NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 59: Chapter 59
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Upon arriving at Uzushio Village, the group immediately noticed its location—it wasn't nestled within the main city of the Land of Whirlpools but a few miles west, near the towering peaks. Gazing at the distant village, everyone unconsciously picked up the pace. After all, once they safely delivered Uzumaki Heiji and Uzumaki Namihana to Uzushio, their mission would officially be over.
What none of them expected was the unexpected encounter waiting for them in Uzushio.
———
As Leaf shinobi, Fujiwara Tetsuya, Uchiha Mikoto, and Aburame Muto were treated with surprising hospitality upon entering the village. Not only were they given a large estate to rest in, but two members of the Uzumaki clan's branch family were specifically assigned to care for their needs.
"Tetsuya! Get up already! Heiji and Namihana are here to show us around the village!"
It was early the next morning, and Fujiwara Tetsuya was still snuggled up in bed, catching up on sleep. Aburame Muto was outside his door, knocking insistently.
"Alright, alright! I'm coming! Just give me a second!" Tetsuya grumbled, reluctantly dragging himself out of bed. After days of rocky sea travel, having his feet firmly on solid ground again felt amazing.
Compared to the bustling Konoha, Uzushio Village had a much more laid-back vibe. The streets were lined with shops filled with specialty goods from neighboring lands—Yugakure, Tetsu no Kuni, Kuma no Kuni, and even Water Country's finely crafted wares. Thankfully, money worked the same here as it did everywhere else in the shinobi world.
Muto and Mikoto happily browsed through various trinkets and souvenirs, picking out a few small items. Tetsuya, meanwhile, could only sigh at his nearly empty wallet, admiring things from afar.
"Too bad," he thought to himself, knowing full well that even this peaceful place wouldn't escape its tragic fate in the future.
"Tetsuya! What do you think?" Uzumaki Heiji piped up, breaking the silence. "Uzushio might not be as big and flashy as Konoha, but because it's surrounded by the sea, we get lots of cool stuff from the ocean!"
"Oh, that reminds me! The most famous sushi place in the capital just opened a branch here in Uzushio! How about we grab some sushi later?" Heiji suggested enthusiastically.
"Sushi, huh? Sounds like a great idea!" Tetsuya rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Being a village right by the sea, they probably served all kinds of exotic seafood. As much as he enjoyed ramen and grilled meat, the menu in the shinobi world could get a bit monotonous.
"Maybe I should save up and open a chain of stir-fry or hotpot restaurants one day. That could be something," he mused.
The sushi restaurant Heiji mentioned was called Shinsei Hachimaru's Secret Sushi, a name so over-the-top it made Tetsuya chuckle a little. Despite the flashy name, the place had clearly put a lot of effort into its design. Unlike the simple, rustic shops along the village streets, this one was clean, polished, and undeniably fancy.
"Owner! Give us the freshest, best sushi you've got! A full set for each of us!" Heiji called out confidently as he tossed a small pouch of coins onto the counter. His parents had definitely given him and Namihana a nice allowance for this trip.
Before Tetsuya could even start worrying about the menu prices, the owner had already begun preparing their order with a smile, recognizing the Uzumaki clan's signature crest on Heiji's clothes. Within minutes, plates of sushi were laid out in front of them, featuring all kinds of sea creatures—fish, clams, crabs, and even a few types of shrimp that Tetsuya couldn't name.
"Wow, this is amazing!" Tetsuya mumbled with his mouth full. "No wonder this place is so popular!"
Just as they were digging in, a familiar voice came from behind the wooden screen separating their table from the rest of the restaurant. It was loud, boisterous, and unmistakable.
Tetsuya's chopsticks slipped, dropping a piece of sushi onto the table. "Wait… is that… Jiraiya?"
Sure enough, that distinct tone belonged to none other than the Sannin himself. Trying to maintain his composure, Tetsuya's thoughts raced. What was Jiraiya doing in Uzushio of all places?
"Something wrong, Tetsuya?" Mikoto asked, noticing his sudden pause.
"Nothing… nothing," he replied quickly. "It's just— I didn't expect to run into Jiraiya-sensei here, of all places."
"Shall we go greet him? As juniors, it's only right we pay our respects," Tetsuya suggested as he stood up, gesturing toward the others. Muto and Mikoto reluctantly set down their chopsticks and followed.
———
As expected, behind the wooden divider, Jiraiya was sitting comfortably, indulging in a massive spread of sushi while making strange, enthusiastic noises between bites.
"Jiraiya-sensei!" Tetsuya called out, bowing politely.
Jiraiya looked up, blinking in surprise. "Oh? You two brats! What are you doing here?"
It was clear he remembered Tetsuya and Mikoto from their earlier encounters. As for Muto, Jiraiya didn't seem to recognize—or simply didn't care about—his presence.
"We're on a mission," Tetsuya explained. "But what about you, Jiraiya-sensei? What brings you to Uzushio? Surely you're not here just to enjoy the sushi, right?"
Tetsuya glanced at the mountain of sushi plates on the table. It was hard not to feel a little envious. Being an elite shinobi, especially of Jiraiya's level, meant taking on A- and S-rank missions that paid ridiculously well—certainly enough to afford this kind of luxury. Meanwhile, Tetsuya was still struggling as a modest Chunin.
"What's with that look, brat?" Jiraiya grumbled, noticing the unspoken complaint in Tetsuya's eyes. "You think I'm just lounging around while you're out there grinding away?"
He was about to continue when he caught sight of the expectant glances from Mikoto and Muto, who were equally curious about his presence.
To be continued...
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