The King of Soldiers Returns, Only to Find His Best Bro...

A legion-scale operation meant every monster and freak along the way had to clear the path.

The more than two hundred clan ninja were reinforcements dispatched by Uchiha Rei, as well as a parting gift for Kyosuke.

Along the way, Mayo kept herself busy, repeatedly using genjutsu to assess the ninja's loyalty.

Those willing to undergo the test and pass it could officially join Kyosuke's command as members of his direct forces.

Those unwilling to accept it were fine too. Everyone had their own ambitions; he couldn't demand that every person be completely honest with him.

As long as they obeyed orders, they could still be counted among the Southern Legion's combat ranks.

As for the few troublesome thorns with ulterior motives, he had already instructed Uchiha Izumi to secretly note their names. He could just find an opportunity to have them die on the battlefield.

To integrate the troops, this Southern Army Corps expedition dragged its feet the entire way. A journey that should have taken two or three days took a full seven.

The Squad Leader in charge of receiving them cursed him bloody in his heart countless times.

Yet in the end, he still had to step forward politely and offer a greeting.

"Legion Commander Kyosuke, welcome."

"Mm." Kyosuke merely glanced at him before giving an arrogant nod, with no intention of stopping.

The main force thundered past. If the reception party had not been alert enough, they might have been swept into the tide of people.

"Damn it." After the crowd left, one clansman finally spoke indignantly. "These Southern Legion bastards are way too full of themselves."

"Heh." The ignored Squad Leader muttered in a strange tone, "You can be arrogant too if you win a battle."

In truth, he was dissatisfied as well. No one would be happy after being treated like that.

Unfortunately, his fists were not big enough. What else could he do? Rush up and argue with Kyosuke right now?

News of the killings used to establish authority at the youth camp had long reached the main battlefield on the front lines. He had no desire to become the next topic of everyone's discussion.

"Follow behind them."

Before long, the Southern Army Corps entered the military fortress built by the Uchiha Clan.

With ninjutsu around, the construction industry in the Naruto World was exceptionally advanced.

Across a camp stretching fifty li stood watchtowers of all sizes.

Every hundred meters, there was a sentry post staffed by Uchiha ninja.

The moment the barrier division detected anything unusual, orders would be issued at once, ensuring that clansmen could reach the scene within ten seconds.

From that alone, Kyosuke understood that the fighting on the main battlefield was far more brutal than the war in the southern border.

Perhaps having learned of the reception force's treatment, Clan Head Tajma sent someone out a second time.

This time, Kyosuke could no longer keep up his cold demeanor.

"It's been a long time, Keisuke-sensei."

This man was Uchiha Keisuke, the one who had once taught him.

"The clan head ordered me to receive you." As he spoke, Uchiha Keisuke could not help but sigh.

In just over a year, the boy who had once struggled even to maintain his Sharingan had become an important figure in the clan.

His gaze swept over the short sword at the young man's waist, and he suddenly felt fortunate that he had not turned down the teaching assignment back then.

Adding flowers to brocade was easy. Now, everyone who saw Kyosuke respectfully addressed him as Legion Commander.

But when Kyosuke had still been insignificant, he alone had offered the precious gift of charcoal in the snow.

If he used that rare bond carefully, it would be enough for Uchiha Keisuke to benefit from for the rest of his life.

"Set up camp here and wait." After giving the simple order, Kyosuke headed toward the core area with his teacher.

Along the way, Uchiha Keisuke briefly explained the battlefield situation.

"Three months ago, the clan head fought Senju Butsuma. They ultimately ended in mutual defeat."

"Senju Butsuma is that strong?"

"He is a peak Clan Head Level powerhouse. His strength is formidable."

Kyosuke fell silent at that, once again realizing the cruelty of the Warring States Period.

He had indeed learned a great deal, but he was still far from being able to throw his weight around freely.

If he truly treated the Senju Clan like the Nara or Akimichi, the day he got wiped out probably would not be far off.

Uchiha Keisuke continued, "The main battlefield is actually manageable. Our clan has cultivated this area for many years, so the Senju Clan can't break in anytime soon."

"What we truly need to worry about is the other side."

Kyosuke understood what his teacher meant. The Uchiha Clan had already exhausted all its strength resisting the Senju Clan's main force.

With the Uzumaki Clan eyeing them greedily from another direction, the Uchiha Clan was indeed stretched thin.

The Southern Army Corps' role was to rush over and reinforce the Uzumaki battlefield.

"I won't hide it from you." Uchiha Keisuke said something that greatly shocked him. "Not long ago, Uzumaki Ashina personally led his forces into battle. Our clan suffered a crushing defeat, and even the person in charge was slain on the spot."

Someone capable of commanding an army was, at worst, an Elite Jonin-level commander.

For Uzumaki Ashina to kill him on the spot meant that he possessed at least Clan Head Level strength.

"For all these years, the outside world has underestimated that Uzumaki clan head far too much." Keisuke sighed deeply.

Just as his teacher said, the leader of the Land of Whirlpools possessed terrifying power capable of making anyone tremble in fear.

"Who is overseeing things over there now?" Kyosuke cared deeply about that.

That bastard Tajma wouldn't send me alone to fight the Uzumaki Clan, would he?

If that was the case, I might as well rebel on the spot.

"It's the clan's Second Elder." His teacher's words made Kyosuke's brow twitch slightly.

The great clans of the Warring States Period had countless branch families and collateral lines. To protect their own interests, nearly every clan formed an elder council.

The Uchiha Clan was no exception.

Uchiha Rei was a powerful elder within the clan, responsible for dealing with threats from the southern border. This Second Elder was likely a similar figure.

"How strong is this Second Elder?"

"He should also be a Clan Head Level powerhouse."

"That's a little better."

With a big shot holding the fort, Kyosuke finally relaxed somewhat.

He had painstakingly built up this foundation. He did not want it destroyed all at once.

"Kyosuke!"

A familiar voice interrupted the reunion between teacher and student.

He looked up. Under the blazing sun, a spiky-haired young man in red armor stood atop the battlements, watching him with a smiling gaze.

The sunlight was blinding, and Kyosuke could not see the other man's face clearly.

Yet that overwhelming aura of someone trying to be the main character instantly gave away the young man's identity.

"Madara!"

Chakra erupted beneath his feet, and Kyosuke shot forward like lightning.

He held his short sword in hand, faint arcs of electricity flickering along its blade.

"Good!" Lord Madara drew his longsword, his face brimming with excitement at meeting an old friend.

It was just that their way of greeting each other was somewhat unusual.

Terrifying currents of air gathered as Uchiha Madara swung his blade horizontally, crushing down with the force of Mount Tai bearing down overhead.

The violent momentum made Kyosuke's heart leap.

Uchiha Style: Stomp Burst!

Damn, is this bastard trying to kill me?