The newcomer was also a ninja from the Uchiha Clan. He said between ragged breaths:
"Captain Ran, this is bad. We found traces of an unidentified ninja outside the village, likely a scout sent by another ninja village."
"ANBU is pursuing them and has asked the Police Force to immediately send people to intercept them!"
Uchiha Ran frowned. The leisure time he had just gotten his hands on was gone again.
He looked at his two underlings and said:
"Let's go take a look."
Outside Konoha, within a dense forest.
Faint moonlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows and making the forest seem especially tranquil.
However, that tranquility was quickly shattered by a burst of hurried footsteps.
Uchiha Ran darted swiftly through the woods, his movements light and nimble, as though he had merged with his surroundings.
Behind him, aside from Uchiha Daosui and Daotian, several ANBU members followed closely. Their faces were hidden behind stern masks, and none of them spoke.
Because they were all thinking:
How could a twelve-year-old brat run so fast? They were elite ANBU Chunin, yet they still couldn't keep up!
"The target is ahead. Be careful."
Uchiha Ran spoke in a low voice, sounding exceptionally calm.
The two underlings nodded and slowed down, vigilantly surveying their surroundings.
"Target spotted! Capture him immediately!"
Uchiha Ran suddenly shouted, pointing toward a patch of bushes not far away.
The two underlings reacted swiftly. With a flash, they rushed toward either side of the bushes, preparing to surround their target.
The two ANBU ninjas were dumbfounded. They had clearly found nothing. Where was the target?
"Come out. We've already found you."
Uchiha Ran's voice echoed through the forest, carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Kid, I don't know why the Uchiha Police Force sent you here, but you'd better not falsely report enemy activity. Even my sensory bugs haven't detected anything. How did you know?"
At that moment, a faint rustling came from the bushes. Then, a figure slowly rose to his feet.
He was a man dressed as a merchant, with a cold smile on his face and unwillingness 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 Ran was somewhat surprised as well. He had not expected that foolish-looking guy to actually reveal himself.
So he promptly rubbed salt into the wound with a smile.
"Actually, you hid very well. I hadn't noticed you at all. I was just tired from running and wanted to rest for a while, so I tried bluffing you."
The merchant-looking ninja's expression instantly turned extremely ugly, his eyes filled with rage.
"Kid, how dare you toy with me!"
"Wind Release: Wind Blade!"
He shouted, rapidly forming hand seals. A fierce wind blade half a meter thick burst from his mouth and swept toward them.
Uchiha Ran's gaze sharpened. He 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 Ran shouted lowly, spewing a massive fireball from his mouth directly at the wind blade.
The fireball collided with the wind current with a deafening boom. The surrounding trees were instantly consumed by flames, leaving the area in ruins.
The Sunagakure spy was forced back several steps by the lingering flames, a flicker of surprise flashing through his eyes.
He had not expected this Uchiha brat to be so powerful. Just one C-rank ninjutsu had already made him, an elite Chunin, feel immense pressure.
"You're strong, but I don't believe you can outrun me. I'm the Land of Wind's sprinting champion!"
"Wind Release: Sprint!"
With that, the spy turned and ran. He was truly as fast as the wind.
Uchiha Ran froze. He had not expected the other side to activate Sprint, and he could only see an afterimage with the naked eye. It was practically cheating.
No wonder Sunagakure had sent him to be a spy. Unfortunately for him, he had encountered Uchiha Ran.
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, three o'clock! Use Wind Release!"
The two underlings immediately coordinated, spewing powerful nets of wind that sealed off both sides of the fleeing spy.
The ANBU members also stepped forward, launching ninjutsu to stop him.
But the man was extremely cunning. He actually threw out a smoke bomb and turned to flee while everyone's vision was obstructed.
How could Uchiha Ran let him escape so easily? A mere smoke bomb could not evade the Sharingan's sight.
He decisively used the Body Flicker Technique to give chase, intercepting him again not far away.
This time, he stopped testing him or giving him opportunities and struck decisively.
"Damn it, that brat saw through me. The Uchiha Clan truly is a family of cheaters!"
The Sunagakure 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; the advantage was on their side.
However, Uchiha Ran was faster.
With a flash, he was already in front of the Sunagakure spy.
At some point, a kunai had appeared in his hand. Carrying a sharp whistle through the air, it stabbed straight for the man's throat.
The Sunagakure spy reacted quickly and barely twisted aside to evade it, but Uchiha Ran's movements followed him like a shadow.
He immediately formed hand seals, and a wave of chakra spread through the air. Clearly, he was preparing to fight.
"The Uchiha Clan truly lives up to its reputation."
The Sunagakure spy said coldly, "But do you think you can capture me with just a few ANBU members?"
Uchiha Ran sneered, a trace of disdain flashing through his eyes.
"Sunagakure ninjas truly love to boast. Today, you won't escape."
Before his words had even faded, the Sunagakure spy launched the first attack.
With a wave of his hands, a stream of sand surged toward Uchiha Ran.
Uchiha Ran remained calm and rapidly formed hand seals. Behind his eyes, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan opened, releasing powerful ocular strength.
His Sharingan observed every one of his opponent's movements, as though every technique the man used was already under his control.
He easily evaded the sand stream, then formed six seals in one second.
"Fire Release: Explosive Flame Formation!"
Uchiha Ran shouted lowly again. His hands formed seals, and several Explosive Tags instantly appeared around the Sunagakure spy.
With a loud blast, the Sunagakure spy was blown into a miserable state. Flames engulfed his body, and he instantly lost the ability to fight.
"It's over."
Uchiha Ran said coldly. His Sharingan slowly closed, returning to normal.
Keeping it activated all the time drained chakra, after all.
He walked directly over to the Sunagakure spy, who had collapsed and passed out, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him up.
Without asking any questions, he directly hit him with a killing glare the moment the man groggily opened his eyes.
The Sunagakure spy immediately fell into a genjutsu space.
Before you continue