Of course, afterward, Uchiha Ran relied on the terrain, traps, and, most importantly, those worthless fools to pick off an enemy Jonin and dozens of Chunin one by one, avenging his senior.
But... the Uchiha doves had 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 for that reason, the Third Hokage wanted to cultivate a leader among the Uchiha doves.
And Uchiha Ran, 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, the grandson of his old friend.
But considering that Shisui had only graduated a little over two years ago and lacked combat experience, he was assigned to the second batch of strategic reserve forces instead. Sending him recklessly to the vanguard would have been throwing away his life.
Uchiha Ran's four-man squad swiftly broke away from the main force, turning into four nimble black shadows as they raced toward Konoha's gates ahead of everyone else.
They moved like the wind, and scarlet eyes could vaguely be seen.
"Captain, looks like we're really going to make a name for ourselves this time!"
While racing ahead, the young Uchiha Tetsuka could not help speaking in a low voice, excitement lacing his words.
"The Hokage sent us directly to the very front. What a tremendous show of 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 come back alive are called heroes. The dead can only be heroic spirits on memorial stones..."
Before Uchiha Ran could speak, Uchiha Daosui behind him directly dumped cold water over Tetsuka's excitement.
"Hmph. The person who can take down this great man hasn't been born yet!"
"But logically speaking, shouldn't a Hyuga Clan ninja be added to this sort of vanguard scouting mission?"
Uchiha Ran 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 stand wherever we are needed most."
"Whether... as shields or as spearheads."
His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable resolve.
Anyone hearing it would have to praise him: truly worthy of being an inheritor of Konoha's Will of Fire!
A black shadow beneath the trees slowly faded away.
Although Uchiha Ran's eyes had not seen it, he had already sensed it through chakra, and inwardly sneered.
The Chakra Sensory Technique, the Second Hokage's signature ninjutsu, was now being brought to greater heights in the hands of the Uchiha Clan he hated most.
Whether it was ANBU or Root made no difference to him. He had originally wanted to slack off, but unexpectedly got dragged to the front lines. All he could say was that fate liked to toy with people.
Yet his complaints about this damned world and Konoha's F4 could only be buried deep in his heart.
At this moment, he was a Konoha ninja and a warrior of the Uchiha Clan, the very picture of righteousness and glory.
Otherwise, he would either end up being screwed over by the higher-ups or 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 abducted 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 even began, and why this incident became the fuse that set off the war.
As for how Sasori had killed him, Uchiha Ran would definitely have to ask if they ever met in the future. He could not help being too curious.
The strongest Kazekage, and that was it? Had he learned that title from Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Although Uchiha Ran knew the truth, he knew even better that it could not stop the war.
Because even if he told everyone, few 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 guard of the First Kazekage, Sato, 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 senior advisor of Sunagakure, while his parents had died fighting for Sunagakure.
With so many advantages piled together, anyone with even a little political sense knew that, barring unforeseen circumstances, Sasori of the Red Sand would most likely become the Fourth Kazekage. At worst, he would become the Fifth Kazekage.
(Rasa truly had Sasori's defection and Pakura's lack of interest in the Kazekage position to thank for his rise. Otherwise, it was hard to say whom higher-ups like Chiyo would have supported.)
Now, if Uchiha Ran came 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 it. They would even think Uchiha Ran was sowing discord and stirring up trouble.
Even Konoha would send ANBU to question Uchiha Ran about the source of his intelligence.
Naturally, he would not do something so thankless and exhausting.
He might as well use the travel time to practice chakra control.
They still had a long way to go.
In truth, the five great nations did not border one another.
Around each great nation, like wings surrounding it, lay a ring of smaller countries serving as buffers.
These smaller nations were usually exploited as vassals of the great nations, their resources stripped away. When war came, they became battlefields, preventing the fighting from breaking out within the great nations themselves.
The Land of Rivers was such a country. Even with vast territory, weak national strength still made it a small nation.
As they set foot on the winding road leading toward the Land of Rivers, the scent of the forest gradually faded.
Konoha behind them grew ever more distant, 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, while their small four-man spearhead would become the first edge piercing through the fog of war.
Uchiha Ran's scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan stared at the rolling mountains ahead.
At the same time, his left hand formed seals one-handed as he sensed the surrounding chakra.
The Second Hokage's Chakra Sensory Technique had been mastered to perfection by an Uchiha.
Do not think only the Second Hokage had studied the Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha Clan had been studying him too.
He gripped the tachi on his back, its cold metal touch reminding him of reality's cruelty.
"Careful. There are enemies ahead. Eight of them. Judging by the amount of chakra, two are Jonin. They're either scouting military intelligence or sabotaging supplies."
"Speed up. Catch them off guard and take them out."
"Yes, Captain... Ah, no, Captain, they're two Jonin squads, while we're only one squad. This..."
Uchiha Tetsuka had been brimming with confidence, but once he considered that the enemy outnumbered them two to one, he decisively chickened out.
He, Uchiha Daosui, and Daotian were all Chunin, while Uchiha Ran was nominally still a Genin.
If they truly fought, even victory would likely be a miserable one.
Even the usually carefree Uchiha Daosui subtly tried to persuade him:
"Captain, there is no need to push so hard. We're only a reconnaissance squad. We can just report this to the main force behind us, and our mission will be complete."
"You seem to have forgotten your surname. When you encounter an Uchiha, in a one-on-one fight, flee without hesitation. Now it's four against eight. The advantage is ours!"
Feeling thoroughly stifled, Uchiha Ran was in a foul mood and no longer wanted to play it safe.
"Tetsuka, you and I will take out those two Jonin first. Daotian and Daosui, restrain those Chunin cannon fodder."
The three of them: They suddenly felt insulted. Since when had Chunin become cannon fodder? You yourself had been a Genin not long ago, all right?!
At Uchiha Ran's command, the four figures accelerated again, like arrows released from their strings.
Four black shadows tore through the thin forest mist, moving so quickly that the gusts they created bent the blades of grass.
"Captain, something's wrong! Four chakra signatures have appeared, and the one in the lead is very powerful!"
A Hidden Sand sensory ninja growled in a low voice from within the forest.
"What? Everyone, stay alert!"
When Uchiha Ran deliberately revealed himself, the Hidden Sand shinobi were all stunned.
Because the moment he appeared, he gave them a huge surprise.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Scorching flames surged toward the Hidden Sand shinobi like raging waves, instantly burning the surrounding air blisteringly hot.
Though it could not compare to Madara, it still possessed thirty percent of his magnificence.
The eight Hidden Sand shinobi across from them were instantly dumbfounded.
They had merely been leading a team through the Land of Rivers to sabotage Konoha's supply lines.
Clearly, they had not expected to encounter this Konoha reconnaissance squad. And despite having only four people, their opponents not only did not avoid battle, but instead launched such a fierce assault!
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall ×2!"
The two Jonin reacted quickly, rapidly forming seals as two enormously thick earthen walls rose from the ground. Only then did they barely block Uchiha Ran's ferocious ninjutsu.
At the same time, Uchiha Ran and Uchiha Tetsuka used the flames as cover to rush toward the two Jonin like ghosts.
"Enemy attack! Everyone, scatter!"
Seeing how fierce Uchiha Ran was, the leading Hidden Sand Jonin wanted the Chunin to move away and shouted sharply.
A Hidden Sand forehead protector was tied around his brow, a vicious scar crossed his face, and his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's.
The other Jonin was broad and muscular, his hands rapidly forming seals.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!"
Streams of highly destructive wind bullets shot toward Uchiha Ran and Uchiha Tetsuka.
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