An Encounter with Hidden Sand

Of course, afterward, Uchiha Lan relied on the terrain, traps, and most importantly, those misfits to kill one Jonin and dozens of Chunin from the other side one by one, avenging that senior.

But... the Uchiha doves had also lost a pillar of support, while the Hokage faction had lost its eyes watching the Uchiha Clan. As a result, the hawks had become increasingly arrogant and volatile lately.

Perhaps that was also why the Third Hokage wanted to cultivate a leader among the Uchiha doves.

And Uchiha Lan, who possessed strength, reputation, the Will of Fire, and had protected his son, entered the Third Hokage's sights.

Originally, he had wanted to give this chance to make a name for himself to Uchiha Shisui, his old friend's grandson.

But considering that Shisui had only graduated for a little over two years and lacked combat experience, he was assigned to the second batch of strategic reserve forces instead. Sending him out as the vanguard rashly would really just be handing over a life.

Uchiha Lan's four-man squad swiftly broke away from the main force, turning into four agile black shadows as they raced toward Konoha's gates ahead of everyone else.

They moved as swiftly as the wind, and faint crimson eyes could be seen.

"Captain, looks like we're going to make a name for ourselves this time!"

While racing forward, the young Uchiha Tetsuka could not help speaking in a low voice, excitement lacing his words.

"The Hokage directly sent us to the very front. What incredible trust..."

"Maybe I can become famous throughout the Land of Fire like you, Captain, and earn my own heroic title!"

"Enough, shut up. Only those who return alive are heroes. Those who die can only be honored spirits on the memorial monument..."

Before Uchiha Lan could say anything, Uchiha Daosui behind him immediately poured cold water over Tetsuka.

"Hmph. The person capable of killing me hasn't been born yet!"

"But shouldn't a Hyuga Clan ninja be added to a scouting vanguard like this?"

Uchiha Lan did not turn around, but his voice carried clearly through the wind to his teammates' ears.

"Because our eyes can see farther and more clearly. Since war cannot be avoided, the Uchiha Clan should appear where it is needed most."

"Whether... as a shield or the tip of a spear."

His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable firmness.

Anyone who heard it would have to praise him: truly worthy of being an inheritor of Konoha's Will of Fire!

Meanwhile, a black shadow beneath the trees slowly faded away.

Although Uchiha Lan's eyes had not seen it, he had already sensed it with chakra, and he sneered inwardly.

The Chakra Sensory Technique, the Second Hokage's signature ninjutsu, was now being brought to new heights in the hands of the Uchiha Clan he hated most.

Whether it was ANBU or Root, it made no difference to him. He had originally planned to coast along, yet somehow he had been dragged to the front lines. Fate truly had a twisted sense of humor.

But his complaints about this fucked-up world and Konoha's F4 could only be buried deep in his heart.

At this moment, he was a ninja of Konoha, a warrior of the Uchiha Clan, the very image of righteousness and glory.

Otherwise, his final fate would either be getting betrayed to death by the higher-ups or being sacrificed by some filial son.

As for this war, it was another powder keg ignited by a tragedy in the shinobi world.

Because he knew that the Third Kazekage had been secretly kidnapped by Sasori of the Red Sand, then killed and turned into a Human Puppet.

That was why the Third Kazekage had disappeared before the Third Shinobi World War began, and that incident had become the spark that ignited the war.

As for how Sasori had killed him, Lan would definitely have to ask if they ever met. He could not help it; he was simply too curious.

The strongest Kazekage, and that was it? Had he learned that title from Hiruzen Sarutobi?

Although Uchiha Lan knew the truth, he also knew that it could not stop the war.

Because even if he told everyone, not many would believe him.

After all, Sasori of the Red Sand was a Kazekage guard and an Elite Jonin of Sunagakure.

The Second Kazekage had been the First Kazekage Sato's guard, while the Third Kazekage had also been a supporter of the Second Kazekage.

On top of that, Sasori's grandmother was Chiyo, the First Kazekage's wife and a high-ranking advisor of Sunagakure. His parents had also died fighting for Sunagakure.

With so many advantages stacked together, anyone with even a little political sense knew that, barring any surprises, Sasori of the Red Sand would most likely become the Fourth Kazekage. At worst, he would become the Fifth Kazekage.

(Rasa's rise as the Fourth Kazekage truly owed much to Sasori's defection and Pakura's lack of interest in the position. Otherwise, it was hard to say whom higher-ups like Chiyo would support.)

Now, if Uchiha Lan stepped forward and said that the future Fourth Kazekage would personally kill the Third Kazekage and turn him into a Human Puppet...

