Chapter 270

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Ryūhō Village

As Kyomu walked through the main street of Ryūhō Village, the villagers turned their heads, watching him with a mix of admiration and confusion.

The admiration was self-explanatory—there was no one else they revered more than Kyomu. However, the tall, shirtless man following closely behind him left many of the villagers puzzled.

Despite the stares from the crowd, Uchiha Madara seemed uneasy, his expression growing colder with each step, exuding an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

"Don't be so tense. They're just curious," Kyomu remarked casually without turning his head. "Since I ascended the throne and became Emperor, very few people have had the privilege of walking behind me, especially new faces."

"Should I feel honored?" Madara retorted.

Kyomu nodded seriously. "I think you should. You certainly have reason to feel proud."

Madara opened his mouth to respond but then closed it without saying anything. It was strange—even with his prideful nature, Madara, despite being defeated, would never easily submit to anyone.

Even if he respected someone, he would never hold back his sharp tongue or compromise on his actions, as Hashirama was well aware.

Yet with Kyomu, Madara not only felt respect but also an inexplicable sense of trust and belonging.

Madara found this unsettling, while Kyomu found it thoroughly enjoyable.

Having the legendary Uchiha Madara obediently follow him was, without a doubt, an accomplishment of significant magnitude.

"Your Majesty, you…"

As Kyomu and Madara walked through the village, they inevitably encountered familiar faces. Uchiha Fugaku, who was about to greet Kyomu, suddenly noticed Madara behind him.

There was no way Fugaku wouldn't recognize Madara. Though they had never met face-to-face, Madara's appearance was well known to Fugaku.

Realizing who was following Kyomu, Fugaku froze, his greeting stuck in his throat.

His mind was in turmoil.

How is Madara alive? Why is Madara following Kyomu? What's going on here?

"If you want to ask, then ask," Kyomu prompted, giving Fugaku the courage to speak.

"Your Majesty, the man behind you… could it be…"

"That's right, it's me," Madara interjected, cutting Fugaku off. "Foolish descendant, do you have a problem with that?"

Fugaku looked at Madara with a complex mix of emotions, feeling conflicted. While he didn't know what methods Kyomu had used to make the proud Madara follow him so obediently, the fact remained. Fugaku knew he had to accept the reality before him and figure out how to proceed.

Calming his nerves, Fugaku finally spoke, "Your Majesty, I wouldn't dare have an opinion about your decisions, but Madara, interrupting my conversation with His Majesty like that is…"

"It seems some people have passively forgotten the name 'Madara' and the things that once were," Madara said, cracking his neck. "But that's fine. I'll help you remember."

Fugaku took a cautious step back, eyeing Madara warily.

Realizing how he had reacted, Fugaku wanted to correct himself, but he lacked the courage to step forward again.

The name Madara carried weight. While it might not frighten children into silence, it certainly silenced even the most rebellious of modern shinobi.

Fugaku didn't dare to challenge Madara.

Feeling embarrassed, Fugaku avoided looking at Madara or Kyomu, too ashamed to seek help.

As one of Kyomu's trusted subordinates, being intimidated by a single person was a source of deep humiliation.

"Enough," Kyomu finally intervened, putting an end to the tension. "If you have anything to discuss, do it privately. As for how Madara is to be managed, I won't interfere."

Kyomu's words left Fugaku stunned. He looked at Kyomu in disbelief, his words stumbling out.

"Your Majesty, you mean to say…"

"Madara has accepted my ideals and is ready to join the Land of Dragons to contribute to its development and the great cause of world unification."

"He… he… he…" Fugaku stammered, "Your Majesty, you convinced… Madara?"

"In a way, yes. Convincing and correcting Madara's misguided ideas wasn't too difficult," Kyomu said with a smile. "There isn't anyone in the Shinobi World that I can't persuade, including Madara."

"And what about Hashirama?"

Due to the effects of his passive skill, Madara was now utterly loyal to Kyomu. However, this loyalty didn't prevent him from retaining his sharp tongue.

