Over the next two days, several Sunagakure squads passed nearby, but Fugaku waited patiently, quietly observing until he found an isolated, high-ranking target.

Finally, he spotted a promising team: a Jonin and two Chunin moving toward his location. He followed them silently, waiting until they were far from the border to make his move.

When the three stopped to rest in a small clearing, Fugaku saw his chance. As night fell, two of the Sunagakure ninjas fell asleep, with one Chunin keeping watch.

Fugaku quietly coated his kunai with a potent tranquilizing poison. He waited patiently as the Chunin on guard began to nod off, his eyes briefly closing as drowsiness took over. After two hours, the camp was completely silent.

Fugaku used his Body Flicker Technique, Shunshin no Jutsu, to close the distance instantly, throwing two kunai with explosive tags toward the sleeping ninjas. The explosions shattered the stillness, and the Chunin on watch sprang up, shouting, “Enemy attack!”

As the flames erupted, Fugaku unleashed Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu, sending a large fireball barreling through the blaze.

Two figures staggered out from the edge of the explosion: the Jonin and the alert Chunin.

[Killed an elite Chunin and gained a small amount of pupil power.]

Without hesitation, he charged at the Chunin, who, disoriented by the flames, tried to block Fugaku’s kunai but was quickly caught by Fugaku’s three-tomoe Sharingan. The Chunin’s eyes widened, entranced for a brief moment, and Fugaku’s kunai struck his heart, another notification appearing as he gained more pupil power.

The remaining Jonin steadied himself, skillfully deflecting Fugaku’s shuriken.

“So, the Uchiha clan is meddling in the Land of Rain now?” he sneered. “You’re foolish if you think you can take us all on alone.”

“There’s no point talking to the dead,” Fugaku replied coldly, his eyes fixed on the Jonin.

Fugaku’s hands blurred as he threw more shuriken, following them with a set of seals.

Tiger, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.

Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu!

The Phoenix Fire ignited the shuriken, encircling the Jonin in a blaze of sparks. The Jonin dodged quickly, launching kunai and a massive wind blade toward Fugaku.

Fugaku leapt back, narrowly avoiding the attack as it sliced through a large tree behind him.

Using his Sharingan and the cover of darkness to his advantage, Fugaku engaged the Jonin in close combat. Their kunai clashed repeatedly, scattering sparks across the dark forest.

Gradually, Fugaku wore down his opponent. The tranquilizer in his kunai took effect, slowing the Jonin’s movements and labored breathing. “You… laced your weapons with poison?” he panted, glaring at Fugaku.

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The Jonin attempted to stab himself in the heart, but Fugaku’s Sharingan caught the motion. With a precise strike, he knocked the kunai from the Jonin’s hand. Trapped in a genjutsu, the Jonin’s resistance faded as Fugaku layered another illusion over him, ensuring complete control.

“Tell me,” Fugaku began. “Who’s leading your forces here, and how many of you are in the Land of Rain?”

The question seemed to stir a brief resistance in the Sunagakure ninja. Fugaku quickly strengthened the genjutsu, his Sharingan spinning faster until his captive’s expression went blank.

“Who commands Sunagakure’s forces here, and how many were sent?” he repeated.

This time, the Jonin answered in a dull, mechanical tone. “The commander is Elder Ebizo. Only he and the top officials in Sunagakure know the full number.”

Fugaku frowned. Ebizo was Chiyo’s brother, a cunning strategist. This mission was shaping up to be more challenging than expected.

“What’s your purpose here in the Land of Rain?” Fugaku asked.

“To infiltrate… and await further orders,” the Jonin replied.

Fugaku sighed. The Sunagakure forces kept information tight, revealing little even to their operatives.

Still, he needed details about the supply routes and bases.

“What have you observed since arriving? Draw the supply route from Sunagakure Village to the Land of Rain, marking any supply points,” he commanded, watching closely as he reinforced the genjutsu to prevent any breaks.

The Jonin began drawing on a scroll, mapping the supply routes. Fugaku could feel his struggle as his hand hesitated, but he applied more chakra with his Sharingan, keeping the Jonin under control.

After several tense minutes, the supply routes and hidden bases were clearly marked on the scroll.

Satisfied, Fugaku asked a few more questions to confirm details, then took one final look at the scroll. With a swift movement, he ended the Jonin’s life with a kunai to the heart.

[Killed a Jonin and gained a moderate amount of pupil power.]

After setting an explosive trap on the corpse, Fugaku hid it in the back of a cave. Anyone who investigated would trigger the trap, destroying the body and any evidence.

With his mission complete, he looked around the rainy landscape, thinking, ‘Konoha’s sunny weather is far more welcoming than this damp, misty place.’

It took Fugaku four days to return to Konoha. Upon arrival, he immediately noticed something was wrong—Uchiha guards were posted all around, investigating something with tense urgency.

As he entered the village, a familiar face appeared.

“Jin,” Fugaku greeted his fellow clansman. “What’s going on?”

Jin Uchiha, an elite guard and one of the clan’s three-tomoe Sharingan users, nodded.

“Fugaku, congratulations on completing your promotion mission. But… things are tense here. Last night, one of Konoha’s elders was assassinated. The whole village is under martial law while we search for the killer.”

Fugaku’s mind raced. “Who was killed? In the village?”

“Yes, Elder Yamada. The higher-ups suspect it could be linked to either the Land of Wind or the Land of Earth,” Jin replied.

Fugaku felt skeptical. With so many seasoned veterans still alive in Konoha—warriors who had fought with the First and Second Hokage—it seemed odd for an assassination to happen now.

“Sending an assassin into Konoha at a time like this doesn’t make sense,” he muttered.

“Exactly,” Jin agreed, lowering his voice. “But the higher-ups are putting a lot of blame on the Uchiha. We had no choice but to increase patrols and enforce martial law. We’re doing all we can to avoid conflict, but it’s causing tension.”

Fugaku’s face hardened. “It feels like they’re trying to strain relations between us and the village even further.”

Jin nodded. “The patriarch mentioned that too. But with Konoha’s leaders pressing us, we have to go along with the search, or it’ll only look worse for us.”

Fugaku nodded thoughtfully. “Jin, keep our clan’s approach friendly with the villagers. We don’t need more resentment. I’ll report my mission to the Hokage first.”

“Good luck, Fugaku,” Jin replied with a small smile. “And don’t forget—when things calm down, you owe us a celebration for your promotion.” Fugaku chuckled, nodding before heading off.