"Should we reconsider our strategy toward the ninjas?"
"No. The hatred between us has already taken root. From here on, there are only two paths—slaughter or submission."
For Momonga, the guild was more than an organization. It was his life's anchor. He would never allow the glory of Ainz Ooal Gown to be trampled beneath another's heel.
That would be nothing less than desecration—of himself, and of the bonds he once shared.
"Glory belongs to Ainz Ooal Gown!"
He lifted his skull-like head. Scarlet flames burned within his eye sockets.
Even if his former companions were gone, the guild still possessed a mountain of World-Class Items, countless mercenary monsters within the Great Library, and the NPCs crafted by his friends' hands.
He could see no reason to lose.
"Come then, ninjas."
Alone in his bedroom, Momonga's ambition surged.
—
Roughly ten kilometers from the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Carne Village had already been requisitioned by the ninja forces.
The majority of villagers accepted generous compensation—enough to purchase homes in the fortified city of E-Rantel and live comfortably for a year—and relocated without resistance.
Many houses were demolished and rebuilt. Inside a newly constructed grand hall formed by earth-release construction techniques, Uzumaki Minako noticed something unusual about Uchiha Soren.
"Is something wrong, Lord Soren?"
"Nothing serious," Soren replied with a faint smile. "I merely greeted our neighbor who decided to peek in uninvited. Hopefully I didn't frighten him too badly."
As his body grew increasingly inhuman, Soren could feel subtle changes within his spirit as well.
Whenever someone directed intense emotion toward him—or observed him deliberately—he could trace that faint thread of connection back to its source.
Like a god whose name, once spoken, must inevitably respond.
After that little "hello," Momonga was likely shaken.
"Neighbor…"
Minako murmured before understanding dawned. On this empty plain, the only "neighbor" worthy of mention was Nazarick.
"The spatial isolation barrier around the camp will be completed soon. Once it's in place, enemy magic will no longer be able to spy on us."
Her eyes flickered with curiosity.
"We're far from the Tomb. Even within the ninja world, only those with exceptional sensory talent—or techniques like the Mind's Eye of Kagura—could observe from this distance."
"If we can uncover the underlying principle, it would greatly benefit reconnaissance… and criminal pursuit."
"We'll understand once we take the Tomb," Soren said calmly. "Has Hyūga Hizashi arrived? His Byakugan should be able to observe targets ten kilometers away. The reconnaissance of the Royal Court Ninja Army will fall to him."
"The Tenseigan Array's energy reserves are currently being conserved. The less we use it, the better."
Minako nodded. "The Hyūga Clan Head is ready in Konoha. Once the teleportation formation here is complete, he will arrive immediately."
They stepped into the grand hall.
Fifty Uchiha shinobi stood within—straight-backed and proud.
They wore unified crimson samurai armor provided by the ninja cats and enhanced by Konoha's Science Division with three supportive enchantments. At their waists hung equally enchanted blades.
Testing had proven that an Uchiha jōnin wearing this set could see a ten to twenty percent increase in combat effectiveness. Across the clan, the improvement was terrifying.
Over the past few years, Uchiha jōnin numbers had grown from fewer than one hundred to nearly one hundred eighty.
The fifty standing here were elite jōnin, recalled from Konoha and various fronts across the Magic Continent.
Ordinary Uchiha jōnin were no longer qualified to enter this hall.
Had Uchiha Shifang not intervened, even the clan's chūnin and remaining jōnin would have flooded into the Royal Court Ninja Army.
To serve directly beneath the man who had raised the Uchiha to the summit of the ninja world—every Uchiha present felt their blood stirring.
"Lord Soren!"
They knelt on one knee in unison, their voices resounding beyond the hall, stirring envy among other shinobi outside.
"We are blood of the same clan," Soren said gently. "Rise. Relax."
The warmth in his voice eased their hearts slightly—yet their bodies remained taut with reverence.
"In a world ruled by transcendent beings, quality outweighs quantity. The Royal Court Ninja Army will consist of only five hundred members."
He took his seat. Minako stood quietly behind him.
"All members will be jōnin. Five form a squad leader unit. Ten form a platoon leader unit. Those with elite jōnin strength may compete for these posts."
"One hundred form a company. Company commanders must possess Kage-level strength. Positions will be awarded according to merit and ability."
The Uchiha calculated swiftly.
There were fifty platoon leader positions. They would claim them all.
As for company commanders—if they pooled their merit and exchanged it for Bloodline Seeds, elevating one of their strongest to Kage-level was entirely possible.
No matter what, the Royal Court Ninja Army—directly under Soren—would have its command structure firmly in Uchiha hands.
"I will serve as Commander. The position of Vice Commander will be held by Uchiha Hikari."
A curtain of black light unfurled in the hall.
Uchiha Hikari appeared—clad in a military uniform, high ponytail matching Soren's, one hand resting lightly upon her blade.
"Greetings, Lady Hikari!"
One perceptive Uchiha called out first; the others followed immediately.
(Not bad, that one.)
Hikari's cool gaze flicked briefly toward the initiator before she gave a faint nod and stepped to Soren's side.
(She's still the same… never comfortable in crowds.)
Soren allowed himself a small, nostalgic smile.
"The teleportation array will be completed within days. The formal establishment of the Royal Court Ninja Army will follow immediately."
He swept his gaze across the hall.
"When that time comes, I expect you all to show the world what the First Clan of the Ninja World truly represents."
"In obedience to Lord Soren!"
Their unified shout shook the hall.
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