Declaring War on Future You! Embarking on the Path of Solitary Death!

As Uchiha Ci's words fell, a gust of wind suddenly blew, scattering the mist under the moon and causing the bonfire to flare up.

Sparks flew with crackling sounds, the young man's profile under the bright full moon was deeply etched into the eyes of the three people present.

Despite being wrapped in bandages and looking disheveled as if he had just come off the battlefield from a serious injury, his arrogantly upturned lips

possessed a suffocating handsomeness!

Looking at Uchiha Ci's confident smile, the green eyes of the girl with reddish-brown hair flickered slightly, their gazes meeting as if she were being drawn into the grand vision of the young man's ideals.

But soon, she snapped back to reality, unable to resist curling her lips, as if she had thought of something amusing.

"Is that so?"

"If that's the case, then I acknowledge you as my opponent."

"Uchiha Ci."

She curved her green eyes, tucking the reddish-brown tassel that fell by her ear behind it, glanced up at the full moon in the sky, and carefully chose her words.

Then, she broke into a smile:

"Let's reintroduce ourselves. My name is--"

"Mei, Tsukikomi Mei."

"While this might be a blow to you, neither you nor I have reached the moment where we truly stand on the ninja world's most dazzling stage."

"However,"

"as long as you still harbor dreams of conquering the world, carrying such a wild notion,"

"then there will come a day when we meet again on the battlefield."

The girl's green eyes shimmered with a gentle and serious light, yet deep within her pupils, a hint of cold, ruthless killing intent flashed by.

"At that time, I will show you no mercy."

Uchiha Ci's Sharingan was active at this moment.

Naturally, he could see every subtle change in the expression on the face of the girl named 'Tsukikomi Mei'.

This name, this hair color, this beauty, coupled with such resolute will.

Uchiha Ci finally recognized her true identity.

Tsukikomi Mei, or rather--

Terumi Mei.

The future Fifth Mizukage of the Mist Village!

The powerful female ninja who mastered a unique dual Kekkei Genkai and ended the chaotic era of the "Bloody Mist Village"!

Uchiha Ci couldn't help but want to laugh. Looking at Terumi Mei's cute, still-childish face, he almost blurted out:

You're surprisingly nice!

This feeling of inexplicably gaining a powerful enemy who vowed to scatter his ashes.

To be honest, it was a little exhilarating.

But, couldn't we skip the future and just get it over with now?

Uchiha Ci raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying three parts strangeness, three parts arrogance, and four parts indignation, as he provocatively asked:

"Are you, in a way, declaring war on me?"

Terumi Mei shook her head, a hint of regret in her voice:

"Uchiha Ci, although your battles in the village were so brilliant that even I had to admit it."

"Your outstanding shurikenjutsu, your relentless Fire Style ninjutsu, and the combat intelligence you displayed at the last moment – even in my village, you could be considered a talent."

"But I'm sorry--"

"With your current level, you are unlikely to be my opponent."

"And even less likely to be an opponent to those truly talented individuals among my peers, whose strength surpasses mine."

"Konoha's Namikaze Minato, Kirigakure's Hozuki Mangetsu, Sunagakure's missing Sasori of the Red Sands, Kumogakure's Killer B – these individuals are the trendsetters of the current ninja world. Their talent even makes me envious."

Terumi Mei paused, her clear green eyes showing seriousness.

"You possess such a terrifying ambition, and you bear the Uchiha name. In the future, you might not necessarily be unable to catch up."

"You can consider this me declaring war on you."

"On your future self--"

"War!"

The young girl's words drifted on the wind, her firm resolve shining brightly under the moonlight.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Ci couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness.

As a genius of Kirigakure, Terumi Mei should have already mastered her two Kekkei Genkai at this point. Whether it was Lava Style or Boil Style, killing his current self would be as easy as playing a game.

As long as she showed hostility, he would have a reason to fight her!

He could instantly receive his bento and go home with five hundred million to enjoy.

But if she didn't want to kill him now, he couldn't just put a knife to her throat and force her to finish him off.

However, Uchiha Ci didn't get discouraged. He just smirked inwardly, thinking, You probably won't live to see that day.

Hah, hilarious.

He, Uchiha Ci, was about to go throw himself at the Evil God Cult.

A whole line of knives awaited him, ready to strike.

You, Terumi Mei, would never live to see the day you could cut me down!

Of course, he wouldn't pass up this opportunity. After all, this was a pretty decent form of insurance, wasn't it?

So, Uchiha Ci gazed intently at Terumi Mei, suddenly smiled, and said with full confidence:

"Very well, Tsukikomi Mei."

