About half an hour later, on the lawn in front of the Tianshou Pavilion, hundreds of people shivered like fallen leaves in a cold wind.
Their bodies trembled uncontrollably from fear, and their eyes revealed panic and unease, like startled deer, quietly awaiting the impending judgment.
In front of the crowd, the thirty-odd survivors of the rogue Ninja and a hundred or so Samurai were like pugs, their faces filled with respect and fawning.
Clearly, their spines had been broken, leaving only the desire to survive.
Even though only two people stood before them.
Even though they themselves had a numerical advantage of hundreds of people.
However, after the massacre just now,
Everyone present had already understood that the gap in strength between the two sides was as vast as heaven and earth; all who resisted would inevitably face only death, with no other path to survival.
Even if there were those who were not afraid of death and wanted to resist,
They would immediately be singled out and offered to Uchiha Tenxiu as a token of loyalty, due to the fear of implication from others.
Because, just now.
The most powerful and influential Ninja and Samurai among them had already abandoned the wicked Ōtomo.
And submitted to the Uchiha.
Now they were only responsible to Uchiha Tenxiu.
Loyalty!
"My Lord, all the people living in the Tianshou Pavilion, as well as those in the inner city, have been brought here; not a single one has been missed! What do you want to do next?"
Among the thirty-odd Ninja, the foremost Ninja leader stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and spoke with a bow, his words full of flattery, eager to be of service.
The others also waited for Uchiha Tenxiu's command, as if ready to pledge their allegiance at any moment.
Uchiha Sakurako found such behavior utterly despicable; although she did not show it, she still turned her head away.
However.
Uchiha Tenxiu did not despise these people; instead, he planned to entrust them with important tasks.
At least, overtly so.
Because it was precisely these spineless individuals who could serve him loyally like dogs. As for those who were truly loyal, they had long since died as enemies beneath his blade.
So, what use was such loyalty to him?
In Uchiha Tenxiu's eyes.
Those who serve me are loyal subjects.
Those who do not serve me are rebels.
And such rebels deserve to die.
Thus, Uchiha Tenxiu nodded and said, "You have done well, showing me your stance, but this is only the first step. This is your pledge, proving that you intend to part ways with the Ōtomo."
"Therefore, as the price of your allegiance to me, I want to see your performance! From now on, one by one, step forward and receive the blessing as loyal individuals!"
As Uchiha Tenxiu's words fell.
The many Ninja and Samurai exchanged glances, each trembling with fear, thinking, "What the hell does this 'blessing' mean!"
However, before they could voice any questions.
The small leader who had spoken earlier immediately stepped forward, saying with a look of honor, "My Lord, please bestow your blessing." There was not the slightest hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes.
Uchiha Tenxiu did not hesitate, nodding in satisfaction. He formed a hand seal, and a black curse mark appeared, instantly manifesting on his chest. Soon, a black sun curse mark appeared directly on his chest, which was the same curse mark Uchiha Tenxiu had used to control Zhongshan Haoze.
And now.
After this Ninja leader was marked with this seal, he didn't even look at it, seemingly indifferent.
Uchiha Tenxiu couldn't help but admire his self-awareness, so he asked, "Good, tell me your name!"
"Replying to My Lord, my humble name is Koike Junichiro!" Koike Junichiro replied immediately.
"Good, as the first person to pledge allegiance to me, I have decided to richly reward you. You may learn any three C-rank Ninjutsu of any elemental release from me, and a year's supply of Ninja secret medicine!"
Uchiha Tenxiu spoke, completely disregarding the Ninjutsu he was giving out. Perhaps others considered these closely guarded family secrets, fearing that someone might learn them.
Uchiha Tenxiu truly didn't care.
Ninjutsu was meant to be learned.
Only by allowing more people to learn it could Ninjutsu continue to advance. Moreover, as his subordinate, the stronger the other party, the better.
Uchiha Tenxiu was not afraid of being surpassed.
