to worry about the bodies decaying... Since the Sunagakure Camp was destroyed, it would take a lot of time to gather Ninja supplies and rebuild morale.
In the period that followed, the Konoha main force, led by Orochimaru and Tsunade, and the Sunagakure main force, led by the Third Kazekage and Chiyo, fell into a strange standoff.
However, the cessation of hostilities in the southwestern Land of Rain did not mean that the entire Land of Rain had returned to peace.
In the northern region of the Land of Rain, with the continuous reinforcements from Iwagakure, the elite of the Hidden Rain Village led by Hanzō and the Konoha support troops led by Danzo faced increasing pressure.
It wasn't just a shortage of manpower... but also various Ninja supplies, medical supplies, and so on, which all began to run short.
In short, the war situation was developing in a direction unfavorable to Konoha and the Hidden Rain Village... Konoha.
The journey back was calm and uneventful... Due to the war, the Anbu and Root had already thoroughly cleared out the hidden agents and rebellious forces lurking in the western Land of Fire.
Fujiwara Tetsuya didn't encounter a single enemy he could practice with until he arrived at Konoha.
Because Orochimaru had already sent people to compile and send all the front-line intelligence back to Konoha.
So when Fujiwara Tetsuya led several squads escorting the wounded and the bodies of the deceased to the Konoha gate... both sides of the street were already packed with people.
Standing directly in front was Hiruzen Sarutobi himself.
"Hokage-sama..."
Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's complex expression, Fujiwara Tetsuya slowly stepped forward and broke the silence.
"Tetsuya... the matter of the Fujiwara, Tanaka, Uesugi Three Clans' children..."
"Don't worry, Hokage-sama, I'm fine! I will explain everything to my clan members properly, after all... this is the destiny of a Ninja."
From a personal perspective, Fujiwara Tetsuya could understand Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts at this moment.
Whether it was before he went to the Land of Rivers battlefield, or now... he had broken through to Kage-level, becoming a true Kage-level expert.
Both gave him a place in Konoha, making him a force that could not be ignored.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was worried that the hatred of his clan members would cloud his vision... causing him to lose his past rationality.
"Hoo~ I'm relieved to hear you think that way..."
"Tetsuya, the future of Konoha is in your hands."
"If possible, I hope I can witness all of this."
..."Is that so..."
"Kazuharu, Ako, Suzune... and Tomomi, did they die in battle?"
Fujiwara, Tanaka, Uesugi clan grounds.
When Fujiwara Tetsuya brought Fujiwara Tomomi's body back to the clan grounds, all the clan members were plunged into grief.
They caressed the pale, cold bodies, weeping loudly.
After several years, clan members had once again left them.
"Uncle Jiro, Auntie Sachiko... and everyone! Please look up, Tomomi and the others died honorably, just like the heroes of our ancestors."
"If Tomomi and the others knew you were like this, they would be sad..."
"Big Brother Tetsuya, I also want to become a Ninja... I will definitely become strong enough to avenge Big Sister Kazuharu, Big Sister Tomomi, and the others... I will."
As Fujiwara Tetsuya tried his best to comfort everyone, a small, childish figure climbed up... clenching his chubby hands, as if making a solemn declaration.
"Is that so, Gintoki? The path to becoming a Ninja is much harder than you imagine."
Tanaka Gintoki, Tanaka Jiro's only son... just turned three, and was the only new member added to the Fujiwara, Tanaka, Uesugi Three Clans in these past few years... besides Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji.
Although... all of this came from the internal integration between the Tanaka and Uesugi Clans.
However... in another two years, once Uesugi Tetsu, Tanaka Yoshito... and other clan members who haven't embarked on the Ninja path get married, this situation will change significantly.
"Big Brother Tetsuya, I want to go to the front lines... I want to be with Aiko and the others."
"I can no longer endure this feeling of being a bystander... even if I die in the Land of Rain, I must go..."
"Big Brother Tetsuya, you said that fledglings must eventually leave the protection of the eagle!"
With a low growl, Uzumaki Kyoji stood in front of Fujiwara Tetsuya, his face filled with determination.
"Is this your resolve, Kyoji!"
"I will give you this opportunity. After Tomomi and the others are properly buried, I will give you a chance to challenge me... as long as you can last one minute against me, I will allow you to go to the Land of Rain front lines."
"Rina... if you also hold such a belief, you can also challenge me."
...On the day of the funeral, a continuous drizzle fell over Konoha.
In the winter season, the chilling rain... seemed to add a touch of sorrow to the funeral atmosphere.
Ninja? War? Destiny... Death?
Is it reincarnation, or the manipulation of fate... Even the Six Paths Sage might not be able to explain these things clearly.
"Lord Tetsuya, please accept my condolences... Genin Tomomi and the others are all heroes of our Konoha."
In a remote corner, many figures gradually appeared. Not only did Hiruzen Sarutobi specifically send people over... but also various Shinobi Clans, big and small, such as Hyuga, Senju, Nara... Shimura, and Yuhi, also sent people here one after another.
At the very least, they were Elite Chunin, and some... even sent high-ranking clan members.
Although, the ultimate goal of these Shinobi Clans was Fujiwara Tetsuya.
"Thank you all. I will remember the matters on the front lines and your kindness today..."
"Kazuharu, Ako, Suzune... and Tomomi, watch carefully from the Pure Land World. Big Brother Tetsuya will definitely avenge you and lead the Fujiwara, Tanaka, Uesugi Three Clans to stand at the pinnacle of the Ninja World."
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