Several groups of patrol soldiers gathered together, holding their phones and constantly shouting commands.
"Defend the bottom tower! Defend the bottom tower!"
"Damn! This guy is pulling off insane plays."
"Holy crap, someone's in the grass, this is grass-level ridiculous."
The general didn't know what the other side was doing, but since he had official business, he didn't ask further and politely interjected:
"General Mifune of the Land of Iron requests an audience with Kairen-sama."
The group opposite showed no reaction.
"Control him!!"
"General Mifune of the Land of Iron requests an audience!"
One Shadow Clone impatiently replied directly: "The door's open, go in yourself—ah! Dared to ambush!"
The general and Mifune exchanged speechless glances, then both shook their heads and stepped across the military camp gate.
Inside the camp, the soldiers were either playing games or poker—anything except actual soldier work.
The general muttered quietly: "Lord Mifune, with discipline this terrible, how did this army destroy two great ninja nations?"
Mifune guessed: "The soldiers may not be brave, but the commander is. Perhaps they have a supreme commander who makes decisions from thousands of miles away!"
"Good! Good—!"
Cheers rose louder and louder from a nearby crowd, instantly drawing the two over.
It was a large training ground surrounded by hundreds of people.
A fence made of barbed wire encircled the area. Spectators clung to the fence, excitedly cheering at the fight inside.
"Place your bets! Place your bets!"
"One million ryō, I bet on Teacher to win."
"I bet on the strategist!"
Inside the fenced arena stood one man and one beast.
A man in his sixties wearing a white kung-fu jacket repeatedly unleashed Lightning Five-Strike Whips.
The beast was black-and-white and chubby, adorably holding a green bamboo stick, its panda eyes innocently staring at the martial artist across from it.
Teacher immediately shouted: "Watch the whip!"
His voice thundered, his aura fierce and powerful, as if commanding thousands of troops.
"My first whip!"
Teacher's lightning whip struck Wolon's back, but the opponent's flesh was too thick—already at the level of internal mastery—and instantly rebounded Teacher backward.
Teacher stood up, secretly admitting he had underestimated his opponent, yet still smiled confidently: "Oh ho! Young man, you've trained before!"
"Mm~"
Wolon continued chewing bamboo, completely ignoring Teacher.
Both Mifune and the general were martial artists. They immediately squeezed into the inner ring by the fence, greedily observing the clash between masters.
A calm voice sounded:
"One is a master who has immersed himself in martial arts for decades, the other is the Dragon Warrior personally chosen by Master Oogway."
"Mifune-sama, who do you think will win?"
Mifune turned his head.
A young man around twenty years old stood there, handsome, with distinctive silver hair.
"Kai… Kairen-sama!"
Kairen smiled slightly and continued, "What brings you here, Mifune-sama?"
The strongest person Mifune had ever met in his life was Hanzo of the Salamander. He had lost that battle, and he would never forget that strike from the Demigod.
That strike represented the pinnacle of Hanzo's martial arts, etched forever into Mifune's memory.
He possessed a blade-like instinct toward masters.
Past opponents could never conceal Hanzo's peerless slash, but now…
Looking at Kairen felt like gazing into an ocean—vast, boundless, endless.
The profundity of martial arts and even the mysteries of ninjutsu seemed contained within him.
He was a mountain whose summit could not be seen, and also a blade capable of cutting sun and moon.
"I…"
Mifune quickly withdrew his perception and steadied his mind, afraid that a single lapse would cause him to lose himself in that realm forever.
Mifune already had an answer regarding the Land of Iron's situation, yet still asked: "By what do you govern a nation, Your Excellency?"
Kairen considered himself something of a romantic scholar, so he naturally struck a pose.
"To establish the heart of Heaven and Earth,
to secure life for the common people,
to continue the lost teachings of past sages,
and to open everlasting peace for all ages."
The moment these words fell, Mifune felt heaven and earth shake within his heart.
Bearing the will of heaven and the hopes of the people upon oneself—
What kind of ambition was this? What kind of resolve?
Without hesitation, Mifune knelt halfway, like a samurai pledging loyalty to his lord.
"I, Mifune, am willing to serve Your Excellency and lead the Land of Iron to follow you, fighting for you for the rest of my life!"
"Lord Mifune!!"
The general beside him panicked.
This was reckless—they hadn't even negotiated salary or benefits yet, and he was already joining. They'd be exploited to the bone!
Kairen quickly helped Mifune up: "Mifune need not do this. I am merely a wandering man in chaotic times. Why such devotion?"
Light shone in Mifune's eyes as his voice trembled slightly: "Your Majesty. Such a grand aspiration appears only once in thousand years."
"I am merely a warrior, but I hope in this lifetime to witness Your Majesty bringing peace to a prosperous world."
Kairen's face filled with appreciation for a kindred spirit: "Today I gain another confidant—truly a blessing. Pass the order: set up camp here, prepare wine and meat, tonight we drink to our hearts' content."
Only a few Shadow Clones cheered; apparently lavish food no longer tempted them.
Kairen added another line:
"Tonight we hold an Honor of Kings tournament—the winner shall be honored as King!"
The entire crowd erupted instantly.
"Long live!"
"Soga! The title of King should go to our server's strongest Luban!"
"I, Marco, refuse to accept that!"
"How dare little Marco be so arrogant—control him!"
After resolving the dull atmosphere, Kairen turned his attention back to Mifune.
Mifune's eyes were filled with respect, along with righteous loyalty toward his lord.
It seemed he had been completely persuaded—there was definitely something peculiar about the samurai profession.
Without a lord to serve, they always felt like unrecognized talents living in frustration.
And Kairen's earlier words were copied straight from historical sages, instantly captivating Mifune, whose heart already treasured loyalty and righteousness.
Kairen planned to hold a military strategy exercise to welcome Mifune, who felt deeply grateful.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's hospitality. Mifune is endlessly grateful."
Kairen smiled and suddenly asked, "Do you have any good-looking female disciples?"
In Boruto there was indeed a cute loli disciple of Mifune.
Mifune looked confused. "Your Majesty, this is—"
Kairen quickly stopped himself. He still needed to maintain his image before his newly recruited subordinate and couldn't expose his lecherous nature.
Kairen laughed awkwardly and patted Mifune's shoulder twice.
"I merely wish to care about the young talents of the ninja world. After all, the empire will need their abilities in the future."
"Oh!"
Mifune completely believed him and expressed understanding.
"Watch the match! As expected of the number one grandmaster of the southern martial world—after fighting so long, he still hasn't moved Wolon even an inch."
Annoyed by Teacher's chatter, Wolon slapped him away with one strike, sending him flying and turning into a puff of smoke upon landing, leaving only an unwilling shout behind.
"Young man, that's against martial ethics!"
"Black-and-White Whirlwind—General Wolon wins!"
"Mm~"
Wolon snorted proudly, thinking this was child's play.
Several imperial guards wearing flying-fish uniforms walked over, leading a large dog on a leash.
The dog was Akamaru. It covered its face with one paw, too embarrassed to face anyone.