After the Nine-Tails wreaked havoc on Konoha, the high command forcibly relocated the entire Uchiha Clan to the outskirts of the village.
The clan members cursed about it every day, convinced the village was pushing them out.
Uchiha Genya, however, found it rather nice.
Farther from the village center, he no longer had to see those scheming old bastards in the Konoha High Command every day. It was wonderfully peaceful.
Besides, he and Fugaku, the clan head, had been through life and death together. During the relocation, he had simply claimed a huge plot of land and built a luxurious mansion.
A large house was more comfortable to live in.
The master bedroom had an enormous round bed big enough for seven or eight people, and even the bathroom had been built like a small hot spring pool.
At that moment, steam filled the bathroom.
Xuanye leaned against the edge of the pool as he washed. A red-haired woman knelt beside him, her head lowered and her face flushed as she deftly scrubbed his back.
He had been living this way for three whole years.
Xuanye never shortchanged himself. Now that he had invincible strength, he naturally intended to enjoy life to the fullest.
Looking at the docile woman beside him, Xuanye reached out and pulled her straight into his arms.
"Kushina, did you sneak off behind my back to see Naruto again today?"
The woman in his arms stiffened.
That was right. She was Kushina Uzumaki, the widow of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!
To the outside world, however, she had died three years ago. Her current identity was Uchiha Genya's personal maid, renamed Uchiha Naraku.
Three years earlier, on the Night of the Nine-Tails, Xuanye had gone to watch the commotion out of curiosity and happened upon Minato sealing the Nine-Tails.
Xuanye was no bleeding heart. Minato had chosen to abandon his wife and child and die to be a great Hokage. That was Minato's own decision, and Xuanye could not be bothered to interfere.
But just before dying, Minato spotted Xuanye in the shadows and used the last of his strength to point at Kushina, who lay barely breathing nearby.
Xuanye understood immediately.
He stepped forward and solemnly promised Minato, "I'll take care of your wife for you!"
From that day onward, the former Hokage's wife vanished completely from Konoha's records, and Xuanye's household gained a red-haired maid who obeyed his every wish.
A life-saving debt naturally had to be repaid over a lifetime.
An unattached man and woman had shared a room for three years; they had long since done everything there was to do countless times. Kushina had resisted at first, but eventually resigned herself to her fate.
As for Naruto, Xuanye had discussed him with her once.
But the woman was unbelievably naive. She actually believed the Third Hokage's bullshit, thinking he had concealed Naruto's identity to protect him, and even believed he would take good care of Naruto.
Over those three years, she had only dared to use the invisibility item Xuanye had given her to sneak away every few days and look at her son from a distance.
Since she was willing to believe the Third Hokage, Xuanye could not be bothered to say more.
In any case, he was not the one preventing mother and son from reuniting. Kushina herself feared that exposing her identity would implicate Naruto, which saved Xuanye the effort of dealing with the trouble.
"I'm sorry, Master..."
Kushina lowered her head, her cheeks burning.
Missing her son was a mother's instinct, but she understood even more clearly that she owed her life to Xuanye.
If the Konoha High Command discovered that she had been sneaking looks at Naruto, it would undoubtedly land Xuanye in a heap of trouble.
"When you've done something wrong, a verbal apology alone won't do."
Xuanye gripped her chin.
Of course, he was not afraid of the Konoha High Command causing trouble. But since this woman was his private property, every move she made required his permission.
Spare the rod for three days, and she would tear the roof off. Kushina had once been notorious for her explosive temper. She was only this obedient now because of the rules Xuanye had established over the past three years.
Xuanye reached out and pressed down.
Kushina trembled all over and obediently closed her eyes.
An hour later, in Konoha's central district.
Although the Uchiha compound had been moved to a remote corner, the Konoha Military Police Force's office building remained in the very center of the village.
Having eaten and drunk his fill, Xuanye strolled through the entrance.
"Greetings, Captain!"
"Good morning, Captain Xuanye!"
Every Uchiha clan member he encountered along the way straightened their backs, their eyes filled with awe and fervor as they looked at Xuanye.
The Uchiha Clan was notoriously proud and would bow to no one.
When Xuanye first took over the Konoha Military Police Force three years earlier, quite a few troublemakers among his subordinates had made snide remarks and even tried to put him in his place.
Xuanye's approach was simple: anyone who refused to submit got beaten within an inch of their life!
After having a few bones broken and being thrown into the hospital for six months, the troublemakers immediately fell into line.
In the face of absolute violence, even the proudest Uchiha had to learn to keep their tail between their legs.
Now, his word was law throughout the Konoha Military Police Force!
When Fugaku had relinquished the captain's position, he had actually wanted to leave himself a fallback.
If the village and the Uchiha ever turned against each other, the Konoha Military Police Force in Xuanye's hands would be a trump card.
Unfortunately, Fugaku had overlooked one thing.
The Konoha Military Police Force now recognized only Xuanye, their captain. No one had paid any regard to Fugaku, their clan head, for a long time.
Whether the Uchiha intended to rebel or become bootlickers in the future, Xuanye could not be bothered to get involved.
As soon as he reached the center of the courtyard, the second squad, on duty that day, assembled within a few dozen seconds. Every member held their breath and focused, waiting for him to speak.
Xuanye nodded in satisfaction and swept his hand forward.
"Move out! Patrol the streets!"
"Yes, sir!"
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