You Chase, I Run

Ming looked at the markings on the ground, then turned and said, "According to Yan's markers, they split up again here. Yan went ahead, and the two children separated. Yang went left with someone, while Retsu went forward. We probably won't know who went with Yang until we see them."

The handsome uncle gave a light cough and said, "I'll go after Little Yang. Brother, you and Ming go after Retsu and Yan. Yang used two sets of identification markers, so that was probably what he meant." Uchiha Nobunaga glanced at the handsome uncle and said, "We'll do that. Take the first five squads and move out."

A burly man carried a red-haired girl on his back as he moved through the trees. Three other ninjas surrounded them in a triangle formation, guarding the two in the middle. The man lowered his head and murmured, "Has the little rat behind us caught up?" The girl on his back smiled faintly. "Mm, he's keeping up well. He's a good prospect. What a pity. In another hour, we can send him to the Memorial Stone." The burly man curled his lips into a smile and quickened his pace.

Time rewound to half an hour earlier. When the two teams of spy ninjas who had infiltrated deep into Konoha met again, the ninjas in the rear voiced their doubts. "Why did you stop? Why aren't we following the plan?" A masked ninja at the front replied, "We have company, so we need to change the plan. Sanai will transform into this little girl, and we'll pretend to rest here for a while. Then I'll carry her and continue forward according to the original plan. Split off three men and have them head back immediately to interfere with their line of sight. They're following so closely, so they definitely aren't sensory ninjas—just skilled trackers. The remaining five will quickly take the little girl left to the rendezvous point. If no one is there when you arrive, don't wait. Return directly to Cloud Ninja Village. You three heading back will return after half an hour. We'll kill the tail at the rendezvous point ahead. I'm in charge of this mission. Follow my plan."

Uchiha Retsu raced forward in pursuit when three people suddenly appeared ahead. All four stopped, identifying one another in an instant. Battle was on the verge of breaking out. "Uchiha Shuriken Technique!" "Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!" Uchiha Retsu launched the first attack, then swiftly headed back the way he had come. One jonin and two genin. I'm just a genin—fighting three head-on? I may be reckless, but I don't want to die. I should go back and find support before chasing Yan again. Yan, be careful. "Brat, you reacted pretty quickly. Kill him, then we'll move on," said a scar-faced man after dodging the shuriken. The three of them immediately sped up after Uchiha Retsu. As they drew closer and closer, Retsu cursed inwardly. Damn it, I didn't cuckold you. Do you have to chase me this hard? Maybe I should fight before running again and stall for some time. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" "Uchiha Shuriken Technique!" The three pursuers paused, then reacted at once. "Water Release: Water Flow Wall!" "Shuriken Manipulation Technique!" "Lightning Release: Ground Walk!" Each of the three used a technique, blocking the incoming ninjutsu before counterattacking with Lightning Release. The lightning struck Uchiha Retsu, who immediately turned into a puff of smoke. Then, "Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!" A short ninja was dragged into the earth. Retsu burst from the ground and planted a foot on his neck, using the force to shoot left and accurately slash the nape of the nearest ninja with a shuriken. Panting heavily, he grinned. "Hehe, now it's one-on-one."