Hiroki's gaze slowly swept across the Ninja clan that had come back to life before him. Although they were in a strange and slightly dilapidated environment, that cohesive will and more than two hundred pairs of eyes shining with a strange light indeed gave him a measure of steady confidence in this dangerous world. He tucked his hands into his wide sleeves, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the smooth lining, his tone carrying the composure of one who held power and the ease of a hands-off manager:
"Alright," his voice wasn't loud, but it spread clearly through the silent courtyard, carrying both reassurance and command, "this place is yours to use. From now on, you, the Uchiha Clan, shall live well here. Familiarize yourselves with the aura of this world, recover your strength, and rest easy."
"Yes! Thank you for your grace in giving us a second life, My Lord!" Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku was the first to respond in a deep voice, his words filled with gratitude for surviving a disaster and the complexity of the burden on his shoulders. Behind him, Shisui, Tekka, Inabi, and all the clan members—regardless of age or gender—all bowed or lowered their heads in unison. More than two hundred voices merged into a humble yet firm torrent, "Thank you, My Lord!"
This synchronized response made Hiroki's heart stir slightly. Looking at the dense mass of people before him, especially the lingering unease in the eyes of the ignorant children and the elderly, he knew that settlement was only the first step; the real trouble was yet to come. But for now, at least this wave had been handled.
"Right," Hiroki said as if remembering some trivial matter, casually pointing toward the gate. "Someone go and call the gatekeeper, Tamaki Chizuru, inside."
"By your command!" The response came almost instantly. Shisui, standing beside Fugaku, reacted extremely fast; before the words had even finished echoing, his figure had already vanished from the spot. There were no exaggerated light effects or whistling sounds of breaking air—only an imperceptible movement of air, like the purest breath of wind skimming over a calm water surface, without even disturbing a speck of dust.
"Heh," watching the empty space where Shisui had vanished, Hiroki couldn't help but curl the corner of his mouth into a subtle arc, feeling jubilant inside. "Tsk tsk tsk, a Captain-level Shunpo... used for my errands. This style, tsk..." This feeling was a hundred times more comfortable than owning top-tier luxury cars in his original world.
Almost at the same moment Hiroki's thoughts flickered, the light at the entrance of the corridor leading to the courtyard dimmed slightly, and Tamaki Chizuru's slender figure appeared alongside Shisui, who had arrived via Shunpo. Her steps were somewhat hurried, her face carrying lingering confusion and a trace of undetectable tension—after all, she had just been guarding the gate when she was suddenly brought here by a black-clad man (in Uchiha Ninja attire) whose aura was powerful enough to make her heart palpitate and whose speed was mind-boggling.
When Chizuru's gaze truly landed on the courtyard, her breath hitched, and her steps involuntarily faltered. The weak light from the lanterns barely illuminated the courtyard, but it was enough for her to see the shocking sight: a courtyard full of people! Men, women, young and old, in strange clothing (Ninja attire), and more importantly... those pairs of eyes glowing crimson like ghost fires in the night, bearing eerie Tomoe patterns! Hundreds of gazes instantly focused on her; the invisible pressure and sense of eeriness made the hair on her arms stand on end. As a servant with a weak Spiritual Pressure, she instinctively felt a strong threat mixed with an unfathomable Spiritual Pressure. She subconsciously looked toward Young Master Hiroki, her voice trembling visibly: "Young... Young Master. These... these people... are?"
Hiroki could clearly see the fear and bewilderment overflowing in Chizuru's eyes. He paced a couple of steps unhurriedly, standing in front of the crowd with a casual demeanor, as if merely introducing a group of distant relatives: "Oh, Chizuru, you're here. These are the people to be settled. They are..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Uchiha Clan Members who were looking back at Chizuru with both caution and curiosity, his tone carrying an indisputable sense of belonging, "the Uchiha Clan who swear fealty to me. Do you... understand?" He enunciated the last few words clearly, emphasizing their weight.
"Swear fealty... to you..." Tamaki Chizuru's mind instantly exploded. This massive group before her, filled with an otherworldly aura and an intense sense of oppression... actually all belonged to the Young Master? A man from a Lower-ranking noble background, who had only married into the Shihōin family a few days ago, had quietly acquired a private armed force of this scale that clearly looked like they were not to be trifled with?! The shock in her heart was like an overturning sea.
This was more than just "settling personnel"! This was clearly the Young Master's most deeply hidden core team! And as the maid closest to the Young Master, the implications of this... She suddenly woke up, forcibly suppressing the storm in her heart, and bowed deeply to Hiroki. The movement was impeccably standard, and her voice instantly returned to its usual submissiveness, yet it carried a new weight and resolve: "Yes! Young Master! I... completely understand!"
In the education she had received over the years, she knew that there were some questions she shouldn't ask; she only needed to execute her orders.
Seeing the flash of awe and the subsequent abnormal determination in Chizuru's eyes, Hiroki was very satisfied. This maid's intelligence and executive ability were becoming more and more to his liking. "Mm," he waved his hand, his face showing a perfectly timed trace of laziness after a long journey and the natural demeanor of a commander, "Arrange a quiet room for me alone; today's activities have been exhausting. As for them..." His gaze swept over Fugaku and the others, "the specific living arrangements, food supplies, familiarizing them with the environment, and so on—I'll leave it all to you. You handle it." He fully adopted the posture of a hands-off boss.
This maid is truly useful! With just a single command, she could grasp the intent and handle everything perfectly, without him needing to spend another ounce of mental energy. Hiroki even felt comfortably that in this crisis-ridden world, he only needed to be a lazy and leisurely handsome man, while the capable people worried about the trifles.
"Understood, Young Master!" Tamaki Chizuru did not hesitate for a second and responded immediately. She had already begun rapidly calculating the layout of the mansion—where so many people could be settled, how much grain was left in the warehouse, and what urgent purchases would be needed tomorrow morning... All her thoughts instantly revolved around this massive task that had fallen from the sky. She stepped slightly to the side, making a standard guiding gesture, "Please follow me, Young Master."
Hiroki nodded, glanced once more at the group of silent and powerful new "subordinates," and then set off. With a bit of relaxation from finally being able to sleep, he followed Chizuru through the crowd toward the deep corridors of the mansion, elegantly leaving the massive problem of settling the Uchiha to those efficient, beautiful eyes in the night.