Chapter 200: The Assembly of the Legion
"Gather!"
A powerful command echoed across the open grounds.
At the order, ninjas wearing Konoha's distinct flak jackets emerged from all directions, each carrying their gear. With practiced discipline, they assembled into a perfectly aligned square formation.
At the front of the formation stood Hyuga Iroha, tall and composed, his gaze fixed straight ahead. His adjutants stood at either side, equally poised.
Hyuga Clan Lands.
The training ground once exclusive to the main family had been renovated—its railings and barriers removed—and merged with the branch family's adjacent grounds. Now, it formed the largest sparring and training area in the entire Hyuga compound.
Today, over a hundred ninjas gathered on this vast field.
Among them were two Jonin, a dozen Chunin, and scores of Genin. This was the Iroha Legion, a new military unit born from the Hyuga clan's evolving legion system.
Opposite the assembled force stood a high platform.
On it sat Clan Head Hiashi Hyuga, along with Ryosuke, Hinata, and several clan elders. Observing the small but formidable army below, Ryosuke felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
Change had come to the Hyuga clan. The old barriers between the main and branch families were gradually dissolving. The cursed seal, once a symbol of control, had given way to unity. And now, with those inner chains broken, the entire clan moved as one.
Especially after Ryosuke's strength was recognized, many within the clan sensed that this generation would mark the Hyuga's rise.
Motivated and unified, every member trained harder than ever. They were no longer forced to sacrifice for survival—they now chose to fight for their legacy, for a place in the clan's future history.
That burning passion ignited a wave of new talent.
Young children in the clan trained tirelessly to become Genin. Genin sought advancement to Chunin, and Chunin aimed for the ranks of Jonin. A spirit of ambition filled the air.
This was the Hyuga of today—reborn and surging forward.
Hiashi Hyuga stepped forward.
"Mission: Assist Konoha and the Land of Fire's teams in traveling to the Land of Rain and establishing contact with our new allies.
Mission Level: S-rank.
Execution Unit: Iroha Corps."
He delivered each word with clarity and weight.
Although the clan had chosen to gradually separate from Konoha, there was no need for haste.
The Hyuga had deep roots in Konoha—decades of service, sacrifice, and loyalty. To cut those ties overnight would mean discarding their reputation and influence. Such a loss would be foolish.
For now, Konoha still served as a useful shield. In the eyes of other villages, Hyuga's every move still reflected Konoha's will. No matter what actions they took, the political consequences would fall on Konoha's shoulders.
So until the time was right, the Hyuga would continue as a part of the village.
"Yes!"
A thunderous chorus rang out from the assembled shinobi.
Satisfied, Hiashi's expression eased.
"This is your first mission as a formal legion," he said, his tone now steady and instructive. "You may find the management style unfamiliar compared to the traditional ninja team system."
"As your numbers grow, so will your responsibilities and pressure. But I hope each of you can adapt quickly. Learn to lead. Learn to command. Learn to bear the burden of your comrades."
The Legion System was a bold new structure developed by the Hyuga clan—designed for future expansion and encounters beyond the known world.
Unlike the typical ninja hierarchy of Genin, Chunin, Jonin, and captains, the Legion System echoed the more organized military structures of the Warring States era. It introduced a chain of command with distinct roles: commanders, lieutenants, adjutants, and more.
The goal was simple—effective internal management.
If the clan wished to grow beyond its Konoha roots, it could no longer rely on outdated systems.
Previously, missions were assigned by Konoha or the Daimyo, then passed down through the clan head and elders. Individual shinobi focused only on the mission's goal, with little thought about how their actions impacted the clan as a whole.
But now, things had changed.
Under the new vision forged by Ryosuke and the elders, the clan would think for itself, act independently, and empower its own shinobi to lead.
Konoha and the Daimyo were removed from the equation. In their place stood the Hyuga clan leaders.
Legion commanders became the new middle management, with full authority to organize and guide their squads. Ordinary members could rise through merit—earning rank and recognition based on their service to the clan.
This was the foundation of the clan's military revolution.
Looking forward, Ryosuke and his strategists even planned to recruit non-Hyuga personnel—individuals from other families with skill and loyalty. These "external members" would fill the ranks of each legion, trained and organized under Hyuga leadership.
And if any of them made exceptional contributions?
They could be granted the Hyuga name—a true symbol of acceptance and belonging.
This would form a three-tiered military structure within the clan:
Hyuga leadership at the top.
Loyal retainers and command officers in the middle.
Rising members from within or beyond the clan at the base.
A clear hierarchy, but with room to rise. A system where loyalty and strength decided your future.
The ultimate vision?
That every commander in the legion would one day stand as a leader in their own right. That even if separated from the clan headquarters, each unit could still function with precision and autonomy—fighting for the Hyuga name on any battlefield.
Hiashi's voice rang out again.
"From this moment onward, the clan will no longer join public gatherings in Konoha. The supervision of your legion will be handled internally—by your captain."
His gaze swept across the formation.
"As for command protocols, I have already spoken with the Fifth Hokage. The Hyuga will only follow Hyuga. She has agreed."
Then, with quiet authority, he gave his final words:
"Begin your preparations."
Hyuga Hiashi had already made clear what tasks needed to be assigned and what words needed to be spoken to reassure them, so he fully entrusted the subsequent responsibilities to Iroha, the legion commander.
