He reappeared behind the ninja fighting Sato, plunging a kunai into the enemy’s chest, finishing the battle.

[Defeated a Chūnin, gaining a slight increase in eye power.]

"Sato, help Shinji with the last one," Fugaku ordered. "Nozawa, focus your insects on the remaining Sand Jōnin."

Nozawa nodded, sending his insects to swarm the Sand Jōnin locked in a fight with Ning. The Sunagakure ninja underestimated the power of the Gentle Fist, leaving himself open as Ning struck several chakra points in quick hits, cutting off his chakra flow and weakening him.

Sato and Shinji quickly finished off the last Chūnin, their strikes precise and coordinated. "Take the bodies," Fugaku ordered. "Nozawa, lead us forward. Ning, guard the rear." After knocking out the remaining Sunagakure Jōnin, the team moved quickly, carrying the bodies.

Rain poured down, washing away traces of blood and covering any lingering scent—a unique advantage in the Land of Rain, which made it harder for ninja clans like the Inuzuka, or some trained ninja animals, to track. Nozawa guided the team to a hidden cave in the rugged mountains, safe from enemy patrols. It was unlikely anyone would find them here until nightfall.

"Memorize the faces and details of these four Chūnin," Fugaku instructed. "Tomorrow night, we’ll infiltrate the Sand stronghold. We can’t afford any mistakes."

"Captain," Sato spoke up. "Going in with six of us is risky. If we’re discovered, it’ll be hard for all of us to escape."

"We’ll decide numbers later," Fugaku replied. "Right now, let’s focus on gathering more intelligence. Shinji, Dayo, you two are skilled with Earth Release. Take these bodies to the back of the cave, bury them deep, and make sure no trace remains."

"Ning, keep watch here. Nozawa, you’re coming with me for the interrogation."

"Yes, Captain," they replied together.

Nozawa lifted the unconscious Sunagakure Jōnin over his shoulder. Inside the cave, Fugaku activated his Sharingan, focusing on the fallen Sunagakure ninja. He checked the man’s breathing and chest movements carefully to ensure he was truly unconscious. Satisfied, he nodded to Nozawa.

"Hold his eyelids open," Fugaku instructed, his Sharingan spinning to prepare a genjutsu.

Nozawa pried the Sunagakure ninja's eyelids open, revealing unfocused eyes. Fugaku locked his gaze, activating the genjutsu. "What’s your name?" Fugaku asked, his voice calm but commanding.

"Renga," the ninja replied, his tone dull and flat under the effects of the genjutsu.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Describe the process for handling supplies at your stronghold," Fugaku commanded.

"In the stronghold, there’s a logistics office that manages all supplies," Renga began, his voice empty and mechanical. "Each day, one Jōnin and two Chūnin are assigned to oversee it. Anyone who needs supplies must show proper ID to the logistics team. They will then issue a certificate detailing what supplies were requested. This certificate must be presented at the warehouse to receive the items."

"And what about security at the warehouse?" Fugaku pressed.

"One Jōnin and two Chūnin are stationed there for guard duty," Renga replied in the same robotic tone, his eyes blank. "They monitor the entrance and handle any issues with distribution, making sure no one without clearance gets access to the supplies."

Fugaku made mental notes. The stronghold housed sixteen stationed ninja: six at the entrances and six at the logistics and warehouse areas. The other four were either idle or on standby, ready to reinforce if needed.

"Write down the names and details of the sixteen ninja in the stronghold," Fugaku commanded, "and include the names and details of your team members, as well as any layout details you know of the stronghold."

The captured ninja started writing, filling the scroll with information about the stronghold's layout and defenses.

After half an hour, he finished writing, and Fugaku sighed in quiet relief, wiping sweat from his forehead. Keeping up the genjutsu this long had drained him, and he knew he couldn’t hold it much longer without exhausting himself.

With a swift strike to the neck, he rendered the Sand ninja unconscious again and returned to the team.

"Captain, the bodies are buried," Dayo reported. "I added a basic seal over them. No one will find anything unless they look closely."

"Good work." Fugaku handed the information scroll to Ning. "This is everything we learned. Memorize it. I’ll rest briefly before questioning the other Sunagakure ninja."

"Are we disposing of this Sunagakure ninja after questioning?" Sato asked.

"Not yet," Fugaku replied. "We’ll cross-check information from both of them to make sure it's accurate. Once we’re certain, we’ll take care of them."

After resting, Fugaku and Nozawa questioned the second captured Jōnin, who provided similar information, confirming most details. Satisfied, Fugaku instructed Nozawa, "Before dark tomorrow, send your insects to scout the valley to confirm the layout they described. We can’t risk any surprises."

Fugaku turned to the team.

"You all know how dangerous this mission is. Tomorrow, only six of us will infiltrate the stronghold, with two staying outside to provide backup."

Sato opened his mouth to object, but Fugaku raised his hand, stopping him.

"I understand your concerns," Fugaku said, giving Sato a firm look. "But remember, we’ll be outnumbered, and adding more people won’t help. The more we bring in, the higher the chance of mistakes."

"Shinji, Nozawa—you’ll cover our exit. If we don’t return by morning, you’ll report back to Konoha."

"Captain, why are we the ones left behind?" Shinji protested. "I’d rather fight than wait outside."

Nozawa’s expression was calm, but Fugaku could see he felt the same.

Fugaku looked them both in the eyes, understanding their frustration. No one wanted to be left behind, fearing they might be the only survivors. He had seen it with others, like Kakashi, who carried the weight of lost comrades. But he couldn’t change the plan.

"This is my final decision," he said firmly. "Shinji, you and Dayo are skilled in Earth Release, essential for creating an escape route. Nozawa’s insects are vital for recon but are less effective in close combat against so many. Memorize the names and details of the 22 ninja in the intel, and make sure you don’t slip up when we’re inside."

"Yes, Captain," they replied, though reluctantly.