Ambush

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the eight of them returned to their meeting point.

"Captain," Hyuga Ning said, "the situation isn't promising. Sixteen Ninja are permanently stationed at the outpost: four Jonin and twelve Chunin. About four squads enter each day to resupply and rest, with six to nine people in each squad."

Fugaku had expected as much from Ning's report. Completing the mission would be even harder than he had imagined.

"Satomaru, Shinji, tell me what you observed."

"Captain, eighteen to twenty-four Ninja enter through the entrance we watched each day," Satomaru said. "The same squads sometimes return with different numbers."

"That matches what we saw," Shinji said. "Some squads resupply as often as once a day. They're taking heavy losses."

Fugaku nodded. It seemed Sunagakure had run into a powerful opponent on part of the battlefield. Ordinary fighting wouldn't have cost them so many people.

"Destroying Sunagakure's supply outpost won't be easy," Fugaku said after a moment's thought. "There are several times as many Ninja inside as we have here. A frontal assault would only get us killed. Aburame Nozawa, keep watching Sunagakure's movements and find a six-person squad that has finished resupplying."

"You want to use information from their Ninja to get inside the outpost," Hyuga Ning said. "Two Chunin guard the entrance. If we don't give ourselves away, we might be able to slip in."

Fugaku nodded. If they could get information about the outpost from Sand Shinobi returning to the field, they might have a chance to infiltrate it and destroy it from within.

Attacking outright and fighting an enemy force several times their size would be throwing their lives away.

Nozawa spread his hands. Kikaichū dispersed from his body and spread across the valley, then divided into three groups to watch the Sand Shinobi's movements.

"Let's find somewhere to rest," Fugaku Uchiha said. "The coming fight won't be easy. We have to succeed. If our ambush fails and word gets back to Sunagakure, they'll be on guard. Our mission to destroy their supplies will likely fail with it."

"Leave that to me," Hyuga Ning said. "I've surveyed the terrain over the past three days. I know a few places where we can rest."

Fugaku nodded. Ning led them to a reasonably clean cave that wasn't too damp.

Three straight days of watching the Sand Shinobi had exhausted the whole team. Fugaku had watched one direction alone and was even more tired than the others, but as captain, he had to appear strong in front of his team.

They had little chance of coming through this mission alive. If their captain showed no confidence, they would only fail, and Konoha would have to send another team.

After a night's rest, the whole team looked refreshed. Nozawa came over. "Captain, a six-person Sand Shinobi squad has appeared. My Kikaichū are already following them."

"Good work," Fugaku Uchiha said. "Stay on them. We'll strike once they're well away from the outpost."

With the Aburame Clan's Kikaichū watching the squad and guiding the way, they avoided a great deal of trouble. They followed from morning until noon. The Sunagakure Ninja encountered only one squad of Rain shinobi; after a brief exchange of probes, both sides withdrew.

The Rain shinobi had not yet declared all-out war on the three nations. For now, they mostly issued warnings and drove intruders away. In the end, the other nations would see that restraint as weakness and push even harder, setting the stage for full-scale war.

"Prepare to move," Fugaku said. "Hyuga Ning, we'll each take a Jonin. Try to keep them alive. Nozawa, harass them across the whole area. Satomaru and Shinji, each tie down a Chunin. Koda, you three take another."

"Captain, that leaves one Chunin," Koda said.

"Leave that one alone," Fugaku Uchiha said. "Follow the plan."

"Body Flicker Technique!"

Fugaku and Hyuga Ning vanished at the same time. Fugaku's crimson Sharingan spun rapidly, and the two Jonin ahead of them immediately sensed movement behind them.

Hyuga Ning thrust a palm toward one of the Sunagakure Jonin, using the Hyuga Clan's signature move: Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!

As Ning kept his opponent occupied, Fugaku unleashed the Genjutsu he had been preparing. The other Jonin fell briefly into an illusion.

Fugaku's Kunai blurred toward one of the Chunin. Genjutsu flashed from his Sharingan again, stopping the man in his tracks.

The Kunai pierced the Chunin's heart. Fugaku drew several Shuriken with his other hand and hurled them at the remaining Ninja, buying time for the Konoha shinobi behind him.

A message appeared in Fugaku's mind.

Killed one Chunin. Gained a small amount of Pupil Power.

Metal rang out in quick succession as the enemy deflected the Shuriken one after another.

By then, the Sand Shinobi caught in the illusion had recovered. He glared at Fugaku Uchiha, his face dark. He had never expected a Chunin to die at Fugaku's hands in the blink of an eye.

The Uchiha's Sharingan was even stronger than he had imagined.

The Sunagakure Jonin had been caught off guard in their first exchange. No longer daring to underestimate the Sharingan, he recalled the rumors about it and swiftly formed hand signs, hoping to put some distance between them with Ninjutsu.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

The Sand Shinobi's chest swelled. He blew hard, sending a gale laced with rain straight at Fugaku Uchiha.

Fugaku's hands flew through a sequence of signs.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Scorching flames burst from Fugaku's mouth, forming a huge fireball that slammed into the gale ahead of him.

Steam billowed upward as the Great Fireball and the gale fought to a standstill.

Fugaku formed another sign. A Shadow Clone appeared where he stood, while he used the Body Flicker Technique to move away.

Without Fugaku's Chakra sustaining the Fire Release, the Wind Release swept the flames onward and instantly destroyed his Shadow Clone, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.

The Sunagakure Jonin stared at the center of the blast. He had a feeling an Uchiha wouldn't be so easily defeated.

Fugaku appeared off to his opponent's front and side. He drew several Kunai and hurled them at the Sunagakure Jonin. They struck one another in midair, spreading out to cut off every avenue of escape.

The Kunai continued to collide, darting toward the surrounded Sand Shinobi from strange angles.

Fugaku Uchiha shifted position again and again as he charged.

Sparks flashed before the Sand Shinobi. He knocked away three Kunai in quick succession, but the remaining four struck his body.

Spots of crimson appeared on him, and the Sunagakure Jonin's movements slowed. At the same moment, Fugaku activated the Genjutsu in his Sharingan.

Pupil Power poured from Fugaku's eyes into his opponent's. The Sunagakure Jonin struggled to resist, but Fugaku struck the back of his neck with the edge of his hand and knocked him unconscious.

Fugaku had benefited from Sunagakure's unfamiliarity with the Sharingan. Early in the war, Uchiha shinobi would enjoy a considerable advantage.

Once the other nations had fought the Uchiha often enough, they would develop tactics against the Sharingan. It might still give the Uchiha an advantage, but defeating enemies so easily would become much harder.

"Body Flicker Technique!"

Fugaku appeared behind the Ninja fighting Satomaru. His Kunai pierced the man's heart, ending his life.

A message appeared in Fugaku's mind.

Killed one Chunin. Gained a small amount of Pupil Power.

"Satomaru, help Shinji finish his opponent," Fugaku said. "Nozawa, gather your Kikaichū and focus your attack on the other Sunagakure Jonin."