Pursuit, Uchiha VS Bai Cangshu (4K)

"Miss Heaven’s Will, what should we do? New reincarnators have entered the field. It seems they brought back the intelligence you deliberately let out. The ninjas from the other hidden villages failed to obtain that intelligence."

The man in ninja attire had red hair and somewhat pale skin. Wearing a Konoha Ninja forehead protector, he stood in the room and reported the intelligence he had just uncovered point by point.

Inside the room, a blonde woman with shoulder-length hair wore a mask symbolizing her Anbu identity.

"It doesn’t matter. Once that intelligence was taken out, everything was already set in stone."

The woman’s voice was clear and gentle. She did not seem the least bit anxious, and there was a reassuring quality to her unhurried manner that made people willing to listen to her.

"But this way, without outside forces getting involved, Konoha’s upper ranks and the Uchiha Clan will merely feel pressured for nothing. Won’t they call it off and choose to coexist peacefully again?"

Although the man was fairly strong and had built up considerable prestige within Konoha, he found that before this woman, he was completely like a newcomer who had only just entered the space.

No one could match this woman’s understanding of Plot Worlds. At the very least, in this Naruto Derivative World, her understanding and manipulation had completely convinced him.

Her methods were entirely different from those of the powerful reincarnators he had seen before. Without relying on violence, she had obtained everything she wanted step by step using nothing more than information.

"Mr. Leren, what do you think caused the Uchiha Clan to eventually embark on the path of preparing a coup and being exterminated?"

"Or rather, who do you think was the key factor in that process?"

Rather than answering, the woman asked a question. Her tone remained calm and unhurried. Through the gap in the window, she could indeed see the reincarnator who had just returned to Konoha entering the building where Konoha’s upper ranks were located under the guidance of an Anbu ninja.

Meanwhile, the strongest member of the current Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Shisui, had just walked out of the Hokage Office. His expression was calm, with none of the conflict or contemplation one might expect from the strongest member of a clan at the end of its rope.

Perhaps Uchiha Shisui was already considering using the strongest Genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami, at the final Uchiha gathering to forcibly alter Uchiha Fugaku’s mind, hoping to save his clan that way.

The woman’s lips curled slightly. Her soft laugh made Leren follow her gaze, and he too spotted the young powerhouse. He did not understand why she was laughing at Uchiha Shisui.

"I don’t understand. Wasn’t it because Konoha’s upper ranks feared the Uchiha Clan’s strength and excluded them, while the Uchiha Clan, being powerful, grew increasingly dissatisfied with such treatment? Wasn’t that why things gradually reached the current point of drawn swords and tense standoffs?"

Heaven’s Will shook her head and withdrew her gaze. Looking at this reincarnator who had strengthened the Uzumaki Clan bloodline, she knew he possessed uniquely favorable advantages in this world. That was why she had not set him up to die.

"That is still only the surface, Mr. Leren."

Leren frowned. He had always loved Naruto, and after entering Reincarnation Space, he had consistently strengthened himself in that direction. He had also read many analyses of the series.

He believed that was the underlying reason. As a great clan once standing alongside the Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan had faced increasing suspicion after joining Konoha and after Senju Hashirama’s death. During Senju Tobirama’s era, they could still be given the proper authority and respect through the Konoha Military Police Force.

But after Senju Tobirama died as well, the several disciples who succeeded him did not possess the same broad-mindedness or aura as those two Senju. Their treatment of the Uchiha Clan became increasingly harsh.

In recent years, they had even moved the Uchiha Clan to the edge of the village, while gradually using the Anbu to take over much of the Military Police Force’s duties. In effect, this was the beginning of pushing the Uchiha Clan out of Konoha’s center of power.

Moreover, contrary to what many imagined, Danzo was not the only one targeting the Uchiha. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was equally pleased to see it happen.

In the eyes of Konoha’s upper ranks of the Third Hokage’s generation, the overly powerful and unstable Uchiha Clan—no, rather, all Kekkei Genkai clans that were too powerful—were groups that needed to be restrained.

Heaven’s Will seemed able to see through Leren’s thoughts. She smiled and pointed out the core reason.

"A man commits no crime, yet is punished for possessing jade."

"The Uchiha’s power is the fundamental contradiction behind everything."

