Xia Yu wanted nothing more than to vent his anger.
But however much he wanted to, none of the four "powerful" ninjutsu before him could deal with the three Anbu at the door.
"System, even a shadow clone would be better than these!"
[Heh heh heh, rewards like shadow clones will come, but that's for later. Whether you can get them depends on your ability. The beginner's gift pack is only there to lay the groundwork for your future...] [Hey, kid, I'm the Progeny Prosper the Clan System. You were handpicked out of tens of thousands, so don't disappoint me...]
With things as they were, Xia Yu slowly calmed down and asked curiously, "What exactly is this system for? Am I supposed to increase the Uchiha Clan's population? The more I add, the more blessings I get?"
[That's right~] [For every Uchiha clan member added because of you, you'll receive a random reward. Ninjutsu, chakra, ocular techniques, physiques-there's everything you could want. Kid, don't you want to get stronger? Then get creating!]
Xia Yu was delighted.
Well, damn, wasn't this exactly what I was best at!
With this face of mine and this system, given enough time, I'd be the strongest in the Shinobi World for sure!
Since heaven wiped out my Uchiha Clan, couldn't I just father another clan?
Let's do it! That settled it!
Xia Yu scanned the beginner's gift pack again and decisively chose "Ninjutsu: Every Shot Hits Technique."
Right now, this was the technique he needed most, and the most effective one.
At least his daily plowing wouldn't go to waste!
"Just you wait. You all think I'm still that wild, unrestrained lecher, right? You all think I'm the disgrace of the Uchiha Clan, right? With the system backing me up, I'll make you take another look at me in a year!"
A gentleman could wait a year for revenge!
The grand plan to revive the clan couldn't wait!
Just then, the door was pushed open, and two old men walked in.
They were Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō.
Xia Yu instinctively stepped back. He was, after all, someone the massacre had missed, and he feared these two old men would finish the job.
But unexpectedly, the grief-stricken Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his arms and hugged Xia Yu, sobbing with a slight catch in his voice:
"My child, for such a sudden tragedy to befall the Uchiha Clan... As Konoha's Hokage, I'm truly sorry. I failed in my duty. It was my fault for not sending people in time to save the Uchiha Clan..."
"Uh..." Seeing how convincingly Hiruzen Sarutobi wept, Xia Yu was dumbfounded.
Holy shit. As expected of Konoha's sunshine-what a schemer!
You called last night's massacre a sudden tragedy?
Well, damn...
That acting was in a league of its own...
Smooth!
Xia Yu kept mocking him inwardly, but outwardly, he played along with the Third's performance, maintaining his usual dissolute manner and acting utterly unconcerned about last night's massacre:
"Lord Hokage, p-please don't do this. I'm not used to hugging men. Don't worry about me. I was an orphan to begin with. All I want in life is to live freely among beautiful women and have some fun. I don't care about anything that has nothing to do with women~"
As he spoke, Xia Yu glanced sideways at Danzo, who merely wore a sour face and wouldn't even look him in the eye.
"Heh heh..."
The Third released him and nodded with a smile. "It's very good that you can be so broad-minded. This morning, I announced to the world that Uchiha Itachi has been designated a Konoha S-rank rogue ninja. We'll catch him one day..."
Xia Yu said, "Whatever~ As long as I'm alive."
The Third said, "Don't worry. With this lesson to guide me, I'll make sure to protect you and Sasuke, the only two Uchiha left in the village. I won't let anyone hurt you..."
"The Uchiha will always be part of Konoha. Everything will get better. Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn on..."
He launched into a round of the Will of Fire.
Xia Yu really couldn't take it anymore and quietly interrupted, "Lord Hokage, I understand everything you're saying. Is there anything else? If not, I'll head back. I have a date with a woman, and she's still waiting for me."
"Uh..." Hearing Xia Yu's words, Hiruzen shook his head helplessly.
His clan had been wiped out, and he was still thinking about sex. This young man was beyond saving.
The Third sighed. "All right. If you have any difficulties in the future, come to me. I'll do my best to meet your needs..."
"Really?" At those words, Xia Yu's eyes shifted, and an idea suddenly came to him.
The Third said, "Yes, really. If I remember correctly, you aren't even a ninja yet, are you? If you need work, I can arrange a clerical position for you."
