Kairen asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
A brocade-uniform guard replied, "Your Majesty, this scoundrel intended to release the three members of the Inuzuka family. Fortunately, we discovered it in time; otherwise, a great disaster would have occurred."
Kairen flew into a rage, grabbing Akamaru's dog ear and scolding, "Good! I've fed and treated you well, yet you dare treat me like this?"
"Nothing more needs to be said. Tonight's dog-meat soup is unavoidable."
"Guards, send General Loyal Dog into the pot."
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Akamaru barked anxiously, tears nearly falling.
A dog-loving Shadow Clone remonstrated with his life: "Your Majesty, you must not! General Loyal Dog has rendered outstanding military achievements. Executing him so rashly will chill the hearts of the soldiers."
The patrol dogs under Akamaru barked outside the crowd, all begging Kairen to spare him from the pot.
Kairen, possessing the heart of a sage ruler, softened after all.
"Forget it. Enter the arena. I'll teach you what it means to be a proper subject."
Not long after, Kairen entered the wire cage wearing a white coat.
Akamaru also walked in wearing a pair of boxing gloves.
The referee explained the rules: "You're both dogs. You should understand what I mean—no displaying magic."
Kairen nodded and performed a martial salute toward Akamaru.
"… please enlighten me!"
"Woof!"
Akamaru stomped his feet, narrowing his dog eyes while observing Kairen's stance.
A clash between experts involved an aura contest. A dog could lose, but momentum absolutely could not.
"Go!"
"Go!"
The surrounding crowd grew noisy. Amid the commotion, the general quietly spoke into Mifune's ear: "Lord Mifune, binding the Land of Iron to Moku Kairen's war chariot—might that be too rash?"
Mifune shook his head. "Anyone capable of saying such words must be a hero destined to unify a thousand years of chaos. Don't forget the original intention behind our samurai retreating to the snowfields."
"My lord, I will not forget."
The general lowered his head. Years of warfare among the Five Great Nations had left the world in misery, and the common people suffered deeply.
The ancestors of the samurai could not endure such absurdity, so they withdrew into the snowfields, maintaining permanent neutrality while waiting for a great hero capable of ending the chaos.
In truth, the ninja simply stopped including the samurai. With no battlefield left for them, they could only remain secluded and lie dormant.
Mifune had not made his decision lightly, nor had he been completely influenced by Kairen's outrageous rhetoric. He still possessed judgment.
Now was a time of surging winds and gathering clouds. The samurai also needed to choose their hero.
More importantly, Kairen already controlled two parts of the world. His chances of victory were clearly greater—why not board the favorable ship instead of foolishly waiting to be destroyed?
Only, the atmosphere of Kairen's new dynasty truly puzzled Mifune. It felt as though… these people hadn't done anything remotely normal.
Their lord was even brawling with a dog in the arena.
"Master Dog, cut his lower path, cut his lower path!"
"Woof!"
Akamaru bared his fangs and lunged fiercely, a devastating move aimed at ending one's lineage.
Kairen dodged with a flash, immediately launching Martial Art Dog-Beating Fist.
"Press step, plow, block, sever the long attack."
Kairen advanced step by step, striking left and right without giving Akamaru any chance to react.
"Neutralize and strike while guarding the center."
Akamaru seized a brief opportunity and fiercely attacked Kairen's center line.
Kairen blocked each move with crane-hand techniques. Akamaru's attacks were lightning fast, yet every strike was deflected one by one.
Kairen reminded him, "Traditional martial arts emphasize neutralization. I can flip you effortlessly."
As his words fell, Akamaru's massive five-hundred-kg body was flipped onto the ground by Kairen.
The second round began.
Kairen abandoned defense, advancing like a deity possessed, stepping forward with elusive footwork to beat the dog.
Kairen jumped and flicked a finger onto Akamaru's sensitive spot. Akamaru let out a tragic cry—the killing move nearly sent him away entirely.
"This is striking the weak while avoiding the strong without speaking it aloud."
Kairen suddenly sat down on Akamaru's body, grabbed its tail, and completely restrained it.
"Admit defeat yet? Will you still dare betray me in the future?"
"Woof woof woof! ꒦ິ^꒦ິ"
Tears filled Akamaru's eyes as he repeatedly expressed that he would never dare again.
Mifune and the general stared blankly. Kairen's dirty tricks were simply too numerous—and his opponent was a dog.
The great general of the Land of Iron began to regret boarding Kairen's massive ship.
After dealing with Akamaru, Kairen left the arena. The next pair of contestants entered.
One was Black Tiger.
The other wore black armor, his face cold and stern—the ever-victorious general.
Black Tiger asked about his background, "Who are you?"
Victorious General sat upon his horse, looking down at Black Tiger and laughing loudly.
"Speaking my name will amuse you—I am Victorious General."
"Now that you know my mighty reputation, why not kneel and surrender at once?"
Black Tiger sneered. "Let's see if you can withstand my fist!"
The decisive battle began. Martial arts masters from different eras collided fiercely, leaving the audience exhilarated.
Mifune said to Kairen, "Your Majesty, since we now belong under your command, I will arrange matters regarding the integration of the Land of Iron."
Kairen nodded. "Go."
"Understood."
After Mifune and the general departed, Kairen found a seat, stroking Wolon and Fenchu while watching the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament.
The martial arts tournament was utter chaos, with all kinds of strange figures appearing.
Deadpool from Marvel fought while dancing, radiating shameless charm that made people jealous.
Akun from Idol Producer released mental attacks whenever he got hit.
"What are you doing?"
After a full day and night of dimensional chaos battles, the sun gradually set. At night, lights blazed brightly, and cheers filled the military camps stretching for ten miles.
Mifune led the high officials of the Land of Iron into Kairen's main camp. Naturally, they were drawn to this atmosphere and began observing carefully.
"Encirclement, ambush, coordination… My lord, this game contains every form of military strategy," a samurai from the Land of Iron whispered to Mifune.
Mifune nodded. "Even an ordinary soldier can learn military tactics through this. Given enough time, this force will become an army victorious in a hundred battles."
The samurai nodded. "No wonder they stabilized the ninja world in such a short time. Even the smallest details put us to shame."
A beautiful female samurai wearing white armor frowned slightly and said softly, "Aren't they just… playing a game?"
Mifune shook his head. "Chika, it is not so simple. Look carefully at these soldiers…"
"Tense, focused, meticulous, serious—does this look like the attitude toward a mere game?"
Chika continued observing. Just as Mifune said, these soldiers treated the game like a treasure, energetically grinding without rest.
Chika shook her head. "What kind of person is Moku Kairen?"
Recalling his first impression of Kairen, Mifune slowly said, "Ambitious, determined to rule the world, yet concerned for the people's livelihood. I believe the ninja world will greatly anticipate such a benevolent ruler."
Chika hesitated. "But I heard others say he's a lecher—hypocritical and utterly despicable."
Mifune denied it. "That must be slander from fools. Think about it…"
"A man who can speak of establishing the heart for heaven and earth, and securing life for the people—how could his aspirations be those of a petty villain? Someone capable of embracing all rivers could never be so vulgar."
Chika softly repeated, "Establish the heart for heaven and earth, secure life for the people…"
She quietly savored the grand ambition within those words.
What kind of extraordinary man could possess such towering aspirations?
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