The Increasingly Oppressive Konoha

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

No fighting or brawling in the village.

No insulting the Hokage in the village!

Unfortunately, although there were plenty of people in the village, he still wasn't at the top of the power structure. He wasn't the Hokage, and the rules weren't being enforced consistently.

The results weren't much to speak of, either.

"Damn it! If things keep going like this, won't we be sitting ducks when those damned aliens show up?"

Uchiha Kazuto clenched his fists, feeling deeply frustrated.

But he knew that some things couldn't be rushed. There was no need to panic. They still had time.

That day.

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

"Stop right there, you little brat! How dare you! What are you doing?!"

The next moment, a group of Military Police Force members rushed over and surrounded Naruto. Faced with these elite members of the Military Police Force, Naruto had no chance to fight back and was caught at once.

"This is outrageous! Kid, look at what you've done! Hokage Rock is a symbol of Konoha's dignity. How could you be allowed to vandalize it like this?!"

Uchiha Kazuto looked at Naruto and shook his head. He naturally knew who Naruto was.

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

However, even though Naruto was the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths' son, Uchiha Kazuto could cut him down right now without anything happening. Some Old Man Six Paths wasn't going to suddenly appear and beat him to death or anything.

After all, although Naruto was the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths' son, he wasn't actually the Sage of Six Paths' son. He was merely the reincarnation of his Chakra.

Who knew how many times Asura's Chakra had been reincarnated over the years, or how many times it had died? The Sage of Six Paths had never once stepped in. After all, dying just meant being reincarnated again. It was no big deal.

The reason Naruto had been revived in the original story was that Kaguya had been revived. If Kaguya hadn't been revived and Naruto had died for some other reason, the Sage of Six Paths probably wouldn't even have spared him a glance.

However, looking at Naruto reminded Uchiha Kazuto of something else.

So he took Naruto straight to Hiruzen Sarutobi and proposed that, to help Konoha's next generation better understand the Will of Fire, the students of the Konoha Ninja Academy should spend a week studying with the Study Corps.

This would also give the students a chance to interact with the village's shinobi and prepare them for graduation.

After thinking it over, Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed that it made sense, so he approved the proposal.

Meanwhile, to put more pressure on Konoha, Uchiha Kazuto finally turned his attention to the village's clans, now that he had more and more troops at his disposal.

This was where Danzo came in.

Uchiha Kazuto discovered that some of the village's clans really did have shady dealings with Danzo.

So, in the name of serving the village and Lord Hokage, he stormed into those clans, smashing and looting, then handed everything he took to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

There was no way he would keep any of it. It had all been done on Lord Hokage's orders.

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

Of course, he knew this would make those clans hate him. As long as Hiruzen Sarutobi remained in power, they would keep directing their hatred at him, even though they knew full well that Uchiha Kazuto was nothing more than a tool.

But that was exactly what Uchiha Kazuto wanted. He understood perfectly that these clans were opportunists. He also knew that, by doing this and urging Hiruzen Sarutobi to strip the clans of their power, he had become a tool for Hiruzen Sarutobi to draw their hatred.

In short, Konoha grew more and more oppressive.

At the same time, the Military Police Force became more and more extreme, more and more terrifying. In the streets, anyone who looked even slightly dissatisfied with the village would be dragged away by its members and beaten. Even some shinobi weren't spared.

Of course, that was limited to Genin, along with the families of some Chunin and Jonin.

They were beaten, mercilessly beaten!

Anyone who dared to speak out, anyone who caused trouble in Konoha or even showed the slightest sign of doing so, would be arrested and beaten mercilessly as soon as they were caught.

The Military Police Force also encouraged everyone to report others. For instance, if someone privately spoke ill of the village or the Hokage and the Military Police Force hadn't found out, you could report your friends, family, or relatives. Then the Military Police Force would show up, drag that person away, and punish them severely.

Those who made reports could also receive a generous reward.

This behavior soon left the people of Konoha in a state of panic. Everyone became extremely cautious, and no one dared say a word.

Under this oppressive and violent rule, Konoha's public order became exemplary. No one left anything behind on the roads, and no one even locked their doors at night. The village seemed to be thriving.

At least, on the surface, Konoha seemed to have improved.

In reality, the people of the village were all suppressing a deep resentment and anger.

They dared to be angry, but not to speak.

The clans were having a hard time, too. Much of their power and many of their businesses had been taken back by Konoha.

A lot of their dirty dealings had been exposed, and their interests had been brutally carved up. The Hokage's power had been strengthened to an unprecedented degree.

The clans hated Uchiha Kazuto, the instigator, so much they ground their teeth. They cursed him as a traitor and Hiruzen Sarutobi's lapdog.

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

Under the Military Police Force's threats, all of Konoha was mobilized and gathered in the square. They listened to Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech in silence.

Members of the Military Police Force patrolled the area.

Time passed quietly. Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech went very smoothly, and when he finished, the applause from the crowd was thunderous.

Everything looked peaceful and harmonious.

Before long, the villagers left with resentment burning in their hearts.

Damn Hiruzen Sarutobi!

This speech convinced some people once and for all that everything the Military Police Force did was ordered by Hiruzen Sarutobi to satisfy his own lust for power.

Just look, just look! All that talk about serving the village, the Will of Fire, and everyone's happiness...

Their lives certainly weren't happy now!

Kawasaki Sora was a spy Iwagakure had sent to Konoha. Recently, he had noticed that the atmosphere in Konoha was very strange—grim and terrifying. He had a nagging feeling that if things continued this way, his identity as a spy would be exposed.

He sent a report on 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.