Every so often, Ning would activate his Byakugan to scan the area ahead, making sure there were no ambushes.

Suddenly, Nozawa raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop. "Captain, there are six Ame Village ninja up ahead. If we keep going, they’ll spot us for sure."

Fugaku paused, weighing their options. "Hold your positions and conceal yourselves. We’ll let them pass."

Dayo, one of Ning’s original team members, frowned. "Captain, there are only six of them. We could take them out quickly and keep moving."

"Engaging them could attract unwanted attention, risking mission failure or casualties before we even reach our target. As a Chūnin, it's important to understand the value of caution and intelligence. Don’t underestimate the mission’s scope. Let’s stay focused until it’s complete."

Dayo’s face flushed as he nodded, the team quietly watching as the Ame ninja passed by without incident.

As they continued, Fugaku could sense that some team members still doubted his leadership, hesitant to follow a young leader on such a critical mission. Yet, the gravity of the situation kept them all in line.

As evening approached, Fugaku ordered the team to find shelter for the night, knowing that fatigue could be as dangerous as any enemy. "Nozawa, scout ahead and find us a safe spot to camp," he instructed, his tone calm but firm.

Nozawa nodded, moving silently through the underbrush. After a short search, Ning, who had been mostly quiet throughout the journey, finally spoke up, his voice steady

"Captain, I see a suitable cave to the south. It’s well hidden and has enough space for everyone."

Fugaku gave a satisfied nod. "Good work, Ning. Let’s head there and settle in for the night. We’ll need our strength for tomorrow’s journey, so let’s make the most of it."

As they moved toward the cave, Fugaku felt a slight sense of relief. They entered carefully, each member alert for any sign of danger. The cave was nestled between thick clusters of bushes and shielded by rocky formations, making it an ideal place to stay undetected.

The cave Ning found was surprisingly well-concealed. As Fugaku entered, he activated his Sharingan, scanning the interior carefully. At the back, he noticed traces of a campfire, with ashes fresh enough to suggest recent use.

"This spot might be a temporary shelter for enemy ninja," Fugaku observed, inspecting the remnants. "These ashes show signs of multiple fires in nearly the same place. Whoever stayed here used it more than once and was probably here just last night."

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Sato looked at him, curious. "Captain, you think enemy ninja used this place recently?"

Fugaku nodded, pointing to the ashes. "See here? The edges of the ashes are lighter in some areas, darker in others. That’s because each fire was started in slightly different spots, leaving varied burn marks. The darkest part indicates the last fire was very recent. I even felt a faint warmth earlier."

Ning, initially doubtful, knelt beside the ashes, activating his Byakugan and reaching out to feel the remains.

"You’re right," he confirmed. "There’s a faint warmth left. Based on the traces, their numbers were about the same as ours."

"Does that mean we should attack?" Ning asked, sounding eager. "We could catch them by surprise."

Fugaku shook his head. "It’s not that simple. Ninja teams in the Land of Rain are usually skilled, especially on active missions. I’d rather avoid risking lives in an unnecessary fight before we finish the mission. Let’s set traps here and move on. If they return, they’ll walk right into them."

The team agreed, and everyone quickly spread out, placing explosive tags around the cave. Fugaku hid a tag beneath the ashes; if the enemy restarted the fire, it would trigger, possibly collapsing the cave. Nozawa left some insects by the entrance, trained to alert them if any Konoha ninja approached.

Once finished, they continued through the forest to find a new place to rest. Just ten minutes later, a loud explosion echoed in the distance—the trap had sprung.

The team turned to see thick smoke rising as Nozawa’s insects returned to him.

"It was Sand ninja," he reported. "Nine went in, but only six came out."

Fugaku frowned. Only three casualties with all that firepower? They’re stronger than expected.

If these Sand ninja were that resilient, Fugaku knew they would be formidable foes, even in a surprise attack.

As dusk settled in, the rain continued, providing excellent cover. The team moved silently, taking advantage of the darkness and avoiding any patrols or ambushes.

They eventually found another cave and set up camp, deciding to rest before continuing at dawn.

The next morning, Fugaku unrolled the mission map, pointing at a valley between the mountains.

"This is where the Sunagakure base is located," he explained. "It’s guarded, so we need to find out how many enemies are there and what we’re up against. Nozawa, Ning, you two scout the base."

He divided the team into pairs.

"Each group will monitor one of the three main supply routes into the valley. We’ll regroup here in three days to plan our attack."

Fugaku assigned Sato to team up with the younger members for extra support, while he partnered with Shinji, relying on his skill with Earth Release.

The terrain in the Land of Rain was rocky and rough, but the team moved carefully, hiding among boulders and using natural cover. The rain provided excellent camouflage, masking their sounds.

Fugaku took his post at the northwest corner of the valley, his Sharingan scanning the area. He watched as Sand ninja teams passed below. Three teams arrived throughout the day, bringing supplies to the base—two groups of six and one of eight. He also saw two Sand teams heading out to the front lines.

The scale of the operation showed they were up against a sizable force. By the end of the day, Fugaku had counted over twenty ninja moving in and out of the valley. He knew they’d need a solid strategy to disrupt the supply lines without getting caught in a direct confrontation.