Although Xuandou's methods were ruthless, he had indeed accomplished what the previous Daimyō could not: bringing true peace to the Land of Hot Water.
And so, Xuandou took complete control of the Land of Hot Water.
Politically, he promoted a group of down-on-their-luck but capable minor nobles to replace the officials who had "unfortunately perished" in the purge.
These newcomers had neither an established foothold nor powerful backing. They could only rely on Xuandou's trust to secure their positions, and so they were utterly loyal to him.
Through them, Xuandou's decrees could reach every corner of the Land of Hot Water without obstruction.
Militarily, Xuandou formally recognized Hidden Xuan Village in law as the Land of Hot Water's official military organization.
The Uchiha ninja were no longer merely "mercenaries" or an "outside force," but the Land of Hot Water's regular national defense force.
From then on, the Uchiha and the Land of Hot Water were bound together completely.
Once the unrest had been quelled, Xuandou looked through the documents compiled by the officials and discovered, to his surprise, that the Land of Hot Water's tourism business was even more prosperous than under the previous Daimyō!
"Merchants, nobles, and even commoners from every country have greater confidence in the Land of Hot Water's public security."
An official in charge of commerce explained.
"Before, people coming to enjoy our hot springs had to worry about being robbed on the road or having their belongings stolen at an inn. Now, with Uchiha ninja stationed here, who would dare cause trouble? Not only are more guests coming from the Land of Fire, but tourists from the Land of Lightning, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth have started coming too."
Xuandou nodded in satisfaction.
Though small, the Land of Hot Water enjoyed