Rats in Sewers Fear Loud Noises and Bright Sunshine the Most

"Trash! A bunch of trash!"

Shimura Danzō slammed his hand onto the desk, shattering the teacup in his grip as tea splashed across the floor. His expression turned terrifyingly dark, and a bone-chilling murderous intent leaked from his gaze. Several Root ninja standing before him kept their heads lowered, not daring to draw a deep breath.

"After all these years of suppressing the Uchiha, it completely flips over because of a single sentence from a brat? What are you people good for?!" Danzo's voice was like freezing ice, pricking right down to the marrow.

"Lord Danzo, Uchiha Chuan's words... were simply too difficult to handle," one Root ninja forced himself to explain. "Whether it was villagers or other ninja clans, the moment they get hit with his 'setting aside the facts,' there's just no way to refute it. We... we couldn't do anything either."

"Couldn't do anything?" Danzo sneered, a ferocious edge flashing in his eyes. "You mean to tell me I've raised you all these years, and in the end, you can't even handle a single brat?"

The several Root ninja fell instantly silent like cicadas in winter, not daring to speak another word.

Danzo took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the fury in his heart. He knew now was not the time to assign blame. Uchiha Chuan's words had completely disrupted the situation in Konoha. The Uchiha Clan used this opportunity to turn things around, even reversing the public opinion against the four great clans of Shimura, Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado. Even an elite Jonin like Sarutobi Gang was driven to the point of a self-imposed reclusive resignation by the blows.

"All of this is because of that Uchiha Chuan..." A chilling glint flickered in Danzo's eyes. "Since you trash can't deal with him, then I will make a move myself!"

That same evening, Uchiha Chuan was strolling leisurely on his way home. With his hands shoved into his pockets and humming a little tune, he was in exceptionally high spirits. Ever since that phrase "setting aside the facts" spread through the village, his days had grown more and more leisurely. Whether classmates or villagers, everyone gave him a wide berth the moment they saw him, terrified of being left speechless by a single sentence from him.

Sigh, how lonely it is to be invincible, Uchiha Chuan muttered to himself, a smug smile curving the corner of his mouth.

Yet, just as he rounded a street corner, two dark figures suddenly dropped from the sky, blocking his path.

"Uchiha Chuan, come with us." One of the masked ninja spoke coldly, his voice carrying an unquestionable mandate.

Uchiha Chuan raised an eyebrow, sweeping his gaze across the two of them. They wore ANBU uniforms, but their aura was far more sinister than that of ordinary ANBU. A thought stirred in his heart, though his expression remained completely undisturbed.

"Oh? You're ANBU?" Uchiha Chuan asked, feigning surprise. "Is Lord Hokage looking for me for something?"

"Not the Hokage," the other ninja stated coldly. "Our leader wants to see you."

"A leader?" Uchiha Chuan frowned in feigned confusion. "Isn't the direct superior of the ANBU Lord Hokage? Who is this leader you're talking about? Could it be... spies?"

"Insolent!" the first ninja barked sternly. "We are no spies!"

"Oh? Not spies?" Uchiha Chuan sneered. "Then why don't you dare admit you're ANBU? Why don't you dare take me to see the Hokage? Instead, you want to drag me to see some 'leader'? If you aren't spies, what are you?"

The two ninja were left entirely speechless by Uchiha Chuan's rapid-fire questions, their complexions beneath their masks turning exceptionally ugly.

"Uchiha Chuan, we don't have time to chit-chat with you," the second ninja said coldly. "Since you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeiture, don't blame us for being impolite!"

"Wait!" Uchiha Chuan suddenly raised a hand, an utterly harmless smile blooming on his face. "I didn't say I wasn't going. What are you two getting so anxious for?"

The two ninja froze, then let out a collective breath of relief. They had no desire to start something here; after all, Uchiha Chuan was a genius of the Uchiha Clan, and while he hadn't fully matured yet, making too big of a commotion would likely cause the mission to fail.

