But Kakashi was cold, and Saitama himself couldn't quite explain why. There was something distant about him, something that made Saitama feel strange—like he was talking to a much older uncle.
"Ah, Mute, what are you thinking! You've only just met, and it's been less than three hours!" Mute flushed, feeling a little embarrassed. He realized he had been thinking about someone else even as he drifted off to sleep. That young man was certainly interesting—he was about the same age, yet clearly very strong. Mute couldn't help but be curious about him.
"He feels very different from the average Uchiha," Mute thought silently, the idea lingering as he slowly fell asleep.
He began to look forward to seeing Saitama again. Perhaps it was because he felt like he could learn something new from him—after all, Saitama was clearly skilled in taijutsu.
---
"Huh..." Elsewhere, Saitama lay on his back inside the tent, exhaling as he stared at the ceiling. He wasn't sleepy yet—he'd napped too long in the afternoon.
With his hands behind his head, he let his thoughts wander.
"Sleep. The mission's more important than overthinking." Forcing himself to close his eyes, Saitama tried to rest.
---
"Morning, Captain!" Uchiha Yan greeted, chewing on a corn cob as he saw Saitama step out of the tent.
"Mm. Bring me something to eat. I'll go find Mori and get our patrol route for today."
Saitama, embracing his role as team leader, didn't hesitate to delegate. Uchiha Yan didn't mind and nodded to carry out the task.
---
"Mori." A few steps away, Saitama arrived at Uchiha Mori's tent. It was just after six, and most of the shinobi were already awake—including Mori himself.
"You're here. This is the area your team's covering today." With a rice ball in his mouth, Mori tossed a simple map to Saitama. A red pen had marked their patrol route. It wasn't a high-priority mission—just a routine patrol—but Mori trusted Saitama. He was someone who had proven himself on the battlefield.
"Alright. I'll handle it," Saitama replied. He understood that the frontlines were busy, and Mori—essentially a deputy leader among the Uchiha—had his hands full.
---
"Captain!"
Back in his own tent, Saitama saw the Huo brothers gathered, currently eating.
Seeing their team leader enter, they put down their food and greeted him.
Waving casually, Saitama approached, spread the map out on the table, and picked up a rice ball.
"This is today's patrol area. It's pretty wide, so we probably won't make it back by noon. I'll stop by the mess tent to grab some extra rations," Saitama said between bites.
"Got it. I'll head over after eating," Yan said with a nod.
"When are we heading out, Captain?" asked Uchiha Huo, his mouth still full.
"As soon as we're ready."
"Ah, that soon?" Huo gulped down his food and dashed out of the tent to prepare.
"Tch." Uchiha Yan sighed at his brother's energy and returned to his breakfast.
Suddenly, the tent flashed with the light of a blade. Saitama, still chewing, unsheathed his sword and inspected it.
"We've still got to be ready for anything, Yan," Saitama said, wiping the blade with a cloth from the table.
"Understood."
Though this was Yan's first time on the frontlines, he'd done many missions before. His combat instincts and mental composure were solid. He wouldn't let his guard down just because it was a 'simple' patrol.
"Huh... We'll move out once Huo gets back. No sense wasting daylight." Saitama had finished eating. He never ate much in the morning—just a few rice balls and a bit of water.
Yan remained quiet, his eyes fixed on Saitama's blade, lost in thought.
---
Chapter 55: The Days Without Dance Are Still Part of Life
"Let's go, Captain!" Huo returned soon after, carrying a small pack. Saitama and Yan were already waiting outside.
"Right. Let's move," Saitama ordered, while Yan handed Huo a meal pack.
Though their camp was some distance from the actual border, sentries were posted everywhere, reinforcing the sense of caution.
After checking out at the camp's gate, the team moved out, following the map's route.
Their mission was to detect any movements from Kirigakure forces and monitor the surrounding border conditions. The situation was tense—war could erupt any day now.
It was already February. The warmer weather was melting snow and ice, which explained why the Mist hadn't launched a full-scale attack yet. Their homeland in the Land of Water was still locked in deep winter—hardly ideal for warfare.
But near Konoha, life was already returning to the land. Trees were budding, the air was fresh, and energy filled the forest. It was this fertile land that made the Land of Fire the envy of its neighbors.
"Hey, I think we're around here," Saitama said, pointing at a spot on the map.
The Huo brothers nodded, awaiting further instructions.
"Beyond these woods is the border—not directly with the Land of Water, but with a small nation. I think it's called the Land of Bears."
"It doesn't have a Hidden Village, but there are rogue shinobi scattered there. Since it borders Kirigakure territory, it's practically a puppet state now."
"The Mist used it as a landing point during their infiltration," Saitama explained.
"Ah, that explains it. I was wondering how they reached us from across the sea," Huo said, eyes scanning the forest.
"Yeah." Saitama nodded and folded the map.
Crunch.
A subtle sound reached Saitama's ears. Instantly alert, he signaled with his hand.
Fwoosh. Fwoosh. Fwoosh.
The trio vanished in an instant—one hidden behind a tree, another up in the branches, the last crouching low to the ground. Their chakra signatures dropped sharply, blending into the forest.
From his perch, Saitama spotted movement—someone flickering from branch to branch.
He clenched his fist and motioned downward.
The signal was clear: Enemy. Prepare to engage.
A moment later, a figure landed in a small clearing ahead, panting, face flushed—clearly exhausted from a long sprint.
Fwoosh. Fwoosh. Three more figures joined him, forming a tight formation and maintaining vigilance.
Saitama and his team remained silent, invisible, waiting.
"There are four of them," Saitama thought, his senses sharp. "Two of them… yeah, definitely Jōnin. One might be a woman."
"Captain, this is almost Konoha's zone," Yan whispered through chakra transmission. "What do we do?"
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