"Retreat! Retreat immediately! Move!"
Danzo Shimura's aged voice echoed through the chaos.
The shinobi using Water Release and Earth Release to slow the spread of the flames scattered the moment they heard the order, fleeing in all directions.
Not a single one of them dared to look back at Uchiha Ran, the one who had unleashed Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation.
Once the figures completely vanished from the Naka River area, Ran stopped channeling chakra. The roaring flames quickly weakened and began to die down.
Hyuga Hiashi dispelled his Transformation Technique and rushed to Ran's side, drenched in sweat and red-faced.
"This… this is what you meant by 'giving them a little lesson'?" he asked weakly.
He looked around.
The ground along the Naka River was scorched black and cracked open. The already sparse forest had been completely erased—nothing left but ash.
Ran descended from the air and replied calmly,
"If I really wanted to, Danzo Shimura wouldn't have escaped."
"…?!" Hiashi stared at him in disbelief. "You're telling me you were holding back?! Damn it—Ran, what kind of monster are you?!"
He had always known Ran was strong, but not this strong.
He remembered asking Ran before just how powerful he was.
Ran had pinched his thumb and index finger together, leaving a tiny gap.
"Just a little stronger than you."
Now, staring at what looked like a sea of fire, Hiashi finally understood.
A little… meant a hundred million times stronger.
"Alright, Clan Head Hiashi," Ran said, turning serious. "Let's head down. I'm worried about Itachi and Shisui."
With that, Ran grabbed Hiashi's arm and used the Body Flicker Technique.
---
They arrived at the agreed meeting point.
Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi were resting nearby—one sitting on a large rock by the river, the other staring intermittently toward the distant cliffs.
Itachi looked tense.
No matter how annoying his younger brother was, no matter how often they argued or even fought—Ran was still his brother. And Itachi was the elder one.
The Uchiha Clan were infamous for being obsessed with their family.
Itachi was no exception.
Only when Ran and Hiashi entered his field of vision did his brow finally relax, the tension fading into his usual indifference.
Shisui chuckled. "You're obviously worried about him, yet you keep pretending you don't care. Isn't that exhausting?"
Itachi didn't respond, simply turning his gaze skyward.
Shisui stopped teasing him and instead looked at Ran, his expression complicated.
To be honest, the moment Danzo Shimura tried to gouge out his eyes, Shisui's faith in Konoha had died.
At this point, even if Hiashi told him that Danzo's right eye didn't belong to Uchiha Kagami, he would still support Ran's plan without hesitation.
He had already shown the utmost goodwill—revealing Kotoamatsukami, his most closely guarded secret.
And yet Danzo still doubted him… and even tried to kill him.
The charred corpses falling from the mountainside made it clear—
From the moment he handed Danzo that letter, Danzo had already decided to leave him dead at the Naka River.
"Brother Shisui! Itachi!" Ran waved casually. "You guys okay?"
Shisui smiled and shook his head.
Itachi snorted coldly. "Ran, you were too reckless. What you did today only deepened the hostility between the Village and the Uchiha."
Ran had been in a good mood after confirming Shisui was safe. Hearing that, he immediately clicked his tongue, looking utterly unimpressed.
Hiashi also glanced at Itachi strangely, wondering if something was wrong with his head.
If Ran hadn't acted, Shisui would have lost his eyes—or his life.
Did the Uchiha really value their own bloodline so little?
If this had happened in the Hyuga Clan, they would have retaliated without hesitation.
"You really shouldn't have been born with that mouth," Ran said lazily, narrowing his eyes.
"You always make me want to slap you when I'm happiest."
Itachi knew he was in the wrong and snorted, but out of the corner of his eye he carefully observed Ran.
Seeing that Ran wasn't even breathing heavily, Itachi finally relaxed.
That Great Fire Annihilation just now—
Its range and power had long surpassed the limits of a B-rank jutsu.
If Ran claimed it was an S-rank Fire Release, anyone unfamiliar with the Uchiha Clan would believe him.
Only the Uchiha knew it was their clan's signature technique.
"Alright, enough," Hiashi interjected. "This isn't the place to talk. If Danzo sends more people later, things could get troublesome."
He was right.
If Danzo ran to Hiruzen Sarutobi and complained, Hiruzen might dispatch forces to surround the Naka River.
They weren't afraid of fodder, but exposure would be inevitable—and that would push Konoha into a dangerous situation.
Everyone nodded, agreeing with Hiashi's assessment, and returned to the Hyuga Clan compound.
---
This time, Hiashi personally held Ran's hand, constantly asking about his condition and fussing over him with meticulous care.
If not for Ran's Uchiha clothing and Sharingan, anyone in the compound would have thought he was Hiashi's own son.
In truth, Hiashi wished he had a son like this.
Ran was nothing short of a war machine.
Whoever controlled him… controlled Konoha.
As for Shisui and Itachi, neither felt the slightest jealousy at the sight.
On the contrary, they found it completely natural.
The strong deserved exceptional treatment.
Ran's Great Fire Annihilation that afternoon had thoroughly conquered them.
---
Only one person was unhappy.
Hyuga Neji stepped forward, wearing an arrogant expression as he stared at Ran.
"Uchiha Ran," Neji said coldly. "Do you dare spar with me?"
"If I win, you're not allowed to come to the Hyuga Clan again and disturb my sister, Hinata!"
The moment those words left his mouth—
Ran, Hiashi, Shisui, and Itachi all froze, staring at Neji in disbelief.
Ran suddenly remembered.
He was supposed to stand up for Hinata.
The chaos earlier had made him forget—perfect timing.
"Fine," Ran said with a smile.
"But if you lose, you're not allowed to abuse your authority during training ever again."
"And you must be gentler with Hinata."
Neji sneered. "Deal."
"And you look about ten years old," he added arrogantly.
"I'm only seven, but I hope you don't hold back—otherwise you'll lose miserably."
Hiashi's face went pale.
He looked at Ran with pleading eyes.
He was touched that Ran wanted to protect his daughter—but also terrified.
If Ran got serious with Neji… Neji might get flattened in a single move.
This was his younger brother's only son.
His brother had died asking him to raise Neji safely to adulthood.
Ran nodded reassuringly and said calmly,
"Have you ever seen an adult seriously argue with a child?"
(Ōnoki: "Achoo!")