Chapter 48
The battlefield had not been fully cleared. Several bodies of fallen Sunagakure shinobi remained scattered across the sand, a grim reminder of the clash. A few ninja from other teams had stopped briefly to collect supplies, then quickly moved on. As for the soldier pills? Saitama, acting with caution, avoided touching anything left by the enemy. Better safe than sorry.
Moonlight Masano's injuries were relatively minor and didn't impede their mobility. Before nightfall, the team reached a small oasis.
"Sagi, you two stay here. I'll scout ahead," Saitama whispered, glancing at Masano—still not fully recovered from chakra exhaustion—and at Sagi, who was helping him walk.
Saitama's chakra reserves had recovered to around 70% capacity, and his minor wounds had already healed. Since he was in the best shape among them, the task of scouting naturally fell to him.
The oasis wasn't large—just a few hectares in size—but in the desert lands of the Wind Country, any water source was considered a precious strategic resource.
Using the cover of night, Saitama approached the darkened grove cautiously. His footsteps shifted in subtle, unpredictable rhythms as he weaved through the terrain like a snake, following an S-shaped path. His instincts, sharpened by countless drills, told him to remain alert—especially since two of his teammates couldn't currently fight at full strength.
Silently, Saitama moved between the trees. Unlike the towering forests of the Land of Fire, the trees here barely reached ten meters. Yet even in this harsh climate, they managed to thrive—a testament to nature's resilience.
After circling the entire oasis and confirming it was safe, he returned to rendezvous with his teammates.
"It's clear. Let's move in," he reported.
"Thanks," said Moonlight Masano with some embarrassment. As their captain, he was being protected by a genin who had only graduated from the Academy a few months earlier.
"Let's go," Saitama said, taking the lead. During his sweep, he'd found a small shaded area with lush trees and a nearby water source—ideal for resting.