Chapter 97: Finding Tetsuya
It took twelve hours before I was finally able to sense the first Kage-level chakra signature. I had grown used to using the Mind's Eye over time, and by now, I could read chakra with decent clarity.
The technique had really proven itself useful. Thinking about it, the Uzumaki clan was incredibly overpowered when it came to these types of sensory and sealing abilities. It was honestly a bit disappointing that Naruto never got to explore that heritage in the anime. Aside from Karin, and even though she was rarely given any focus, the potential of the Uzumaki lineage had been more or less ignored.
The person I sensed wasn't someone I recognized. A completely unfamiliar presence, and from what I could pick up, they weren't alone. As expected, they were paired with someone else of similar chakra level—another high-tier individual.
The typical Akatsuki pattern. I wasn't sure where they were coming from since the chakra signatures were too far off, and at that moment, I was indoors, minimizing my own presence and activity.
Still, the chakra density was unmistakable. These weren't Jōnin or even elite Jōnin. They were well into Kage-level territory, and in this village, that likely meant only one thing—they were Akatsuki.
I had already stationed a few wood clones throughout the village earlier. It was a passive measure I took just in case anything like this happened.
When I felt the two figures approaching, I directed one of the clones to go take a closer look. The clone didn't need to engage—just observe and report.
As it moved through the narrow alleys and toward the edge of the district where the chakra was strongest, it eventually caught a glimpse of the figures. The robes were familiar: black with red clouds.
A clear sign of Akatsuki affiliation. But their faces and overall appearance didn't ring any bells. These weren't the members I had already known from before. Not the one I was specifically trying to find either.
So, without pushing any further or risking exposure, I had the clone retreat. There was no point in approaching them unless I was sure of who they were and whether they had the spear style I was looking for.
I couldn't afford to waste effort or provoke the wrong members. My goal was precise, and I wasn't going to deviate just because two strong people happened to show up.
I remained where I was, keeping my chakra flow minimal and continuing my search. I still had three clones stationed in various parts of the inner village, staying dormant for now, and I had placed another five wood clones around the outskirts, each moving slowly and scanning the outer perimeter of Hidden Rain.
It wasn't an easy task.
Finding a specific member of an elite organization like the Akatsuki was never going to be simple, especially when they operated in shadows and rarely stayed in one place for long.
…
(Clone)
I was stationed along the border region between the Land of Rain, the Hidden Sand, and the Hidden Rock—territory known as Claw. It was small, sitting between three major lands, and the part near the Land of Rain was filled with hills and uneven terrain.
I had been moving slowly through the area, hidden and undetectable, thanks to the chakra suppression seal I'd activated from the beginning. There was no reason to release chakra unless absolutely necessary, and here, in a region that could easily be under surveillance, that would've been careless.
I continued to scan the area using my Mind's Eye, checking the hills, dips in terrain, and outcroppings that might be hiding something—or someone. I had been at it for a while when the silence was broken.
Explosions rang out from further along the border, far enough that the sound was muted by the terrain, but close enough that I could feel the vibrations through the ground.
Immediately, I focused my senses and picked up something strong. There was no mistaking it—a Kage-level chakra signature.
I moved discreetly, still under the effects of the chakra suppression seal, and followed the readings until I reached a vantage point above a partially leveled stretch of land.
That's when I saw him.
Tetsuya.
Even from a distance, I could recognize him. His light blue hair was tied back as usual, and he wore the familiar black cloak with red clouds. He was standing alone, spear in hand, and it was clear he was focused entirely on his training.
Every time he moved, the air seemed to fracture around him. Each swing of his spear was powerful enough to bend the wind, and each step carried him forward with such speed and precision that it looked like he was phasing in and out of view.
He wasn't teleporting—but the momentum and technique made it feel like space itself was bending slightly with his movements.
He wasn't practicing casually. His spearwork was deliberate, sharp, and clean, with no unnecessary motion.
