Throne Of The Uchiha

Ambush

"Team leader."

Yamamoto Ichisuke's voice pierced the veil of Fugaku's thoughts, pulling him back from a momentary daze.

"Captain," Ichisuke asked, "have you ever fought Rain ninja before? Can you tell us about their combat style?"

Fugaku was silent for a moment, then said, "Not often. I've rarely engaged them directly. Most of the time, it's been ambushes or infiltration missions. But what I've gathered is this—Rain-nin are specialists in stealth and assassination. That much is certain."

He glanced toward the mouth of the cave where rain poured like a curtain. "Amegakure has near-constant rainfall, and their ninja use it to their advantage. Many carry umbrella-style weapons that conceal senbon, explosive tags, or even chakra-fueled mechanisms. They favor silent kills and small-scale hit-and-run tactics."

He narrowed his eyes. "Their jutsu often take advantage of the rain itself—like Hidden Rain Technique, which enhances auditory perception, or Needle Jizō and Rain Tiger at Will. Be cautious. The Sharingan helps with reaction time and illusion, but in an unfamiliar terrain like this, don't rely solely on your dojutsu."

Ichisuke bowed slightly. "Thank you, Fugaku-san."

Rain continued to batter the terrain with no sign of stopping. Inside the cave, the team's four sword users sparred, sharpening both skill and instinct through practical combat.

Fugaku's gaze swept over them. Yamada Shinji's blade work was fast, precise, and brutal—like the execution of a hunter. Satomaru's style was trickier, relying on feints, misdirection, and one-strike kills. It was assassination swordsmanship, much like the style of Kiri's Seven Ninja Swordsmen or the techniques passed down by ANBU instructors.

Fugaku considered his possibilities. Satomaru might have trained under an ANBU or someone tied to Root—perhaps even Shimura Danzo's network.

Harada Kirisawa and Haranoki were less refined. They fought with raw strength and a brawler's instinct, making up for their lack of formal tutelage with practical battlefield experience. That in itself was valuable—true growth often came from real fights, not theory.

Fugaku wasn't a kenjutsu expert, but seeing them improve sparked a flicker of satisfaction. The team was shaping up—cohesive, versatile, and increasingly lethal.

On the second day, the rain continued, and while Fugaku sat silently in thought, the rest of the squad paired off to train and build tactical synergy. Nozawa from the Aburame Clan released his kikaichū regularly, mapping the terrain and scouting unseen threats.

By the third day, the canyon river below them had swelled to nearly overflow. The relentless rain had cleansed the blood from the land—only to make way for new slaughter.

On the fourth morning, the rain weakened to a misting drizzle. The oppressive clouds began to thin, and when Fugaku activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, he could finally glimpse the faint rays of sun breaking through.

"It's time to move," he said, rising to his feet. "The Rain Country may look freshly washed, but don't let your guard down. Another battle is already brewing."

He turned to address the team, voice hard. "Remember—what we do here is not for vanity or vengeance. It's to prevent the flames of war from reaching the Land of Fire. If we allow enemy forces to break through here, the cost will fall on our people. On our children."

Fugaku gave his orders crisply:

"Nozawa, release your kikaichū and scout the area ahead. Hinata Ning—Byakugan active. Keep scanning for chakra signatures or ambush setups. Inuzuka Maru—use your sense of smell to catch anything the eye might miss. Everyone else—tight formation, no unnecessary noise."

They exited the cave into a world dripping with moisture. Nozawa lifted his arms, and a dark cloud of kikaichū burst from beneath his cloak, dispersing into the sky.

As they pushed northwest toward the Grass Country border, the terrain began to change. The oppressive dampness lifted slightly, and small wild grasses pushed up from rock crevices. It was still Rain Country, but the ecosystem hinted at seasonal fluctuation.

Fugaku's Sharingan scanned the area. Ancient trees loomed in the distance—ideal cover.

"We'll head for the Grass-Rain border," he said. "We'll use those trees to mask our presence. The enemy won't expect us to come from elevated terrain."

As they approached, the rain tapered off completely.

"Nozawa," Fugaku asked suddenly. "Anything?"

The Aburame adjusted his goggles. "A nine-man Iwagakure unit is moving through the forest ahead—north by northwest. Their formation is tight."

Fugaku narrowed his eyes. "We move now. A first strike could wipe them out before they reorganize."

He paused, then added, "But don't underestimate them. Iwa-nin are tough. Their Earth Release techniques prioritize endurance and counter-ambushes."

Using the kikaichū for constant updates, Fugaku laid out the ambush plan.

"Three jonin—target one Chūnin each. Hit them fast. Eliminate your targets before they can react. Everyone else—split into cells of three and match their formation. Don't allow a single enemy to slip out of formation."

In a blur of chakra-enhanced leaps and silent signals, twelve Konoha ninja melted into the forest.

Fugaku perched high above the battlefield, his crimson Sharingan spinning with heightened clarity. He saw them clearly—nine Iwa-nin. Two were massive, easily over two meters tall, with chakra levels matching elite jonin or even ANBU.

"They're no ordinary shinobi," Fugaku muttered. "Be prepared. The two big ones—treat them as S-rank threats."

The Iwa-nin were advancing quickly.

Shunshin no Jutsu.

Fugaku blurred from sight, reappearing behind one of the Chūnin with a kunai aimed at the base of the neck.

Eleven other Konoha ninja struck simultaneously.

But the Iwa formation didn't break.

Instead, one of the tall jonin clapped his hands together in swift seals.

"Doton: Doryūheki!" – Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!

Massive stone ramparts erupted from the ground, forming a circular defensive perimeter around the Iwa-nin.

Simultaneously, the second jonin unleashed hand signs.

"Doton: Doryūdan no Jutsu!" – Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet Technique!

The earth rumbled. A serpentine head burst from the ground—an earth dragon, its body sculpted in grotesque detail. Its mouth opened wide and launched multiple high-velocity earthen shells straight at Fugaku.

Fugaku narrowed his eyes. They've identified me as the leader already…

Hand signs flashed.

"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" – Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

A sphere of roaring flame burst from his lips, colliding mid-air with the stone shells. Explosions rang out, and smoke filled the air as stone and fire neutralized each other in mid-flight.

"Tch. These two are tactical types," Fugaku thought. "They expected a frontal ambush—and countered perfectly."

Below, the rest of the Konoha squad adapted. Shinji and Satomaru slipped behind the wall using body flicker techniques, their blades flashing toward vulnerable flanks. Inuzuka Maru and Hinata Ning worked in tandem—beast and Byakugan coordinating strikes from blind angles.

The battle had truly begun—not just of jutsu and steel, but of wits and instincts.

And in the Rain Country, where blood vanishes into the mud, only the sharpest would survive.

---

Canon Enhancements Applied:

Used known jutsu like Doton: Doryūheki, Doton: Doryūdan, and Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu per manga.

Reinforced Rain-nin tactics from Hanzo-era Amegakure: assassination, rain-based perception, and senbon umbrellas (per Jiraiya's infiltration chapters).

Tactical behavior of Iwa-nin reflects canon (e.g., Onoki's forces using Earth techniques for defense/surprise counters).

Sharingan's strategic application is refined—not just vision but awareness and reflex advantage.

Inserted ANBU/Root influence implications into Satomaru's background subtly for intrigue.