Chapter 30

The scene before the gates of Konoha had drawn thousands of curious onlookers. Villagers and ninja alike had gathered in awe of Yusuke's audacity. His three declarations—complete disregard for the lives of his subordinates, the outcome of Konoha's war, and the opinions of others—left everyone in shock.

Yusuke, standing confidently at the front, broke the silence once more. "Who else isn't convinced?"

No one dared speak. His authority now unquestioned, Yusuke surveyed the crowd with a calm yet piercing gaze.

"Good. Remember this: on the battlefield, my orders are absolute. My word is law. Understood?" His voice carried the weight of finality.

The ninja army, caught off guard, hesitated for a moment. Then, as realization set in, their collective shout rang out, though initially weak. "Yes...!"

"I said, am i understood!?" Yusuke roared, his frustration palpable.

"Yes!!" This time, the response was deafening, the roar from the Uchiha, Hyuga, and civilian ninjas shaking the ground beneath them. The resolve in their voices made the air hum with newfound determination.

"Let's go!" Yusuke commanded, leading the charge toward the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth. Behind him, the thousand-strong ninja force followed without hesitation.

As they passed through Konoha's gates, the two gatekeepers exchanged nervous glances at the sight of the thirteen Uchiha members Yusuke had taken down earlier. Unsure of what to do, they quickly summoned medical ninjas to tend to the fallen.

"That was terrifying," whispered a familiar voice nearby. Obito Uchiha, who had witnessed the entire ordeal, swallowed nervously. "Yusuke... he's unbelievable."

"Yusuke-sama... He's a very special person," Rin Nohara remarked, her expression one of awe and confusion. For someone their age, Yusuke's words and actions seemed surreal.

Obito, hearing Rin's admiration, immediately turned to her, anxiety rising. "Y-You don't like him, do you?" he asked, worried that Yusuke had captured her attention.

"Yusuke is so powerful," Kurenai murmured, her young face filled with admiration for the warrior. Her innocent enthusiasm only fueled the sense that Yusuke's name would soon be the talk of the entire village.

Three days later, the ninja force reached the northern border of the Land of Fire. The once lush forests had given way to barren wilderness and steep mountains, a clear indication they were nearing the territory of the Land of Earth. The rocky terrain was ideal for enemy forces to launch surprise attacks or use guerrilla tactics against them.

Uchiha Fugaku, being cautious, had advised Yusuke to set up camp and establish a defensive position against the Iwagakure forces. The ninja army prepared for a confrontation.

In the main camp, Yusuke lounged on his seat, yawning as he lazily studied the map of the area. His mind wandered as he thought about the raw power of legendary shinobi like Uchiha Madara or the First Hokage. With their abilities, the battlefield's terrain wouldn't even matter. They could decimate mountains with a single attack, rendering any strategy pointless.

"Yusuke-sama," a Hyuga ninja knelt before him, interrupting his thoughts. "Our Byakugan has detected no sign of the Iwagakure forces nearby. They must be stationed at least ten miles away. Should we send a reconnaissance team?"

The Hyuga clan's Byakugan allowed them to see vast distances, making them invaluable in enemy detection. But Yusuke, confident in his position, waved the ninja off. "No need. They're marching into hostile terrain. We'll let them come to us. We have the advantage here."

The Hyuga ninja bowed respectfully and retreated, visibly relieved that Yusuke hadn't taken offense at his suggestion.

Yusuke's gaze returned to the map. His thoughts wandered to the other potential threats. "I wonder if the Hidden Cloud Village or Hidden Mist Village are planning to make their move," he mused. The Land of Lightning, home to the battle-hungry Hidden Cloud, was notorious for seizing any opportunity for conflict, as evidenced by their audacious attempt to kidnap Hinata Hyuga years after the Third Ninja War.

And the Hidden Mist, with its shrouded politics, was even more unpredictable. Though Uchiha Obito was just a child now, Yusuke couldn't be sure whether the village was already under Madara's influence or if other forces were at play.

"Yusuke-sama," came a respectful voice from the entrance of the tent. It was Hiashi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga clan.

"Patriarch Hyuga, what brings you here?" Yusuke asked, rising from his seat to pour a glass of water for Hiashi. He knew better than to treat this encounter lightly.

"No need for such formality," Hiashi replied, bowing slightly. "I came to offer an apology on behalf of my clan. Some of my subordinates were disrespectful earlier, and I hope you won't take it to heart."

Yusuke raised an eyebrow at the apology but smiled diplomatically. "No need for that, Patriarch Hyuga. It's already forgotten."

Though Yusuke knew this apology was a formality, a strategic move to secure goodwill between their clans, he respected Hiashi's careful approach. Unlike the Uchiha, the Hyuga clan had long since lost their edge, having produced no kage-level warriors since the Warring States Period.

The two exchanged pleasantries, but Yusuke's thoughts drifted back to the larger picture. In a world full of political machinations and power plays, he would need to remain vigilant, no matter how confident he felt about his own strength.

Yet, in the back of his mind, Yusuke couldn't help but think, 'I just need to survive this war, take Onoki's head, and move on. Whatever happens to Konoha after that, I couldn't care less.'