Chapter 46: Shoutout to the newest member in my Patr(eon) family!!!
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Congratulations and a warm welcome to Hoodedkiller25,
the newest member of my Patreon family! I am thrilled to have you join us/me and become part of the community. Your support is greatly appreciated, and it enables me to continue creating and sharing my content. Thank you for believing in my work and for your generous contribution. I look forward to providing you with exclusive perks, engaging content, and a rewarding experience.
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Okasawa Ōno and Satōmaru carefully handled Ishida's lifeless body, concealing it in a hidden corner of the warehouse. The relentless rain outside masked any noise they made, ensuring their actions went unnoticed.
Fugaku shared a knowing glance with Hyūga Tazumo, who responded with a silent nod. Tazumo activated his Byakugan, his eyes scanning the surroundings with exceptional clarity, pretending as if he is adjusting his sandals.
With his heightened vision, Tazumo saw through the Warehouse's facade, peering into the inner workings of the warehouse. His gaze swiftly assessed the concealed traps that lay within, meticulously analyzing their intricate mechanisms.
Leaning in close to Fugaku, Tazumo whispered all the vital information he could make out. Fugaku nodded, knowing now that the warehouse was rigged with a warning trap triggered upon entry. Most Shinōbi would unknowingly activate the trap upon entering further, alerting a large number of Suna Shinōbi to their presence.
Taking advantage of his transformation skills, Tazumo assumed the appearance of Ishida and engaged in a conversation with Fugaku.
"These two are taking forever," Tazumo exclaimed, feigning frustration. "Kurosa, I'll go inside and check. You stay here."
With those words, Tazumo moved towards the inner warehouse and pulled back the curtain, stepping into the depths of the warehouse. Fugaku followed closely behind, his Sharingan diligently scanning the area.
Hearing the disturbance, Himura turned his attention to the door. Ishida's behavior had already raised suspicions within him. Normally, only Himura and his colleague were responsible for handling the supplies. Ishida would engage visiting Shinōbi in conversation, gathering valuable intelligence on the ongoing conflicts between the nations.
This time, Ishida's mention of their slow progress indicated that something was wrong. Himura was prepared to rush out of the tent and raise the alarm if necessary, suspecting an accident or a dire situation.
But the moment he caught sight of Uchiha Fugaku standing behind Ishida, a powerful Genjutsu unfolded before his eyes.
Himura's carefully laid plans crumbled, his focus consumed by the captivating power of the Sharingan. His mind grew increasingly clouded, unable to resist the Genjutsu's hold.
In a swift movement, Tazumo performed the Body Flicker Jutsu, materializing next to Himura's colleague. Catching the unsuspecting Chūnin off guard, his hand swiftly cut across the Chūnin's throat with a Kunai, splattering blood on the warehouse shelves, and then he killed Himura.
With the elimination of the two Chūnin, Fugaku now had the opportunity to explore the warehouse's contents, unhindered by further obstacles.
Rows upon rows contained various weapons commonly used by Shinōbi in battle. Gleaming kunai and shuriken adorned the shelves, emanating a sense of sharpness.
Fugaku traversed through each small warehouse, observing the assortment of weaponry, commonly used Puppet parts, and even a bottle of specialized Puppet toxins.
Neatly arranged bags of grains caught his eye, likely intended for the production of dry rations. After all, Shinōbi subsisted mainly on nutrient pills, and prolonged reliance on them could lead to various health issues.
Fugaku arrived at a small warehouse sealed with numerous seals. Suspecting explosive items such as Explosive Tags or Puppet-specific toxins within, Fugaku approached with caution, ready to uncover its secrets.
Outside the warehouse, Satōmaru's group of four stood vigilant, their senses heightened and their focus unwavering. Only Fugaku and Tazumo had entered the warehouse, leaving them as the watchful guardians of the perimeter.
Fugaku turned to Hyūga Tazumo and issued a clear directive, "Hyūga Tazumo, I need you to maintain a sharp lookout on the surroundings. The other two Jōnin may conduct patrols around the warehouse at any given moment. We cannot afford to be caught off guard. Meanwhile, I will proceed with strategically placing the Explosive Tags in key locations."
Tazumo acknowledged Fugaku's command with a simple "Yes" and swiftly made his way outside the warehouse, positioning himself in a strategic vantage point. He relied on his keen Byakugan eyes to scan the area, ensuring no surprises would catch them unaware.
Although Fugaku was not privy to specific details about the patrol patterns at the Supply Point, he understood the importance of remaining cautious. It was only logical to expect regular surveillance at such a vital Sunagakure warehouse. In times of heightened alertness, being meticulous and focused was of utmost importance. They couldn't afford any slip-ups or lapses in their plan.