"Yes!"
Iroha nodded with a composed expression, then turned to face the team behind him.
"According to Konoha's instructions, we will gather at the clearing in front of the memorial at exactly 2 PM."
"During the mission, I ask that you conceal your true positions and continue to appear to other Konoha shinobi as Genin, Chunin, or Jonin."
"Some things may be understood by all, but they are better left unsaid. Understood?"
"Understood!"
The reply was unanimous and firm.
Such unity and discipline brought a rare satisfaction to Iroha, as well as to Ryosuke and the others watching from the platform.
Though only a few days had passed since the announcement and formation of the legion system, the ninja's foundational discipline had allowed them to adapt swiftly to the new structure.
"Very good."
Iroha scanned each team member with a sharp eye. His stern expression softened slightly.
"This will be our legion's first mission. The objective is important, but the difficulty is manageable."
"Consider it a good opportunity for us to work together. I hope that when we return, not a single member will be missing."
"Now... disband!"
The moment the words fell, the entire unit before Iroha vanished into a flurry of black shadows, dispersing in perfect sync.
No hesitation.
Just as organized when they left as when they gathered.
"Impressive, Captain Iroha."
On the platform, Ryosuke couldn't help but applaud softly. "That kind of cohesion and discipline rivals even Shimura Danzo's Root."
In some ways, Iroha's unit was even stronger. After all, Root had members who followed orders only because their lives were on the line.
"You flatter me, Ryosuke-sama."
Offstage, Iroha—who was just about to leave—paused and replied humbly, surprised by the praise.
He wasn't the only one. A few of the clan elders nearby exchanged subtle glances of surprise.
Ryosuke's words seemed to imply past dealings with Danzo's Root, perhaps even conflict.
Considering the complete disappearance of Danzo and his Root faction, the elders began to piece things together.
At that moment, Hyuga Hiashi glanced at their expressions and stepped in to explain, "Apologies. At that time, Ryosuke's strength was still confidential, so the information wasn't shared with the clan."
"As for what followed... Danzo was already dead. He left nothing behind, so we simply moved on."
"After all, once a man dies, his threats die with him. His importance fades quickly into obscurity."
The elders nodded slowly, but an air of disbelief lingered.
Was Shimura Danzo's death really that insignificant now?
Once, he had been regarded as the most dangerous threat to the clan. His presence haunted them for decades, a constant source of fear that Hyuga would one day be targeted by that jackal.
And now... he was someone who could simply be forgotten?
It had only been a few years, and the shift was hard to accept.
"Captain Iroha."
While Hiashi continued speaking with the elders, Ryosuke stepped down from the platform and called out to Iroha, who had just finished giving orders.
"Ryosuke-sama."
Iroha turned and approached, a hint of curiosity in his expression. "Do you have further instructions?"
"Not exactly an order, more of a reminder," Ryosuke replied with a smile. "You know your legion's covert mission this time, correct?"
Iroha nodded. "In addition to assisting Konoha and the Land of Fire with the alliance summit, we are tasked with uncovering the identity of the civilian controlling the Land of Rain and confirming whether he's from another world."
"Exactly. That's your core objective in the Land of Rain."
Ryosuke elaborated, "It's unusual for an ordinary person to gain control in a militarized land like Rain. We need to determine if he's merely a puppet installed to calm the populace."
"If he isn't a puppet meant to ease foreign tensions, then his identity becomes clearer."
He paused to organize his thoughts.
"I want you to focus on the credibility of any intel you receive. Make sure the descriptions of his appearance, abilities, and history are accurate."
"If he truly is an outsider, then his backstory in the Land of Rain is likely fabricated to help him blend in."
"Otherwise, it's hard to believe the people would allow a complete foreigner to rise to power."
"If that's the case, he's likely skilled in concealment. He may not meet you in person. He might even send a representative to interact with you—just like Gato did back then."
"So stay alert. Don't take his words at face value. Cross-check every bit of information through multiple sources and confirm it with your own team."
...
"Well? Does this Iroha Corps resemble the prototype of the strategic organization you've been envisioning?"
Later that day, while heading home, Hinata eagerly asked Ryosuke, her voice filled with anticipation. "When the Starry Corps was officially founded last time, you didn't attend. Sister Starry was pretty disappointed."
"I left that matter in your hands," Ryosuke replied with a chuckle. "If I didn't have something to tell Iroha today, I probably wouldn't have come here either."
He reflected on the earlier ceremony. "But seeing how well-structured the legion is, I may have underestimated some people in the clan."
"The Iroha Corps formation was a clear success. If the other corps can mirror their performance, the Hyuga armed forces will soon be complete."
"But Ryosuke, don't you see a potential issue?"
At that moment, Hiashi—who had remained silent throughout the conversation—finally spoke, concern creeping into his tone.
"With this decentralization, it's becoming obvious who among them has true leadership potential... and who does not."
"They're all diligent, innovative, and great at executing plans. Some even seem to have had these formations prepared in their minds long ago. Once given the chance, they organized perfect teams and handpicked talented clan members."
He paused, hesitant, before finishing his thought.
"It's only the beginning, just the prototype of the legion. Yet they already show this level of coordination. If things scale up in the future... the power held by some of these commanders might rival our own. When that time comes…"
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