Chapter 395: Transition! Orochimaru embarks on the road of research! Second update, please ask for book tickets
After Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hanzo discussed matters concerning the Land of Rain and the amount of the next batch of aid supplies, Hiruzen Sarutobi only stayed in the Land of Rain for a few days before leading the injured back to Konoha.
Although the war in the Land of Rain had come to an end, the main forces commanded by the Third Kazekage, Chiyo, Ebizo, and Rasa in the Land of Rivers were still engaged in constant battles with Konoha's main forces led by Sakumo Hatake and Tsunade... At such a critical moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi had to return to Konoha to take charge.
"Hah~~~"
"How boring!"
Outside the Konoha Camp, Fujiwara Tetsuya yawned lazily, gazing at the overcast sky above his head.
In the Land of Rain, clear weather was truly rare.
Although the sunlight was weak, it was still good for getting some calcium.
Currently, a month and a half had passed since Ōnoki led his main forces back to the Land of Earth.
During this period, scattered messages were also sent back by spies lurking in the Land of Earth.
Although Ōnoki's return successfully stabilized the situation in Iwagakure and effectively curbed Kumogakure's plundering.
However, the battles between Iwagakure's main forces led by Ōnoki and Kumogakure's elites led by the Third Raikage were not as smooth as expected.
Several battles ended in near draws.
According to Fujiwara Tetsuya's estimate, if the Third Raikage could hold on longer and drag out Kumogakure's retreat until mid-October.
Then, due to the need to stabilize the situation on the eastern coast of the Land of Earth, reorganize forces, and prepare supplies... Iwagakure would have to wait until after winter to launch another large-scale offensive.
That would be a long period of respite for both Amegakure and Konoha.
"Tetsuya-kun?"
"So you're here; I've been looking for you everywhere."
Behind him, a light, clear voice slowly came, and Uchiha Mikoto quickly approached Fujiwara Tetsuya, gently sitting down beside the tree trunk he was leaning against.
She skillfully lifted Fujiwara Tetsuya's head and then gently placed it on her lap.
"Hmm~ Mikoto, if nothing unexpected happens, there won't be any large-scale battles before the end of the year."
"During this time, you can actually relax and don't have to be so strict with Aiko and Mako."
"Chunin strength is already quite good for Aiko and their age."
Feeling the softness from his neck, Fujiwara Tetsuya became even more languid.
Without large-scale battles, there would be no large influx of kill points.
Currently, all he could do was continuously research existing Ninjutsu and improve his proficiency through Shadow Clones.
"No~ Tetsuya-kun, this is for their future good; there's no such thing as 'good enough' on the path of a Ninja."
"If we are strict with them now, then when the war ends, it will be easier for Aiko and Mako to embark on the Ninja path on their own."
Undoubtedly, after countless overt and covert struggles with Torune Ryoui, Uchiha Mikoto had established her position as the head wife and had already taken on the role of the eldest sister-in-law for the new generation of the Fujiwara, Tanaka, Uesugi Three Clans... Fujiwara Tetsuya and Uchiha Mikoto did not notice.
As they chatted intimately... under a tree hundreds of meters away, Uchiha Fugaku and several Jonin from the Uchiha Clan were coldly watching everything unfold.
"Mikoto... she really has no sense of propriety!"
"I think she's probably forgotten that she's a woman of the Uchiha Clan, and women of the Uchiha Clan cannot marry outside!"
"When we return to the Village, I will definitely report her to the Clan Head and the elders."
Amidst Uchiha Fugaku's silence, the emotions of several Jonin from the Uchiha Clan gradually fluctuated.
After witnessing the combat power unleashed by Fujiwara Tetsuya, both they and other Uchiha Clan members remaining in the Land of Rain, when they saw Fujiwara Tetsuya, were like mice seeing a cat.
Giving them a feeling of wanting to hide as far away as possible... All they could do was vent their dissatisfaction in private.
"Enough, Mikoto's matter will naturally be handled by the Clan Head and the elders; we don't need to worry too much!"
"Don't forget where we are?"
"You should be clear about what awaits you if your words reach that person's ears?"
Seeing that the voices of several Clan members in front of him were getting louder and louder.
Uchiha Fugaku's expression changed, and he couldn't help but stop them.
After understanding the substantial relationship between Uchiha Mikoto and Fujiwara Tetsuya, he had completely extinguished all his fantasies about Uchiha Mikoto.
The reason for his concern, in the end, was merely that he couldn't swallow the resentment in his heart... The war on the western border of the Land of Rivers!
The war on the eastern coast of the Land of Earth!
The standoff on the borders of the Land of Rain... constantly tugged at the nerves of countless nations and Ninja Villages in the Ninja World.
Unconsciously, time advanced into late October.
During the long wait, Fujiwara Tetsuya, Orochimaru, and others also received the latest intelligence from the Land of Earth.
As Fujiwara Tetsuya had hoped, after plundering the cities on the eastern coast of the Land of Earth, the Third Raikage held on until mid-October before organizing the large-scale withdrawal of Kumogakure's elites in batches.
Facing the devastated eastern coast, even if Ōnoki had a good relationship with the Daimyo of the Land of Earth.
He was inevitably pressured by the officials of the Land of Earth and its powerful nobles... Whether it was to resolve internal issues in the Land of Earth or to deal with the mess left by the Third Raikage.
In the short term, Ōnoki and Iwagakure's main forces were simply unable to withdraw from the Land of Earth and re-enter the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
"Orochimaru-senpai, it seems... this time, we're going to have a long vacation."
Below the Konoha Camp, in a certain secret room.
Fujiwara Tetsuya looked at Orochimaru, who was busy on the operating table, and sighed with a profound meaning.
Perhaps it was due to a sense of powerlessness against war, or a new understanding of strength... the existence of life.
Soon after Hiruzen Sarutobi left the Land of Rain, Orochimaru began his exploration of human life... Incidentally, he only accidentally discovered Orochimaru's small actions.
However... when Fujiwara Tetsuya looked at the various materials hanging on the surrounding rock walls, his gaze paused.
Orochimaru clearly hadn't just recently embarked on this path; it was very likely that he had already started on this path when he and Danzo were together on the border of the Land of Grass, suppressing Grass Ninja and Iwagakure.
Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many materials... "Tetsuya-kun seems to have a hidden meaning?"
"However, what surprised me is that Tetsuya-kun, after discovering my research, actually didn't report me to sensei..."
After finishing his work, Orochimaru, as if realizing it later, looked at Fujiwara Tetsuya, who was meticulously admiring each material.
"Orochimaru-senpai, everyone has their own path to walk, and I... am only interested in my own path!"
"Whether you conduct human experiments or research Forbidden Techniques... that's all your own business!"
"As for Hokage-sama, I believe he will know one day, even if I don't say anything!"
"As for how he will handle it? That's another matter."
"However, as a junior, I still want to remind you... no matter what, please remember, do not lay a hand on the people of Konoha!"
"Otherwise..."
As he spoke, Fujiwara Tetsuya's tone gradually turned cold.
He was not a saint, but he also didn't want Orochimaru to ever target the people around him.
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