"Then I shall eagerly await the day you come to kill me."

"I hope that day, you who try to block my path of advancement, will give me a good fight!"

However, Uchiha Ci's words struck Terumi Mei's mind like lightning.

'Await,' 'that day,' 'advancement,' 'good fight.'

These words automatically rearranged themselves in her mind, forming a love confession that made her heart race and her face flush.

Terumi Mei blinked rapidly, gasped, and her clear, emerald pupils began to tremble. Her fair, delicate ears instantly flushed red.

She immediately turned her back, huffed somewhat awkwardly, and said, "Whatever you want. I won't be happy."

The smile on Uchiha Ci's face froze. What's with the blushing? he thought.

I just wanted to confirm the exact day you're coming to cut me down!

If you're too late, you won't even be able to find my ashes.

Where is this sudden tsundere attitude coming from?

Uchiha Ci shook his head, not daring to dwell on such thoughts.

He turned around to face Hidan, who had already gotten up from the ground. He slapped Hidan on the shoulder and grinned.

Then, he said seriously:

"Hidan."

"The Evil God Cult is not a good thing. Killing everything around you won't solve the problem."

"On the contrary, for the Land of Hot Water right now, the Evil God Cult isn't saving the country."

"Instead, it's a menace."

"This worm is clinging to the Land of Hot Water's main artery, constantly draining fresh blood and abducting children for their so-called rituals. In the end, it will only accelerate the country's demise."

"I believe you, having received an education, can understand this principle."

Hidan nodded heavily, then fell into silent contemplation.

The light in his eyes seemed to fade away.

He understood, but that didn't mean he could make a decisive cut.

Because of the war, the inaction of the Hot Water Ninja and the nobles of the Land of Hot Water, the Evil God Cult had brazenly grown and prospered on this land, reaching a point where it was now uncontrollable.

Hidan, a mere ninja academy student who wasn't even a Genin, His only choice was to pick the lesser of two evils.

Seeing Hidan, who had now sobered up, Uchiha Ci smiled, feeling a sense of relief at his younger brother's realization.

The reason he said all this

was because he himself was a stubborn fellow who disliked owing favors.

Hidan had saved him twice, and he owed him a debt of gratitude.

The only way to repay that debt was to prevent Hidan from getting involved with the Evil God Cult.

The younger brother before him, Hidan, had received an education, read the news, had his own understanding of the ninja world's situation, and possessed a keen sense of intuition.

He could even be called intelligent.

He was clearly a different breed from the idiotic, crazed, thrill-seeker Hidan of the future.

As for the reason for this transformation, Uchiha Ci could only deduce it was the bloody and cruel rituals of the Evil God Cult.

Exchanging power with demons came at a price.

Out of a large batch of test subjects, only Hidan, tortured to the brink of madness, finally pleased the Evil God and was granted Immortality.

He offered his brain to the future of the Land of Hot Water, but after gaining power, he lost his mind and went mad, slaughtering the Hot Water Ninjas who raised him.

This was, undoubtedly, a tragedy.

Uchiha Ci would never let such a tragedy repeat itself.

"Stop frowning, you've got me here, haven't you?"

Uchiha Ci laughed heartily and slapped Hidan's shoulder forcefully.

"Since I said I would bring peace to this country, I will definitely do it!"

"Those the Hot Water Ninjas dare not manage, I will manage!"

"Those the Hot Water Ninjas dare not kill, I will kill!"

"The Evil God Cult that the Hot Water Ninjas dare not provoke, I will destroy!"

"Little brother, you just need to hide behind me and watch me unleash my brilliance!"

Uchiha Ci slung an arm around Hidan, who was shorter than him, and lightly punched his own chest with a low chuckle.

"That's enough."

Uchiha Ci released Hidan.

Without saying anything further, he turned around and strode forward.

"No need to see me off, Hidan. Go back home and wait for my good news there."

With that, Uchiha Ci waved his hand at the three of them as a farewell.

Alone, he faced the brilliant moonlight.

He stepped over the campfire, past the three of them, and onto the path of lonely death.

Thanks to Nan Guo Yu Tong, Mu Ou Shi Zhi, LSP Ban Shi Ni Fang Xin, and DERORO for one monthly ticket, and to the小伙伴 on Q阅 for two monthly tickets.

Thanks to the 1000 coin reward from the Earth Office of the Galactic Defense Force, and the 500 coin reward from a frequently anonymous netizen.

Thanks to all the above adoptive fathers for their strong support.

Thanks to all the esteemed readers for their recommendation tickets.

Please follow, collect, and recommend.

Bang bang bang!