Chapter 19

There was a fork on the path leading from the logistics office to the warehouse, and at the end of the fork, several tents were arranged to provide rest for the Sunagakure squad.

From the resting area of the Suna Shinobi to the warehouse, an elite Jounin could cover the distance in less than a minute.

Uchiha Fugaku and his team of six had a mission to destroy the materials in the warehouse within one minute. If they failed and attracted a large number of Sunagakure Shinobi, the mission would be compromised.

The sky grew darker as the rain intensified, obscuring much of the surroundings.

Okasawa Ono handed several explosive tags to Fugaku. In a swift motion, several black figures disappeared into the pouring rain, carrying the explosive tags without causing any commotion.

Okasawa Ono had attached a simple seal to the explosive tags to activate them when they hit the ground, burying the tags underground.

This was the only route for the Suna Shinobi squad to reach the warehouse. Stepping on the ground above the explosive tags would trigger their explosion, hindering the Suna Shinobi and serving as a barrier.

The explosive tag trap was a clever maneuver. If the Suna Shinobi could be delayed, this part of the plan would be deemed successful.

The base's warehouse was housed in a large tent, divided into several smaller storage areas. Three Suna Shinobi were stationed on the outer perimeter, consisting of two Jounin and one Chunin.

As they lifted the curtain, Fugaku and his team of six entered the tent.

"Kurosa, Shimoto, it's good to see you," greeted the Suna Shinobi inside. "Today, Kurosawa is stationed at the logistics office, so there's no need to worry."

Information about three individuals in the tent appeared in the minds of Fugaku and his team.

Sunagakure Jounin Ishida was skilled in two types of Wind Ninjutsu. In the Land of Rain, where water was abundant, his abilities would be heightened, and he seemed quite enthusiastic.

One of the Chunin, Himura, specialized in Wind Release and had a meek personality.

The other Chunin, Well 3, was skilled in Fire Release and had a hot-tempered nature.

Fugaku smiled and replied, "Of course, this is a battlefield, after all. Kurosawa wouldn't dare to challenge me openly in a place like this."

Ishida nodded, acknowledging that Kurosawa wouldn't risk embarrassing Kurosa. If Kurosawa were to do so, Kurosa would report the incident directly to Sunagakure's headquarters in the Land of Rain, resulting in severe punishment for Kurosawa.

During the war, it was common for the logistics office to give trouble to Jounin in the village, suspecting collaboration with the enemy. They might even be temporarily detained as spies. As long as Kurosawa wasn't foolish, Kurosa wouldn't face any embarrassment.

Fugaku kept a close watch on Ishida's eyes, carefully observing any subtle changes. He couldn't let any small details escape his notice.

Fugaku noticed Ishida's eyes briefly shrinking before returning to normal, but most of Ishida's focus was on the four Chunin.

Fugaku knew they might have been exposed. Although the four Chunin had done their best, there was still a gap between their perception and strength. Given enough time, a Jounin would easily spot their weaknesses.

Time was of the essence. Waiting any longer could lead to Ishida transmitting the news, attracting a large number of Suna Shinobi.

Fugaku glanced at his team, and they understood the situation. They had been discovered, and they prepared to fight in advance.

"Ishida!" Fugaku suddenly shouted.

Ishida turned his head towards Uchiha Fugaku, only to be met with a pair of scarlet Sharingan eyes with three tomoe rapidly spinning.

For a moment, Ishida's eyes went blank as the five attackers swiftly launched their assault. Their strikes landed without mercy, inflicting severe pain that overwhelmed Ishida's senses.

The pain shattered the genjutsu that had ensnared Ishida, and he looked at the group of Konohagakure Shinobi that Fugaku and his team had transformed into. He then glanced at his own body, riddled with multiple fatal wounds, and summoned his remaining strength to warn the two men inside the warehouse.

Fugaku's arm moved with lightning speed, but instead of striking Ishida's throat, it stopped just short. Sunagakure Jounin Ishida was dead.

A message appeared in Fugaku's mind.

"Defeated a Jounin and gained a moderate amount of Mangekyou Sharingan power."

His eyes suddenly felt a cool surge, nourishing his Sharingan.

Okasawa Ono and Sato-maru silently took care of Ishida's body and placed it in a corner of the tent, concealed by the sound of the heavy rain outside.

Fugaku exchanged a knowing glance with Hyuga Tazumo, who nodded and activated his Byakugan without making a sound.

With the Byakugan's penetrating vision, the tent ahead became virtually useless, and the contents of the warehouse were revealed to Hyuga Tazumo in an instant. He could see all the traps set within the warehouse.

Hyuga Tazumo whispered in Uchiha Fugaku's ear, and Fugaku nodded in response. The warehouse had an early warning trap immediately upon entering, designed to ensnare unsuspecting shinobi and attract a large number of Suna Shinobi.

Hyuga Tazumo transformed into Ishida once again and engaged in conversation with Uchiha Fugaku.

"These two are taking too long," Hyuga Tazumo said loudly. "Kurosa, I'll go inside and check. You wait here."

Hyuga Tazumo got up and lifted the curtain of the warehouse door, stepping inside. Uchiha Fugaku followed closely behind, his three-tomoe Sharingan scanning the surroundings.

Hearing the movement, Himura turned his head to look at the door. Hearing Ishida's voice, he had already grown suspicious. Normally, only he and the three wells were responsible for receiving supplies. Ishida would engage in conversation with arriving shinobi to gather intelligence about the ongoing conflicts between the four nations.

This time, Ishida mentioned their slow progress, which made Himura doubt if something was amiss. Either Ishida had noticed the unusual circumstances or something had happened to him. Himura stood ready to rush out of the tent and raise the alarm.

But when he saw Uchiha Fugaku standing behind Ishida, genjutsu was already in motion, captivating him.

Himura's previous plans vanished from his mind as his attention was firmly fixed on Uchiha Fugaku. His consciousness grew hazy, and he realized he had fallen under the effects of the genjutsu. Helpless, he couldn't do anything to resist.

With a Body Flicker Jutsu, Hyuga Tazumo appeared next to Well 3, who hadn't reacted yet. Tazumo swiftly slit his throat, splattering blood onto the warehouse shelves.

After dispatching the two Chunin, Fugaku had a moment to survey the warehouse before him.

The shelves mainly contained weapons commonly used by shinobi in battle. Gleaming with sharp edges, they showcased a collection of new kunai and shuriken.

Fugaku explored each small section of the warehouse, discovering various weapons, parts for puppets, and a bottle of healing ointment specifically crafted for shinobi use.

Neatly arranged bags of grain caught his attention. They appeared to be intended for making dry rations, as shinobi typically relied on nutrient-rich pills for sustenance. Prolonged reliance on such pills could lead to various health issues, so having alternative food sources was crucial.

Fugaku approached another small section of the warehouse, which was sealed with multiple seals. He suspected it might contain explosive items like explosive tags or specialized toxins for puppets.