Chapter 45:

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Hey there, folks!

Can you believe it? We're coming to the grand finale of this epic saga! We're just a stone's throw away from wrapping up the first Ark, and then I'll be disappearing into the writing cave for a week or two. Why, you ask? Well, I'll be channeling all my creative powers to serve my beloved Patrons and churn out some serious content for the next Ark! Gotta bulk up, you know?

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So buckle up, my friends, because the adventure is just about to begin. And remember, summer is starting, the world is not just all about war, and us ugly guys staying single for life is not all that bad at least we have fanfics and League of Legends \(-.-)/Hurray for Shurimaa!!

Thanks for joining me on this wild ride, and I can't wait to see you on the other side of this intermission!

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In the midst of a relentless downpour, raindrops descended from the darkened sky like a cascade of liquid jewels, saturating the landscape with their persistent presence. The air became heavy and suffocating, burdened by the weight of excessive humidity, making each breath a laborious task.

A fork in the path emerged, illuminated by faint streaks of lightning that cut through the darkened horizon. One direction led towards the warehouse, their Mission objective, the other path lead towards the tents, inviting the weary Sunagakure squad and giving them shelter and respite from the unrelenting downpour within the comforting embrace of the tents.

As the sky grew darker, a sense of urgency filled the air. Time was slipping away, and they had to act swiftly. A skilled Jōnin could cover the distance from the rest area to the warehouse in under a minute, emphasizing the need for speed and efficiency. Failure to complete their mission within this tight timeframe would surely attract a horde of Sunagakure Shinōbi, putting everything at risk.

Amidst the gathering storm, the heavy downpour became both their ally and their disguise. Within this curtain of rain, their movements would be hidden from prying eyes, it was as if nature itself conspired to aid their mission, providing them with the perfect cover.

Okasawa Ōno handed multiple Kunai, each equipped with an Explosive Tag, to Uchiha Fugaku and his team. With swift and precise movements, Fugaku's squad hurled the Kunai into the pouring rain, seamlessly blending into the vast curtain of water without a trace.

The Explosive Tags, carefully prepared by Okasawa Ōno, contained a simple seal. Once the Kunai made contact with the ground, a hidden mechanism was triggered, burying the Explosive Tag beneath the soil, ready to be activated when necessary.

This cunning trap of hidden Explosive Tags would serve as a deterrent, buying Fugaku's team the precious time they needed to outmaneuver their pursuers. Stepping on the ground above the concealed Explosive Tag and applying pressure would set off the explosive, effectively blocking any further pursuit.

With a sense of satisfaction, Fugaku thought, 'The stage is set, and the game is about to begin.'.

As long as the Suna Shinōbi could be halted in their tracks, this strategic move would be considered a resounding success, ensuring their safe escape from this perilous place.

Inside the warehouse, divided into smaller sections, three Suna Shinōbi stood guard—one Chūnin in the inner layer and two Jōnin at the outer layer. As the door swung open, Fugaku and his team of pretenders confidently stepped inside.

"Fugaku, Shimoto, good to see you," one of the Shinōbi on warehouse duty greeted them. "Today, Kurosawa is in charge of the logistics office. As long as that douchebag is occupied elsewhere, you won't face any trouble here."

As Fugaku's team entered, their minds quickly recalled the gathered intelligence on the three individuals. One of them was Jōnin Ishida from Sunagakure, known for his exceptional mastery of Puppetry and his skill in water-based ninjutsu. In a land like the Land of Rain, abundant with water, his abilities would be even more formidable, posing a significant challenge for Fugaku and his team.

With a confident grin, Fugaku declared, "Here on the battlefield, Kurosawa wouldn't dare cross me. It would be extremely foolish to do so in this place, and under these circumstances."

Ishida nodded, acknowledging the risk Kurosawa would face if he tried to embarrass Kurosa/Fugaku. Any attempts to undermine him would be swiftly reported to Sunagakure's headquarters in the Land of Rain, resulting in severe consequences for Kurosawa, and in the worst case, it could even result in backstabbing on the battlefield.

In times of war, the logistics office had a reputation for humbling Jōnin within the village, suspecting them of colluding with the enemy. Those suspected of espionage might face temporary detention, humiliation, or both. But as long as Kurosawa had some common sense, he wouldn't dare subject Kurosa to such embarrassment.

Handing over the certificate with a hint of amusement in his eyes, Fugaku pressed on, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Well, well, I just remembered Noda's words from not so long ago. He claimed our supplies were running dry, I half expect that we won't find what we need here."

Ishida, equally bemused, mirrored Fugaku's grin. "How mysterious! I myself oversaw the delivery this very morning. Our storeroom should be brimming with all the essentials, and let me share a little secret: the Kunai we possess are the epitome of craftsmanship, shipped directly from the revered Country of Craftsmen. Impeccable quality, I assure you."

"Seems like Noda was lying as usual.": Fugaku replied.

"Seems so.": Ishida replied.

With a careful scrutiny of the certificate in his possession, Ishida passed it to his two trusted aides. "The certificate is in order. You two, go into the warehouse and retrieve the requested items for Korosa as per the list. As for Kurosa and Shimoto, be so kind and wait here for a brief moment."

As the aides diligently retrieved the items from the list, Ishida took the time to warmly engage everyone in Fugaku's team, ensuring that the four Chūnin felt included.

Fugaku, however, remained fixated on Ishida's eyes, carefully observing for even the slightest change. He caught a fleeting moment when Ishida's eyes briefly contracted before returning to normal, but most of Ishida's attention seemed directed towards the four Chūnin.

Fugaku recognized the potential danger. While the four Chūnin were trying their best, there was still a gap in their skills compared to the keen eye of a Jōnin like Ishida. It wouldn't take long for Ishida to detect their weaknesses.

Time was running out, and Fugaku couldn't afford to wait any longer. Delaying would only increase the chances of Ishida uncovering a flaw and attracting a swarm of Suna Shinōbi to their location.

Fugaku's piercing gaze swept across the Warehouse, and a few individuals in the room sensed the change in the situation. They braced themselves, ready to fight if the need arose.

"Ishida!" Fugaku's voice laced with killing intent thundered through the air.

Ishida turned his head towards Fugaku, only to find himself confronted by Fugaku's crimson Sharingan, its three Tomoe spinning with incredible speed.

In that fleeting moment, Ishida's eyes glazed over, his mind ensnared by the powerful Genjutsu. Before he could react, the five members of Fugaku's team swiftly moved in, launching a coordinated attack. Their strikes found their mark, delivering agonizing pain that shattered the Genjutsu's hold over him.

As the veil of illusion was lifted by the searing torment, Ishida's eyes widened, taking in the transformed figures of the Konohagakure Shinōbi now surrounding him. His gaze briefly fell upon his own punctured body, bearing the unmistakable wounds from several Kunai piercing him that spelled his demise. Summoning his remaining strength, Ishida tried giving a warning to the two Shinōbi within the warehouse, hoping to alert them before it was too late. But it was a wasted effort, as he passed away halfway through the action with indignation visible in his eyes.

Fugaku's arm had moved with precision, and a strike aimed at Ishida's throat, silencing the poor sod forever.

A message appeared in Fugaku's mind as a cool sensation entered his body.

[You killed a Jonin and earned 300 Points of Life Force.]

[Current Balance: 4296 Points of Life Force.]

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