Sato and Shinji, both badly hurt, winced as they tried to bandage themselves. Their last fight with the Iwa ninjas had left them in rough shape, and another battle was out of the question.

Once his team was patched up, Fugaku pulled out the mission scroll. Their orders were straightforward—operate in the northwest of the Land of Rain and eliminate any enemy forces they came across. It was a war of attrition, meant to wear down the enemy.

After two days resting in the cave, everyone’s wounds had healed enough for them to move. Fugaku gathered the team to go over their next steps. “Nozawa, use your insects to keep a lookout. This time, we won’t engage directly. We’ll set traps and use hit-and-run tactics. Shinji, Sato, I want you two to focus on keeping the enemy off-balance.”

He unfolded a map, pointing to a pile of rocks south of their position. “This is Banyue Mountain—locals call it ‘half-moon mountain’ because half of it was destroyed. About 3,000 meters south from here is a road used by civilians and ninjas alike. There’s a rocky area 500 meters from that road, perfect for an ambush.”

The team nodded, understanding the plan. Fugaku continued, “Nozawa and I will draw them in. Once they’re in the trap zone, we’ll hit them with hidden explosives and follow up with a sneak attack. Dayo, make sure your sealing techniques are flawless.”

Dayo grinned confidently. “Don’t worry, Captain. My sealing techniques are the best. They won’t know what hit them.”

After setting up their traps and hiding explosives under loose rocks, each ninja took cover in the rocks. Fugaku and Nozawa waited near the road as bait. Fugaku scanned the rain-soaked road, squinting through the mist. ‘Just a little longer,’ he thought.

A flicker of movement appeared in the distance—a team of Iwa ninjas, twelve strong, led by a Jonin. Fugaku listened as the Jonin gave an order, his voice low but firm. “Ishiya, check that pile of rocks. Make sure no one’s hiding there.”

Ishiya approached cautiously, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the rocks. ‘Perfect,’ Fugaku thought, ‘they’ve taken the bait.’

As Ishiya came closer, Fugaku struck. In one quick move, he threw shuriken at odd angles, each aimed to catch the Iwa ninja off guard. Ishiya reacted fast, drawing a short sword and deflecting each shuriken skillfully. ‘Impressive reflexes,’ Fugaku thought, watching as Ishiya batted aside the last shuriken.

Fugaku sensed movement behind him. In mid-air, he twisted, his Sharingan spinning to reveal the exact path of the attack. He raised his kunai, deflecting the incoming weapons with swift, steady movements, each clang blending into the rhythm of clashing metal.

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Taking the opportunity, he pulled a small scroll from his kit and tossed it to Nozawa. “Fall back. This scroll has top-secret intel from Iwa. Get it back safely.”

This was their plan—a diversion to keep Iwa’s attention on them. With the scroll in Nozawa’s hands, the enemy would have no choice but to chase them, thinking they’d stumbled upon important information.

Losing a spy was a calculated risk most nations would take if it meant protecting vital secrets. ‘One wrong move here,’ Fugaku thought, ‘and we’re as good as dead. If Iwa catches us, they won’t spare us.’ He knew the grim reality; capture meant torture and, eventually, death—especially for a ninja from a prominent clan.

The rain poured harder, chilling them to the bone as they ran. Suddenly, Nozawa shouted a warning. “Captain, there are two more ninjas ahead, likely Iwa reinforcements.”

Fugaku nodded. “Change direction. Lead them toward the trap.”

Behind them, Ishiya was catching on. Realizing that a Konoha ninja with insect abilities was involved, he guessed they were communicating as they fled. Still, he couldn’t be sure the scroll was fake. Calling more reinforcements could interfere with Iwa’s other plans, and if the scroll was a trick, he’d be blamed. Scowling, he signaled his squad to speed up.

Fugaku kept an eye on the pursuers, watching them close in. He threw several kunai back at them, letting them spin through the rain, altering course mid-flight. Ishiya countered, a gust of wind bursting from his mouth, scattering both the kunai and rain in all directions. Fugaku smirked; the kunai were only a distraction.

As the Iwa team destroyed the hidden weapons, Fugaku completed his hand seals.

Tiger, Horse, Snake, Dragon, Tiger.

“Katon: Sōdai Ryūen no Jutsu!”

Three blazing dragons of fire spun through the air, twisting around each other before diving toward the Iwa ninjas from multiple directions.

An earth wall shot up to block the flames, buying Fugaku a few moments. The intense heat met solid stone, creating a cloud of steam. ‘That should hold them off for now,’ he thought, eyeing the rocky area where they’d set their trap.

“Slow down,” he instructed. “Act tired. Give them a reason to keep chasing us.”

Nozawa released his insects to monitor the surroundings, nodding in agreement. They neared the trap, and Fugaku quickly assessed the setup. The rocks covered their preparations well—none of his team members were visible.

Soon, Ishiya’s squad arrived, and Fugaku waited, tracking their movements. As they entered the trap zone, he acted swiftly, releasing a handful of shuriken to trigger the trap.

Stone spikes shot up from the ground, stabbing toward the Iwa ninjas. Ishiya shouted, “Hold formation! Stay close!” He knew that any gap in their ranks would make them vulnerable.

Several earth walls rose to shield the Iwa team, but the spikes hammered against the barriers, shaking the ground. The hollowed-out terrain began to collapse, and the Iwa formation wavered as some ninjas struggled to stay on their feet. A few managed to leap clear just in time, while others stumbled, falling into the pit below.

Seeing his chance, Fugaku formed a quick seal.

Rat, Tiger, Dog, Ox, Rabbit, Tiger.

“Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu!”

Small fireballs scattered across the debris, their flickering flames igniting the hidden detonating tags within the rocks.