Catching a Spy While Slacking Off

The newcomer was also an Uchiha Clan ninja. Panting heavily, he said:

"Captain Lan, bad news! Unidentified ninja tracks have been found outside the village. They are suspected to be scouts sent by another ninja village."

"ANBU is pursuing them and has requested that the Police Force immediately dispatch people to intercept them!"

Uchiha Lan frowned. The leisure time he had just gotten was gone again.

He looked at his two subordinates and said:

"Let's go take a look."

Outside Leaf Village, within a dense forest.

Faint moonlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, casting mottled shadows and making the woods seem especially tranquil.

Yet that peace was soon shattered by a burst of hurried footsteps.

Uchiha Lan darted through the forest, his movements light and agile, as though he had become one with his surroundings.

Behind him, apart from Uchiha Daosui and Daotian, several ANBU members followed closely. Stern masks covered their faces, and none of them spoke.

Because they were all thinking:

How could this twelve-year-old brat run so fast? They were elite Chunin from ANBU, yet they still couldn't keep up!

"The target is ahead. Stay alert."

Uchiha Lan spoke softly, his voice exceptionally calm.

His two subordinates nodded and slowed their pace, warily scanning their surroundings.

"Target spotted. Capture him immediately!"

Uchiha Lan suddenly shouted, pointing toward a patch of bushes not far away.

His two subordinates reacted swiftly. With a flash, they rushed toward opposite sides of the bushes, preparing to surround the target.

The two ANBU ninja were dumbfounded. They had clearly not found anything. Where was the target?

"Come out. We've already found you."

Uchiha Lan's voice echoed through the forest, carrying unquestionable authority.

"Brat, I don't know why the Uchiha Police Force sent you, but you'd better not falsely report enemy activity. Even my sensing insects haven't found anything. How did you know?"

At that moment, faint rustling came from the bushes. Then, a figure slowly rose to his feet.

He was a man dressed like a merchant. A cold smile rested on his face, while unwillingness showed in his eyes.

"I didn't expect you to find me after all. As expected of the Uchiha Clan. Your eyes really are sharp."

Uchiha Lan was somewhat surprised as well. He had not expected this foolish fellow to actually step out.

So he immediately twisted the knife with a smile.

"Actually, you hid very well. I didn't find you at all. I was just tired from running and wanted to rest for a while, so I tried bluffing you."

The merchant-like ninja's expression instantly turned extremely ugly, his eyes brimming with fury.

"Brat, you dare toy with me!"

"Wind Release: Wind Blade!"

He shouted, rapidly forming hand seals. He then spat out a razor-sharp wind blade half a meter thick, which swept toward them.

Uchiha Lan's gaze sharpened. He immediately activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and formed hand seals with both hands—six seals in one second: Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Uchiha Lan cried in a low voice, spewing a massive fireball that crashed directly into the wind blade.

The fireball collided with the torrent of wind with a deafening boom. Nearby trees were instantly consumed by flames, leaving devastation in their wake.

The Sand Village spy was forced back several steps by the lingering flames, surprise flashing through his eyes.

He had not expected this Uchiha brat to be so powerful. A single C-rank ninjutsu had already put tremendous pressure on him, an elite Chunin.

"You're strong, but I don't believe you can outrun me. I'm the sprinting champion of the Land of Wind!"

"Wind Release: Sprint!"

With that, the spy turned and ran, moving as fast as a gust of wind.

Uchiha Lan froze for a moment. He had not expected his opponent to activate Sprint. His naked eye could only catch the man's afterimage. This was practically cheating.

No wonder Sand Village had sent him to be a spy. Unfortunately, he had run into Uchiha Lan.

He immediately activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Its powerful dynamic vision precisely captured the spy's movements as he shouted:

"Daosui, Daotian! Twelve o'clock and three o'clock! Use Wind Release!"

His two subordinates quickly coordinated, spitting out powerful wind nets that sealed off both sides of the fleeing spy.

The ANBU members also rushed forward, launching ninjutsu to stop him.

But the man was exceedingly crafty. He threw out a smoke bomb, then turned and fled while everyone's vision was blocked.

How could Uchiha Lan allow him to escape so easily? A mere smoke bomb could not evade the Sharingan's gaze.

He decisively used the Body Flicker Technique to chase after him, intercepting him again not far away.

This time, he stopped probing and giving his opponent chances. He attacked without hesitation.

"Damn it, that brat saw through me. The Uchiha Clan truly is a clan of cheaters!"

The Sand Village spy gritted his teeth and formed hand seals again, preparing to launch one more move before fleeing.

There was no helping it. It was five against one, and the advantage was on the other side.

However, Uchiha Lan was faster.

With a flash, he appeared before the Sand Village spy.

A kunai had appeared in his hand at some point. It tore through the air with a fierce whistle as it stabbed straight toward the man's throat.

The Sand Village spy reacted quickly and barely twisted aside, but Uchiha Lan's movements followed him like a shadow.

He then formed hand seals with both hands, and a wave of chakra instantly spread through the area. He was clearly preparing for battle.

"The Uchiha Clan truly lives up to its reputation."

The Sand Village spy said coldly, "But do you think a few ANBU members like you can capture me?"

Uchiha Lan sneered, contempt flashing in his eyes.

"Sand Village ninja really do like talking big. Today, you won't be escaping."

Before his words had even faded, the Sand Village spy attacked first.

With a sweep of his hands, a stream of sand surged toward Uchiha Lan.

Uchiha Lan remained unruffled and quickly formed hand seals. Behind him, a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan instantly opened, releasing powerful ocular force.

His Sharingan observed every movement his opponent made, as though every technique the man used was already under his control.

He effortlessly dodged the sand stream, then formed six seals in a second.

"Fire Release: Explosive Flame Formation!"

Uchiha Lan shouted lowly again. His hands flashed through seals, and several Explosive Tags instantly appeared around the Sand Village spy.

With a thunderous blast, the Sand Village spy was blown into a miserable state. Flames engulfed his body, and he instantly lost the ability to fight.

"It's over."

Uchiha Lan said coldly. His Sharingan slowly closed, returning to normal.

Keeping them open all the time consumed chakra, too.

He walked straight over to the Sand Village spy, who had collapsed and fallen asleep, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him up.

Without asking a single question, he gave the man a deadly glare the moment he groggily opened his eyes.

The Sand Village spy immediately fell into an illusionary realm.