Not to mention, with the existence of the Black Sun Curse Mark, he was not afraid that the other party would resist him.
As long as he kept upgrading the curse mark in the future.
The other party would be even less likely to escape his grasp.
Of course.
It was only the commonly used Ninjutsu of this world.
That Uchiha Tenxiu would choose to give to others.
If others wanted his cultivation techniques and secret scrolls.
Then that person would be seeking death.
...
As Koike Junichiro was the first to pledge his loyalty, gaining Uchiha Tenxiu's approval and being granted Ninjutsu and secret medicine.
The other Ninja were also moved.
In this situation, it was not surprising that they couldn't see the reality clearly.
If they disagreed, they might be considered to be harboring loyalty to their old master and be eliminated by Uchiha Tenxiu.
Conversely, leaving a curse mark as a pledge not only guaranteed their safety and prevented them from being purged by Uchiha Tenxiu but also allowed them to obtain Ninjutsu and secret medicine, things they had never even dreamed of. It was truly too good a deal.
As rogue Ninja, they usually used mostly copied or self-researched third-rate Ninjutsu, which were not only functionally poor but also lacked much destructive power. Moreover, as Ninja themselves, they relied on combat for survival. Unfortunately, in the past, due to their lack of strength, they could only hide and scavenge for scraps left by Ninja from other families to survive.
Therefore, they deeply understood.
As Ninja.
Great strength was the foundation of their survival.
It was precisely because they possessed strength far beyond ordinary people, even if not as good as Ninja from official Ninja villages, they still surpassed ordinary Samurai by an unknown number of times!
That was why they could be revered as secret weapons by powerful families like the Ōtomo and enjoy superior treatment! Was all this because the Ōtomo were kind? It was simply about strength!
Therefore, after Koike Junichiro was merely the first to pledge his loyalty and was granted Ninjutsu and secret medicine, it was clear that the so-called Ninjutsu and secret medicine were not even considered important by this new master, and they too had the opportunity to obtain them.
Thinking of being able to acquire greater strength.
Naturally, they all lost any thought of resistance.
Thus, the Ninja instantly lost their will to resist.
After being marked with the curse seal by Uchiha Tenxiu, they immediately became even more respectful.
Of course, they also felt more at ease!
Behind him, the Samurai exchanged glances, and one by one, they also wanted to step forward and receive Uchiha Tenxiu's curse mark!
However, Uchiha Tenxiu only bestowed the curse mark upon the strongest among their leaders.
As for the others,
Sorry, they weren't worthy of this.
Uchiha Tenxiu simply distributed a timed antidote poison that he had researched previously. As Ninja, poisons and antidotes were also essential things to learn.
And Uchiha Tenxiu happened to be an all-around Ninja.
This poison required an antidote every six months; otherwise, they would slowly die from blood depletion.
Subsequently, the Samurai also took these timed poisons.
At this moment, Uchiha Tenxiu had initially subdued these rogue Ninja and the Samurai who had barely learned Chakra.
There were thirty-five rogue Ninja, led by Koike Junichiro. As the first to surrender, he was now the leader of this group of rogue Ninja. They were divided into eight squads of four each, totaling thirty-two people. The two extra people were the second and third Ninja to pledge allegiance to Uchiha Tenxiu.
They also received Uchiha Tenxiu's approval.
And were appointed as the two vice-captains of the Ninja squad.
Regardless of their original strength, they all hovered around the Chunin level among rogue Ninja.
Converted.
That is, corresponding to Konoha's Elite Genin level.
It was still very simple to improve their strength.
Therefore.
Whoever showed him more loyalty.
Would naturally be more heavily favored by him.
As for the remaining Samurai, there were only one hundred and fifty. The leading Samurai general was named Genrai Sata, a young man in his twenties with no particular strength, but he was the first Samurai to surrender. There was nothing more to say; he was directly made the Samurai general.
This was Uchiha Tenxiu's method of employing people.