Konoha Grows More Oppressive

Meanwhile, within the village, he also added several laws that the Military Police Force could manage and enforce.

No fighting or brawling in the village.

No insulting the Hokage in the village.

Unfortunately, though the village had plenty of people, he was ultimately not at the apex of power—not the Hokage—so the operation of these rules was unstable.

The gains were also meager.

"Damn it, if this is how things are going, when those blasted aliens show up, aren't we just waiting to die?"

Uchiha Kazuto clenched his fists, feeling extremely frustrated.

But he also knew that some things couldn't be rushed, mustn't be rushed; there was still time for now.

That day.

Naruto was causing trouble in the village again, carrying a bucket of paint and scribbling all over the Hokage Monument.

"Stop right there, you little brat! What the hell do you think you're doing!"

The next moment, a group of Military Police Force members rushed over, surrounding Naruto instantly. Faced with these elite officers, Naruto was captured without any chance to resist.

"Outrageous! Kid, look at what you've done! The Hokage Monument is a symbol of Konoha's dignity—how can you be allowed to deface it however you please!"

Uchiha Kazuto looked at Naruto and shook his head. He naturally recognized Naruto.

The son of the Sage of Six Paths, the reincarnation of Asura's chakra.

However, even though Naruto was the reincarnation of the Sage's son, if Uchiha Kazuto cut him down with a single slash right now, nothing would happen. No Old Man Six Paths would jump out to beat him to death or anything.

After all, while Naruto was the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths' son, he wasn't actually the Sage's son—just a chakra reincarnation.

Over all these years, who knew how many times Asura's chakra had reincarnated and died? The Sage of Six Paths had never stepped in to manage it, because death just meant another reincarnation—nothing too significant.

In the original timeline, the reason he could be revived was because Kaguya was resurrected. If Kaguya hadn't been revived but had died for some other reason, the Sage of Six Paths probably wouldn't have even glanced his way.

Still, looking at Naruto, Uchiha Kazuto was reminded of something else.

So, he directly dragged Naruto to Hiruzen Sarutobi and proposed that, to help the next generation of Konoha better understand the Will of Fire, the students of the Konoha Ninja Academy should take a week out of their schedule to join the Study Corps for learning.

Moreover, this would also allow these students to interact with the village's ninjas, preparing them for graduation.

After thinking it over, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt it made sense, so he agreed.

Meanwhile, to put more pressure on Konoha, as the forces under his command grew, Uchiha Kazuto finally turned his attention to the village's clans.

This was where Danzo's usefulness came in.

Uchiha Kazuto discovered that some of the village's clans indeed had shady dealings with Danzo.

So, directly under the banner of "for the village, for Lord Hokage," he stormed into those clans, smashing, looting, and seizing everything, then handed it all over to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He naturally couldn't keep any of it, because all of this was Lord Hokage's will.

And he, Uchiha Kazuto, was Konoha's most loyal retainer!

He knew full well that doing this would earn him the enmity of these clans. As long as Hiruzen Sarutobi remained in power, these clans would keep their hatred focused on him, even if they were perfectly aware that Uchiha Kazuto was just a tool.

But that was exactly what Uchiha Kazuto needed. He understood deeply that these clans were fence-sitters, and he knew that when he did such things—when he proposed that Hiruzen Sarutobi strip these clans of their power—he had already become the tool Hiruzen used to draw their hatred.

In short, Konoha grew increasingly oppressive.

At the same time, the Military Police Force's actions became more and more radical, more and more terrifying. On the streets, if anyone even looked like they were dissatisfied with the village, they would be dragged away by Military Police Force members and beaten. Even some ninjas weren't spared.

Of course, this was limited to Genin, and then some Chunin and the families of Jonin.

Beaten—severely beaten!

If anyone dared to speak a word of dissent, if anyone dared to cause trouble in Konoha or showed the slightest sign of it, once discovered, they would be arrested and brutally beaten.

At the same time, the Military Police Force encouraged everyone to actively report each other. For example, if someone privately spoke ill of the village or the Hokage, and the Military Police Force hadn't caught it, you could report your friends, family, or relatives. Then the Military Police Force would descend, arrest the offender, and punish them harshly.

Meanwhile, the informant could also receive a substantial reward.

This kind of behavior quickly threw Konoha into a state of panic. Everyone became cautious, afraid to say a single word.

Under this high-pressure, violent governance, Konoha's public order became spotless—things left on the road went unclaimed, doors were left unlocked at night, and everything seemed peaceful and prosperous.

At least on the surface, Konoha had improved.

In reality, the villagers harbored a deep resentment, a burning anger in their hearts.

They were angry but dared not speak.

The clans were also suffering. Many of their powers and industries were taken back by Konoha.

Many dirty secrets were dug up, the clans' interests were ruthlessly carved away, and the Hokage's authority was unprecedentedly strengthened.

As the instigator, Uchiha Kazuto was loathed to the bone by these clans, who all cursed him as a traitor and Hiruzen Sarutobi's lapdog.

That day, on Uchiha Kazuto's suggestion, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to give a speech, expounding his understanding of the Will of Fire and his love for the village.

Under the threat of the Military Police Force, all of Konoha was mobilized, gathered in the square, silent, listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech.

Members of the Military Police Force patrolled the area.

Time passed quietly. Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech this time went very smoothly. As soon as he finished, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

It all looked peaceful.

Not long after, the villagers below the stage left with their hearts full of resentment.

Damn you, Hiruzen Sarutobi!

This speech made some people fully convinced that everything the Military Police Force did was an order issued by Hiruzen Sarutobi to satisfy his own lust for power.

Look, look—what "for the sake of the village," what "Will of Fire," what "for everyone's happiness"...

The life they were living now? Not happy at all!

Kawasaki Sora was a spy sent to Konoha by Iwagakure. Lately, he had noticed that the atmosphere in Konoha was extremely off—very tense, very frightening. He had a feeling that if things continued like this, his identity as a spy would be exposed.

He sent word of Konoha's situation back to his village and had already decided to leave.

That night...

A figure appeared in his room.

A pair of scarlet eyes stared at him.