A Difficult Road Home 8

Tetsuma awoke to the faint glow of morning sunlight filtering through the tent fabric. The scent of fresh rice and miso soup wafted through the air, a stark contrast to the blood and steel he had grown accustomed to.

His body still ached from the previous battles, but the worst of his wounds had been treated. Thanks to Senju Kaori's medical expertise, his chakra network had stabilized, and his energy had partially recovered.

After freshening up, he stepped out of the medical tent and was immediately greeted by the sight of Konoha shinobi bustling around the border outpost. Patrol squads were preparing for their shifts, while messengers hurriedly carried intel reports back and forth. Despite the relative calm, the air was heavy with the tension of war.

As he made his way toward the command tent, a familiar voice called out.

"You're up earlier than expected, Tetsuma-sama."

Kaori stood nearby, arms crossed. She was still in her standard Anbu attire, though her expression was less stern than usual.

Tetsuma smirked. "War doesn't wait for me to rest, Verdant."

Kaori rolled her eyes. "You should have rested longer. Your wounds—"

"Have already healed enough." He waved her concern away. "Besides, I need to return to Konoha immediately."

Kaori sighed but didn't argue further. She knew him too well.

---

The Escort Squad

After finishing a quick breakfast in the mess hall—a simple meal of rice, grilled fish, and green tea—Tetsuma gathered the outpost's commanding officer and requested an escort team.

"I won't be taking any Anbu this time," he stated firmly. "Just a standard squad of regular shinobi. Four should be enough."

The officer raised an eyebrow. "Not taking Anbu, sir?"

Tetsuma shook his head. "Anbu movements attract attention. I want this to be a low-profile return."

The officer nodded and quickly selected a four-man squad for the escort.

Their leader was a veteran jonin named Haruto, a swordsman specializing in wind release. He was accompanied by three chunin—one sensor, one medic, and one ranged specialist skilled in shurikenjutsu.

Tetsuma scanned the group and gave a curt nod. "You'll do. We leave in ten minutes."

---

Departing the Outpost

Before leaving, Tetsuma checked his weapons, ensuring his Kusanagi blade was secured at his waist. His Anbu mask remained tucked inside his cloak—there was no need to draw unnecessary attention.

Kaori approached one last time before his departure.

"Try not to get into another fight on your way back, Tetsuma-sama," she said dryly.

Tetsuma smirked. "No promises."

With that, he turned and flickered toward the trees, his escort squad following closely behind.

The road to Konoha awaited.

The journey back to Konoha was relatively uneventful, the thick forests of the Land of Fire providing a natural cover from prying eyes. The sun hung high in the sky, casting dappled light through the trees as Tetsuma and his escort squad moved swiftly along the well-worn paths.

Despite the tense atmosphere of the ongoing war, Haruto Umino, the jonin leading the escort, seemed eager to strike up a conversation.

"You're younger than I expected, Commander," Haruto said casually, keeping pace with Tetsuma. His tone was light, but there was an unmistakable curiosity in his voice.

Tetsuma glanced at him, noting the older man's sharp but friendly features. "Is that so?"

Haruto chuckled. "It's not every day a shinobi your age commands an Anbu squad and earns a reputation like 'Silver Blade.' Stories about you have been spreading through the ranks."

Tetsuma remained silent for a moment, then exhaled lightly. "Stories tend to exaggerate."

"Maybe. But they don't come from nowhere," Haruto countered. "I've heard about your operations in the Land of Water. Something about you taking on an elite Hunter-Nin squad alone?"

Tetsuma's expression remained unreadable, but a flicker of memory passed through his mind—the blood-soaked mission that had cost him his entire team.

"That mission was a failure," he said simply.

Haruto raised an eyebrow. "A failure? From what I heard, you still walked out alive."

Tetsuma's gaze darkened slightly. "That doesn't mean it was a success."

The conversation momentarily stalled, the weight of his words settling between them. The other squad members, though silent, were clearly listening.

Haruto, sensing the shift in mood, changed the subject. "You've traveled a lot, haven't you? Any interesting places you've been to?"

Tetsuma thought for a moment before replying. "The Land of Iron. Their samurai have a different approach to combat—disciplined, efficient, but rigid. Unlike shinobi, they rely entirely on kenjutsu and chakra flow techniques."

Haruto nodded, intrigued. "I've always wanted to see their swordsmanship firsthand. Did you fight any of them?"

Tetsuma allowed a small smirk to appear. "Once. A duel against one of their captains. Their blade work is formidable, but against a shinobi's unpredictability… they struggle."

Haruto laughed. "I'd bet on a shinobi any day, then."

For a brief moment, the tension of war seemed to fade. The conversation flowed naturally, with Haruto occasionally pressing for stories while Tetsuma gave brief but honest answers.

But as they moved deeper into the forest, Tetsuma's instincts suddenly flared.

He raised a hand. "Stop."

The squad instantly halted, dropping into defensive stances.

Tetsuma narrowed his eyes, scanning the trees.

Something—or someone—was waiting for them ahead.