In the silent night, especially in a place like Konoha, even the faintest sound could draw the attention of many people.
Uchiha Ensei dragging someone through the streets naturally soon attracted Konoha's patrolling ANBU.
However, these ANBU clearly knew what kind of person Uchiha Ensei was, so they did not dare stop him. They merely dispatched someone to notify Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had actually been quite pleased when he received the news.
But when he arrived at the Kumogakure delegation's residence, all he saw were the furious eyes of the Kumogakure group and two headless corpses lying on the ground.
"What exactly happened?"
Seeing this scene, how could Hiruzen Sarutobi not understand what had happened?
He had not expected Uchiha Ensei to do this. Capturing the enemy was one thing, but why kill them in front of everyone?
Could it be that the Uchiha Clan's goal was to provoke a war between Kumogakure and Konoha?
Countless possibilities flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, but he had to deal with the immediate problem first.
"Hokage... is this Konoha's attitude toward peace talks?"
"If you don't give us an explanation for what happened today, there's no need to continue these negotiations. Let's go to war!"
The leader of the Kumogakure delegation spoke, opening with an accusation. His purpose was to place Kumogakure on the moral high ground.
Public opinion was sometimes completely useless, but at other times, it was extremely important.
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could speak, Uchiha Ensei's icy voice rang out.
"An explanation? What explanation do you want?"
"Kumogakure attempted to seize the Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan. Shouldn't you be the ones giving me an explanation?"
"War? Even if those two idiots acted on their own today, Kumogakure still has to give me an explanation."
"Otherwise, let's go to war."
"The entire Uchiha Clan will mobilize. We won't stop until one side is dead!"
Uchiha Ensei's words were calm, so calm that they sounded almost like a joke.
Yet after he finished speaking, the scene fell silent. No one expressed any dissatisfaction with Uchiha Ensei's decision.
At that moment, everyone present recalled the Uchiha Clan from the Warring States Period.
Do you know why Kirigakure had so many Kekkei Genkai clans?
It was simple. The Uchiha Clan had beaten them all into submission.
Uchiha ninja had one particular trait: from among their numerous Genin and Chunin, a large number of powerful fighters would suddenly emerge.
Sometimes, the Uchiha Clan would even grow stronger and stronger over the course of a single battle.
Therefore, during the Warring States Period, aside from clans as populous as the Senju Clan, few ninja clans were willing to provoke the Uchiha Clan.
"Heh... hehehe. Is Konoha now run by some child?"
Someone in the Kumogakure delegation finally could not endure the strange silence any longer and spoke mockingly.
"Yes, that's right. Konoha is basically under my control now. Third Hokage, don't you agree?"
Uchiha Ensei admitted it without hesitation, taking the opportunity to speak to Hiruzen Sarutobi in a half-threatening manner.
At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi deeply regretted getting involved in this matter.
He had clearly already handed this matter over to Uchiha Ensei. Wouldn't it have been fine to pretend he knew nothing? Why did he have to come here and embarrass himself?
"Cough, cough!"
"Everyone, calm down. Mobilizing the entire clan and fighting to the death is indeed a bit excessive. Kumogakure is a village, not a clan. Could you really kill them all?"
"And everyone from Kumogakure, don't be impulsive either. Coveting another clan's Kekkei Genkai naturally requires an explanation. Otherwise, wouldn't anyone be able to meddle?"
"How about this... it's already late tonight. Shall we continue talking tomorrow?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi tried his best to put on an amicable expression, but both the Konoha ninja and the Kumogakure delegation could see that he lacked confidence.
The Kumogakure delegation exchanged glances. They all understood that they had misjudged Konoha's situation, and their original plan had apparently failed.
"Now that things have come to this, is there any need to keep talking?"
"If Konoha does not intend to bear the charge of slaughtering Kumogakure's envoys, then please make way and allow us to return to Kumogakure."
"As for what comes next... Lord Raikage will naturally make the decision."
The Kumogakure delegation secretly mocked Hiruzen Sarutobi, then sought to use this opportunity to leave Konoha.
After all, judging by the current situation, if any further conflict broke out, their entire group might very well die in Konoha.
They did not fear death, but neither did they want to die without meaning.
Hearing the Kumogakure ninja's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help turning toward Uchiha Ensei.
"Fine. I'll wait in Konoha for the Raikage's response."
"If we receive no answer within ten days, the Uchiha Clan will take the initiative and declare war on Kumogakure."
Uchiha Ensei nodded and spoke.
After Uchiha Ensei answered, the crowd voluntarily made way, allowing the Kumogakure delegation to flee Konoha overnight.
The next day, Konoha's Jonin meeting convened once again.
Although no one had dared say anything the previous night, at this Jonin meeting, quite a few Jonin still criticized the Uchiha Clan for acting so recklessly.
Some of these people had likely been arranged by Konoha's council of elders. Some sincerely cared about Konoha, while others had their own motives.
Uchiha Ensei dismissed all those voices with a single sentence.
"Last night, I merely represented the Uchiha Clan."
"Or have you already accepted that I can represent all of Konoha?"
No one dared respond.
Although everyone knew that Uchiha Ensei now held a special position in Konoha, the Third Hokage was still in office. Moreover, they did not want to see the Uchiha Clan rebel.
If an Uchiha Clan rebellion in the past might have resulted in mutual destruction with Konoha, then an Uchiha Clan rebellion now would only harm Konoha.
After all, the Uchiha Clan now possessed three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan.
Uchiha Ensei did not actually possess the Mangekyō Sharingan, but everyone believed he did. Fugaku Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan had also been discovered, and there was Shisui as well...
The Uchiha Clan's unity had now surpassed even the era when Madara Uchiha was alive.
They even had one more pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, so no one dared disregard the Uchiha Clan's attitude at this moment.
After a moment of silence, Utatane Koharu suddenly spoke:
"The village has contingency plans for a war with Kumogakure."
"But what worries us now is that if war with Kumogakure begins, Iwagakure and Sunagakure will certainly join in. There is even a strong possibility that Kirigakure will join them."
"At that time, Konoha will face the enemies of the entire Ninja World."
"Can the Uchiha Clan face such a situation?"
Before you continue