Assassination

The capital of the Land of Earth grew quieter as night fell. At the Logistics Department's offices, Fugaku Uchiha placed the four staff members on duty under Genjutsu one after another. They all slumped over their desks and fell asleep.

When the four woke, they would remember nothing of Fugaku questioning them. They would only think exhaustion had finally caught up with them.

In the spacious hall, a puff of smoke flashed, and Fugaku and Hyuga Ning released their Shadow Clones in succession.

Back at the inn, Fugaku stirred and slowly opened his eyes. The information he had obtained from the four staff members surfaced in his mind.

His four teammates gathered around, waiting to hear what he had learned.

"We didn't get much," Fugaku said. "Those four are at the very bottom of the department. They know so little they couldn't even tell me which days Nagai Shiro comes in.

"The Logistics Department has four Ninja guarding it openly during the day. We don't know how strong they are, so we should treat them as an Elite Squad.

"As for anyone watching from the shadows, the staff weren't sure, but they were certain Ninja were stationed there.

"We need to assume the worst about the guards, then look for gaps in their defenses. That's how we improve our chances of completing the mission."

Fugaku glanced over his teammates. "First, tell me what you found out about the major clans' residences."

Moonlight Shuichi shook his head. "It's even worse than we thought. Many of the major clans have already made arrangements with Iwagakure, hiring large numbers of Ninja through missions to protect their members, especially the important ones."

Hyuga Ning said, "It seems the war in the Land of Rain has put the leaders of many countries on alert. Before we left, Konoha had already sent a group of Ninja to the capital of the Land of Fire to protect its key departments. They were afraid a sudden disruption could affect the course of the war."

Mitarashi Akira said, "We've also heard people saying in public that Iwagakure sent a large number of Ninja into the capital to handle emergencies."

Fugaku nodded. "Let's not rush. We'll spend the next few days getting a clear picture, then draw up a detailed assassination plan. No matter how tight their protection is, there will be an opening.

"The enemy is out in the open, while we're in the shadows. We need to verify every piece of intelligence. We'll only get one chance at this. If we fail, a second attempt will be next to impossible."

Fugaku knew that once the Stone shinobi realized what Konoha intended, they would likely send stronger Ninja to reinforce the capital before the troop deployment was settled.

For three days, the five of them gathered intelligence, sometimes using Shadow Clones and sometimes going in person. They had little time. Once both sides reached an agreement and supplies began moving, killing Nagai Shiro would accomplish nothing.

Moonlight Shuichi was the most valuable of them when it came to reconnaissance. Transparent Release let him erase his scent and turn invisible. He alone had a chance of getting close to Nagai Shiro.

After three days, they brought their findings together.

Of the capital's four gates, the western gate was relatively lightly defended. Iwagakure lay to the west, and though it was not close, an invasion from that direction was highly unlikely.

Fugaku spread out a map. "Tomorrow afternoon, Nagai Shiro will go to the Logistics Department to handle some official business. Then he'll lead a large group of its staff to the palace to discuss supply coordination with the Daimyo and Iwagakure's representatives.

"Our chance comes before they enter the Daimyo's palace. Every target will be in that group."

Fugaku pointed to a spot on the map. "Their route crosses a busy street at this intersection. The crowds will put their Ninja on alert, but they also give us our best chance.

"It's the only place we can approach them openly."

The four studied the map and nodded. Hyuga Ning asked, "What's the plan?"

Fugaku thought for a moment. "Moonlight Shuichi will infiltrate the Logistics Department ahead of time and confirm the targets. Hyuga Ning will use the Byakugan to verify them again. I don't want us killing a decoy.

"Once they reach the ambush point, Yamashiro Kiyokawa will summon a large flock of crows to harass the surrounding Ninja.

"Moonlight Shuichi, Mitarashi Akira, Hyuga Ning, and I will assassinate the targets. Nagai Shiro is the priority; the others are secondary. Afterward, we retreat through the more lightly defended western gate."

The four teammates kept their eyes on the map. One after another, they nodded and agreed to Fugaku's plan.

At noon the next day, Moonlight Shuichi slipped silently out of the inn. The other four left in turn and made their way to the ambush site to inspect it and guard against surprises.

At the end of the street, they found that the intersection opened onto another broad road with few pedestrians. Fugaku bent down and Sealed two Explosive Tags beneath the road. A sufficiently strong impact would break the outer Seal and detonate them.

They would help either to create chaos or to kill a target.

Time passed. A crow flew overhead, cawing repeatedly. Fugaku knew the targets had left the offices and were heading their way.

Hyuga Ning appeared beside him. "There's a complication. The man they're protecting in the center isn't Nagai Shiro. He's a Ninja with a large amount of chakra, at least Jonin level. The real Nagai Shiro is hidden among the ordinary people behind him."

Fugaku understood. They were using a decoy to foil any assassination attempt, but a trick like that could not fool the Byakugan.

Two figures appeared abruptly on the rooftops overlooking the street and scanned the crowd below, watching for anyone who might take advantage of the commotion.

Behind them came a group of more than twenty. Over a dozen Ninja guarded the perimeter, while staff from the Logistics Department walked in the middle. One official received particularly close protection; his clothing alone showed that he held considerable standing in the Land of Earth.

He was Nagai Shiro's double. A short distance behind him, an unremarkable figure was the real Nagai Shiro.

A mass of crows suddenly burst into the crowd and swept toward the Ninja guarding the group. At the same moment, Fugaku hurled several Kunai bearing Explosive Tags straight at the Jonin decoy.

Someone in the group shouted,

"Enemy attack! Call for backup! Protect the officials!"

"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

A fireball shot out from among the Stone shinobi toward the crows overhead. At Yamashiro Kiyokawa's command, the flock scattered and dove at the Stone shinobi one by one.

Walls of earth rose around the group. Several Stone shinobi leaped onto them to face Fugaku and the others.

Moonlight Shuichi suddenly appeared inside the earth walls and drove his long blade into the primary target's chest.