"If the Uchiha were weaker, if their Kekkei Genkai had begun to fade like that of the Kurama Clan, then those upper ranks would not be worried;"

"If the Uchiha were stronger, if Uchiha Madara had returned to life and they fearlessly displayed power sufficient to suppress the ninja world, then those upper ranks would bow their heads in submission, and none of these conflicts would exist."

"The Uchiha’s problem is that they are strong, but not strong enough."

"By the same logic, if Konoha’s side were strong enough—if people like Hatake Sakumo and Namikaze Minato had not died—then the Uchiha Clan would naturally not dare harbor other ambitions."

"Heh. Two groups that both believe they possess the power to destroy the other, marching toward ruin amid conflict—isn’t that the most logical development…"

Heaven’s Will rarely spoke such long sentences. Leren opened his mouth several times, wanting to refute her, but in the end, he said nothing. Finally, he merely muttered,

"With Uchiha Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami, if the Uchiha Clan truly wanted to rebel, they might still have a chance. Why didn’t you start from that side directly? With your abilities, you should have a way to gain the Uchiha Clan’s trust."

Hearing Leren’s words, Heaven’s Will suddenly chuckled. She laughed quite Exhilaratedly.

"If they are not driven into a corner, how would they ever believe that only I can make the Uchiha rise again…"

At that instant, Leren suddenly sensed malice. His expression turned slightly stunned. Right—he had nearly forgotten. Miss Heaven’s Will was herself a reincarnator. Naturally, she could not truly be a good person.

She had simply hidden her ambition very well, and… she was truly skilled at persuading others.

Elsewhere, inside the Hokage Office, Ran felt somewhat unaccustomed to this. He and Catherine rarely acted separately. Before him sat the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had placed the Hokage hat on the desk and was looking down at the so-called top-secret intelligence. He was not the old man Ran had seen in the anime.

Although Sarutobi Hiruzen was no longer in his prime, simply sitting there, he still radiated a formidable presence. Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzo stood on the other side. They had all seen the intelligence as well.

None of them found the contents of this top-secret intelligence surprising. It was only top-secret to those outside Konoha’s core ranks.

But once it leaked out of Konoha, the situation would become extremely bad. Those hidden villages would certainly make a major issue of it.

"You said you got this intelligence from a woman?"

Danzo spoke in a low voice. He wanted to interrogate this person, but Sarutobi Hiruzen would not permit it. Tch. He only felt that Hiruzen was getting older and softer-hearted.

Many matters did not need to be so complicated.

Ran nodded.

"It was a woman named Hiranaka Hana. The small village where she was staying had already been slaughtered by Kumogakure and Iwagakure ninjas. She was the only survivor."

Neither Sarutobi Hiruzen nor Danzo and the others reacted at all upon hearing this. Danzo continued,

"Then why didn’t you bring that woman back as well?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked toward Utatane Koharu. She nodded.

"She should be that Hiranaka fellow’s wife. How foolish."

Pretending not to know Hiranaka Hana’s importance, Ran revealed a puzzled expression.

"The mission I received was only to ensure that the intelligence would not leak out…"

"Do you need me to go retrieve that woman now?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand.

"Ran, was it…"

"You did very well this time. You need not concern yourself with that woman’s affairs from here on. Go rest for now."

Ran realized that everything happening here was indeed exactly as Mercenary Tao had predicted. Sneering inwardly, he turned and walked out of the building.

The moment he stepped outside, he saw a red-haired ninja beneath a shadow in the distance waving at him, a playful smile on his face.

A reincarnator!

Ran let out a slow breath, expelling the stale air in his chest, and smiled as well. Although he and Catherine had acted extremely timid before Mercenary Tao, he actually considered the two of them experienced reincarnators who were not much weaker than Wind Lord. Among reincarnators of the same rank, they were quite capable.

Leren noticed the change in Ran’s expression as well. He waited until Ran approached before speaking.

"You entered in the second batch?"

"You’re lucky. You chose the Konoha Faction."

He turned and led Ran into the building. Ran knew that they were in the same faction, and since this place was not far from the Hokage Office, these two must have considerable prestige.

But he had just completed that mission, and his prestige had already reached Friendly. Even if these reincarnators intended him harm, they would not do so here. So he entered the room and saw the blonde woman.

Heaven’s Will turned around, looked at Ran, and spoke.

"Do you want to obtain the Uchiha Clan bloodline?"

"You mean that not only are those foreign ninjas from Kumogakure and Iwagakure pursuing us, but even Konoha’s own ninjas are trying to track us down?"