Kyomu glanced at the prickly Madara, not annoyed in the slightest.

The more difficult someone was to deal with, the more Kyomu relished the challenge. Taming a difficult personality was a uniquely satisfying pleasure.

"He probably wouldn't withstand the persuasion of my iron fist," Kyomu said, shaking his fist. "Madara, do you want to test that theory?"

Madara instantly fell silent. Although his expression was sour, he no longer had any intention of provoking Kyomu further.

Watching the interaction, Fugaku finally understood what had happened. His admiration for Kyomu grew even stronger.

The reason Madara was following Kyomu so obediently was simple—he had been physically subdued.

Indeed, this matched Kyomu's usual methods.

He always reasoned with his fists. If someone couldn't be reasoned with, they wouldn't survive in this world. Those who lived were naturally the ones who understood reason.

Seeing Madara humbled, Fugaku couldn't help but grin. "Your Majesty is invincible! Congratulations on gaining another powerful subordinate."

"Hmph."

Madara snorted, not wanting to look at Fugaku's sycophantic face. The Uchiha clan's pride was being utterly trashed by Fugaku.

While Madara felt a strong sense of loyalty toward Kyomu, he still had no intention of lowering himself to such flattery.

"Kyomu, don't waste my limited time with such trivial conversations. Don't forget the promise you made to me."

Madara's blunt use of Kyomu's name was, by all accounts, highly disrespectful. However, Kyomu had a high tolerance for capable and powerful individuals.

Madara was, after all, on a solid path toward becoming a Six Paths-level powerhouse. Properly cultivated, he would undoubtedly become a major general and a crucial asset in helping Kyomu fight against the extraterrestrial Ōtsutsuki clan.

"If you're that impatient, then follow me," Kyomu said, continuing forward. "Fugaku, you come along too."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Fugaku immediately fell into step, joining Kyomu and Madara as they walked together.

Madara, now walking alongside Fugaku, looked at him with disdain. He was tempted to discipline his junior Uchiha member.

...

Land of Dragons, Capital City, Imperial Palace

Kyomu summoned the ministers stationed in the capital, but Kakashi, Obito, Might Guy, and others did not attend.

After expanding the territory to encompass the entire Shinobi World, Kyomu's former comrades were naturally entrusted with important responsibilities. They were tasked with guarding the former lands of the Five Great Nations, eliminating any remaining resistance, and managing local affairs.

Their duties were heavy, and they had much to manage. It was perfectly understandable that they couldn't attend the impromptu court session.

At this moment, Madara stood in the center of the grand hall, with the ministers of the Land of Dragons on either side, casting sidelong glances at him.

"Gentlemen, I believe the person standing in the center of the hall needs no introduction," Kyomu began straightforwardly. "After being revived, Uchiha Madara has shown great agreement with our nation's ideals of unification and wishes to contribute to our cause. Since he has done nothing against the Land of Dragons, I have granted him permission to join us.

What do you all think? How should we position Madara now that he's joining us?"

Kyomu's words were followed by silence. The ministers exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.

They couldn't quite grasp Kyomu's intentions.

Soon, the murmurs of whispered discussions filled the hall, as the ministers conferred with one another.

But the discussion didn't take long. They all turned to look at the two leaders, Hatake Sakumo and Fugaku, who stood at the front of the group.

"Your Majesty," Sakumo finally stepped forward to break the silence, "With Madara's strength and intelligence, he could excel in any position. However, considering that he has just joined our nation and has yet to prove himself, I would suggest that he be given an opportunity to undergo some form of trial or experience."

Kyomu wasn't entirely satisfied with Sakumo's suggestion but chose not to comment. Instead, he looked toward Fugaku.

"Your Majesty," Fugaku stepped forward to speak, "I believe that…"

"I don't need them to assign me a position," Madara interrupted coldly, cutting Fugaku off. "The position of Grand Marshal of the Land of Dragons' military—I think it suits me perfectly."

"Madara, you're too arrogant!"