Other than Chiyo and Ebizo, probably no one would believe him. They would instead think Uchiha Lan was sowing discord and stirring up trouble.

Even Konoha would send ANBU to interrogate Uchiha Lan about the source of his information.

Naturally, he would not do something so thankless and exhausting.

He might as well use the time spent traveling to practice chakra control.

It was still a long road ahead.

In reality, the five great nations did not share borders with one another.

Each great nation was surrounded by a ring of smaller countries, scattered around it like wings and serving as buffers.

In peacetime, these small nations were exploited as vassals of the great nations, their resources stripped away. When war came, they became battlefields to keep the fighting from breaking out within the great nations' own borders.

The Land of Rivers was one such country. Even though its territory was vast, its weak national strength made it a small country.

Once they set foot on the winding road leading toward the Land of Rivers, the scent of the forest gradually faded.

Konoha behind them grew farther and farther away, while an unknown battlefield and drifting smoke of war lay ahead.

It would take time to organize and march an army of five thousand shinobi. Their small four-man blade would become the first sharp edge to pierce the fog of war.

Uchiha Lan's crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan stared at the rolling mountains ahead.

At the same time, his left hand formed a seal as he sensed the chakra around them.

The Second Hokage's Chakra Sensory Technique had been mastered to perfection by him, an Uchiha.

Do not think only the Second Hokage had studied the Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha Clan had studied him as well.

He gripped the tachi on his back, the icy touch of metal reminding him of the cruelty of reality.

"Careful. There are enemies ahead—eight of them. Judging by their chakra levels, two are Jonin. They're either scouting military intelligence or sabotaging our supply lines."

"Pick up the pace. Catch them off guard and take them out."

"Yes, Captain... Ah, no, Captain, they're two Jonin squads. We're just one squad. This..."

Uchiha Tetsuka had been brimming with confidence, but when he considered that they were outnumbered two to one, he decisively chose caution.

He, Uchiha Daosui, and Daotian were all Chunin, while Uchiha Lan was nominally still a Genin.

If they really fought, even if they won, it would probably be a brutal victory.

Even the usually carefree Uchiha Daosui tried to dissuade him, both openly and indirectly.

"Captain, there's no need to push so hard, right? We're only a reconnaissance squad. If we report this to the main force behind us, our mission will be complete."

"You seem to have forgotten your surname. When facing an Uchiha, flee in a one-on-one fight. Now it's four against eight—the advantage is ours!"

Uchiha Lan, feeling thoroughly stifled, was in a foul mood. He did not feel like playing it safe anymore.

"Tetsuka, you and I will take out those two Jonin first. Daotian and Daosui, keep those Chunin grunts occupied."

The three of them suddenly felt insulted. Since when had Chunin become grunts? You had only been a Genin yourself not long ago!

At Uchiha Lan's command, the four figures surged forward once more, like arrows loosed from a bow.

Four black shadows tore through the thin forest mist. They moved so fast that the gale they kicked up bent the blades of grass.

"Captain, something's happening! Four chakra signatures have appeared, and the one leading them is very powerful!"

A Hidden Sand sensory ninja roared in a low voice from within the jungle.

"What? Everyone, stay alert!"

When Uchiha Lan deliberately revealed himself, the Hidden Sand shinobi were stunned.

Because the moment he appeared, he gave them a huge surprise.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

Scorching flames swept toward the Hidden Sand shinobi like a raging tide, instantly heating the surrounding air to a blistering temperature.

It was not on Madara's level, but it still carried a fraction of his splendor.

The eight Hidden Sand shinobi on the other side were completely dumbfounded.

They had merely been leading a team through the Land of Rivers to sabotage Konoha's logistical defenses.

They clearly had not expected to encounter this Konoha reconnaissance squad. There were only four enemies, yet instead of avoiding battle, they launched such a ferocious assault!

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall ×2!"

The two Jonin reacted quickly, forming seals at once. Two massive earthen walls rose from the ground, barely managing to block Uchiha Lan's violent ninjutsu.

At the same time, Uchiha Lan and Uchiha Tetsuka used the cover of the flames to charge at the two Jonin like ghosts.

"Enemy attack! Everyone, spread out!"

Seeing how fierce Uchiha Lan was, the lead Hidden Sand Jonin shouted sharply, intending to have the Chunin move out of the way.

He wore a Hidden Sand forehead protector, a savage scar crossing his face, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

The other Jonin was broad and powerfully built, his hands forming seals at high speed.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!"

One powerful wind bullet after another shot toward Uchiha Lan and Uchiha Tetsuka.