They sealed the bodies of the four Amegakure ninja in a scroll and retreated to a nearby cave to rest.

The battles had drained their chakra, especially Fugaku, whose young age made using the three-tomoe Sharingan for long periods exhausting. Once they settled in, Nozawa sent out tracking insects around the cave entrance, ready to alert them to any intruders. Sitting around a small fire, Fugaku couldn’t shake a feeling of unease.

"This won’t always be so simple," he muttered. "As the battles go on, other nations will learn more about the Sharingan. Facing a four-man squad led by a Jonin will only get harder."

Nozawa nodded quietly in agreement. Fugaku had noticed the Amegakure ninja they encountered wasn’t especially strong, but Sato had handled him well. He wondered if Sato was holding back or hiding some special skills. Either way, Fugaku decided to keep an eye on him.

The cave fell quiet as they sat cross-legged, focusing on restoring their chakra. In the Land of Rain, where multi-national conflicts raged, even a moment’s carelessness could be deadly.

Once their chakra was replenished, Nozawa sent out his insects again to scout for nearby enemies. The rain continued relentlessly, casting a gloomy mood. Fugaku, in particular, felt its weight, as if the rain itself were challenging him.

Their luck seemed to have run out. The day passed without them finding a suitable target. They encountered larger six-man teams, but attacking such squads without reinforcements was too risky. They knew it wasn’t worth the risk with just the three of them.

As night fell, they found another dry cave and lit a small fire for warmth. "We didn’t see a single three-man team all day," Sato said, frowning. "Captain, this is strange. We should stay alert."

Fugaku nodded. "It seems the skirmishes are growing. Smaller squads may be merging to increase their chances of survival. If this keeps up, we might need to report to Captain Hatake."

Sato looked at Fugaku with surprise. The Uchiha were known for their pride, yet Fugaku was open to teaming up with other squads if needed. Sato respected this practical approach.

Nozawa nodded. "Finding another Aburame team shouldn’t be hard; we have ways to signal each other. We can search tomorrow."

With their plan set, the cave grew quiet, interrupted only by the crackling fire. Suddenly, Nozawa stiffened. "Someone’s coming," he whispered. "My insects just sent a warning—six people are approaching, and they’re not from Konoha."

Sato quickly doused the fire, and Fugaku placed stones over the ashes, setting a detonating tag beneath. If anyone disturbed the stones, it would trigger an explosion.

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They moved deeper into the cave, hiding as footsteps grew louder. Six figures cautiously entered the cave. They were Iwa ninja, most of them looked battered, as if they’d recently fought. Two of them seemed seriously injured.

One of them, likely the leader, suddenly stopped, eyes narrowing. "Captain Daichi, what’s wrong?" asked one of his teammates.

"Hechiro and Kichiro need their wounds treated." Daichi didn’t answer, his hands forming signs as he scanned the cave.

Fugaku acted immediately, throwing two shuriken to disrupt the jutsu. Daichi barely managed to deflect them, sparks flashing as their weapons clashed.

"These Iwa ninja are already worn out," Fugaku murmured to his teammates. "Draw out the fight—they’re low on energy."

In the dim cave, Fugaku’s Sharingan glowed red, casting an eerie light. He tossed several kunai, each one bouncing off the walls in an unpredictable pattern aimed at the four uninjured Iwa ninja.

"Watch for hidden weapons!" Daichi warned, realizing Fugaku’s advantage in the shadows. "Fall back! It’s an Uchiha with the Sharingan—they’re too strong here."

As the Iwa ninja retreated, Daichi formed more hand signs.

"Doton: Doryūheki!"

A thick wall of earth rose to shield his team, but Nozawa and Sato reacted instantly. Nozawa unleashed a swarm of insects, which crawled over the wall toward the Iwa ninja, while Sato drew his sword and leapt over the barrier, engaging one of them directly.

The cave echoed with the sounds of battle—the clash of metal, the buzz of insects, and the shouts of Iwa ninja as they fought at close range. Fugaku’s Sharingan darted back and forth, capturing every detail, predicting each enemy’s move.

Daichi glared at Fugaku, realizing they couldn’t escape easily. They were trapped. "Your mistake was underestimating us," Fugaku said, calm but firm.

The Sharingan spun, catching Daichi’s gaze in its hypnotic hold. Daichi froze, his senses blurring under the genjutsu. Fugaku seized the moment to dash forward, kunai in hand, aiming for his vital spot. As Daichi broke free of the illusion, it was too late.

Fugaku’s kunai slashed his throat, and Daichi staggered, clutching his wound. The remaining Iwa ninja fought back desperately, but they were too worn out to keep up. In the end, the Iwa ninja fell, and their bodies were sealed into a scroll for easy handling. Nozawa placed a few insects at the cave entrance for security, and they resumed their positions around the fire.

Outside, the rain poured heavily as Fugaku and his team sat around a small fire. After a night soaked through, they needed warmth to shake off the chill that clung to them. In battle, even small discomforts like cold or pain could be fatal, so Fugaku made sure his team stayed alert. They sat close to the fire, letting its warmth drive away the dampness.

As the rain drummed outside, Fugaku took a moment to rest. The quiet warmth of the cave contrasted sharply with the chaos outside, where shinobi from various nations clashed endlessly in the Land of Rain. As night deepened, the three shared a small meal of dry rations to keep their strength up. After many battles together, Fugaku noticed their teamwork had improved—they could often communicate with just a look or a gesture.

His teammates had also started to see him differently. While they might have once viewed him with the suspicion often directed at the Uchiha, his disciplined and calm approach had earned their respect. To Fugaku, pride and arrogance were different things, and he had no intention of letting arrogance blind him or his team.

They reviewed the map and noted that the cave was only about ten kilometers from their meeting point with Sakumo. They could reach it quickly at dawn.