At the same time outside, Okasawa Ōno approached the seal surrounding the warehouse, carefully examining its intricate design.
"Vice-Captain, it seems Sunagakure's Fūinjutsu is quite basic," Okasawa Ōno remarked. "Cracking this seal shouldn't pose much of a challenge. Just give me a moment."
Tazumo nodded, aware that Konoha's mastery of Fūinjutsu surpassed that of the other nations, thanks to the assistance of the Uzumaki Clan. However, Fūinjutsu in Suna remained rudimentary, lacking the advancements seen in Konoha.
With swift hand seals, Okasawa Ōno pressed his palms against the seal, channeling his chakra to unravel its intricate patterns.
"Done."
The seal surrounding the tent distorted and transformed into an entirely different formation.
"Excellent," Tazumo nodded, saying, "Let's go and find out what Fugaku-kun is up to."
Okasawa Ōno took the lead, parting the curtain and stepping inside the warehouse.
Meanwhile, inside the warehouse, Fugaku was busily looting the wooden boxes, effortlessly absorbing them into his personal space.
"Hyūga Tazumo, what brings you here?" Uchiha Fugaku called out as Tazumo entered through the warehouse entrance, as he did not call for him, and had commanded him to stay outside as a lookout.
With his Byakugan activated, Hyūga Tazumo maintained a watchful eye on Fugaku and the surroundings, prepared for any unexpected appearances of Shinōbi.
Upon hearing Fugaku's question, Hyūga Tazumo responded with an eerie smile, silently advancing further into the warehouse.
"You see, Fugaku-kun," Hyūga Tazumo sneered, his eyes gleaming with wicked glee. "You have angered a very important man within Konoha, and this mission goes beyond merely destroying a supply point. We have a separate objective apart from the warehouse's destruction. My group has rigged this entire place with explosives and sealed it with Fuinjutsu. Once activated, they will trigger a chain reaction, obliterating the entire warehouse and everyone inside, including you."
Fugaku, after a moment of silence, calmly questioned, "Well-planned, but why are you revealing your plan instead of attacking me when I let my guard down?"
Uchiha Fugaku couldn't help but admire Danzo's cunning, his ruthlessness, and his calculated strategy. It was unbelievable that a seemingly inconspicuous warehouse in the middle of nowhere is being used all in order to eliminate a thirteen-year-old boy, sealing it with Fūinjutsu, and placing concealed caches of explosives on top. It was a trap meticulously designed to eliminate anyone who stepped inside, leaving no room for escape.
'I wonder what he promised Sunagakure in exchange for orchestrating all this.': Fugaku thought to himself at that moment.
"I've always yearned to test my skills against the Uchiha Clan's genius," Tazumo declared, his voice dripping with icy determination. "And this could very well be my final opportunity to face you, Fugaku-kun."
Admitting the cunning of Tazumo's plan, Fugaku maintained his calm and collected demeanor. "Placing the Explosive Tags was indeed a clever move," he acknowledged. "Sealing the warehouse was even smarter. But challenging me to a fight, even with your Byakugan uncovering any hidden surprises, will only lead to your demise. It's an incredibly foolish choice to make at this juncture."
Fugaku wasn't particularly enraged; rather, he saw it as a necessity to eliminate everyone present, ensuring no loose ends would jeopardize the mission or his cover once he left. Even if it meant eliminating his own teammates, he wouldn't hesitate.
"Who else is involved in this mission, Tazumo?" Fugaku inquired, trying to ascertain the extent of the betrayal.
"Interestingly enough, the only two individuals not involved in my mission and likely to assist you are the ones you left behind," Tazumo replied, a sinister smile playing on his lips. As he continued to navigate the warehouse, his Byakugan remained fixated on Fugaku's every move.
Suddenly, Satōmaru's voice echoed from the entrance, shattering the tension. "Captain Tazumo, we've run out of Explosive Tags. We may not have enough to destroy all the supplies."
"It doesn't matter. Our primary objective is to kill Fugaku and claim his eyes," Tazumo responded with chilling determination.
Fugaku cast a wordless glance towards Satōmaru, his anticipation of potential betrayal confirmed. However, he hadn't expected Satōmaru to be one of Danzo's men. Fugaku had assumed he belonged to Hiruzen's faction, not Danzo's. The shocking revelation hit him with a cold and bitter realization.
*Sigh*
"Et tu, Satomaru?" Fugaku muttered, his disappointment seeping into his voice.
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