Release

"Hyuga Ning's squad reporting in," a young Jonin from the Hyuga family said as he entered with two other shinobi.

Hyuga Ning was a few years ahead of Fugaku. A Branch Family prodigy, he was one of the few Hyuga who had mastered the Gentle Fist at such a young age. He was every bit the equal of the younger brothers Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga.

Members of both families often compared Fugaku Uchiha and Hyuga Ning. This assignment caught Fugaku by surprise: he had been placed on the same team as Ning.

The Hyuga and Uchiha each considered themselves Konoha's foremost family, and the two had long competed behind the scenes. Fugaku wondered whether the Konoha leadership had arranged this deliberately or whether it was a coincidence.

Fugaku Uchiha did not believe in coincidences.

Putting the two families' prodigies on the same mission team made the Konoha leadership's intentions hard to read.

Two more shinobi entered behind the three of them. Both were Chunin. Their squad's Jonin had died after they completed their mission, when Sunagakure shinobi ambushed them. Their captain had given his life to hold off the attackers and cover their retreat.

"Yamada Shinji and Kodamaru reporting in."

Fugaku Uchiha glanced at Yamada Shinji. He belonged to the same family as the slain Elder Yamada, a family with no inherited bloodline abilities or Secret Techniques.

Elder Yamada had been the family's highest-ranking member. He had earned his place as a Konoha Elder through seniority and the many contributions he had made in his youth, when he followed the First Hokage and Second Hokage in founding Konoha.

With Elder Yamada dead and no prodigy rising to take his place, the Yamada family could only become an ordinary Konoha family.

Hatake Sakumo nodded. "Everyone's here. You should know the situation in the Land of Rain. Three-person squads operating alone have nearly disappeared. Fugaku Uchiha will be this team's captain, and Hyuga Ning will be deputy captain."

Hatake Sakumo took out a scroll and handed it to Fugaku Uchiha. "The Intelligence Department located a Sunagakure outpost. There's a stockpile of supplies inside. Your mission is to find a way to destroy it and disrupt Sunagakure's supply system."

Fugaku Uchiha looked at Hatake Sakumo. The man's expression was calm, giving nothing away.

The Hyuga and Uchiha had been placed on the same team, along with a member of a former Konoha Elder's family and someone who might belong to ANBU.

This mission was a test for him.

Fugaku led the others to the tent where he was staying.

"Let's introduce ourselves," Fugaku Uchiha said. "This team has only just been formed, and we don't know one another well yet. Tell us your strengths so we can work together on the mission.

"I'm your captain, Fugaku Uchiha. I specialize in Fire Release and Sharingan Genjutsu."

"Hyuga Ning. I'm from the Hyuga family, and I specialize in the Byakugan and the Gentle Fist."

"Yamada Shinji. I specialize in Earth Release and Inherited Swordsmanship."

Fugaku nodded. Several Konoha Elders who had survived since the Warring States period had inherited swordsmanship of their own. Many of their families had gradually changed from Samurai families into shinobi.

That included the Hatake family. They had once been Samurai, but had risen to prominence under Hatake Sakumo. His son Kakashi, meanwhile, would become known throughout the Shinobi World chiefly for his Ninjutsu and Sharingan.

"Kodamaru. I specialize in Water Release."

"Aburame Nozawa. I specialize in controlling Kikaichū."

"Satomaru. I specialize in Fire Release and Sword Techniques."

Fugaku turned to the two members of Ning's original squad.

"Qiuze Danye. I specialize in Earth Release and Sealing Jutsu."

"Haranoki. I specialize in Fire Release and Sword Techniques."

Fugaku Uchiha nodded. More than twenty years after Konoha's founding, many families still preserved the swordsmanship of the Warring States period. Their Ninjutsu and Sword Techniques had developed side by side. They could not be underestimated.

Fugaku Uchiha opened the mission scroll. It contained a map marking their target: a Sunagakure outpost that also served as a supply point.

The supply point lay to the southwest, fairly close to the Land of Rivers. Their gathering point was in the southeast of the Land of Rain, so they would have to cross more than half the country.

"Get ready. We leave in ten minutes," Fugaku Uchiha said. "This is our first mission as part of the Vanguard Force. It will be a serious test for us, so prepare yourselves."

In Fugaku Uchiha's view, it would be difficult for two Jonin and six Chunin to destroy the supplies at a Sunagakure outpost. A supply point would have at least three full squads stationed there—nine or perhaps twelve shinobi.

A Sunagakure squad might also arrive to collect supplies at any time.

The eight Konoha shinobi walked through the rain while countless Kikaichū flew around them.

Hyuga Ning activated his Byakugan from time to time to scout their surroundings. His Byakugan and the Kikaichū complemented each other, giving the team a better chance of spotting an ambush.

"Captain, there's something ahead," Aburame Nozawa said suddenly. "I found six Rain shinobi. If we keep going, we'll probably run into them."

"Take cover," Fugaku Uchiha said. "Hide and stay where you are. We'll move on once they've passed."

"Captain, there are only six of them," Qiuze Danye said. "We can kill them and then continue the mission."

It was the first objection anyone had raised since they set out that morning. Fugaku knew it would not be the last.

Fugaku Uchiha looked at Qiuze Danye, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan turning steadily. "The noise of a fight could draw more shinobi. That might cause the mission to fail—or cost us team members before we even reach our objective.

"As a Chunin, you may have to lead Genin on missions one day. Your ability to assess intelligence isn't good enough. You need to learn more. I'll say it again: until we carry out the mission, avoid unnecessary trouble whenever possible.

"Everything else can wait until the mission is done."

Qiuze Danye's face reddened slightly. All eight shinobi concealed themselves, and the six Rain shinobi gradually disappeared into the distance.

Hyuga Ning, the deputy captain, remained silent throughout the journey and rarely offered an opinion.

Still, Fugaku could tell that some members of the team resented his appointment as captain. They did not believe a thirteen-year-old boy could lead them through the mission.

As darkness fell, Fugaku ordered the team into hiding several more times to avoid shinobi squads from other nations.

The others cooperated well enough. Their main mission was still unfinished, and any clash with an enemy could cause it to fail.

No one wanted to be blamed for ruining the mission through rash action.

"Nozawa, find a clean cave. We'll rest there tonight."

They were only halfway to the target. The rest of the journey would have to wait until tomorrow.

Hyuga Ning, who had kept quiet until then, spoke up. "Captain, there's a good cave south of us. It's well hidden and has plenty of room inside."

Fugaku Uchiha nodded. "Let's take a look at the cave you found."