Entering

The night was silent. The fire in the cave had nearly burned out, and the three of them rested around it.

Sparks flickered among the embers, then died. The Uchiha who had joined the Vanguard Force had all been handpicked by the Hokage based on ANBU intelligence. At the very least, they had the basic qualities expected of ninja.

Fugaku Uchiha's greatest worry had been that weak, arrogant clan members would be sent along and tarnish the Uchiha's reputation.

The Uchiha had faced growing hostility in Konoha until their clan was eventually wiped out. These clan members had borne a large share of the blame.

It wasn't enough to improve the Uchiha's reputation. I'll have to find a way to weed out the rot, too. Plans raced through Fugaku Uchiha's mind.

The Aburame Clan's insects seemed to have built-in clocks. Aburame Nozawa was the first to wake in the dim cave, with Fugaku Uchiha close behind him.

"Nozawa, have you finished cultivating the Kikaichū?" Fugaku Uchiha asked. "We only have three days. Let's try to complete our mission to kill a Jonin squad within that time."

Nozawa nodded. "They're ready. Every one of them can withstand the rain."

Nozawa stood and held out his hands. Countless black Kikaichū poured from his body, swarming across the entire cave.

The dense mass of insects made Fugaku Uchiha's scalp prickle. Anyone seeing so many of them up close for the first time would have felt the same chill.

Nozawa sent the Kikaichū flying out of the cave, and the three followed. Outside, the insects spread into a fan and flew toward the heart of the Land of Rain.

Dark clouds still covered the sky, and a light rain fell. Wearing rain cloaks, the three moved slowly. All they needed to do was wait for news from the Kikaichū, though they remained alert to their surroundings.

The Shinobi World held all manner of strange abilities. Someone might well be able to detect the Aburame Clan's Kikaichū. The Kamizuru Clan of Iwagakure was also said to fight by controlling insects.

The Kamizuru Clan controlled bees rather than Kikaichū. And with so many unusual people in the Shinobi World, some might even use common animals or insects as Summoning Beasts.

Fugaku Uchiha activated his Sharingan. His eyes moved rapidly, tracking anything in motion. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan could perceive moving objects even better than the Byakugan.

Kikaichū continued to emerge from Nozawa's body as he used Chakra to hatch the eggs within him.

Kikaichū kept returning from the sky to report what they had found.

"Captain, we've found enemy ninja," Aburame Nozawa said. "A four-person squad from the Land of Rain is three hundred meters southwest. They appear to be on a mission."

Fugaku Uchiha nodded. "Stay alert."

The three slowed down. Kikaichū continued to return from the southwest, bringing Nozawa reports on the Amegakure squad.

The three had found the four Rain shinobi's trail and were following close behind. According to the Kikaichū, the four ahead had slowed down.

The four Rain shinobi had stopped to rest. The three exchanged a glance and crept closer until four figures came into view.

Fugaku quietly studied them. One of the four was clearly the Captain; he carried himself with a mature, steady air.

The other three still looked inexperienced to Fugaku. They had barely reached Chunin level and might have been promoted in wartime without a formal assessment.

"Get ready," Fugaku Uchiha said. "On three, Nozawa, use the Kikaichū to tie down their Captain and the Rain shinobi on the left. Sato, take the one on the right. I'll kill the one in the middle.

"Once I've killed him, Nozawa, pull the Kikaichū away from their Captain and leave him to me. If we kill all four, we'll have completed the Vanguard Force's initial mission.

"We can spend the remaining two days choosing other enemies to fight and building our squad's coordination."

"Yes."

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

The instant Fugaku finished speaking, he used the Body Flicker Technique and flung two kunai at the Rain shinobi Captain. Then he became a dark blur and lunged at one of the others.

Sato struck at his assigned target. Overhead, the Kikaichū gathered and swept toward the Captain and the remaining Rain shinobi.

The Rain shinobi Captain reacted first. "Enemy attack! Prepare to fight!"

Two curving kunai came at him, and the Captain knew they were facing a formidable opponent. He swung his weapon repeatedly, deflecting them in front of him.

Fugaku Uchiha paid no attention to the others. With the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared beside his target and thrust a kunai toward the Rain shinobi's heart.

His Sharingan stayed fixed on the man as he unleashed a Genjutsu he had prepared. Three Tomoe spun through the Rain shinobi's mind, leaving him unable to move.

In a clash between ninja, life and death could be decided in an instant. As the Rain shinobi fell under Fugaku's Genjutsu, the kunai pierced his heart.

Killed an ordinary Chunin. Gained a small amount of Pupil Power.

The familiar words appeared in Fugaku's mind again. He turned and rushed at the enemy Captain.

Fugaku Uchiha had moved so fast that no one expected it. A Chunin had died at his hands in a single exchange, without even a chance to fight back.

Seeing his dead subordinate, the Rain shinobi Captain shouted, "They're Uchiha from Konoha! Konoha has joined the war! Retreat!"

The Captain fled first, abandoning his two surviving subordinates. Fugaku was close behind.

Fugaku's ten fingers blurred through a series of hand seals.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

A volley of fireballs burst from his mouth, cutting off the Captain's escape route.

Forced to stop, the Rain shinobi Captain knew he had almost no chance of getting word out.

He turned and faced Fugaku Uchiha calmly, a kunai in each hand. A fierce resolve radiated from him.

Fugaku Uchiha frowned and watched his every move. His Sharingan spun rapidly, and the Genjutsu he had prepared entered the Captain's vision in an instant.

A wave of dizziness hit the Captain, and illusions filled his sight. He formed a hand seal and shouted, "Release!"

Fugaku had charged the instant he cast the Genjutsu. Their kunai clashed in a bright shower of sparks, while the kunai in his other hand quietly slashed across the Captain's ribs.

Breaking a Genjutsu took time. Fugaku had gained the upper hand in their first exchange, though only slightly.

Adapting to a fight against the Sharingan required years of training. Might Guy would eventually be able to fight one by watching only his opponent's shoulders.

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End of chapter.