"Madara, this is the Imperial Court! How dare you act so recklessly!"

"Madara, you're showing utter disrespect for His Majesty!"

Madara's statement sparked an uproar in the court, with many ministers condemning his behavior.

Yet despite their harsh words, none of them questioned Madara's abilities or claimed that he was unfit to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Land of Dragons' military.

"Silence!" Shisui's voice rang out, and the court fell quiet.

"Madara, you're very confident," Kyomu said, looking down at Madara standing in the center of the hall. "But being the Grand Marshal isn't an easy task. It's not just about training troops; leading them into battle requires a careful hand."

"I can handle it!"

Madara was no longer confrontational. His temper might have been foul, but his emotional intelligence was high.

Dropping to one knee, he clasped his hands before his chest in a respectful bow. "I humbly request that Your Majesty appoint me as the Grand Marshal of the Land of Dragons' military!"

Kyomu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Madara's unexpected display of humility.

"It seems this month's passive skill is working thoroughly," Kyomu mused inwardly, nodding slightly as he raised a hand to gesture for Madara to rise. "Very well, I grant your request."

Madara stood up, offered his thanks, and without hesitation, moved to stand in the foremost position, pushing Fugaku aside and standing alongside Sakumo.

Fugaku felt a surge of anger but didn't dare act on it. He knew that a direct confrontation would be fruitless, leaving him to silently swallow his indignation.

Kyomu had no intention of intervening. Matters between Madara, Fugaku, and the entire Uchiha clan were better left for them to resolve on their own.

With Madara's position settled, the rest of the court session was dedicated to the ministers reporting on their progress. The process was tedious, and Kyomu spent nearly five hours before finally adjourning the session.

After court, Kyomu returned to his palace, where Yugito and Mei had been waiting for him, having prepared a lavish meal.

However, upon seeing the dishes laid out, Kyomu couldn't help but chuckle. "I don't think I need to eat all of this…"

"It's good for your health," Yugito said shyly, her voice soft. Mei nodded in agreement.

Looking over the table filled with dishes meant to invigorate and strengthen the body, Kyomu took his seat and teased the two women, "You better not regret this tonight."

The two women exchanged glances, their faces flushing red as their minds raced ahead to the events of the evening.

...

After subduing Madara and, with the help of the passive skill, bringing him fully into the fold of the Land of Dragons, the small island nations outside the Shinobi continent saw their good days come to an end.

Madara was more than capable of single-handedly annihilating a nation, and with him as commander, there was little Kyomu needed to worry about.

On the administrative side, with Yugito and Mei overseeing operations, and with the diligent efforts of Sakumo, Fugaku, Kakashi, Obito, and Might Guy, Kyomu only needed to focus on the big picture. Everything else ran smoothly without his intervention.

For the overall direction, Kyomu had even set up a series of three-year plans. Until they were completed, he had ample reason to take it easy and focus on training.

After settling everything, Kyomu returned to Ryūchi Cave to continue perfecting his Sage Mode, and in the blink of an eye, three years passed.

Many things had happened during those three years, but what caught Kyomu's attention the most was the rise of new talents in the Land of Dragons.

The foremost among them was the prodigy, Uchiha Sasuke. In terms of family background, innate talent, and even post-birth training, there was no one else in the Shinobi World who could match him.

However, Sasuke wasn't without flaws.

His environment had been too comfortable, leaving him lacking in combat experience. He had never faced an opponent strong enough to push him to his limits, which had kept him from fully unlocking his potential.

Besides Sasuke, the emergence of the organization known as Kara had also attracted the attention of the Land of Dragons' high command, and as the Emperor, Kyomu naturally had to oversee the situation.

"Naruto… to think you would appear before me in this way."

Looking at the document in his hand, Kyomu murmured to himself, "But this might be just right. Sasuke's opponent has arrived, and who knows, the Indra and Ashura chakras within the two might further awaken during their battle."

Setting the document aside, Kyomu called out to Shisui, "Go, summon Madara to see me."

(End of Chapter)