Chapter 28

"Captain," Yamamoto Isuke's voice reached Fugaku's ears, pulling him back to reality from his stunned state.

"Captain, have you ever fought against Rain Shinobi?" Yamamoto Isuke asked. "Can you tell me about their battle characteristics?"

"I haven't encountered Rain Shinobi many times," Fugaku pondered for a while. "And our encounters were mostly through sneak attacks rather than direct confrontations. But I've heard that Rain Shinobi are skilled in assassination jutsu. When it rains in the Land of Rain, most of them use umbrellas as weapons."

"The umbrellas conceal various hidden weapons, making it difficult to defend against. If we fight Rain Shinobi in the future, we need to be extra vigilant. However, the specifics can only be experienced when we actually encounter them."

Fugaku's understanding of Rain Shinobi was only superficial since his battles with them were limited. Rain Shinobi hadn't left a strong impression on him yet, especially when his Sharingan's genjutsu gave him an advantage in battles against multiple opponents. Rain Shinobi, who relied on sneak attacks, couldn't fully utilize their assassination jutsu against him.

Yamamoto Isuke nodded and said, "Thank you, Captain, for your guidance."

The rainstorm continued, showing no signs of letting up. The four Kenjutsu specialists continued honing their skills in the cave through intense battles.

From Fugaku's perspective, Yamada Shinji and Satōmaru's Kenjutsu techniques were clearly influenced by expert guidance. Satōmaru's style leaned towards swift and lethal strikes, with tricky and unstoppable angles.

It seemed as though he had received guidance from an expert in assassination techniques. In Konoha, there weren't many Kenjutsu experts proficient in assassination. The Elder Group had a few Shinobi skilled in assassination, but uncovering their origins through Kenjutsu alone was unrealistic.

Yamada Shinji's Kenjutsu focused on explosive and deadly attacks, prioritizing speed and fierceness.

On the other hand, Harada Kirisawa and Genyaki's Kenjutsu appeared rougher. It seemed that they were naturally talented in Kenjutsu or had obtained their skills through the loss of family members in battle or by chance during previous missions.

Fugaku himself wasn't particularly interested in Kenjutsu, but watching Kirizawa and Genyaki's progress in their exchanges brought him a sense of comfort. At least the team's overall strength was improving, giving him more confidence to face future enemies.

The day dragged on as they waited for the rain to stop. Apart from Uchiha Fugaku, the rest of the team spent their time discussing and cultivating their teamwork during battles.

The rainstorm lasted for three days, seemingly washing away the bloody conflicts in the Land of Rain. The river below the canyon swelled with water.

On the fourth day, the heavy rain transformed into a drizzle, and the thick black clouds began to thin out. Fugaku activated his Sharingan and gazed at the sky, now adorned with shining clouds.

"Let's go," Uchiha Fugaku stood up and declared, "The rain has cleansed the Land of Rain, and now we're about to face bloodshed."

"Remember, what we're doing today is not driven by selfish desires, but for the future of Konoha and the Land of Fire. We aim to prevent them from suffering the horrors of war," he continued, addressing his team. "It is the responsibility of every Konohagakure Shinobi to defend our borders against external threats. If a large-scale war were to erupt in the Land of Fire, it would be the failure of all Konoha Shinobi."

"Aburame Nozawa, release your beetles to scout for suitable enemies. Hyūga Tazumo, be vigilant and monitor the surroundings to prevent ambushes or traps. Inuzuka Maru, focus on detecting changes in scent. The rest of you, maintain high alertness and increase your vigilance."

The team emerged from the cave, and Aburame Nozawa extended his arms, releasing countless beetles that soared into the sky, spreading out in all directions. The squad continued their journey towards the northwest, edging closer to the Land of Grass.

Despite the drizzle in the sky, the ground in this part of the Land of Rain appeared different. Wild grass sprouted from the gaps between rocks, indicating a shift in weather conditions. Otherwise, it would be impossible for the grass to thrive.

With his Sharingan activated, Fugaku surveyed the distance and spotted a towering ancient tree.

"We'll navigate through the grass and reach the border," Fugaku stated, gesturing towards the distant ancient tree. "We'll use the tree as cover, enhancing our defenses against enemy traps."

Without the constant rain, the border became easier to detect, removing the natural barrier that could shield the enemy.

"Captain," Aburame Nozawa suddenly spoke up, "There's a squad of nine Iwa Shinobi ahead in the Land of Rain."

Fugaku nodded, originally intending to encounter Ame Shinobi to establish a mutual understanding, but fate had brought them face-to-face with Iwa Shinobi instead.

As long as they weren't facing top-tier Iwa Shinobi, Fugaku was confident that his team of twelve could overcome the nine-man squad.

"Remain vigilant," Fugaku commanded. "Increase our speed and set up an ambush ahead, catching them off guard."

The team entered the Land of Rain once again, with Nozawa's beetles serving as constant surveillance, reporting the enemy's movements.

"The three Jōnin among us will initiate the attack against their Chūnin," Fugaku instructed. "We'll aim to swiftly eliminate the Chūnin in the first round, and then focus on the Iwa Jōnin."

"Nine of you will each target one Chūnin, ensuring they have no chance to escape. Disperse and hide according to the formation of their respective enemies."

In the blink of an eye, twelve individuals vanished, concealing themselves in every nook and cranny, waiting for the arrival of the Iwa Shinobi.

Fugaku's eyes flickered with his scarlet Sharingan. The three tomoe spun rapidly, allowing him to discern the approaching Iwa Shinobi.

There were a total of nine silhouettes, with two of them standing out as notably tall and formidable. Sharingan enabled Fugaku to perceive that these two individuals were not ordinary Jōnin.

"They're not ordinary," Uchiha Fugaku remarked. "Be cautious, especially when defending against the attacks of the two tall figures."

The nine silhouettes drew closer, displaying respectable speed. They had unwittingly walked into the trap Fugaku had set.

Body Flicker Jutsu.

A dark figure swiftly emerged from Fugaku's hiding place, directly aiming for one of the Iwa Shinobi Chūnin.

Simultaneously, the remaining eleven figures burst forth, seeking out their targets.

The nine Iwa Shinobi, along with the two tall figures, appeared unfazed, as if they had anticipated Fugaku's ambush.

One of them performed hand seals, creating several afterimages, and then slammed their hands onto the ground.

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Barrier!"

Suddenly, a ring of towering city walls materialized, blocking the squad's path.

The other tall figure also formed seals.

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Beyond the city walls, an earth dragon emerged, soaring into the air. Its scales resembled those of a true dragon, coming to life. The dragon expelled several projectiles from its mouth, hurtling straight towards Uchiha Fugaku.

The opponent seemed to have identified Fugaku as the most significant threat, likely due to his Sharingan. With just a few projectiles, they aimed to neutralize him. However, Fugaku's hands moved swiftly.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A stream of fire erupted from Fugaku's mouth, colliding with the earth dragon's projectiles, countering their attack.