As they made their way back to camp, Fugaku's mind wandered. He was well aware that the Three Great Nations, with their extensive intelligence networks, probably knew exactly where the frontline camp was. However, with so many Konoha ninjas stationed there, any direct attack was a major risk. Launching a large-scale assault would expose weak points back home, a gamble none of the major nations wanted to take.

To Fugaku, the camp served more as a decoy than anything else—a visible target hiding Konoha's true strategies. He doubted that all of Konoha’s operatives in the Land of Rain were based at this one location.

‘Konoha’s playing the long game,’ he thought, glancing at his team as they entered the camp. ‘Like a clever rabbit with multiple burrows, Konoha has other hidden bases.’

Once inside, they headed to the logistics tent to pick up supplies. Sato and Nozawa immediately went to rest after getting their rations, but Fugaku decided to check on Yan Uchiha’s tent. It had been a while since he’d sent a letter home through Yan’s psychic beast, and he thought his father might have sent new instructions.

When he arrived, Yan’s tent was empty. ‘He must still be out on a mission,’ Fugaku thought, feeling a slight concern.

Turning away, he walked to Jin Uchiha’s tent. Jin wasn’t as sharp as Yan, but he was one of Fugaku’s closest friends and someone he could speak with openly.

“Fugaku,” Jin called out with a nod as he walked up to him. “I had a feeling you’d be back soon. Are you here to pick up supplies?”

Fugaku returned the nod. “Yes, and I was hoping Yan had come back as well. I’m waiting on a letter from my father.”

Jin looked thoughtful for a moment. “Yan should be back soon. He’s expected for resupply in the next day or two. Why not take a short break?”

“We’ll take a couple of days to rest,” Fugaku agreed. “Then we’ll be heading out on another mission.”

Jin’s expression grew serious. “That should be enough time. If there aren’t any complications, Yan should be back by tomorrow.”

Fugaku sighed, looking out over the camp. “I hope so. There haven’t been many changes around here lately, but it’s hard to see the whole picture from here.”

Jin nodded. “Actually, there has been some change. I’ve noticed fewer Ame ninja patrolling. Hanzo might be pulling back. He’s not blind. The Land of Rain has already suffered a lot, and the Three Great Nations haven’t even fully committed yet.”

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“Smart move,” Fugaku said. “They’ll wait for us to wear each other down, then make their move. A small nation like theirs can’t afford to go head-to-head with any of the big players. They’ll pick their moment carefully.”

“Every nation’s leaders are just as calculating as ours,” Jin said with a weary sigh. “We can’t be sure what Konoha’s top leaders are planning either.”

Fugaku nodded slightly. “That’s not up to us. Our job is to make sure the Uchiha show their strength on the battlefield. That’s enough.”

After parting ways with Jin, Fugaku headed to his tent, glad for a chance to rest. The last few missions in Iwa territory had worn him out, and he felt every ache as he lay down to sleep.

The next day, around noon, Yan’s team finally returned to camp. They looked battered, bruised, and covered in bandages; the weight of their losses was clear. Four members of their team had been lost.

Seeing the exhausted faces, Fugaku was reminded once again of the harsh reality of war. Every mission was a gamble with lives, one wrong move, and it could be his team next.

Later that evening, Fugaku spotted Yan. “Fugaku, Jin, good to see you both,” Yan greeted.

Fugaku nodded. “Rough mission?”

“Suna Ninja ambushed us,” Yan said with a regretful tone. “Four were lost to poison. The rest of us barely made it back. I was careless.”

“It’s hard to avoid when dealing with the Sand’s poison,” Fugaku replied. “Our medical resources are still lacking.”

Yan nodded somberly. Then, as if remembering, he reached into his pouch and handed Fugaku a sealed letter. “This is from the patriarch, sent directly to you.”

The envelope bore his father’s handwriting, with clear instructions to be opened only by Fugaku. He carefully tore it open, reading his father’s words.

The letter revealed that Konoha had quietly sent two groups of reinforcements to the Land of Rain, though neither included Uchiha members. His father, Kogaku Uchiha, planned to propose an increase in Uchiha forces soon to raise the clan’s standing in the village and gain more influence in Konoha.

‘A hidden stronghold makes sense,’ Fugaku thought as he finished the letter. ‘This camp alone can’t handle a prolonged, intense war.’

After two days of rest and training, Fugaku’s team prepared for their next mission, heading northwest to continue their work in the Land of Rain. Weeks turned into months, blurring into a cycle of ambushes, skirmishes, and survival.

The mission had started well, with Fugaku’s team successfully taking out enemy squads. But over time, the enemy adapted. Iwa ninjas began patrolling in organized groups, making ambushes much harder.

For the last two months, they’d been lucky to eliminate one Iwa team per month.

Still, in three months, Team 009 had taken down seven enemy groups, with a total of 68 kills—47 Iwa and 21 Ame ninjas. It was an impressive record, showing the team’s skill and resilience. Despite their success, Fugaku noticed that the camp’s numbers remained steady, as if the great nations were avoiding an all-out escalation, at least for now. Yet, the tension was rising. Every life lost added to the bitter animosity simmering between the sides.

As Fugaku entered Sakumo’s tent, he felt more at ease. He had grown stronger and more confident over the past months, and so had his team. They no longer felt the same intimidation they once did in the presence of this legendary figure.