A legion-sized army on the move meant that every monster and demon along the way had to clear a path.
More than two hundred clan shinobi made up the support force Uchiha Rei had sent. They were also a parting gift for Kyosuke.
Along the way, Maya stayed busy, using Genjutsu again and again to assess the shinobi's loyalty.
Those willing to undergo the test and pass it could officially join Kyosuke's ranks and become members of his personal force.
It was fine if they refused. Everyone had their own ambitions; he couldn't demand that everyone be completely open with him.
As long as they followed orders, they could still serve in the Southern Legion's fighting ranks.
He'd already ordered Uchiha Izumi to secretly make a list of the few troublemakers with ulterior motives. They only needed to find an opportunity to let them die on the battlefield.
To bring the force together, this Southern Border expeditionary army dragged its feet the whole way. A journey that should have taken two or three days ended up taking a full seven.
The Unit Captain in charge of meeting them had cursed Kyosuke to high heaven countless times in his heart.
In the end, he still had to greet him with utmost courtesy.
"Legion Commander Kyosuke, welcome."
"Mm." Kyosuke glanced at him and gave a haughty nod, making no move to stop.
The massive force thundered past. Had the welcoming party not been quick on its feet, it might have been swept up in the crowd.
"Damn it." After the mass of people had gone, one of the clan members finally grumbled, "Those Southern Legion bastards are so arrogant."
"Heh." The ignored Unit Captain muttered in a strange tone, "You could act arrogant too if you'd won a battle."
In truth, he was just as dissatisfied. Who could be happy after being treated like that?
But his strength wasn't enough. What could he do? Charge up and argue with Kyosuke right now?
News of the boy killing someone to establish his authority at the camp had already reached the main front. The Unit Captain had no desire to become the next topic of gossip.
"Follow behind them."
Soon, the Southern Border Legion entered the military fortress built by the Uchiha.
With ninjutsu at their disposal, infrastructure in the Naruto world was extraordinarily advanced.
The camp stretched for fifty miles, dotted with watchtowers of every size.
There was a watch post every hundred meters, each manned by Uchiha shinobi.
As soon as the Barrier Division detected anything unusual, they would issue an order, ensuring a clan member could reach the scene within ten seconds.
That alone was enough for Kyosuke to understand that the fighting on the main front was far more brutal than the war in the south.
Perhaps after hearing what had happened to the welcoming party, Clan Head Tajima sent someone to meet them for a second time.
This time, Kyosuke couldn't keep up his aloof act.
"It's been a long time, Teacher Keisuke."
The man before him was the one who had taught him so much: Uchiha Keisuke.
"The Clan Head sent me to welcome you." Uchiha Keisuke spoke, unable to hide his feelings.
In just over a year, the boy who once struggled to maintain his Sharingan had become a major figure in the clan.
His gaze swept over the short blade at the young man's waist, and he suddenly felt glad he hadn't turned down the teaching job back then.
It was easy to add a little shine to someone who was already successful. These days, everyone who saw Kyosuke respectfully addressed him as Legion Commander.
But when Kyosuke had been a nobody, Keisuke alone had offered him precious warmth in his time of need.
If he was careful with this rare bond, it would be enough to benefit Uchiha Keisuke for the rest of his life.
"Set up camp here and wait." After giving the simple order, Kyosuke went with his teacher toward the central area.
On the way, Uchiha Keisuke briefly explained the situation on the battlefield.
"Three months ago, the Clan Head fought Senju Butsuma. In the end, they both suffered heavy injuries."
"Is Senju Butsuma that strong?"
"He's a peak Clan Leader Level fighter. His strength is formidable."
Kyosuke fell silent, newly aware of the brutality of the Warring States Period.
He had certainly learned a lot, but he was still nowhere near the point where he could do as he pleased.
If he really treated the Senju like the Nara or the Akimichi, he'd be wiped out before long.
Uchiha Keisuke continued his explanation. "The main front is actually manageable. Our clan has been entrenched there for years, and the Senju can't break through anytime soon."
"The real concern is on the other side."
He understood what his teacher meant. The Uchiha had already poured everything into their main force resisting the Senju.
With the Uzumaki watching them from the other direction, the Uchiha were indeed stretched thin.
The Southern Border force's purpose was to reinforce the battlefield against the Uzumaki.
"I won't hide it from you." Uchiha Keisuke said something that shocked him. "Not long ago, Uzumaki Ashina personally led his troops into battle. Our clan suffered a crushing defeat, and even the officer in charge was killed on the spot."
Anyone who could command an army had to be at least an Elite Jonin-level commander.
Since Uzumaki Ashina had killed him on the spot, he must have Clan Leader Level strength at the very least.
"For all these years, the outside world has underestimated the Uzumaki Clan Head." Keisuke sighed.
Just as his teacher had said, the leader of the Land of Whirlpools possessed terrifying power that would make anyone tremble.
"Who's in charge over there now?" Kyosuke was very concerned about this.
That damn Tajima couldn't expect him to take on the entire Uzumaki Clan alone.
If that was the case, he might as well defect on the spot.
"It's the Second Elder." His teacher's answer made Kyosuke's brow twitch.
The great clans of the Warring States Period had countless branches and offshoots. To protect their own interests, nearly every clan had established an Elder Council.
The Uchiha were no exception.
Uchiha Rei was an elder with real power in the clan, responsible for dealing with threats in the southern region. The Second Elder was likely much the same.
"How strong is the Second Elder?"
"He should be Clan Leader Level as well."
"That's a little better."
With a powerful figure holding the line, Kyosuke finally felt a little more at ease.
He'd worked so hard to build up his forces. He didn't want to see them destroyed all at once.
"Kyosuke!"
A familiar voice interrupted the reunion between teacher and student.
He looked up. Beneath the blazing sun, a spiky-haired young man in red armor stood on the battlement, watching him with a grin.
The sunlight was blinding, and Kyosuke couldn't make out the other man's face.
But the overwhelming aura of a show-off rushing toward him instantly gave away the young man's identity.
"Madara!"
Chakra burst beneath his feet, and Kyosuke shot forward like lightning.
He held his short blade ready, faint sparks of electricity flickering along its length.
"Now that's more like it!" Madara drew his long sword, his face alight with the excitement of seeing an old friend.
Still, the way the two of them greeted each other was more than a little unusual.
A terrifying current of air gathered as Uchiha Madara swung his sword horizontally, its force crashing down like a mountain.
The savage momentum made Kyosuke's heart jolt.
Uchiha Style: Step Explosion!
What a bastard. Is he trying to kill me?
Before you continue