We're the Uchiha, after all!

Inside the Hokage Office.

"Uchiha Roy, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Izumi have left the village."

"Mission type: Uchiha Fugaku personally requested an investigation into the safety of the surrounding villages."

"Here's the mission form."

The Anbu handed the mission form to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Uchiha Roy, Uchiha Itachi?"

"Why would those two choose to leave the village at a time like this?"

"And there's also a Chunin, Uchiha Izumi, a non-combatant medical ninja..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen studied the mission form in his hands, his expression grave.

Until now, Sarutobi Hiruzen had always thought that Uchiha Roy, who had suddenly appeared and started stirring up trouble within the Uchiha, was behind it all.

But under these circumstances, Uchiha Itachi had left the village together with Uchiha Roy.

That gave Sarutobi Hiruzen a headache.

Several of the plans he had lined up were aimed at those two. Now they had both gone out of the village.

That meant the plans going forward would have to change.

"What are you doing here?"

As Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered, he sensed a familiar chakra.

"I've already sent members of Root out."

"Don't worry. They won't be coming back to the village so easily."

Danzo smiled.

"Danzo, sometimes you're far too confident."

"The Uchiha Clan won't be so easy to deal with... Never mind..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had started to say something, but after a moment's thought, he let it go.

Danzo was already becoming uncontrollable. If he wanted to go after the Uchiha, then let him.

"Third Hokage, Homura and Koharu are ready."

"Your operation should be starting soon, too."

"I just don't think we can give the Uchiha too much time."

Danzo spoke again.

"I know."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was starting to get annoyed.

Was this man already pressuring him indirectly?

Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't given him a direct answer, Danzo said nothing more and left.

Sarutobi Hiruzen rose to his feet and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.

His brow furrowed tightly. It was clear he was beginning to have doubts about this operation.

Outside the village.

Three figures raced through the forest.

Before long, they reached a small river.

"Roy, there's chakra activity up ahead."

Itachi quickly hid behind a large tree, his expression wary.

"Enemies?"

Izumi was clearly nervous. She had never been in a battle like this before.

Roy, meanwhile, crouched calmly on a branch.

"Itachi, take it easy for a moment."

"Do you remember your mission?"

Roy glanced at Itachi, who was gripping his Kunai, and spoke softly.

"Protect Izumi."

Itachi nodded, then looked at Izumi, who was standing not far away, unsure what to do.

As a member of the Uchiha Clan, Izumi hadn't been sent on missions outside the village when she became a Genin.

So this was her first time leaving the village, and she hadn't gotten used to it yet.

"I'll go over."

"Izumi, the two of you should move in and support me the moment I attack."

With that, Roy sprang forward.

Four people were sitting together, discussing something.

They wore no Forehead Protectors, but they had chakra.

It was impossible to tell who they were for now, but since they were within the Land of Fire, they clearly weren't friendly.

"Are you ninja from Konoha?"

"We have a sensor-type ninja with us. We noticed you as soon as you arrived."

"There are three of you, right? If there's a problem, let's talk first."

The older ninja leading the group stood up and spoke calmly.

"Come out."

Roy had no hesitation in having Itachi and Izumi come out with him.

"Hm?"

The leading ninja froze when he saw the three of them.

Three kids?

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi were obviously underage, their faces still youthful.

Roy looked a little older, but only a little.

They were all teenagers.

"Has Konoha really become this weak?"

"They've actually sent three kids out on a mission?"

"Where's your Jonin instructor?"

It was obvious that these ninja knew a great deal about Konoha's ninja.

"We don't have a Jonin instructor."

"All three of us are Chunin."

"So, are you... planning to attack us now?"

As he spoke, Roy silently took out his Kunai.

His body even started to tremble a little.

Izumi had never encountered anything like this. She edged behind Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi gripped the Kunai in his hand as if it were his last lifeline.

"Hahaha..."

"Konoha really is a joke. They've actually sent ninja like you out on a mission."

"We won't kill you, but you might need to take a little nap first."

The leading ninja sneered.

At the same time, he charged straight at Roy.

Of the three, Roy looked like the strongest.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

"Fire Style... I don't know Fire Style..."

Izumi shouted along with them, then quickly retreated.

Itachi retreated as well.

By then, the four ninja had completely written the three off as helpless prey.

"Hey, as a ninja, didn't your teacher ever teach you this?"

"No matter who you're up against, never let your guard down."

Roy appeared behind one of the ninja sitting on the ground.

"Shhk!"

Before the man could respond, Roy's Kunai slashed across his neck.

The other two instantly backed away, their faces filled with shock.

"This is... Be careful, these guys aren't..."

"Naraka's Cave!"

As he looked toward Uchiha Itachi, the scene around him suddenly changed, becoming a blood-red whirlpool.

His body sank deeper and deeper.

"Shhk!"

Before he had any time to react, he was beheaded.

The fight had started out as four against three, but now it was three against two.

The remaining two no longer thought of the three ninja before them as rookies.

"Itachi, take the one over there. Remember to finish the fight quickly."

"Fire Style: Flame Pillar!"

Roy unleashed a terrifying blaze, engulfing the area around them.

"Water Release: Great Water Explosion Technique!"

One of the enemy ninja formed Hand Seals without hesitation and unleashed Water Release.

With a river nearby, the power of the Water Release was considerably greater.

It surged straight toward the Flame Pillar around them.

A thick mist rose in an instant.

"Hey, do you think we can't see in the mist?"

"We're the Uchiha!"

Roy finished speaking, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan appeared.