The core of the New Uchiha Empire, Scarlet Eye City.
This majestic city, which rose from the ruins of war and Wood Release's creation, has long replaced Hidden Leaf Village and become the heart of the entire continent.
In the city, Hokage Rock, which once symbolized Will of Fire, was razed to the ground and replaced by a black spire that reached into the sky - "Xuan Tower". The residence of Uchiha Xuan was also the center of imperial power.
At this moment, in the central square of "Scarlet Eye Academy" below Xuan Tower, an unprecedented ceremony is being solemnly carried out.
Thousands of parents of newborns, holding their children who were less than one month old, were arranged in a neat square formation according to the regimental standard.
There was a mixture of awe, confusion and a hint of deep fear on their faces.
There is no joy in the air that should be expected from a newborn celebration, only steely discipline and almost religious piety.
Around the square, imperial soldiers wearing black uniforms and Scarlet Eye armbands stood like sculptures, scanning the crowd with cold eyes, any commotion would be instantly stifled.
Scarlet Eye Academy Chief Deacon, Chiyo Saori, wearing a fitted black uniform, stood on the high platform.
Her eyes that were once filled with sadness and hatred were now filled with absolute loyalty and fanaticism for one person.
She held a scroll in her hand, and her voice passed through the chakra amplifier device and spread clearly to every corner of the square.
"The unified naming ceremony for the newborn babies of the empire begins now."
"According to the decree of Emperor Xuan: Starting from the first year of Xuan Era, all newborns in the empire will have their 'name' given by their parents, and their 'surname' will no longer follow the old clan. All newborns are sons of the empire, and their first status is as citizens of the empire. When they grow up and pass the assessment, they will be given a 'new surname' that represents honor and belonging."
As soon as the words fell, an uncontrollable murmur sounded from the crowd.
"No longer inherit the surname?" A man who was once Hyuga Branch Family subconsciously hugged his daughter tightly in his arms. This means that his child will no longer be of the "Hyūga Clan" family. The "Caged Bird Curse" Cursed Seal engraved in the blood and soul will be completely erased, along with the identity of the clan.
This is both liberation and uprooting.
His wife, a civilian ninja, who was standing next to him, pinched his arm hard and signaled him to be silent with frightened eyes.
On the side of the high platform, the burly body of deputy commander Scarlet Eye Legion Baba Tesshin stood like an iron tower. He only glanced at the source of the commotion with a solemn gaze. The man trembled all over and immediately lowered his head, daring not to raise any objections.
This is the iron fist of Uchiha Xuan.
He not only wants to conquer this land, but also wants to cut off the ties between "family" and "village" that breed chaos at the root.
The so-called blood ties and family glory have been the breeding ground for countless wars and hatreds over the past thousands of years.
What he wants to do is to make everyone, from the first day they are born, loyal to only one object - the empire, and the sole master of the empire, Uchiha Xuan.
At this moment, an indescribable pressure enveloped the entire square like the sky overturning.
The crowd's breathing stopped for a moment, as if the air had been sucked out.
Everyone's hearts were beating wildly and uncontrollably, and the most primitive sense of surrender surged deep in their souls.
They unanimously set their sights on the highest point of the platform.
The figure of Uchiha Xuan appeared there without any warning.
He wore a simple black robe, without a crown or a scepter, but his pair of Rinne Sharingan, which were as deep as the universe, were the most supreme symbol of authority in the world.
He just stood quietly, as if the whole world was crawling at his feet.
"His Majesty Xuanhuang!"
Chiyo Saori and Baba Tesshin knelt down on one knee. Thousands of parents in the square also seemed to be oppressed by invisible forces. They knelt down involuntarily and tightly protected the babies in their arms.
Uchiha Xuan's eyes indifferently scanned the awed and frightened faces below.
He knew what they were thinking and didn't care.
"Keep your head up."
His voice was not loud, but it contained the undoubted power of law and sounded directly in everyone's mind.
People raised their heads tremblingly and met the eyes of God overlooking all living beings.
"You are afraid," Uchiha Xuan said slowly, "Afraid that I will deprive you of your rights as parents and cut off your family's inheritance."
"But you are wrong."
His eyes suddenly became sharp, as if they could penetrate people's hearts, "What I give you is a new life. What I give your children is a future where you no longer have to bear the hatred of your ancestors, and you no longer have to die for ridiculous family interests."
"From the Warring States Period to the days when Five Great Nationss were everywhere, what did the word 'father' teach you? Is it Uchiha Clan's hatred for the Senju Clan? Is it Hyuga Main Family's oppression of the branch families? Or is it for the benefit of the village that they let you go to the battlefield and become cold corpses?"
"Those so-called 'patriarchal rights' have long been decayed. What they have brought to this world is only endless war and pain."
He took a step forward, and the air in the entire square seemed to freeze.
"Today, I will end all of this with my own hands."
He stretched out his hand, and a gentle gravitational force acted on the arms of a couple in the front row.
The infant boy flew up smoothly and slowly fell into Uchiha Xuan's arms.
The baby's mother let out a short exclamation, but covered her mouth tightly.
Everyone's hearts were in their throats.
However, unexpectedly, the moment the baby boy fell into Uchiha Xuan's arms, instead of crying, he stopped sobbing slightly.
He opened a pair of pure and flawless eyes, staring curiously at the handsome and indifferent face in front of him, and waved his little hand unconsciously, as if he wanted to touch it.
Uchiha Xuan lowered his head and looked at this fragile and new life.
In his Rinne Sharingan, the baby's soul fire, life origin, and bloodline potential are all clearly visible, without any secrets.
He placed a finger gently on the baby's forehead.
An undetectable wisp of pure energy originating from his god-level power of creation quietly blended into the baby's body, cleansing its marrow and laying a foundation far beyond that of ordinary people.
This is Grace, which is also a brand.
"Your parents gave you life. This is their only contribution." Uchiha Xuan's voice was low and full of magnetism, as if he was announcing to the baby and the whole world.
"And I will give you identity, future, and... order."
He raised his eyes and glanced at the young parents below who were so nervous that they were about to faint.
"What's his name?"
"Back to your Majesty, we will name him...'Shi'." The child's father stammered in reply.
"Beginning... a very good name. Everything is renewed, the beginning of everything."
Uchiha Xuan held the baby named "Hai" and turned to face the audience.
"From today on, I, Uchiha Xuan, am the first 'father' to you and all of you."
These words are like a thunder of creation, exploding deep in everyone's soul.
He is not fighting for a title in a family, he is reconstructing the ethics and beliefs of the entire civilization!
He wants to become the only "spiritual totem" and "source of will" for all new generations.
The history that children will learn in the future will begin with him; the truth they believe in will be defined by him; the goal they strive for throughout their lives will be the imperial blueprint drawn by him.
As for the biological father?
It was just a procreator, a caregiver, a common part of an empire.
Uchiha Xuan's mouth curved into a cold arc that no one noticed.
He lowered his head and looked at the ignorant baby in his arms, silently reciting an unspoken, more straightforward sentence in his heart:
"Remember this face, kid. I am your... first father in this world."
As his voice fell, the clouds in the sky were dispersed by invisible forces, and the golden sunlight penetrated down, all converging on him, reflecting his figure like a god descending to the world.
In the square, the sound of kneeling and worshiping sounded like a tsunami. There was no longer any hesitation or struggle, only fanatical worship.
"Welcome Emperor Xuan!"
"Long live the Empire!"
Chiyo Saori raised his head and looked at that figure infatuatedly.
She knew that from this moment on, all traces of the old era would be completely buried.
A new era - "Xuan Era", today, held its most important and cruel spiritual foundation.