Ch-20 Return

As Uchiha Karan made his way into the grand Daimyo mansion, he graciously led Uzumaki Kaori through its opulent halls and into his own serene courtyard. Upon arrival, Karan quickly surveyed his surroundings and deduced that the young children under his care had likely gone off to practice their ninja skills. Not wanting to disrupt their training, Karan beckoned a nearby ninja and requested that he inform the children and the Daimyo of his arrival.

With a nod of acknowledgment, the ninja swiftly left the courtyard and began making his way through the vast estate. Karan watched as the ninja disappeared from sight, trusting that his message would be delivered to its intended recipients.

Following a wait of nearly thirty minutes, the children and the Daimyo finally arrived at the courtyard where Karan resided.

Upon the arrival of the children and the Daimyo to his courtyard, Karan greeted them with a composed nod. The children, eager to show their respect and admiration for their beloved master, bowed deeply before him. Karan appreciated their heartfelt show of reverence but did not feel the need to reciprocate the gesture, as he was not one for outward displays of formality.

Despite arriving late due to unforeseen circumstances, Karan reassured the group that he had successfully accomplished his objective and proceeded to introduce them to Uzumaki Kaori. Pointing towards her, Karan announced, "Allow me to introduce Uzumaki Kaori, who will be heading our esteemed medical team."

As soon as the name "Uzumaki" was mentioned, everyone present in the courtyard was taken aback with surprise. Although the name sounded familiar, the Uzumaki clan had been wiped out, and any surviving members had gone into hiding, making it unlikely that they would encounter someone with that surname.

Despite their shock, the group remained composed and waited for Karan to elaborate on this unexpected turn of events. Karan, noticing their curiosity, continued to speak. "I understand that the Uzumaki clan was thought to have been eliminated, but I assure you that Kaori is a skilled and capable medic-nin with strong ties to her clan's legacy."

Following Karan's introduction, the group extended polite greetings to Uzumaki Kaori.

After greetings Karan inquired, "Regarding the recruits, has the recruitment process concluded?"

"Master Karan," Uchiha Aiko announced as she stepped forward, "as per your instructions, we have enlisted 1000 children into the army."

Uchiha Karan inquired, "What were the selection criteria?"

In response to Uchiha Karan's query regarding the selection process for the army recruits, Uchiha Aiko stepped forward to provide a detailed explanation. "We set up a rigorous test," she explained. "We attached weights to the participants and made them run a grueling 5 kilometers. Only those who possessed the tenacity and physical prowess to reach the finish line without pausing or stopping were deemed qualified."

She went on to reveal that over 4000 children had participated in the selection process, but only 1300 of them had exhibited the necessary willpower and strength to meet the set criteria. "However," Aiko continued, "we strictly followed your directives and selected only the top 1000 candidates from the pool of eligible recruits."

Karan commended his generals, saying, "You have done well. Only those who possess the will to become stronger are deserving of a place in my army."

"Have you selected a training location for them?" inquired Karan.

Upon being asked about the training location for the recruits, Nakamura stepped forward to provide more information. "As per our reconnaissance, we have identified a wide and spacious area situated behind the Daimyo mansion," he said.

He went on to explain that this area was perfect for training purposes as it provided ample space for the recruits to hone their skills and capabilities. "We plan on utilizing this area to train all the recruits and mold them into formidable soldiers," Nakamura added.

"Alright, take me there. I want to see them with my own eyes," said Karan in response.

Afterwards, he and the rest of the group went to the new training ground for the newly recruited soldiers.

As Karan arrived at the training ground, he observed that children between the ages of 10-12 were running in a disciplined manner.

Uchiha Nakamura's commanding voice echoed across the vast expanse of the training ground, reaching every corner of the area where the recruits were undergoing their rigorous training. "Assemble everyone," he bellowed, his voice cutting through the noise of the training drills.

Following his order, every recruit ceased their activity and assembled at the designated spot with remarkable precision and discipline. They stood at attention, their eyes fixed straight ahead, waiting for further instructions.

"Allow me to introduce you to our leader, Lord Karan," Nakamura announced as he presented Karan to each and every recruit.

As soon as Nakamura introduced Karan as their leader, every recruit present there bowed down and addressed him as "Lord".

karan began his speech by congratulating the young recruits for being a part of an elite army. "first and foremost, i want to congratulate each and every one of you on being selected to join our elite army," he declared, his voice resonating with pride and confidence.

"however, let me make one thing clear," karan continued, his tone firm and resolute. "i don't know your names, and quite frankly, i don't care. if you want me to take notice of you, then you need to become stronger, faster, and more disciplined than anyone else. only then will you be able to stand out and earn my respect."

Karan then shifted his focus to what he expected from the recruits. "I will provide you with all the necessary resources, but what I require in return is absolute loyalty," he stated. "You must be willing to follow orders without hesitation, no matter how difficult or dangerous they may seem. Are we clear on this?" he asked, his piercing gaze scanning the sea of faces before him.

A resounding "YES!" came from everyone present, their enthusiasm and determination evident in their response. Karan nodded in approval, pleased with their unwavering commitment to the cause. He knew that with their talent and dedication, his army would become a force to be reckoned with.

"Disperse," Karan commanded, before turning to leave with his followers.