Kage-Level Showdown, the Leadership Stunned!

Just then, the welcoming clansmen outside the estate gates suddenly announced the arrivals in loud, excited voices.

"Lord Third Hokage has arrived—!"

"Advisors Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura have arrived—!"

The two successive shouts rang directly through the noisy banquet hall.

The heads of the various clans, who had been drinking and exchanging toasts, stopped moving. The entire hall fell silent as everyone looked toward the main entrance.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, walked into the hall.

Behind him followed the two highest Konoha advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

The core of Konoha's power—the four highest-ranking leaders—had all arrived!

"Good heavens..." Shikaku Nara's wine cup tilted, spilling its contents over the back of his hand.

He turned to Hyuga Hiashi beside him and lowered his voice.

"This is far too grand. When Clan Head Fugaku took office, the Hokage Building only sent an ANBU squad captain with a congratulatory gift."

"Yet for Lu Ming's succession today, the highest leadership came in person, not a single one missing!"

Hyuga Hiashi said gravely,

"This shows that the Konoha Leadership's attitude has completely changed."

"Under Lu Ming's absolute military deterrence, they had no choice but to lower themselves and demonstrate their willingness to compromise through this highest level of courtesy."

"Lu Ming's standing in Konoha has reached an unprecedented height!"

The clan heads of the Inuzuka, Aburame, and other clans nearby heard this and looked toward Lu Ming at the seat of honor with reverence.

At the seat of honor at the front of the banquet hall,

Lu Ming wore the ceremonial robe of the clan head and held a wine cup as he watched the Konoha Leadership approach.

He remained where he was and did not nod in greeting until Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others had drawn close.

"Thank you, four esteemed guests, for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my celebration."

Lu Ming raised his cup.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile,

"You are too polite, Clan Head Lu Ming. The Uchiha Clan is one of Konoha's founding clans. Your succession as clan head is an important matter for the village, so naturally we should come and offer our congratulations."

After the brief pleasantries and thanks, Lu Ming set his wine cup on the table.

He swept his gaze across the hall and began to speak.

"Everyone!"

As soon as Lu Ming spoke, the entire hall quieted down.

"It is the honor of the Uchiha Clan that all of you could attend this celebration today."

"However, I did not invite you here today merely to drink and celebrate."

"I also wish to show everyone in Konoha, and all the great clans, the brand-new face of the Uchiha Clan!"

With that, Lu Ming raised his hands and clapped.

Clap! Clap!

The crisp clapping echoed through the hall.

The open space in the center of the banquet hall had been cleared, forming a temporary training ground.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Eight figures clad in black Temple cloaks descended from above and landed in the center of the training ground.

The eight people split into two squads of four. They were all young adults around twenty years old, with standard-issue short blades at their waists.

Pointing at the eight youths in the arena, Lu Ming introduced them to the hall.

"These are members of the Uchiha Shrine. The Temple is a core organization I established specifically for the clan's young geniuses, whom I personally cultivate and guide."

"Today, they will show all of you the strength of the Uchiha Clan's new generation!"

Upon hearing Lu Ming's introduction, Utatane Koharu, who stood to one side, frowned.

She examined the eight youths in the arena and thought to herself,

Their killing intent is heavy, and their chakra fluctuations have reached the level of Elite Jonin. They can be considered geniuses.

But they are only Jonin. Before true top-tier experts, no matter how many there are, they are still nothing but cannon fodder. Lu Ming wants to intimidate the great clans with a few Jonin? He is being far too overconfident.

Utatane Koharu was not alone. Many of the clan heads present shared the same thought.

The Uchiha Clan's new generation was outstanding, but it had not yet reached the point where it could alter the balance of the ninja world.

Lu Ming's next action shattered their understanding.

Lu Ming looked at the two squads in the arena and issued a cold command.

"Temple Formation, activate!"

"Yes!"

The eight Temple members answered in unison.

The four members of each squad took their positions and formed hand seals.

Pillars of chakra light shot into the sky from the formations of the two squads.

The chakra within the four members, their breathing rhythms, and their spiritual auras resonated with one another, merging into one.

The chakra that had originally belonged to four separate individuals fused together, forming a blue chakra cloak that enveloped all four of them.

"This... how is this possible?!"

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, lost his smile and stepped forward, staring at the formation in shock.

"Their chakra actually fused?! Every person's chakra attributes and wavelengths are entirely different. Forced fusion would cause their chakra pathways to rupture."

"What method did Lu Ming use to condense the chakra of four people into a single whole?!"

The veins around Hyuga Hiashi's eyes bulged as he activated his Byakugan.

When he saw the chakra flow within the formation clearly, his legs went weak and he nearly collapsed.

"They crossed it... they crossed that barrier!"

Hiashi pointed at the squads in the arena and said,

"The fused chakra volume and aura pressure have surpassed the limits of Jonin and reached the Kage Level!"

Kage Level!

The moment those words were spoken, the entire banquet hall erupted.

This was precisely the ultimate reward Lu Ming had received after activating the God-Level Family System—the Temple Formation!

It could not only increase cultivation speed,

but also perfectly condense the chakra of multiple members in actual combat,

allowing a team that originally possessed only Jonin-level strength to unleash terrifying combat power comparable to a Kage-Level expert!

The battle in the arena had already begun.

"First Squad, attack!"

Tekka Uchiha, acting as captain, shouted. Empowered by the chakra of the Temple Formation, his eyes turned into scarlet Three Tomoe.

Bang!

The bluestone floor beneath Tekka's feet shattered. Moving at blinding speed, he charged toward Nanami Uchiha, the captain of the Second Squad.

"Good!"

Empowered by the formation, Nanami erupted with Kage-Level momentum. She drew the short blade from her waist and swung it to meet Tekka's attack.

Clang—!!!

The blades collided with the sharp ring of metal striking metal.

A circular shockwave spread outward from the two of them. The blast overturned the solid wooden dining tables nearby, sending wood chips and shattered porcelain flying in every direction.

"Defend!"

The heads of the various clans circulated chakra to protect themselves, forced backward by the aftermath of the Kage-Level clash.

At the center of the battlefield, Tekka and Nanami's exchange had already reached a fever pitch.

The two moved at incredible speed, leaving afterimages in midair. Blade light flashed and crisscrossed.

In only a few seconds, they had traded dozens of direct blows.

Every collision came with an explosive boom; every exchange carved trenches into the ground.

Lightning Release and Fire Release chakra surged across their blades, ravaging the training ground.

"Too fast... this power, this speed..."

Shikaku Nara gripped the pillar beside him, cold sweat soaking his back.

Watching the figures clash in the arena, he said,

"This is destructive power only Kage-Level experts can possess! The Uchiha Clan actually mastered such a method!"

The clan heads throughout the hall were intimidated by this display of strength. They rose from their seats and watched the battle in the arena.

At the very front of the banquet hall,

the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with the two advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, had turned pale.

The four of them stared in shock at the Kage-Level combat power created by the fusion of ordinary Jonin.

The Third Hokage and the others knew full well that the Kage Level represented the pinnacle of a ninja village's combat power.

The Uchiha Clan could actually use a secret technique to grant ordinary Jonin Kage-Level strength. If it could be mass-produced, the consequences would be unimaginable.