Xia Yu waved his hands. "I don't want a job! It takes time and effort. No matter how bad my reputation is, I'm still an Uchiha. Since everyone's dead, I should get at least ten percent of all the property in the Uchiha Clan Compound, right? Forty percent can go to Sasuke, the clan head's son. I'm not greedy."
The Third froze. "What about the remaining fifty percent?"
Xia Yu scratched his head and smiled. "It goes to the village, of course. Lord Hokage and Lord Danzo have been working day and night over the Uchiha affair. Especially Lord Danzo-I heard you collected all the Uchiha bodies in the middle of the night. That efficiency moved heaven and earth, and moved me even more..."
"Besides, Sasuke's life and mine will depend on you two sending people to protect us, in case Uchiha Itachi, the culprit behind the massacre, sneaks back to finish us off. Consider that fifty percent a protection fee. Sasuke's still young, so there's no need to discuss it with him. I'll make the decision."
The Third's face lit up with delight. "Oh, Xia Yu, what are you saying? You're one of Konoha's people. Protecting the villagers is my duty as Hokage. Still, the village really has been short on funds lately, and handling your clansmen's funerals did cost quite a bit. Since you're willing, I'll accept that fifty percent on behalf of the leadership for now."
"Of course, of course~" Xia Yu smiled with the utmost servility, like a lackey. His expression held not a trace of Uchiha pride.
He knew perfectly well that only by appearing harmless and utterly unthreatening could he stay alive for now.
After all, unlike Sasuke, he didn't have Uchiha Itachi guaranteeing his safety. One careless move in front of these two old foxes could get him killed.
As Xia Yu bent at the waist and bowed, he silently made up his mind.
One year. Just one year. Once my children were born and I had strength, I would reclaim my dignity!
Seeing the Third's satisfied expression, Xia Yu seized the opportunity. "By the way, Lord Hokage, didn't you just say I could come to you if I needed anything? As it happens, I have a presumptuous request."
The Third said, "Go ahead, Xia Yu. I'll do everything I can to grant it!"
Xia Yu paused, then grinned. "Lord Hokage, could you make an exception for me? I want multiple wives and concubines!"
"Huh?" The Third frowned.
Xia Yu continued, "The Uchiha Clan has been all but wiped out. Useless as I am, I still want to do something for the Uchiha. After thinking it over, I'm afraid the only thing I'm good at is leaving more descendants for the Uchiha..."
"One wife is nowhere near enough to fulfill that wish. Wherever the leaves dance, the fire burns on. Right now, I'm full of fire, but I need grass. How can it burn without grass..."
"I think I need to find myself a whole prairie."
"Well..." The Third lowered his head in silence, reluctant to speak for a long time.
He hadn't expected Xia Yu to find such a high-sounding justification for his lust.
Danzo, who had remained silent all this time, snorted. "What a lecher. A useless fool who thinks with his dick. It's a tragedy for the Uchiha to have someone like you among them. Eighteen, and you still haven't awakened your eyes. With your genes, any descendants you leave for the Uchiha will be rotten stock."
Xia Yu answered with a lecherous laugh, "Heh heh heh... Better than letting the bloodline die out. Such a huge clan compound would be far too desolate with only Sasuke and me. Sasuke's still young, so for nearly the next ten years, I'll probably have to shoulder the responsibility of producing descendants."
"Hmph..." Danzo gave Xia Yu a disgusted look and said nothing more.
The Third was still wrestling with it. Taking concubines was unprecedented in Konoha, but accepting gifts tied one's hands. He had just accepted a full fifty percent of an enormous fortune, and he really felt too embarrassed to refuse.
After weighing it over, the Third studied Xia Yu's pale, sickly face, and his gaze sharpened. "Fine. The Uchiha Clan is a special case, after all, and does need to increase its population. I believe the other villagers will understand. I approve this request."
The Third was an experienced man. He knew very well that, with Xia Yu's constitution, he could take four or five at most...
Besides, the Uchiha radicals had been completely eliminated, and their rebellious ideology had all but vanished. As long as the newborn children entered the Ninja Academy and were roasted with the Will of Fire, they might become pillars of the village someday. There was everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Danzo seemed to have thought of this too. He tacitly accepted Hiruzen's decision without trying to stop it.
"Great~ I'll be on my way, then." Seeing the Third agree, Xia Yu secretly rejoiced:
Heh... The fire burns on, does it? Once this fire of mine really gets going, I'm afraid you won't be able to stop it even if you want to!
With every condition in place, the grand plan to build a vast prairie officially began!
Before you continue