Chapter 44: Intelligence Acquisition

At the break of dawn, darkness cloaked a modest village.

On the eastern side of the village's circular perimeter wall, a gate creaked open slowly. A team of three shinobi stepped out together, departing through the entrance. Once outside, they swiftly veered south.

It was clear their training was solid—they moved at high speed while maintaining a cautious awareness of their surroundings.

The trio traveled in silence, focused solely on their journey. By noon, they decided to pause for a brief rest.

To conceal their tracks, ensure their safety, and keep their mission on track, they couldn't simply plop down by the roadside like leisurely old men. Instead, the three found a dense forest, conducted a quick perimeter check, and slipped inside.

A forest was an ideal spot for a break, offering considerable cover. Even if something unexpected arose, it would give them enough time to react.

However, the moment these three shinobi from the Tsugawa Clan entered the forest, a figure dropped silently from a tree directly in front of them, hanging upside down.

"Who… is… it…?"

Instinctively, the three reached for the ninja tools at their waists. But as their eyes locked onto the sudden "enemy," it was already too late.

Before they could mount any defense, a pair of crimson Sharingan eyes, each bearing three tomoe, pierced their vision.

Later generations would devise strategies to counter the Sharingan—essentially, a righteous two-on-one tactic: one person draws attention head-on while another strikes from behind. Whether these three recognized the Sharingan or knew such tactics was irrelevant. They had no chance to employ them.

In an instant, they were "neutralized." The vigilant, murderous expressions on their faces dulled into blank, wooden stares.

"Tell me about your clan leader, elders, and other high-ranking members—where they live, their daily routines, and the clan's organizational structure…"

"Yes…"

The figure was none other than Uchiha Nanami.

As she interrogated them, she probed their minds, extracting valuable information directly.

Seeing Uchiha Nanami take control, Hane Genma and Fuma Goro, who had been concealed nearby, emerged from hiding.

To avoid arousing the Tsugawa Clan's suspicions prematurely, Genma's team acted with utmost caution, choosing a location far from the village for their ambush.

After gathering intel, they opted not to eliminate the three shinobi. Instead, Uchiha Nanami erased all traces of her genjutsu, allowing the trio to continue their mission as if nothing had happened.

Under Nanami's mental manipulation, the three would have no memory of the ambush or the genjutsu. They'd rest in the forest for an hour, as planned, then resume their journey.

They sensed nothing amiss.

Fuma Goro, however, was utterly floored by Nanami's Sharingan, nearly forgetting to jot down the intel they'd gathered.

"Y-You're… an Uchiha…"

When those emotionless three-tomoe Sharingan eyes turned toward him, Goro clamped his mouth shut and instinctively lowered his gaze. Who in their right mind would dare meet a Sharingan's stare?

Genma had mentioned that their group, "Ashes," included shinobi from great ninja clans, but Goro hadn't expected someone from a clan as formidable as the Uchiha.

In the midst of a mission, some topics were best left untouched. Still, the shock of the Sharingan shifted Goro's perspective in subtle ways.

"Shall we continue?" Nanami asked, turning to Genma.

"Of course. Everything proceeds as planned."

The trio promptly left the area.

That evening, they tracked another group of Tsugawa shinobi. The process mirrored the first: Nanami used genjutsu to extract intelligence.

Then came a third operation.

By cross-referencing and consolidating the intel from these three encounters, Genma's team gained a comprehensive understanding of the Tsugawa Clan's leadership structure.

"One clan leader, two elders, and five combat captains… They maintain five combat units, each with roughly twenty members. In other words, their clan's structure is flat and simplistic. Neutralize these key figures, and we effectively sever the Tsugawa Clan's head," Genma summarized.

Fuma Goro nodded. With clear intelligence in hand, he felt their chances of success had surged.

Truth be told, it wasn't just the intel that bolstered Goro's confidence—it was his other teammate. The Uchiha name carried undeniable weight.

"Correct. Next, I'll initiate infiltration operations to systematically eliminate the high-ranking members, excluding the clan leader. We'll tighten the noose gradually, sowing panic. Once fear spreads… well, let's hope their resilience isn't too strong."

Genma began mentally mapping out his targets: the "village committee chairman" would be spared for now, but the two "deputy chairmen" and five "production team captains" needed to be dealt with.

It sounded almost trivial. If Genma's strategy needed a name, it might as well be something like the "Village Committee Collapse Plan."

"The first phase of the operation is complete. With sufficient intelligence secured, we now move to the second phase. I'll handle the infiltration, while you two remain outside the village," Nanami stated.

Of course, "remaining outside" didn't mean standing idle. To support Genma's movements, Nanami and Goro would be free to hunt down any Tsugawa shinobi who ventured out.

But before the second phase began…

Nanami handed Genma a small vial of blood. Then, using the Summoning Jutsu, she called forth a white fox, roughly half the height of a person.

"I've synchronized my senses with my summoning beast. It'll help you identify key targets. Its name is Little Seven," she said, gesturing to the fox.

Having invaded the minds of Tsugawa shinobi with her genjutsu, Nanami could recognize the clan's leadership on sight. However, believing Genma was immune to her genjutsu, she assumed she couldn't transfer those visual details to him directly via illusion.

Thus, she opted to use her summoning beast to aid Genma's infiltration.

Relying on a fox to locate targets? Genma glanced at the white fox. It seemed reasonable—foxes were canines, after all.

He didn't correct Nanami's misconception about him, nor did he clarify that his genjutsu resistance was an active skill, not a passive one. No sane person would want someone tampering with their mind.

Genma accepted the vial, privately musing that the fox was named Little Seven simply because it was Nanami's summoning beast. A straightforward naming convention, indeed.

"It might not be necessary, but I'll keep it for now."

The white fox seemed elegant at first glance, but upon closer inspection, Genma noticed its slightly puffed cheeks, giving it an endearingly goofy appearance.

No need to overthink it. Genma soon slipped into the shadow-draped village.

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