Uchiha Must Act Like Uchiha

"Do you really think a single clan can stand against our entire Kumogakure?"

"You are far too arrogant! You clearly don't hold our Kumogakure shinobi in any regard."

The fury of the Kumogakure brutes was palpable, but the Uchiha had no interest in wasting breath on them. With a simple activation of their Three-Tomoe Sharingan, they unleashed genjutsu and stepped forward, effortlessly laying every single Kumogakure shinobi flat on the ground.

"What gave you the delusion that our clan couldn't handle a single village?"

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan stared back at them, as piercing as blood.

The ferocious aura, paired with the unnervingly calm expression on Uchiha Fugaku's face, felt like a heavy weight pressing down on their hearts, leaving the Kumogakure shinobi instantly speechless.

"If you dare say the word 'war' right now, our entire Uchiha clan will mobilize immediately and show you exactly what the power of the Uchiha means."

Under Uchiha Fugaku's provocative words, the Kumogakure shinobi fell silent.

Their leader was merely a jonin promoted during the war; he lacked the authority to drag his village into another conflict.

Besides, before they had even departed from Kumogakure, Dodai had warned them repeatedly not to botch this mission.

The pride and arrogance of the Uchiha were well-known to everyone within Konoha.

In normal times, seeing the Uchiha clan looking down their noses at everyone made the villagers truly despise them.

But when the Uchiha stood in confrontation with people from other villages, seeing them display their flair, the disdain they showed when receiving the Kumogakure delegation, and the sheer dominance they displayed by beating the Kumogakure shinobi into submission—

One could only say: as expected of the Uchiha!

The Kumogakure group had been sent as a diplomatic mission and contained no particularly powerful individuals; a group of Three-Tomoe Uchiha simply steamrolled them, even going so far as to beat the horses transporting the supplies.

Uchiha Fugaku stood with his arms crossed, unhurried, looking down at the slightly disheveled Konoha shinobi.

"The Uchiha clan is taking over from here. You may return."

"We will ensure our guests from Kumogakure arrive at Konoha [safely]."

The Kumogakure shinobi, who had been so arrogant and provocative just moments ago, now had only subtle, pleading looks in their eyes that screamed, Don't leave! Save me!

They desperately wanted to voice the words, but every time they opened their mouths, they were met with even heavier beatings from these Uchiha madmen. Though they were brutes, no one had ever said brutes didn't fear a thrashing.

The Konoha shinobi, of course, pretended not to see.

Almost in unison, they bowed to Uchiha Fugaku, suppressed the smiles tugging at their lips, and departed at high speed.

Under the Uchiha's near-custodial escort, the pace of the Kumogakure group quickened significantly.

Even the horses, terrified of being beaten again, couldn't help but pick up their speed.

When the iconic gates of Konoha finally appeared before them, the eyes of the travel-worn Kumogakure shinobi grew slightly moist.

The villagers of Konoha looked at the Kumogakure delegation with rather strange expressions.

Having spent years under the harsh sun of the high mountain regions, the skin of the Kumogakure shinobi was generally a dark brown, and combined with their disheveled clothing—

This group looked more like beggars than envoys from Kumogakure.

It was thanks to their skin tone that the bruises and swelling from their minor injuries were barely visible.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was also slightly stunned when he saw the group.

However, he was a man of vast experience; he silently puffed on his pipe, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Welcome, everyone."

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, weighing his words. "I hope we can reach a consensus on [peace]."

It was a cunning way to phrase it, and it touched the battered hearts of the Kumogakure shinobi just a little.

But even with Sarutobi Hiruzen's favorable attitude, they still didn't give him a pleasant look.

"We were ordered to deliver the supplies to reach a peace consensus."

"However, we only acknowledge the strong. We will only surrender to Lord Uchiha Yuji."

"May we ask, where is Lord Uchiha Yuji?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile gradually stiffened. The gaze of the Shinobi Hero grew increasingly cold, and a heavy pressure surged forward, crashing directly into the Kumogakure shinobi.

But this reaction was exactly what the Kumogakure shinobi had hoped for.

None among the current Kumogakure can defeat that Uchiha named Uchiha Yuji, but the Uchiha and Konoha are not one and the same. As long as we provoke a conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha, it will buy us enough time to develop.

If we are lucky, the Uchiha and Konoha will go to full-scale war.

The future of Kumogakure is in your hands.

Dodai's instructions before their departure remained vivid in their minds, and they had already prepared themselves for sacrifice.

"With such meager supplies, you aren't here to reach a consensus—you're here to humiliate our Uchiha, aren't you?"

Uchiha Yuji's voice suddenly rang out, shattering the heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

The human wall formed by the Uchiha clan parted in an orderly fashion, allowing Uchiha Yuji to walk slowly toward the Kumogakure shinobi.

"Let's go to war."

"It will end only when Kumogakure is completely destroyed, or when you surrender unconditionally."

"Perhaps it is time for the deterrent power of our Uchiha clan to shake the Shinobi World once again."

Hearing Uchiha Yuji's words, Hyuga Hiashi was momentarily stunned; he even began to doubt if there was something wrong with his own ears.

Even if you are the clan head of the Uchiha, isn't it a bit reckless to start a war like this without considering the feelings of your own clansmen? Not everyone enjoys fighting.

Within the vision of the Byakugan, the ninjas of the Uchiha clan showed not a hint of cowardice; instead, fueled by surging battle intent, they couldn't help but activate their Sharingan.

These guys weren't afraid at all! They were even eager to jump into the fray!

???

The Kumogakure ninjas were completely dumbfounded.

Who in their right mind would decide to start a brawl the moment a disagreement arose?

"Wait, wait, wait! We didn't mean to insult the Uchiha clan!" the lead Kumogakure ninja stammered in a panic. "The Uchiha clan is the greatest ninja clan in the Shinobi World, sitting on the prosperous regions of the Land of Fire, so naturally, you are well-supplied."

"We in Kumogakure have just ended a war; this is the most abundant supply we could manage to gather through our best efforts!"

Although he looked like a mindless muscle-bound brute, the lead Kumogakure ninja was unexpectedly a man of intellect.

"I suppose you've convinced me."

The emotions provided by the Kumogakure ninjas were quite satisfying to Uchiha Yuji, so he didn't pursue the matter too harshly, letting the Kumogakure messenger off with a light touch.

"I have no interest in these meager supplies and reparations anyway."

"Fugaku, transport these supplies to the clan grounds and distribute them effectively among the villagers of Konoha."

"Let them share in the joy of the victors and the happiness brought by the arrival of peace."

"Yes, Clan Head."

Uchiha Fugaku didn't even spare a glance for Sarutobi Hiruzen standing to the side, leading the supplies toward the clan grounds.

Watching the Uchiha clan act so wantonly, no one dared to speak up again.

They only cast glances from the corners of their eyes toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, whose expression remained remarkably calm.