[Read advance Chapters on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/SlytherinManor]
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Sometime later—
Mikoto, now washed up, entered the room with a tray of black tea and refreshments she had carefully prepared for him. Setting down the tray, she stammered, drawing his attention, "Kan-sama… I... I have prepared tea for you…"
"Hm," hummed Kanzou as he turned to look at her while thinking to himself. 'Unexpectedly, I even got 10,000 Evil Points for this.'
He had not expected Mikoto to bring him more Evil Points. He was so surprised that he actually felt a little tempted.
'Should I put her through more domestic abuse?' he wondered.
But then shook his head. 'No... that's tasteless...'
It'd be fine to punish her if she pulled another stunt like today, but hitting Mikoto for no reason was not up his alley.
It'd also make her resentful towards him. After all, there's only so much abuse a person can bear. Even if it's Mikoto, she'd not be able to bear repeated physical abuse.
In the first place, Domestic abuse wasn't his thing. So, he wasn't going to do that.
Shaking that not-so-good thought out of his head, he looked at her as she gently and carefully placed the rice crackers cooked by her in front of him, "Here you go, Kan-sama..."
It had to be said, Mikoto's temperament was truly something.
Kanzou was certain that from all the spanking and raw dogging he had given her just a while ago, she would be feeling the effects for quite some time.
He wouldn't even be surprised if she were unable to sit on her butt for the next few days without feeling the sting…
Despite that, she showed no sign of it on her face and even brought him tea and snacks as though wanting to please him.
The more Kanzou observed Mikoto, the more obvious it was to him.
'She is really too deep down the barrel of Stockholm Syndrome,' he thought, noting the unwavering devotion she showed toward her abuser, that being him.
Even though Kanzou understood it, he didn't care.
He was content, no, pleased, to have such a devoted woman by his side.
By every measure, she was raised to be the ideal wife.
A proper traditional woman… a woman of many men's dreams… a true Yamato Nadeshiko type.
What Kanzou had initially seen as something casual was gradually turning into something serious; he now genuinely intended to marry her.
Moreover, Mikoto had awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan and had reached Kage-level strength. With proper guidance, she wouldn't just be a perfect wife, but a perfect second in command as well.
'Hazuki probably wouldn't be very happy to hear that I am marrying Mikoto…' he thought so. He was certain that Hazuki wouldn't be happy, as that girl has always talked about marrying him to be his wife when she grows up… but Kanzou has decided to take Mikoto as his wife.
'But… I suppose she would accept it…' he thought to himself, recalling Hazuki's deep devotion towards him. Regardless of how dissatisfied she may feel… he was certain that she'd accept it…
And honestly, she had no choice… she had to accept it if she wanted to remain by his side.
With that in mind, he addressed her.
"Mikoto, this upcoming weekend," Kanzou began putting down the teacup, "...how about officially becoming my wife?"
For a moment, Mikoto failed to react to the sudden proposal. "Huh? Wh-what?"
"I asked if you want to take the wedding vows this weekend..." Kanzou repeated.
"Wedding vows? This... this weekend?" She murmured, her eyes widening in surprise. "You... you mean...?"
"Why are you acting surprised? Isn't marriage with me what you wanted? Or are you having second thoughts and don't want to be my wife?" he questioned, noting the surprise on her face.
She quickly shook her head. "No, no… It's just that… it came so suddenly. I was just a little surprised, that's all." After all, she was the one who had first proposed to Kanzou to marry her. How could she possibly be unwilling?
As for his having second thoughts? Why would she? She already knew his true nature when she asked him to take her as his wife. Even if she knew that he was a monster... she... still wasn't going to change her heart.
It's better to suffer under him than be apart from him. Her heart simply wouldn't be able to take being away from him.
Moreover, Mikoto knows that as long as she doesn't oppose him, always obeys him, and remains loyal to him, he would actually treat her well.
On normal days, he actually does treat her quite well. He praises her cooking, he trains her, he is willing to listen to her, doesn't restrict her from moving around the village or other places, and doesn't deliberately make things difficult for her.
It's only when she does something to oppose him or disobeys him... like she did today, that he becomes harsh towards her.
And she is prepared for that. Which is another reason she didn't resist punishment today. She had crossed a boundary he had set, so... he punished her.
Therefore, she understands that as long as she doesn't cross certain boundaries, she'd live quite well with him.
Therefore, she added, "My heart has long been set on marrying you; it's not changed at all. You are the only man I'd ever want to take the vows with..."
"I see… so, shall we make it official this weekend? If you're not ready, we can postpone it a bit. Do you want to?" Kanzou asked.
