Uchiha Ryun sat in his office, his face gloomy. "Thank you all very much for coming. Please, take a seat quickly."
Upon hearing this, everyone took their seats according to their clan's rank, looking at Ryun with grave expressions. It seemed the matter was serious.
"What I am going to say today is a personal matter, caused by me. Therefore, every clan head has the right to not participate, the right to refuse. I will not hold it against you." Ryun said this first to put everyone at ease.
Then he continued, "Last night, the son of the Land of Earth's Daimyo publicly insulted me in Tanzaku Quarter. I have already executed him. Soon, I will declare war on the Land of Earth. If any of you do not wish to participate, the door is there. Those who want to leave may leave."
After he finished speaking, Anbu members opened the large door. Some people's eyes darted around, their thoughts varied.
The major clans in the front rows, however, curled their lips upwards, excited by Ryun's mention of war. This meant more money was coming!
Moreover, anyone who left now would be an idiot. The leader said you could choose not to participate, that he wouldn't mind. Did you take it seriously? You actually left? Well then, that's your problem. You're something else.
Ryun looked around the room and noticed that some of the smaller clans, those with only C-rank jutsu in their families, had some members stand up and leave.
A trace of mockery flashed in his eyes. The members of the major clans in the front felt a pang of tension. Sure enough, Ryun was just being polite. If you really left, he wasn't happy about it.
"This time, my goal is to push into the Land of Earth's interior, to clear the court of malign influences. The current Daimyo is fatuous and tyrannical. Since Iwagakure cannot control him, I will take charge." Ryun's words carried an overbearing tone.
"Good! Well said, Hokage-sama! The Daimyo failed to discipline his son, and now wants to declare war on us? Then we fight!" Uchiha Hirotomo stood up and shouted.
"The Uchiha clan, all Jonin will participate in the war, including me!" Hirotomo slapped his chair, his face full of anger, as if he were the one who had been insulted!
"Correct. The Senju clan will also participate." Tobirama Senju said calmly. Everyone was startled, having almost forgotten that Tobirama was now the representative of the Senju clan and also responsible for supervising Ryun.
Didn't they say he hated the Uchiha the most? Why was he now standing on the same side as Ryun? But this wasn't something they could control.
Next, Hyūga Sekijō stood up. "The Hyūga clan, all Jonin will deploy. Scouts, combat, defense, leave it to us!"
Then came the Ino-Shika-Chō, the Shimura...
In total, two thousand Jonin. These were all genuine Jonin, without any padding. A force of two thousand Jonin. Even the Third Raikage couldn't withstand that!
Ryun nodded. "For this campaign, after we breach the city, the wealth and honors will be shared with all of you!" He smiled.
"Yes!" Everyone stood up and bowed. Just then, the door opened. It was Hatake Sakumo, who had rushed back. He relayed a message to Ryun: the Tsuchikage had decided to remain neutral. This was within Ryun's expectations.
Soon, the former Iwa Anbu man requested an audience and told Ryun about the marching plans given to him by Kitsuchi. Ryun understood. Iwagakure did not want to clash with them. He nodded and let the man leave.
Ryun looked at everyone with a smile. "Iwagakure does not wish to cross blades with us. They have given us their marching route maps. That is to say, this time we will only be facing the rogue shinobi and wandering samurai around the Daimyo."
Everyone laughed heartily. What? Iwagakure isn't fighting? They're letting us attack the Daimyo! What? The Daimyo actually has no proper shinobi guards!
"In two hours, the army departs! Target: the Land of Earth's capital city!" Ryun said calmly.
"Yes!" Everyone bowed, their faces excited, and returned to their clans to muster their forces.
Ryun assigned his grandfather, Madara Uchiha, to guard the route of Iwagakure's march, to prevent Iwagakure from taking advantage of their absence.
Hashirama Senju would remain to guard Konoha. Tobirama Senju would travel with Ryun and the army. Izuna Uchiha, as the strategist, would stay by Hashirama's side.
Madara stretched his body. "Grandson, your grandfather hasn't danced in so long."
Ryun had a black line on his face. "Grandfather, they have no intention of fighting us right now, and they even handed over their marching maps. Don't cause trouble!"
"Relax, grandson. I'm just going to have a chat with that kid Ōnoki. It's nothing." Madara smiled. Ryun looked at him suspiciously but shook his head. Madara definitely had the strength, and Ōnoki had a deep-seated fear of Madara.
"Fine, handle it as you see fit, Grandfather. Do you need me to assign you five hundred men?" Ryun asked.
Madara's face fell. "Are you looking down on me?" He was somewhat displeased, looking at Ryun unhappily.
"Ahem, no, I'm just concerned about you." Ryun smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine on my own!" Madara said, then draped on his red Warring States era armor and flew off towards the direction indicated on the marching route map.
Ryun shook his head and shouted to the troops behind him, "Move out! Clear the court! Quell the rebellion for the Land of Earth!"
"Yes!" xN
Ryun took the lead, heading towards the Land of Earth's capital with over two thousand Jonin.
At the same time, Iwagakure received the news: Uchiha Ryun and Tobirama Senju were leading the army out. Ōnoki's lips curled upwards. "Kitsuchi, proceed according to plan. Full force attack. Not a single shinobi remains in the village."
"Yes!" Kitsuchi replied.
The pitiful Daimyo, upon receiving the news, thought Ōnoki was going to subdue Ryun and was quite pleased with himself.
Ryun walked at the front, observing the terrain, nodding from time to time. The route provided by Ōnoki was quite concealed. His soul perception technique hadn't detected anything yet.
They would reach the Land of Earth's capital in about a day.
On the other side, Kitsuchi and Ōnoki, leading their army, had just reached the border of the Land of Fire when they saw a man wearing red Warring States era armor, sitting on a rock, leaning on a Flame Fan, smiling there.
"Ōnoki, you finally made it." Madara stood up and stretched, then walked towards Ōnoki.
Ōnoki's mouth twitched. 'Not Ryun, we're just putting on a show, did you have to go this far? Having Madara Uchiha guard us? I'm... too honored!'
"Ahem, Madara, let me experience your skills!" He simultaneously winked at Madara.
Madara understood. "Fine. I hope you won't disappoint me too much." After speaking, the two began to spar in taijutsu. Madara used thirty percent of his strength, while Ōnoki used seventy percent!
The two fought evenly. Madara didn't speak, continuing the fight. Ōnoki also heightened his focus, counterattacking with all his might. This excited the Iwagakure shinobi immensely!
"The Tsuchikage-sama can actually fight evenly with the legendary Shinobi of the Withering! He's simply amazing!"
"Long live Tsuchikage-sama!"
"Go, Tsuchikage-sama!"
The cheers made Ōnoki smile. 'This... is this what bonds feel like? It feels pretty good.'
Madara, however, looked strange, but he let it be. It was just acting, after all.
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