Little Blondie

Uchiha Yo and Uchiha Retsu followed the markers to the spot where the enemy had split up again. After looking around, Retsu said thoughtfully, "Things have changed again. These clearly aren't the footprints and traces of just two people—there are nearly twenty of them. I checked the markers Yan left behind. One was meant for the people coming to support us, pointing west. The other was meant for our squad, pointing east. There are the most footprints to the east." Uchiha Retsu added, "Not just that. Yan must have discovered something major. The signal to the west wasn't left for our reinforcements—it was for the pursuers from the ninja village. Yan believes this is serious enough that the village will definitely respond. The other direction was left for our squad and the Uchiha coming to support us. You were right about one thing. This really is big! Let's go. Yan could be exposed at any moment."

"They split up back there. The ones heading into the forest should be chasing Yan. That kid is skilled at tracking. A battle took place 1,500 meters ahead of where they split up. It ended quickly. I checked the bodies—the methods were likely Yo and Retsu's. One ninja died from poison." Ming, who had caught up with the main force, reported to Handsome Uncle and Uchiha Nobunaga. "The children have run into trouble. This won't be simple." "Pick up the pace. Keep moving," Uchiha Nobunaga ordered with a wave of his hand. Everyone immediately accelerated and pressed on.

Two figures darted rapidly between the trees, stopping from time to time to inspect their surroundings before rushing onward without bothering to conceal themselves. After sprinting for some distance, they came to a halt. Uchiha Retsu snarled, "Bastards, they split up again. We'll never catch them like this. They're clearly trying to throw us off, and they're moving no slower than we are." He punched the tree beside him hard. Uchiha Yo said nothing. He made a hand signal, and the two of them leaped backward together, quickly forming hand seals. Once he got a clear look at their opponent, Uchiha Yo stopped Retsu before he could unleash a ninjutsu. Their opponent was a child about their age, holding a kunai. Upon seeing how they were dressed, the boy was not only unafraid, but visibly relieved. Uchiha Retsu glanced at him and teased, "Little Blondie, are you out camping?" Uchiha Yo and Little Blondie were both stunned by Retsu's absurd question. At a time like this, he was still messing around. Little Blondie scratched his head and said, "My name is Namikaze Minato. I'm a student at the Konoha Ninja Academy. My companion was kidnapped. I followed the clues my companion left behind all the way here, then ran into you two. Are you here to rescue someone too?" The two finally understood. The large wooden crate did not contain some object—it held a child from Konoha! Uchiha Yo immediately said to Uchiha Retsu, "Retsu, go on your own. If you catch up with them but don't find Yan, don't act rashly. Leave markers along the way and wait for reinforcements. If you see Yan, stay with him. There are two of us here as well, so we don't need support. I'll follow this little brother's clues with him. Our instincts were right. This may not be a big fish—it could get people killed!" Without waiting for Retsu to respond, he turned to Little Blondie. "Lead the way. You have a way to find your companion, right?" He then left two sets of markers on the ground, one for Konoha and one for the Uchiha. Gesturing for Little Blondie to move, the two chased off in one direction. Uchiha Yo called out to Uchiha Retsu, "Retsu, stay alive, and let's go home together."