"No… this weekend sounds lovely," she replied with a soft smile, placing her palm over his. "This weekend I'd like to become your wife, Kan-sama..."
Kanzou looked into her eyes again. She was determined. Since that was the case, he didn't question her again and simply intertwined his fingers with hers, adding, "Then, I'll have the clansmen start making preparations for the wedding..."
"Mmm..." she nodded and looked at him with devoted eyes. Unable to stop herself, she approached him and asked him shyly, "Danna-sama... will you hold me close, please?"
"Aren't you in pain?" he asked, but didn't refuse her as he pulled her onto his lap.
"It's fine... I just want to cherish this moment, and listen to the heart of my Danna-sama..." she responded, pressing her face against his chest.
While she was still sore in the butt from the spanking, her core throbbed painfully, sitting remained painful, and several other parts also hurt; she didn't care about that too much. Even if it was pain… it was something Kanzou, her Danna-sama, gave her as punishment for her disobedience and betrayal… she was going to cherish it along with the warmth of his body.
As long as Kanzou desired it, she... decided that she wouldn't refuse him… no matter what he did to her or desired of her.
Even if it came down to plotting against her good friend Kushina or his involvement with other women… having been punished by him and made to reflect on many of these things… she felt that she might no longer try to stand in his way and might even help him.
Although she felt sad that she'd have to do those things, and share him... if that's what it takes to be his wife and earn his love, she was willing to do it.
Whatever he asked for, she would cooperate without question.
...
The next morning, Kanzou summoned his most trusted subordinates to his office.
They were none other than Shin, Souta, Satoru, as well as Hazuki and Uroko.
"Kanzou-sama... to have summoned all of us at once..." Souta asked, "Did something happen...?"
"Yeah... yesterday, I made the decision...." He began, announcing his decision, "This weekend, I will be taking vows with Mikoto."
"!!!"
As soon as those words were spoken, several faces changed. The most obvious one was Hazuki, who stammered, her voice trembling, "Kanzou-sama… y-you're marrying M-Mikoto-sama?"
Similarly, Uroko was also takenaback, but she took the news fairly well.
In the first place, she had never expected to become his wife. He had always treated her as a subordinate, and she had always called him master. Their relationship was that of a master and his servant. Although a part of her secretly wished for that, she always knew that it'd never happen, so even if she felt a little sour, she was able to accept it.
Unlike her, Hazuki felt as though the ground had collapsed beneath her feet the moment she heard those words.
"You... are you serious, Kanzou-sama..." she asked again, hoping to hear him say that he was just pranking her.
Shin and Souta exchanged uneasy glances at their squadmate, Hazuki. Having been childhood friends and teammates since their graduation from the Konoha Ninja Academy, they naturally knew the feelings she harbored in her heart.
And now, upon hearing this news… it was clear she might not be able to accept it.
Kanzou also turned his gaze toward Hazuki and gave a nod of confirmation. "Indeed…"
"No... no way..." Hazuki murmured, her chest tightened painfully at his response.
She had suspected that for Kanzou, Mikoto was unlike other women he had been used to playing around with. She had realized this the moment Mikoto started living with him. If Mikoto wasn't special, he wouldn't have allowed her to stay at his house.
There was always a line he kept between himself and the women he was playing around with. And not being allowed to stay at his house was one of those lines.
Mikoto was the first woman to be allowed to share living space with him.
But even with that knowledge, Hazuki never thought that it would come to this.
In her opinion, even if Mikoto was a little special, at the end of the day, she was just another toy for him, right?
Having known him since childhood, and having served as his discreet second-in-command, Hazuki was no stranger to the multitudes of affairs he had had and the women he had played around with. But he always treated those women as side-pieces, subordinates, servants, slaves, or something along those lines.
They were like toys to him... he played with one, then either broke it or grew bored of it and moved on to another.
That was why Hazuki kept telling herself that even if Mikoto was a bit special, at the end of the day, she was just another toy for him, and he'd eventually grow bored with her.
But... but now... hearing the confirmation from Kanzou that he is taking Mikoto as his wife, she realised how wrong she'd been.
He... he was planning to marry Mikoto?
She didn't know how to react; her throat felt tight, her hands trembling as she clenched them into fists. Bitterness churned in her heart.
She had always seen herself as special to him. After all, the only woman who had been a constant in his life had been her. Although the nature of their relationship was different, and her affection for him was one-sided, and he didn't reciprocate, she was still the woman closest to him. It was only her small age that had been prompting him to keep her at a distance. But she had been assured that as soon as she grew a little older, he'd accept her.
She wanted to be his wife.
But now it seems... it's already too late. He has found someone else for that role.
Kanzou sighed. He knew Hazuki would be heartbroken, but it couldn't be helped. "I have made my decision, Hazuki..."