"Then let's go," the first ninja said coldly, gesturing for Uchiha Chuan to follow.

Uchiha Chuan nodded and took a slow, leisurely step forward. Yet, the exact moment the two ninja let down their guard, he suddenly drew in a deep breath and then—

"Help! Someone help! I'm Uchiha Chuan! Spies dressed as ANBU have come to kidnap me! They're trying to take me to see some leader! Help!"

Uchiha Chuan's voice exploded like rolling thunder, instantly echoing across the entire village of Konoha. His voice was so loud it even made the surrounding houses tremble slightly. Caught completely off guard, the two Root ninja were left dizzy and disoriented by the sudden sonic wave, their ears ringing with a dull hum.

"You... you!" The first ninja pointed straight at Uchiha Chuan, trembling all over with rage. He never imagined Uchiha Chuan would fight back using this kind of method.

"Sound Release: Broadcasting Technique, how about it? Not bad, right?" Uchiha Chuan looked smilingly at the pair, a trace of smugness lacing his tone.

"This voice... is that Uchiha Chuan? How can he emit a voice this loud?!" Shimura Danzō jerked up from his seat, his expression terrifyingly dark. His fingers gripped his cane so tightly that his knuckles whitened from the exertion.

"Lord Danzo, this is bad! Uchiha Chuan used some sort of sonic ninjutsu to expose our operation!" A Root ninja burst hurriedly into the room, panic stamped across his tone.

"No need to report, I can hear it!" Danzo roared, slamming his cane heavily against the ground. "Didn't I tell you to handle things with caution? How did you give him the chance to make a commotion this loud?!"

"Lord Danzo, we... we didn't expect him to have a ninjutsu like that..." The Root ninja kept his head down, his voice growing fainter and fainter.

"Didn't expect it? You didn't expect it?!" A bone-chilling murderous intent bled from Danzo's eyes. "You bunch of trash, you can't even handle a single brat, and you still dare make excuses?!"

Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's Office.

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk. Upon hearing Uchiha Chuan's deafening roar, the brush in his hand dropped onto the desk with a sharp clack.

"This voice... is that Uchiha Chuan? He can actually produce a voice that loud?" the Third muttered to himself, his expression turning ugly in an instant.

Damn it, I hope that fellow Danzo knows when to advance and retreat. The Third massaged his temples, praying silently in his heart. He knew Uchiha Chuan's voice had already carried across all of Konoha, and now everyone knew about the "spies dressed as ANBU" and the "leader." If Danzo didn't pull back now, things were going to spiral completely out of hand.

Yet, the Third's prayers clearly failed to take effect.

The Uchiha Clan of the Konoha Military Police Force had completely blown their lids by this point.

"Spies dressed as ANBU? A leader? Damn it, it's Shimura Danzō! He actually dares make a move against our Uchiha genius!" An Uchiha ninja slammed a hand onto a table in rage, his Sharingan activating in an instant as scarlet pupils radiated bone-chilling slaughter.

"Everyone, follow me immediately to demand his release! If Shimura Danzō dares make a move, we fight back!" Fugaku Uchiha issued his orders coldly. His voice carried unquestionable majesty, making it clear he had genuine fury.

"Sir!" the Uchiha ninja shouted in unison, then flickered away one after another, speeding toward the direction from which the sound originated.

At the same time, Hatake Sakumo heard Uchiha Chuan's voice as well.

"It's Danzo? He wants to move against Uchiha Chuan?" Hatake Sakumo frowned, then told Kakashi beside him, "Kakashi, head back first. Something major has happened, and I have to go stop it."

"Father, be careful." Kakashi nodded, watching Hatake Sakumo flicker away. Standing in place, he pondered inwardly: It's that Uchiha Chuan guy again... and people still dare provoke him? Doesn't anyone know that whoever crosses him gets bad luck? Besides, what kind of ninjutsu is this to produce such a terrifying sound? I wouldn't be surprised if the entire village of Konoha heard it.