Catherine focused, extending the range of her Mental Power search to several hundred meters. At this range, her perception was no longer clear and could only serve as an early warning.

She had not even noticed several crows circling overhead four or five times.

Bai Cangshu forcibly dressed Hiranaka Hana in bloodstained pieces of ninja armor, one piece at a time. Her face turned pale with anger, but she could not resist.

Bai Cangshu answered Catherine’s question.

"Not just Konoha’s ninjas. Those Uchiha won’t let us go either."

His words seemed somewhat contradictory, but someone above them suddenly laughed.

"Hmph, you’ve got some insight."

"You understand that we Uchiha are completely different from Konoha’s other ninjas."

The cold, arrogant voice made Catherine realize that the other party had approached at some point without her noticing. Because she had spread her Mental Power search too widely, the enemy had apparently used some unknown escape technique to slip directly inside.

Recalling how Mercenary Tao had put armor on that woman earlier, she suddenly wondered—had Mercenary Tao sensed the approaching enemies even then?!

Whoosh, whoosh.

Two figures used the Body Flicker Jutsu to instantly arrive beside the speaker from afar.

All three wore black Uchiha combat uniforms beneath Konoha ninja vests. Clear red tomoe were reflected in their opened eyes.

If the news of the Uchiha and Konoha splitting apart and fighting internally leaked out, the ones harmed most would naturally be the Uchiha Clan itself.

Even though they took pride in their own strength, and Uchiha Shisui had made such a name for himself that enemy ninjas trembled in fear, this was the Uchiha’s best opportunity following Namikaze Minato’s death.

But they were not so arrogant as to believe they could confront every other clan in Konoha.

What they wanted was to kill Konoha’s upper ranks with lightning speed, seize power, and not openly wage war against every clan in Konoha.

Anyone connected to this intelligence had to die!

The three leaped down from the tall tree, their bodies light and agile as Chakra circulated smoothly through them. Uchiha ninjas who had awakened the Sharingan were far more powerful than ordinary ninjas.

This was Kekkei Genkai. This was the Sharingan. This was… Uchiha!

The man in the center brought his hands together. One of the two behind him instantly leaped backward, and the Shuriken in his hand tore through the air with sharp whistles. Dozens of Shuriken traced arcs through the air, shooting toward Bai Cangshu and the other two.

The other held both hands behind his back and began sprinting toward the right in the standard Naruto run. Catherine had no choice but to divide her attention to track him while raising her left hand. An invisible barrier swiftly formed.

Clang, clang, clang…

A string of impacts rang out as every Shuriken was blocked.

The man who had moved to the right instantly formed hand seals, his movements incredibly fast.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

The fireball swelled with the wind, instantly becoming a massive sphere more than two meters in diameter. It smashed through the forest and hurtled toward Catherine.

In an instant, Catherine felt pressure greater than that from the seven or eight ninjas the previous night.

These Uchiha Clan ninjas might be arrogant and conceited, but their strength truly differed completely from that of ordinary ninjas.

Watching this scene, Hiranaka Hana recalled her husband’s faint fear of this clan in everyday life and grew nervous. She could not help looking at the tall man beside her, who was equally arrogant and seemed to look down on everyone, only to find that he had not moved at all and was merely standing there.

Meanwhile, the leader of the three-man Uchiha squad remained still as well. The Three Tomoe in his eyes slowly spun.

His Genjutsu had already been cast without a sound.

Catherine noticed this while distracted, and her expression changed.

Damn it, did Mercenary Tao fall under the Sharingan’s Genjutsu?!

Under pressure, she began moving toward Mercenary Tao. First, she thrust both hands backward.

Boom!

The flames from the exploding fireball were completely blocked. She focused on Mercenary Tao, intending to use Mental Shock to wake him.

But in the next instant, a sharp whistling sound came from the air. Her pupils trembled as she saw that the Shuriken she had just blocked were flying again, controlled by the Uchiha ninja’s dancing hands.

Manipulated Shuriken Technique!

Damn it!

Catherine’s thoughts raced. The next moment, disregarding the Shuriken, she was about to forcibly launch Mental Shock at Mercenary Tao when she suddenly saw the corner of his mouth curl upward.

"Ah! What is this?!"

The Uchiha Clan ninja suddenly clutched his head and let out a miserable scream.