Hazuki stuttered, "Is it... is it because she has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"...That's part of it," he said. And added after a pause, "I had given my word to Mikoto that if she became worthy enough... I'd take her as my wife... and she is worthy enough now..."
Hazuki clenched her fist.
'Why wasn't I born a few years earlier? If I had been older… things between Kanzou-sama and me could have been different… And why… why haven't I awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan? If I had, he would have accepted me as his wife…'
All she could do was curse herself in her heart for being too young, too weak, too unworthy to be his wife.
But no matter how reluctant she felt, she didn't dare oppose or question his decision any further.
"I… I see… I-I wish to congratulate you… and M-Mikoto-sama… on this," Hazuki managed to say, her voice trembling.
"Hazuki-chan..." Uroko murmured, placing a hand on Hazuki's shoulders in solidarity. She understood how difficult it must be for Hazuki to say those words.
And Uroko was indeed right. Each word felt like a blade twisting deeper into Hazuki's chest. Her eyes burned, threatening to overflow, yet she forced herself to hold steady, to speak with composure, to honour the role expected of her.
Above all else, Hazuki had been groomed to be loyal to Kanzou. Her mother had drilled that devotion into her from childhood, unquestioning, absolute. And she herself loved him too much to be able to resent him.
While sometimes, love can indeed turn to resentment, she is... not that type of woman. And so, even as her heart broke and her desires screamed in protest, she bowed her head, swallowing every trace of pain, and accepted his will without a word of defiance.
Shin and Souta exchanged a glance, a flicker of regret in their eyes for Hazuki. But since she had accepted it without protest, they had no reason to oppose Kanzou's decision. So, without hesitation, both stepped forward and spoke in turn.
Shin said, "Congratulations, Patriarch."
Souta added, "It seems Patriarch is finally willing to settle..."
Satoru chimed in with a grin, "That bastard Fugaku would surely vomit..."
Uroko also added, "Mikoto-sama is truly fortunate to be your wife..." and a bit hesitantly asked him, "...but, after marrying Mikoto-sama... you'd not discard us, right?"
She needed to confirm that. She wished she could replace Mikoto, but that was just an unrealistic fantasy. So, she hoped that he wouldn't suddenly become monogamous.
"No..." Kanzou gave a flat answer.
If he were a simple man as in his previous life, neither rich, nor powerful, nor an elite, he'd choose to be monogamous. He'd not have physical, emotional, financial, or any other capacity to be anything but monogamous.
But... he isn't a simple man anymore. He is powerful, he is wealthy, he has a high social status, and he has many women craving him.
Moreover, this isn't the modern Earth. The values, ethics, social rules, laws, and other things are vastly different here. Even in modern Earth, the elites and the rich folk practiced complex relationships that are against the social norms, let alone in the Shinobi world that still practices a social class system.
Don't think that this is the Shōnen version where many things can't be shown. This is the reality, and many things here are different from how they appeared in the manga or the anime.
Non-monogamous people are fairly common here.
Nobles, Samurai, shoguns, Daimyō, rich merchants, and other elites often have multiple partners for the purpose of inheritance, continuation of the family, and many other reasons.
With that in mind, Kanzou doesn't intend to be monogamous either.
"Well... that's a relief..." Uroko exhaled a sigh.
Fortunately, Kanzou is not a monogamous person. Despite marrying Mikoto, he'd continue to pursue multiple relationships, so this situation is still bearable for women like her who can only be on the fringes.
Hazuki also felt somewhat better to hear this. She'd not get to be his main wife, but she'd still be able to remain close to him and perhaps have the opportunity of marrying him in the future, right?
Kanzou gave a nod in acknowledgment, then gave the order, "So... start the wedding preparations... Sunday is the day."
They agreed, "Understood..."
At that time, Souta questioned, "Patriarch, do you intend for a close wedding or should we send invitations to the other families and clans?"
Considering the strained relations between the Uchiha and the rest of Konoha, it was doubtful that many, if any, would attend, even if the invitations were sent.
"Actually, I would prefer a close wedding... but..." Kanzou paused and smirked, "Send the invitations. Why not?"
The Invitations to other Clans and family might cause some chaos. That'd be amusing to watch.
Noting his smirk, everyone understood that he was looking for more fun. But they didn't oppose him, "Very well..."
Therefore, invitations bearing the Uchiha Clan's crest were delivered to every major clan in the village, and the news of Uchiha Kanzou and Uchiha Mikoto's upcoming wedding spread throughout Konohagakure.
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Double Chapter, be sure to drop loads of power Stonessssssssss!
[Read advance Chapters on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/SlytherinManor]