Kakashi's curiosity was hooked. Hesitating for a moment, he ultimately decided to follow and take a look.

On the other side, Shimura Danzō realized the gravity of the situation as well.

"Not good, launch the retreat signal flare immediately!" Danzo issued his command coldly.

"Yes!" A Root ninja immediately pulled out a signal flare, launching it up into the sky.

The crimson flare burst across the air, illuminating the night.

"Damn it, you actually dared play us!" The Root ninja AK glared angrily at Uchiha Chuan, the short sword at his waist already drawn as murderous intent flared.

Yet right at that moment, he caught sight of the signal flare in the sky.

"Count yourself lucky!" AK gritted his teeth, forcefully suppressing the fury in his heart as he prepared to retreat alongside his comrade 47.

However, Uchiha Chuan had no intention of letting them leave so easily.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Uchiha Chuan formed hand seals at lightning speed, then abruptly spat out a massive fireball that roared toward the two Root ninja.

"Trying to leave now? Too slow!" Uchiha Chuan stated coldly, his eyes tinged with mockery.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" Root ninja 47 reacted extremely fast, forming seals instantly as a thick earthen wall rose from the ground to block the fireball's assault.

"You actually dare make a move on us? You're courting death!" AK was completely enraged by Uchiha Chuan's actions. He yanked out his short sword and charged straight at Uchiha Chuan.

"Idiot!" Uchiha Chuan sneered, standing motionless in place as if he didn't care about AK at all.

The exact instant AK's short sword was about to pierce Uchiha Chuan, a flash of white light shot through the air, violently pinning AK flat to the ground.

"Stop!" Hatake Sakumo said coldly, his White Fang Short Sword already resting against AK's neck.

"White Fang of the Leaf?!" AK's face paled instantly; he knew he had completely lost any chance to resist.

"Not good!" Seeing this, Root ninja 47 turned immediately, attempting to flee.

Yet the moment his foot hit the ground, two shuriken whistled through the air, striking directly to shatter his Body Flicker Technique. They had been thrown by Uchiha Chuan, who wore a mocking smirk.

Swoosh, swoosh! The shuriken pinned themselves precisely beside 47's feet, forcing him to halt his escape.

"Bastard!" 47 felt immense rage, but he had no choice to swallow it and prepare for retreat—yet it was already too late.

"Where are those damn spies?! How dare they make a move against our Uchiha genius!" The Uchiha ninja surged forward aggressively, their Sharingans already spinning as scarlet pupils bled chilling slaughter.

"Right there!" Uchiha Chuan pointed at Root ninja 47, a trace of banter coating his tone.

"Tie them up!" The Uchiha ninja rushed forward without hesitation. The genjutsu of their Sharingan activated instantly; Root ninja 47 didn't even get a chance to resist before falling straight under the illusion, collapsing limply to the ground.

In the shadows, a Root ninja witnessed the scene and instantly flickered away, racing at top speed toward Shimura Danzō.

"Lord Danzo, bad news! 47 has been captured!" The Root ninja burst into the room, panic flooding his tone.

"Damn it! Didn't I tell them to retreat? Why were they so slow?!" Danzo's face turned ashen in an instant. He knew the situation had completely spun out of control.

"Go fetch the Third immediately!" Danzo issued his order coldly, then stood up and hurried toward the scene. He knew that his influence was still far from what it would be after the Third Shinobi World War, leaving him with no choice but to ask the Third to clean up the mess.

Simultaneously, the Third received the news as well.

"Trash, failing to retreat at the very first moment!" the Third cursed inwardly, completely forgetting his earlier relief upon seeing the signal flare. He took a deep breath, then flickered out of existence, rushing toward the location.

Beneath the night sky of Konoha, a storm was brewing. And right at the center of this storm was none other than that tender few-year-old Uchiha Chuan.