Uchiha's Declaration of War

However, the wild joy on his face froze completely the very next second.

Lei Zang's lightning-wreathed fist passed straight through Lu Ming's body without the slightest resistance!

"What?!"

Lei Zang's pupils shrank as his mind went blank.

Lu Ming's body rippled like water before turning into countless black crows that scattered into the air.

"Afterimage? No... it was a genjutsu!"

A chill ran through Lei Zang's entire body.

His proud Lightning Release speed had, from the very beginning, struck nothing more than an illusory genjutsu clone.

He did not even know when he had fallen under the genjutsu!

"Too slow."

The Grim Reaper's whisper sounded behind Lei Zang.

Lei Zang whirled around.

A hand had already clamped tightly around his head.

The crimson Mangekyō Sharingan in Lu Ming's eyes radiated endless pressure.

"You dared lay hands on a member of my Uchiha Clan. This is the price."

The muscles in Lu Ming's arm bulged as terrifying physical strength erupted, slamming Lei Zang's head brutally into the ground.

Lei Zang's lightning armor was violently smashed apart by that horrifying brute force.

His body twitched twice before he completely lost the ability to resist, collapsing limply at the bottom of the crater.

An absolute crushing of strength!

In the most violent, direct way possible, Lu Ming utterly defeated the arrogant Kumogakure Delegation.

This was not only to avenge Sakura and Sasuke, who had nearly lost their lives.

It was also a declaration to the entire Shinobi World: the Uchiha Clan's terrifying combat power would not tolerate anyone's desecration!

Lu Ming released his grip, stood up, and kicked Lei Zang aside.

He turned to look at the sole surviving Kumogakure ninja, who was trembling in terror.

"Y-you... don't come any closer..."

The Kumogakure ninja desperately crawled backward, his face smeared with tears and snot. He did not even have the strength to stand.

Looking down at him, Lu Ming said,

"Get back to Kumogakure and deliver a message to your Fourth Raikage."

"Tell him that if he wants to set his sights on our Sharingan, he had better be prepared for his village to be destroyed and his people exterminated!"

"From today onward, the Uchiha Clan officially declares war on Kumogakure!"

As though granted a pardon, the surviving Kumogakure ninja scrambled out of the compound. He did not dare look back as he vanished into the night.

After dealing with the Kumogakure Delegation, Lu Ming flashed away and disappeared from the spot.

Uchiha District, main hall of the clan estate.

The atmosphere in the hall was oppressive to the extreme.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Shimura Danzō had brought a large group of ANBU, but Fugaku Uchiha and Shisui had firmly blocked them here, leaving them unable to get away.

Whoosh!

The space at the center of the hall twisted, and Lu Ming appeared calmly, draped in a black Divine Robe.

There was not even a drop of blood on him, as though he had merely gone out for a stroll.

The moment he saw Lu Ming return, Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly stood up and demanded in a trembling voice,

"Lu Ming! What did you do?! Was that huge sound from the Kumogakure Delegation's compound caused by you?!"

Leaning on his cane, Danzo fixed his single eye on Lu Ming and roared,

"You lunatic! Did you attack the Kumogakure envoys?"

"Do you realize that you are pushing all of Konoha into the abyss of destruction?!"

The elite ANBU around them all tightened their grips on their ninja blades, staring tensely at Lu Ming.

Faced with the furious accusations of Konoha's highest leadership, Lu Ming remained calm and walked over to sit in the seat of honor.

"No need to make such a fuss."

Lu Ming lifted the teacup from the table and took a light sip.

"I merely went and cleaned up a few stray dogs coveting the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan."

"You killed them?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's vision went dark, and he nearly collapsed.

"Wiped them out. I left only one survivor to return and deliver the message."

Lu Ming set down his teacup, his voice so calm that it was frightening.

"You actually killed them all!"

Danzo trembled with rage, pounding his cane against the floor with earth-shaking force.

"Uchiha Lu Ming, you are openly provoking a war between two great shinobi villages."

"Kumogakure will never let this go. The Raikage's army will soon be at our gates."

"You are trying to drag the tens of thousands of civilians in the entire village into the grave with your Uchiha Clan!"

"Into the grave? Danzo, you think far too highly of your Konoha."

Sitting in the seat of honor, Lu Ming looked at Danzo, who was raging helplessly.

"I killed them because they touched my Uchiha people."

"Since they dared extend their claws, I cut those claws off."

"As for war?"

Lu Ming rose to his feet, and his domineering declaration echoed through the hall.

"I have already had that survivor relay the message to the Raikage. The Uchiha Clan officially declares war on Kumogakure!"

"This war is a grievance between the Uchiha Clan and Kumogakure. It has nothing to do with your Konoha!"

Lu Ming stared directly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"The trouble caused by us Uchiha will be borne by our clan alone. We do not need Konoha to send a single soldier!"

At those words,

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo were completely stunned.

They had never imagined that Lu Ming would be arrogant to such an extent, actually intending to confront the entire Kumogakure Village with the strength of one clan!

"Bear it alone? Hahaha!"

Danzo came back to his senses as though he had heard the greatest joke in the world, laughing mockingly.

"Uchiha Lu Ming, your arrogance has made you lose all reason!"

Danzo pointed at Lu Ming, his face full of scorn.

"You think that having a few Mangekyō lets you stand against Kumogakure, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages?"

"Kumogakure has tens of thousands of elite shinobi, a perfect Jinchuriki, and the Fourth Raikage, famed for his speed and destructive power."

"Their foundations for war are simply not something your mere clan can contend with!"

Danzo pressed aggressively, his eyes filled with malice.

"You are seeking your own deaths. Once the Raikage's army arrives, your Uchiha Clan will be ground completely into dust."

"By then, you will not even have the chance to kneel and beg for mercy!"

Lu Ming was not shaken in the slightest by Danzo's vicious mockery.

The Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes gave off a trembling crimson glow, and killing intent swept across the hall as though it were tangible.

"Even if every member of the clan dies in battle, we will never hand over our people. Uchiha affairs require no interference from Konoha."

Inside the hall,

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Shimura Danzō wore ashen expressions.

Yet under this absolute intimidation of force, they could not even utter a single harsh word.

They led the elite ANBU, who had long since been scared out of their wits, and withdrew from the Uchiha estate in disgrace.

As they watched Konoha's leadership leave in such a sorry state, long-suppressed cheers erupted throughout the hall.

However, once the doors closed again and the Uchiha Clan's core leadership, elders, and Temple captains gathered together, the atmosphere became exceptionally grave.

"Clan Head..."

The First Elder leaned on his cane and shakily stepped forward, his wrinkled face filled with deep concern.

"Declaring war on Kumogakure... this is... this is far too risky!"

The First Elder's voice trembled, breaking the brief celebration.

"Kumogakure is, after all, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, with deep foundations."

"Once war begins, our Uchiha Clan will have to face the fury of Kumogakure's entire army. The clan will suffer incalculable losses!"