Maru-Maru?

Minutes before the signal flare was launched.

Outside Konohagakure.

Deep within a forest near the sensory barrier that blanketed the entire village.

Several figures darted through the trees.

The lead ninja was a tall man with dark skin.

His vigilant gaze swept the surroundings as he issued orders with icy composure:

"Excellent, we are approaching the barrier. The intelligence we gathered inside Konohagakure this time is of vital importance, so everyone, stay focused!"

The ninjas forming the formation around him responded in unison: "Yes, Lord Kazunosuke!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

At some point, in the gloomy forest.

Several scarlet, bewitching eyes ignited in the darkness.

"Hm?"

"Damn it, it's the Uchiha!"

Kazunosuke's face sank like water.

"Lord Kazunosuke! The intelligence regarding the impending Uchiha civil strife is far more important!"

Kazunosuke whipped his head around, staring at the ninja who had spoken.

His voice was heavy: "Zangzhu, what are you saying?"

The middle-aged ninja named Zangzhu lowered his eyelids, his expression grave:

"I know exactly what I am saying, Lord Kazunosuke!"

"If the Cloud Village wishes to surpass Konohagakure, we cannot let a single piece of intelligence detrimental to them slip by! And you are the only one here capable of completing this mission."

"Everyone, join me with the resolve to shatter like jade to stop these pursuing ninjas! Everything is for the Cloud Village! Let us buy time for Lord Kazunosuke!"

The surrounding Cloud Village ninjas did not hesitate.

Crackling sounds erupted one after another.

Every one of them activated the Cloud Village's signature Lightning Release Chakra Mode!

"Yes!"

With that response, they flashed forward, lunging toward the appearing Uchiha.

Kazunosuke's gaze was somber; he nodded and turned away.

"I wish you all good fortune in battle!"

With that, he took flight and departed.

Zangzhu watched Kazunosuke's retreating back, his heart sinking slightly.

Lord Kazunosuke, you must succeed.

At this moment.

A male Uchiha Military Police Force member appeared.

His bewitching, blood-red eyes locked onto the figure about to vanish.

"Don't even think about escaping!"

He prepared to close the distance and pursue.

Crack-crack!

A figure flickering with blue electric arcs instantly appeared before him.

It was Zangzhu!

"Let me see if the Uchiha, who strike fear into the ninja world, are..."

"Just living up to an empty reputation!!!"

The Uchiha ninja's expression turned ugly.

He said in a low voice: "The Cloud Village's Lightning Release Chakra Mode? Damn it!"

The tomoe in his eyes spun, rapidly scanning the situation around him.

Several of his teammates were on the verge of clashing with the Cloud Village ninjas.

He himself was blocked by a formidable opponent.

This is trouble!

While thinking, he quickly fired the signal flare into the sky.

Then, he said coldly:

"None of you are getting away!"

"I stake my name, Uchiha Sei, on this!"

BOOM!

In the blink of an eye.

The ground beneath Zangzhu's feet shattered.

A ferocious figure appeared instantly before Uchiha Sei.

"Is that so? Let me see the quality of your Sharingan!"

BANG!!!

The thunderous sound of the collision startled a flock of birds in the forest.

After receiving the signal flare.

The squad, led by Uchiha Genmei, rapidly approached the scene.

Boom, boom, boom! They heard the sounds of clashing coming from ahead.

"Captain! It seems the opponent ahead is not to be underestimated!"

Uchiha Genmei's expression was grim.

Chakra gathered rapidly toward his eye sockets, and his pupils instantly turned red.

Three black tomoe spun rapidly.

He said with a stern expression:

"Everyone, activate your Sharingan. To dare to strike within the range covered by the village's sensory barrier..."

"Something important must have been leaked."

The six squad members surrounding him all quickly activated their Sharingan.

All of them were three-tomoe!

Looking at the chakra and the quality of the Sharingan of those around him.

They were all strong members.

Uchiha Genmei sighed inwardly.

It seemed.

Any faction.

No matter how rotten the system, it cannot be underestimated during its rise.

Currently, while the village monitored the Uchiha, they were still in a relatively stable honeymoon period.

As long as they weren't being crazily targeted by the group's leaders.

