Hearing Uchiha Cong's shout, Xuanye nodded in satisfaction, then turned and headed back.
Arresting a Hokage Advisor was hardly a big deal to him.
As head of the Konoha Military Police Force, if he suspected someone of betraying the village and biting the hand that fed them, taking them in for questioning was perfectly reasonable!
He was just an aging advisor. Xuanye could arrest him whenever he wanted-that was the real authority the Police Force wielded!
As for why he had launched a midnight raid to make the arrest?
The reason was simple.
Sending Kakashi, that measuring stick of strength, to deliver a message represented Hiruzen Sarutobi's stance.
"Trying to brush this off as a misunderstanding? Did you ask what I thought?"
Xuanye scoffed and continued walking home without breaking stride.
Under the Police Force's regulations, he could handle this case himself without reporting to the Hokage Building at all.
Even plastering the confessions all over the streets tomorrow morning and blowing the whole affair wide open would be entirely within his authority.
He had originally figured that, to save his only son, Mitokado Homura would have to swallow his pride tonight and come privately bearing lavish gifts to seek a settlement.
They could sit down, agree on a price, and exchange money for the prisoner. Everyone could profit amicably.
But the Third Hokage had instead sent an Anbu to pressure him, hoping to secure the prisoner's release without paying a thing?
Since Hiruzen Sarutobi had made a show of insisting on protecting him, Xuanye had simply arrested his father, Mitokado Homura, too!
His stance was clear: you want to protect him? Fine, get past me first!
As for the subsequent interrogation, Xuanye did not need to concern himself with it personally.
With the methods those Uchiha boys under him possessed, an intensive overnight interrogation would surely make this highly respected Hokage Advisor cough up plenty of startling dirt.
The night deepened.
At the edge of the village lay the Uchiha Clan Compound.
Xuanye's private residence was far grander than even Clan Head Fugaku's estate.
At that moment, in the main house's living room, Kurenai Yuhi had just finished bathing and was curiously studying the beautiful woman before her.
The woman had waist-length hair and delicate features, and introduced herself as Xuanye's personal maid.
Living under the identity of "Uchiha Naraku," Kushina Uzumaki was not remotely worried that Kurenai Yuhi would recognize her.
After all, the disguise Xuanye had arranged for her was exceptionally sophisticated, nothing like an ordinary Transformation Technique. Even if she walked down Konoha's streets in broad daylight, acquaintances would never recognize her face-to-face.
The only reason Xuanye had held her head down and taught her a lesson that morning was that her man was used to having his way and would not allow her to act without informing him.
Still...
Looking at the rosy-cheeked Kurenai Yuhi before her, Kushina could not help inwardly cursing him as a beast.
He already had her at home, yet he had brought another woman back so soon!
The little hot pepper's innate jealousy surged, and her lips pursed slightly as bitterness welled up inside her.
But she also understood her situation. To avoid causing trouble for Naruto and Xuanye, she could only live in the shadows for the rest of her life, with no right to complain or be jealous.
Besides, had Xuanye not saved her back then, she would have died during the Night of the Nine-Tails. Being alive as a maid now already meant she had been given a second chance at life.
"Xuanye!"
Just then, the door opened, and Xuanye strode inside.
Seeing her beloved return, Kurenai Yuhi's little face flushed crimson, and she shyly went to greet him.
Earlier, outside the dango shop, Xuanye had suddenly told her to come to his residence first, take a bath, and wait for him.
A man and a woman meeting alone at his home in the middle of the night-only a fool would not know what that meant.
Kurenai Yuhi felt flustered and shy, with a trace of secret anticipation mixed in.
"Y-you asked me to come over so late... what exactly did you want?"
Kurenai Yuhi lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes between her fingers, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.
The innocent girl had absolutely no idea what kind of storm awaited her tonight.
Beside her, Kushina, who had been through it herself, watched Kurenai Yuhi walk into the tiger's jaws, her eyes instantly filling with sympathy.
Had circumstances allowed, she would have loved to grab the girl and warn her: run, don't throw your life away!
Only Kushina, who had served Xuanye for three whole years, knew what a monster this man truly was!
Even with the Uzumaki Clan's naturally powerful constitution and vast chakra reserves, she never lasted more than a few rounds against him. Every time, he left her eyes rolling back and her whole body feeling as though it were falling apart.
