Chapter 5

"Who is the commander of Sunagakure, and how many shinobi were sent on this mission?" Uchiha Fugaku repeated his question.

The other person's expression remained unchanged, still trapped in the genjutsu. Fugaku could clearly sense the enhanced power of his Sharingan.

Based on the memories he extracted, Fugaku knew that controlling an elite jonin with three tomoe Sharingan was a difficult task.

"Sunagakure is led by Senior Ebizo, and only the commander and high-ranking officials know the specific number of dispatched shinobi," came the response.

Fugaku frowned, vaguely recalling his knowledge of Ebizo. As the younger brother of Sunagakure's puppet master, Chiyo, he was exceptionally talented and skilled in planning. He was one of the few surviving members of the old generation in Sunagakure.

"What is your objective in coming to the Land of Rain?"

"To infiltrate the Land of Rain and await further orders."

Fugaku furrowed his brows. The information he obtained was practically useless. Sunagakure's actions were overly cautious, to the point that even the jonin carrying out the mission had no knowledge of valuable information.

"Based on what you observed and heard upon entering the Land of Rain, how many shinobi from the Land of Rain were involved, and can you depict the supply route from Sunagakure to the Land of Rain, as well as the supply point in the Land of Rain?"

Fugaku stared into his opponent's eyes, his Sharingan spinning rapidly, continuously releasing genjutsu to prevent the other person from responding.

The supply route was the top priority in this operation; everything else was secondary. Obtaining a general overview of Sunagakure's presence in the Land of Rain through Konoha's intelligence system was not too difficult.

The Sunagakure jonin continued to draw the information Fugaku desired on the mission scroll. Fugaku could feel the resistance from the other person's body, and their hand movements faltered several times as they attempted to break free from the genjutsu.

Fugaku applied genjutsu once again. The other party clearly marked the supply route in Sunagakure, while Ebizo personally marked the supply point in the Land of Rain. Only a select few individuals knew about it, and the information they heard and knew was now recorded on the scroll.

Fugaku proceeded to ask a few more questions. The expression on the other person's face displayed constant struggle as they glanced at the scroll in their hand. The desired information had been gathered.

A black shadow swiftly pierced through, deeply penetrating the other person's heart.

A reminder message flashed in Fugaku's mind.

"Eliminate an ordinary jonin and gain a moderate increase in Pupil Strength."

His eyes felt refreshed for a moment, as Sharingan absorbed a considerable amount of chakra, and the surge in Pupil Strength became evident.

The mission was accomplished, and it was time to return. Fugaku glanced at the lifeless body beneath him, lifted it up, and placed it deep within a cave. He set up a simple trap using explosive tags beneath the body.

If anyone attempted to move the body of the Suna shinobi, the explosive tags would detonate, obliterating the evidence.

In such a rainy and gloomy country, there might be some enjoyment in appreciating the scenery, but the mission itself was truly unpleasant.

Fugaku longed for the sunny weather of Konoha.

It took him four days to return to Konoha.

Upon entering the village, Fugaku immediately sensed that something was amiss. Uchiha clan members were scattered throughout, a conspicuous presence.

A shadow flickered, and an Uchiha clansman appeared in front of Fugaku.

"What's going on in Konoha?"

Uchiha Fugaku was facing Uchiha Kon, a member of the Police Force, an elite shinobi of the clan, and a wielder of the three tomoe Sharingan.

"I heard you were on a promotion mission. Congratulations on your promotion to jonin," Uchiha Kon whispered, approaching Fugaku. "Last night, a senior Konoha Elder was assassinated. The Police Force has declared martial law in the entire village to apprehend the murderer."

Deep inside, Fugaku already knew. "Which elder was killed?"

"Elder Yamada. The higher-ups suspect the involvement of the Wind and Earth countries."

Fugaku couldn't fully believe it. Konoha still had numerous older-generation figures. Many of them had served under the Second Hokage, and some even held positions as Elders in Konoha, assisting the Hokage with administrative tasks.

At this critical moment, with the Wind and Earth countries infiltrating the Land of Rain, assassinating a Konoha Elder seemed too foolish a move for their top officials to make.

It might have been orchestrated by Danzo, with the Third Hokage's consent. Each time an Elder died, it increased the Hokage's authority by a notch. Expanding ROOT's influence could also face less opposition, and there was a reason to send someone to the Land of Rain.

"Whatever happened last night, the murderer has likely already fled Konoha. With martial law in effect, it will be challenging to apprehend them," Uchiha Fugaku remarked.

"I'm aware the Clan Head has also analyzed the situation," Uchiha Kon replied. "However, the higher echelons of Konoha are pressuring the Uchiha clan. The Police Force can't remain idle and must enforce martial law."

Fugaku frowned. It seemed that the higher-ups also aimed to further alienate the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the villagers.

The Uchiha clan had always carried a sense of pride, and with martial law in effect, there would likely be fewer offenders. Fugaku decided to discuss this with his father later in the evening.

"Kon, continue your investigations," Uchiha Fugaku instructed. "But be mindful of your interactions with the villagers. I'll head to the Hokage Residence to submit the mission report first."

Uchiha Kon nodded, a smile on his face. "I wish you an early promotion to jonin. Once this is over, don't forget to invite us for a celebration."

Fugaku nodded, waved his hand, and made his way towards the Hokage Residence.

At that moment, the Third Hokage was convening a meeting with the Elder Council. Fugaku handed over the mission scroll to the assistant in the Hokage's office. The scroll was sealed, ensuring that not just anyone could access the contents.

The Uchiha district seemed relatively deserted today, with most clan members out on the streets searching for the murderer.

Fugaku took a bath and settled into bed. The accumulated fatigue from the mission's execution over the past few days dissipated, granting him a much-needed rest.

In the living room, Uchiha Tenjo once again met with several senior Uchiha members to discuss the assassination.

Pushing open the living room door, Fugaku entered. "Father, uncles, everyone."

Uchiha Tenjo nodded in Fugaku's direction. "You've just returned. Wait for Hokage-sama to review the mission report. Once you're promoted to jonin, you can join today's meeting."

"Yes, Father."

"Lord Clan Head, Fugaku is only thirteen this year, and he's already been promoted to jonin," one of the senior members remarked.

Many Uchiha executives praised Fugaku's accomplishments before diving into the topic at hand.

Fugaku remained unfazed by their words. He hadn't interacted with most of these Uchiha elders personally. Nevertheless, he was glad that the Uchiha clan didn't face the same level of scrutiny as before, and no Uchiha members held positions in Konoha's higher echelons.

"Lord Clan Head, I believe the assassination is most likely the work of the Wind Country. In recent years, the Third Kazekage has been gaining power. The harsh environment of the Wind Country makes it likely for them to initiate conflicts and claim two fertile lands," one Uchiha executive proposed.

"Alternatively, it could be the Stone Country, attempting to frame the Wind Country and seize the opportunity to instigate a war between these two major powers."

"Could it be the Land of Rain itself? With the Wind and Earth countries infiltrating, perhaps they orchestrated the assassination within their borders. By provoking Konoha and shifting blame onto the Wind and Earth countries, they can benefit as the third party," another Uchiha senior speculated.

Several Uchiha elders engaged in a heated debate, yet no definitive conclusion was reached by the end of the meeting.