With the foundation left over from the Warring States period, and being a clan that worshipped power itself.

With the Senju in hiding, their combat strength was arguably the undisputed number one clan in Konoha.

The members of the Police Force were all elites who had awakened the Sharingan.

After all, the Uchiha cared deeply about their reputation.

If they put out trash, they would lose face, and the Uchiha wouldn't just have red eyes then!

In an instant.

Uchiha Genmei's squad arrived at the battlefield where the ninjas were fighting.

Observing the situation, Genmei made his decision.

"Spread out and support our brothers."

"I'll go check on Sei."

"Yes!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Watching his squad members scatter, Uchiha Genmei took a deep breath.

His figure sped toward the most intense part of the fray.

"Tch!"

Uchiha Sei crossed paths with his opponent.

He leaped up rapidly.

His eyes, with their rapidly spinning tomoe, tried to find a flaw in his opponent.

Damn it, we've been at a stalemate for nearly two minutes!

The Sharingan can keep up with his Lightning Style chakra taijutsu.

Ninjutsu is troublesome.

I can't hit him at all; his speed is too fast!

Why hasn't the support arrived yet?

If they don't come soon, that rat who escaped earlier will really...

"Are you looking down on me, Uchiha?"

Zangzhu, having reset his stance, glared at Uchiha Sei, who was lost in thought, and let out a roar.

He gathered a massive amount of lightning-natured chakra in his hands.

Under the Lightning Style Chakra Mode, he charged toward Uchiha Sei at high speed.

"Lightning Style: Heavy Explosion Flow!"

Zangzhu reached Uchiha Sei's front in an instant.

Facing such an onslaught, BANG!!!

Uchiha Sei seemed stunned, unable to react in time, and his body was struck instantly.

Just as Zangzhu was about to gloat, the human body before him turned into scattered flower petals.

His pupils constricted.

Genjutsu?

"Big dummy! Do you really think I'd keep trading blows with you?"

The figure appeared behind Zangzhu, mocking him with a spirited air.

Zangzhu turned his body and retorted:

"Flashy nonsense! Are all you Uchihas this weak? Watch how I tear you apart!"

After finishing his trash talk, he prepared to charge at Uchiha Sei again.

Hm?

What's going on?

His body wouldn't move.

What is this?

Zangzhu looked in disbelief at the large iron spikes that had appeared from nowhere, pinning his body in place.

He lifted his head to look at the arrogant Uchiha before him and shouted in fury:

"You bastard!!!"

A hint of mockery played on the corners of Uchiha Sei's mouth as the rotation of the tomoe in his eyes slowly decelerated.

I finally managed to pin this guy down with the Cursed Stake Technique. There's still that rat who escaped to chase down, so I'll just kill this one right now!

"In front of the Sharingan, your only fate is defeat!"

He drew his ninja blade, ready to end Zangzhu's life.

"Hm? Who's there!"

Suddenly, a figure flashed past Zangzhu at high speed.

Zangzhu only felt the world spinning.

His vision slowly rotated downward, and a body came into view.

Hm?

That's my body.

Am I dying?

Lord Kazunosuke, you must succeed.

As his vision gradually blurred, a handsome, upright figure emerged.

Another Uchiha? Damn Uchihas!

Just you wait.

Your fate of destruction is already clear.

The intelligence regarding your internal strife will definitely reach the Raikage!

Looking at the fallen body, Uchiha Genmei asked Uchiha Sei:

"Brother Sei, is he the last enemy?"

Uchiha Sei, having recognized the newcomer, slowly lowered his guard.

He complained, "What the! It's just you, Genmei. You scared me."

"There's still one enemy left; this guy delayed me for two minutes."

Hearing this, Uchiha Genmei's expression turned grim.

"He's had a two-minute head start? That's troublesome!"

"We can't let him get away. I'm done talking—I'm going to chase him down now."

Seeing Uchiha Genmei about to dash off in pursuit, Uchiha Sei hurriedly called out, "Wait, Genmei! He won't be able to escape."

"Hm? Won't be able to escape?"

Uchiha Sei said smugly, "Heh heh, I already sent Maru-Maru after him!"

"Maru-Maru?"