Thirty Lightning Release Ninjas

Southern border of the Land of Fire, Uchiha Legion garrison.

Having received the news, Uchiha Rei personally led his men to the entrance, ready to welcome the hero's return.

"He really succeeded." The Legion Commander's heart surged with emotion, his palms trembling slightly with excitement.

He had fought the Three Clans for many years, yet he had never been able to crush them completely.

Now that they had intelligence, they would soon gain a comprehensive advantage.

Once they uprooted the strongholds scattered throughout the region, the Three Clans would be driven into a corner with nowhere left to retreat.

Other than fighting to the death head-on, their only remaining path would be to flee to the Land of Lightning.

In any case, joining the Senju was out of the question.

"Once this battle is over, the southern border will belong entirely to the Uchiha Clan."

"Tajma, let's see what you'll have left to fight me with then."

In a daze, Uchiha Rei seemed to see himself becoming clan leader.

"Sir, they're here."

His subordinate's voice pulled him back from his fantasy.

Looking around, he found that a large number of ninja had gathered at the entrance at some point. Everyone was waiting for Kyosuke's team to return.

Soon, three figures appeared on the horizon.

At their head was Uchiha Kyosuke, showing his true face.

Ever since his strength had officially reached Jonin level, he no longer needed to wear a mask.

Among ninja, strength was the measure of everything.

Being young only proved that he possessed extraordinary talent.

As mentioned before, Chidori was the Ninjutsu best suited for the Uchiha Clan. If he could teach it to his subordinates, he could pass it on to every qualified clansman.

The prerequisite was that they had to become his subordinates.

Ninja traveled incredibly fast. They had only just appeared a moment ago, and the team had already arrived before the Legion Commander.

Kyosuke tossed the unconscious Yamanaka Rumiko onto the ground and said calmly, "I have fulfilled my mission. I brought the captive back."

"Good, good, good." Uchiha Rei said "good" three times in a row. He recognized her identity at a glance.

After ordering his men to take the captive away and guard her closely, he patted Kyosuke on the shoulder without immediately leaving.

How could a hero's return end so hastily?

He should first be allowed to enjoy the cheers of his clansmen.

As an enemy they had fought for years, Yamanaka Rumiko's appearance was not particularly mysterious.

Before long, someone recognized her.

"Damn, it really is that bitch Yamanaka Rumiko."

"With her, we can destroy the enemy's nests one by one."

"You bastards, your end has come!"

"Haha, the war is finally going to end."

"Long live Lord Kyosuke!"

"Long live! Long live!"

Faced with the fanatical faces around him, Kyosuke did not shy away.

With a clang, he drew his short sword, raised it one-handed into the air, and let out an exhilarated roar.

The next moment, the cheers nearly blew the entire camp apart.

Inside the commander's tent, Kyosuke sat facing the Legion Commander.

No matter where one went, there was never a lack of all kinds of filth.

Yet at times, relationships between ninja could also be remarkably pure.

A change in strength naturally brought a change in status. It could be said that this was the first time Kyosuke and the Legion Commander spoke as equals.

"Next comes the full-scale assault on the enemy." Uchiha Rei sounded somewhat emotional. "For so many years, I've dreamed of this day."

"Once victory in the southern border is secured, your prestige will rival Uchiha Tajma's." Kyosuke made no effort to hide his disgust for the clan leader.

Over the past year, Tajma's loyal subordinates had occasionally tried to trip him up.

They could not inflict any real damage, but they were disgusting enough.

Still, Kyosuke endured.

He did not yet have the power to flip the table, so he would let them do as they pleased for now.

Once the time was right in the future, he had long since secretly reserved Tajma's head for himself.

Madara. Their relationship was one thing, but Tajma's head was an entirely separate matter.

As long as that man lived, Kyosuke would never be able to seize real power within the Uchiha Clan.

"Now that you've been promoted to Jonin as well." Uchiha Rei knew his subordinate's strength very well, so he intended to entrust him with more important responsibilities. "Form your unit as soon as possible. You needn't worry about manpower."

A Squad Leader was permitted to form a team of thirty members.

Considering ninja casualty rates, the actual number was usually lower than that.

Previously, Kyosuke had not wanted others to hold him back, so he had always fought in a three-man team.

Now that they were about to enter the frontal battlefield, even if all three were Jonin, the role they could play would be extremely limited.

The enemy only needed to unleash a single round of Legion-level Ninjutsu, and they might be beaten into fleeing like rats.

Even a bunch of worthless Mist Ninja, when gathered together, could withstand Edo Madara's Great Fire Annihilation. Sometimes, numbers really could offset the gap in raw strength.

"Thank you, sir." Kyosuke nodded and did not refuse Uchiha Rei's goodwill.

He truly needed to start building his own power now. Only by having soldiers under his command would he have enough say within the clan in the future.

When that time came, even if Uchiha Tajma wanted to deal with him, he would likely have to think twice first.

While the two spoke, the selection of team members had already begun outside.

Uchiha Izumi served as the examiner, testing the applicants' strength, while Uchiha Maya used Genjutsu to screen out potentially unfavorable targets.

At first, many people were quite dissatisfied. They wanted to serve under Kyosuke, so why did they have to submit to your Genjutsu interrogation?

Wasn't that looking down on them?

But when Uchiha Izumi personally demonstrated Chidori and explained that everyone who passed would receive Lord Kyosuke's instruction, the clansmen throughout the camp could no longer sit still.

They were all battle-hardened ninja. As long as they were not idiots, they understood what Chidori represented.

Many had originally wondered how the team had managed to defeat the perfectly assembled Ino–Shika–Cho.

Now they understood. Kyosuke had actually developed such a terrifying Lightning Release Ninjutsu.

"Chidori, what a fitting name." Someone could not stop marveling.

Because the slots were limited, they were currently only recruiting qualified candidates.

What were the requirements? No clear factional affiliation, not being Uchiha Tajma's subordinate, and proficiency in Lightning Release Ninjutsu.

The moment those three conditions were announced, the clansmen instantly broke into cries of despair. Those who qualified, meanwhile, were overjoyed and eagerly awaited the day they could learn Chidori.

After a full day and night of examinations, the two finally selected thirty qualified ninja.

No Jonin had come. All those who passed were Chunin from the clan.

Jonin were strategic-level forces anywhere, and they had long since joined different factions.

It was not that they did not want to come. Kyosuke had rejected them from the very beginning.

"Welcome." Activating his Three Tomoe Sharingan, Kyosuke spoke calmly amid a chorus of astonished exclamations. "If you follow me, you must possess the ambition and will to earn merit."

"Remember, the enemy's core territory is our unit's frontline outpost."

"With that resolve, use every possible means to grow stronger."