Each movement seemed to ripple through the environment, disturbing even the terrain near his feet. It was exactly what I expected to see from someone in the Akatsuki who had developed a weapon style this advanced.
As I observed him, I realized this was the opportunity I had been waiting for. Without wasting a second, I dismissed all the other wood clones scattered across the Hidden Rain—there was no point in keeping them active anymore.
My main body, which had remained hidden within the confines of the village, immediately began moving. With my speed and experience at the elite Jōnin level, the journey from Hidden Rain to Claw didn't take long. The terrain posed no real challenge, and I traveled without attracting attention.
Once I reached the hills where my clone had been stationed, I deactivated it,
The moment it faded, I took its place and stepped into position, crouched low behind the same ridge, eyes already fixed on the same scene.
Tetsuya was still there.
He hadn't stopped training. If anything, he had only become more focused, as though the intensity of his movements was sharpening with each repetition. I watched carefully, committing everything to memory.
His spear wasn't just a weapon—it was destruction in motion. Every swing tore through the air with such force that wind pressure alone was carving shallow lines into the earth beneath him.
Loose stones scattered with each step he took, and even at this distance, I could feel the subtle concussions of impact as the spear broke through the resistance of the atmosphere again and again.
He moved without hesitation or wasted motion. His spear arcs weren't flashy—they were exact, practiced, and brutally efficient. Each time he drove the spear forward, it was like the world bent slightly to make space for the blow, only to snap back violently a second later.
It wasn't just the speed that made it terrifying; it was the weight behind every action, as though he had compressed years of combat experience into each individual strike.
The rhythm of his breathing remained steady despite the physical toll his movements must have taken.
The dedication he showed was unmistakable. This wasn't someone practicing a style to maintain it. This was someone deep in the process of pushing it to its next evolution.
I remained completely still, letting the scene imprint itself into my mind, watching the destruction left in the wake of each motion and the clarity with which he moved.
While I was still watching him train, a voice cut through the air. It was his voice—calm and even—but it carried enough weight to make me pause.
"[Spear Style- Unending Thrusts]," he said, and right as he spoke, he turned directly in my direction and lifted his spear into the air.
Without warning, he began thrusting it upward in rapid succession, each movement fast enough that I couldn't count how many strikes he was making.
I realized immediately that he had sensed me, and the idea of staying hidden was no longer an option.
I jumped into the air without thinking, trying to avoid whatever range those attacks might reach, and just as I did, the hill I had been standing on seconds ago was completely torn apart.
It wasn't just damaged—it was wiped away, the ground left in pieces as if something massive had crashed into it over and over in a short span of time.
I could feel the shockwave from above, the air distorted from the intensity of the technique.
Then, as I tried to stabilize myself mid-air, I heard another voice call out—calm, but close.
"[Spear Style: Border Between Worlds]."
Before I could react properly, I saw a blur of blue directly in front of me. Tetsuya had already closed the distance.
His spear was coming toward me, and it was only instinct that allowed me to shift my head just far enough to avoid being struck directly. The blade passed close to my cheek, and I felt the sharp wind trailing behind it.
I quickly formed the [Shadow Clone Jutsu] seal, and a clone appeared beside me in mid-air. It didn't hesitate.
It grabbed me and pulled me sharply to the side, then pushed me downward, sending me back toward the ground with enough force to break away from the line of attack.
I hit the ground with my feet first, rolled once, and came up ready. I didn't need to ask what was happening. I had clearly been spotted, and based on his immediate reaction, it didn't seem like he was interested in figuring out why I was here.
He landed across from me a moment later, quiet and composed, holding his spear casually at his side.
He adjusted his stance slightly and wiped the flat of the spear along the air, sending a sharp gust of wind to the left, but he didn't make any effort to speak.
There wasn't any demand for explanation. He simply stood there, steady and watching, as if waiting to see what I was going to do next.
…
Authors note:
You can read some chapters ahead if you want to on my p#treon.com/Fat_Cultivator