Chapter 8

In the early hours of the morning, just outside Konohagakure, shadows flickered one after another and came to a halt in a forest on the outskirts of the village. Among them were Fugaku and several members of the Uchiha clan.

The forest was filled with numerous shinobi from Konoha, particularly from the Hyūga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans, who were leading the investigation.

Given the ongoing turmoil in the Land of Rain, the shinobi's investigation would undoubtedly play a crucial role in preemptively identifying enemies and minimizing losses.

Silhouettes continued to appear in the forest, each one representing an elite chūnin at the very least. Even the proud Uchiha clan members had composed themselves, as they knew they were among the finest warriors of Konoha.

"We have a substantial number of vanguard troops this time," commented Fugaku to Uchiha Kon by his side. "It seems the situation in the Land of Rain is worse than we initially anticipated."

Fugaku nodded and replied, "Hanzō is hailed as a demi-god in the ninja world. The Land of Rain is considered one of the five most powerful nations beyond our borders. If we don't send our elites, both Wind and Earth nations will have been expelled from there."

Suddenly, a figure with long white hair and a short blade strapped to their back emerged from the forest, interrupting their conversation. The newcomer emanated an overwhelming presence, clearly displaying their exceptional abilities.

Fugaku recognized the arrival of Hatake Sakumo. The assembled shinobi instinctively formed several columns to face him, aware of Sakumo's respectable status in the village. Hatake Kenjutsu had gained fame throughout the ninja world since the Sengoku Period, and Hatake Sakumo himself was even more renowned in Konoha than the Third Hokage's three disciples.

Shinobi from all walks of life admired such formidable powerhouses, regardless of their moral standing. It was evident that many among the vanguard troops held deep admiration for Hatake Sakumo.

"Let's start assigning teams," Sakumo's voice resonated. "You will have six days to cooperate with your respective teams. After that, we will reconvene at the designated location on the map."

Shadows flickered, and several shinobi materialized in the forest. Each shinobi was handed a list of assigned tasks.

Uchiha Fugaku received a task list marked with number 013. It designated him as the captain, with Aburame Nozawa and Satōmaru as his teammates.

The task entailed traveling to the Land of Rain and eliminating three shinobi from other countries.

At the bottom of the task list, the meeting point was specified—a forest in the Land of Rain.

Fugaku pondered whether all the missions involved infiltrating the Land of Rain and targeting shinobi from other nations. He understood the underlying purpose behind Hatake Sakumo's mission.

In team battles, shinobi had to establish rapport and synergy. Teams without a profound understanding of each other's abilities would only hinder progress. The mission list did not specify whether the targeted shinobi were jonin or chunin, hoping that the teams would develop cohesion through combat.

Fugaku also discerned an additional layer of meaning. This was a test administered by Hatake Sakumo to each jonin team. Being the son of the Uchiha clan patriarch, Fugaku's honor compelled him to aim higher than merely killing three chunin. Ideally, he wished to encounter a jonin squad.

"Captain, I'm Aburame Nozawa," a tall man wearing black sunglasses and a hood introduced himself. "I excel at insect manipulation."

Nozawa extended his right hand, revealing several sinister bugs crawling on his palm.

"Captain, I'm Satōmaru, a chunin from Konoha. I specialize in Fire Release and Kenjutsu," a plain-looking shinobi approached.

Fugaku nodded, never underestimating anyone. If they were selected by the Third Hokage to join the vanguard troops, they were anything but ordinary.

"Very well, I am Uchiha Fugaku," Fugaku introduced himself to his two teammates. "I possess expertise in Sharingan Genjutsu and Fire Release."

Each of the three teammates discussed their respective areas of expertise, an essential element for successful teamwork.

Fugaku handed the task list to his teammates and instructed, "Our mission is to swiftly reach the Land of Rain and eliminate three shinobi from other countries. The strength of these shinobi is unspecified."

Both teammates nodded, their eyes displaying a hint of change, indicating that they understood the true objective of the mission.

The teams in the forest swiftly assembled, and one by one, silhouettes disappeared into the woods.

"Fugaku, see you in the Land of Rain," Uchiha Kon's voice echoed. "Let's take the lead."

With that, Uchiha Kon vanished into the woods with his two teammates.

"Let's go as well," Fugaku said. "Once we arrive in the Land of Rain, we'll strategize on how to complete the mission."

"Agreed."

In unison, the three silhouettes vanished, silently navigating the forests of the Land of Fire.

Their pace wasn't exceptionally fast; they observed each other, hoping to deepen their understanding of their teammates. After all, it was their first time working together as a team.

Fugaku focused his attention mainly on Satōmaru. While he was relatively familiar with the abilities of the Aburame clan, particularly their insect manipulation techniques, Satōmaru intrigued him. Whether on the road or during their breaks, Satōmaru displayed an unmistakable sense of caution. Fugaku suspected that he might have served in Konoha's Anbu at some point.

It was no coincidence that Satōmaru had been assigned to his team. The Third Hokage must have wanted to bring Fugaku into his fold. By observing someone he could trust, Fugaku could assess their value and determine if they were worth aligning with.

After three days of travel, the trio finally reached the Land of Rain. The incessant drizzle pelted them relentlessly. Fugaku disliked carrying out missions in rainy weather, but this trip to the Land of Rain might be their only chance before the outbreak of a full-scale ninja war that could last for years.

"I've been on a previous mission to the Land of Rain, so I'm familiar with the terrain," Fugaku informed his teammates. "Let's find a cave to take shelter from the rain for now. Nozawa, can your insects handle the rainy conditions?"

"I'll use tonight to cultivate insects that are resistant to rain," Nozawa responded calmly. "I had a feeling we might be sent to the Land of Rain for a mission, so I had already begun training in that direction."

Fugaku nodded. The Land of Rain was mountainous, with sparse vegetation. It didn't take them long to find a relatively clean cave. Fugaku had used this very cave during his previous mission and marked it as a secret location.

The cave offered a dim refuge. The three companions gathered around a flickering bonfire. Fugaku set a trap at the entrance to the cave, ensuring they would be alerted if anyone approached, regardless of whether they triggered the trap.

"We only have three days to complete this mission," Fugaku began. "As elite shinobi of Konoha, it's an insult to our team to be assigned a mission alongside chunin and genin. Our targets can be killed, but they can't be our mission objective.

Our primary goal is to eliminate the jōnin squads from other countries. With the ongoing conflict between nations, targeting and eliminating jōnin will not only demonstrate our squad's strength but also effectively weaken the opposing countries.

Nozawa, tomorrow I want you to send your insects to scout for teams from other countries. Whether they encounter jōnin or not, they should relay the information back to us."