This delicate female genjutsu ninja before her would probably be devoured down to the last scrap of bone tonight.
"Ahem, I called you over for serious business, of course. I'm a respectable man, after all."
Xuanye spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face.
Today, he had arrested Mitokado Homura and son as well as Asuma Sarutobi, offending the entire Konoha High Command, but none of that nonsense delayed him from coming home to attend to the real business.
The old fox in the Hokage Building would surely be too worried to sleep tonight, but Xuanye was destined for a wonderful evening.
Looking at the handsome face so close to hers, Kurenai Yuhi felt her heart race, and the dating tips her best friend Anko had taught her suddenly flashed through her mind.
She plucked up her courage and raised her head, gazing at Xuanye with watery eyes as she said sweetly:
"Xuanye... no funny business tonight!"
Those words flipped an extraordinary switch.
The respectable Xuanye immediately dropped his facade, hoisted the startled, crying Kurenai Yuhi over his shoulder, and charged into the master bedroom!
Early the next morning, atop Hokage Rock.
"Xuanye! Let's have a good fight!"
Might Guy's trademark booming voice rang across the summit as he flashed his white teeth and gave Xuanye a thumbs-up.
Xuanye had just finished listening to the daily check-in settlement notification in his head and glanced at his newly credited stat rewards. He felt refreshed, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Come on!"
Before his words had faded, Might Guy charged at him, fists swinging.
Bang!
Their fists and feet clashed. In a single exchange, Might Guy, who talked about youth all day long, went flying backward and rolled several times across the ground.
"You're still so strong!"
Rubbing his numb arm, Might Guy took Xuanye's outstretched hand and pulled himself to his feet, his face full of admiration.
Xuanye smiled without saying anything.
With his current stats, Might Guy would probably have to open the Gate of Death of the Eight Gates Released Formation just to make him take the fight seriously.
But his overwhelming superiority in strength did not stop Xuanye from considering Might Guy a friend.
After all, this was the true man who had nearly kicked the original story straight into its finale. His straightforward nature made him far more agreeable than those scheming old men in the village.
"Oh, right, Guy. The expansion application I submitted to the Hokage Building should be approved today," Xuanye remarked casually, brushing the dust off his hands.
"Really?! You mean what you mentioned before, Xuanye-adding positions in the Police Force for people outside the clan?"
Might Guy's eyes instantly lit up, his face brimming with excitement.
To him, simply being Xuanye's morning training partner was not enough. If he could join the Police Force and work under Xuanye, it would not only be tremendous recognition, but would also let him observe Xuanye's training up close every day!
Looking at the fired-up Might Guy, Xuanye felt a little amused.
If this thick-browed, wide-eyed fellow saw his corrupt daily routine of slacking off at work, collecting protection money, and taking his men to brothels for fun, who knew whether his belief in youth would collapse on the spot?
But it was no great problem. With the way Might Guy's mind worked, he could probably do five hundred one-handed handstand push-ups anytime, anywhere, even while standing guard outside a brothel.
The reason Xuanye was certain the application would pass today was that he had seized the Third Hokage by his weak spot.
On the surface, that expansion application was about increasing the Police Force's manpower. In reality, Xuanye had proposed breaking the Uchiha Clan's monopoly and recruiting ninja from other clans and civilian backgrounds into the Police Force.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had previously shelved the proposal without a second thought, since it would clearly strengthen the Police Force and give Xuanye greater real authority.
But after last night's raid and arrests, if the old man still wanted to keep the high command's collusion with the enemy under wraps, he would have to hold his nose and sign it today!
As it turned out, Xuanye had guessed exactly right.
After leisurely returning home for a shower and strolling over to the Police Force building to clock in, he spotted Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi from afar, his aged face dark as the Uchiha officers on duty firmly blocked him at the entrance!
Xuanye walked over cheerfully.
"Well, if it isn't Lord Third Hokage! Enjoying the cold breeze here so early in the morning?"
Xuanye stopped before Hiruzen Sarutobi and used his height advantage to look down at the little old man, showing none of the respect due a Hokage.
Then, under the shocked gazes of every police officer and Anbu present, Xuanye raised his right hand and patted Hiruzen Sarutobi on the head!
"Lord Hokage, have you come in person to pay the fine and bail out that good-for-nothing son of yours?"
Before you continue