Address People by Their Title on Duty

"Lord Hokage, Uchiha Toko is leading a squad from the Military Police Force toward the Shimura Clan Territory."

"What?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyelids twitched, but for the moment, he could not determine what Uchiha Toko was planning.

"Lord Hokage, let me go. I'll try to stop him." At that moment, Uchiha Itachi, who was on duty that day, suddenly stepped out of the shadows, dropped to one knee, and volunteered.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at Uchiha Itachi for a long while before letting out a heavy sigh. "I'm counting on you, Itachi. The village can no longer withstand internal strife."

Uchiha Itachi accepted the order and departed, speeding through Konoha's rooftops. Before long, he reached the outskirts of the Shimura Clan Territory, just as Uchiha Toko's group, which had been making its way there at an unhurried pace, arrived as well.

At that moment, the Shimura Clan Territory was draped in white mourning cloth as far as the eye could see, with funeral music drifting over from nearby.

Looking at the person blocking his group's way, Uchiha Toko knew that although he wore a mask, every ninja in the village knew who the only underage member of the Anbu currently was just by his height.

"Itachi, we are here to summon relevant suspects from the Shimura Clan back to the Military Police Force for questioning. Did Lord Hokage send you to assist us?" Uchiha Toko asked.

With his identity exposed, Uchiha Itachi simply stopped pretending and removed his mask.

"Brother Douhuan, go back. The village can no longer endure internal conflict," Uchiha Itachi said.

"So you're here to stop me?" Uchiha Toko's gaze turned cold. "Is this your own decision, or Lord Hokage's?"

At this point, the purpose of Uchiha Toko deliberately leading his men slowly through the village became apparent. With such a large show of force, there would always be curious villagers who wanted to watch the excitement. Moreover, the Shimura Clan Territory happened to be located in a relatively bustling part of the village. By now, quite a few onlookers had gathered around them.

"Shimura Danzō's desecration of the First's remains and his attacks on fellow village ninja have already been proven beyond doubt. The Shimura Clan has financial ties to him. We are merely here to ask them to return with us for questioning, yet you have come forward to stop us. What exactly are your intentions?" Uchiha Toko waited until enough people had gathered before continuing.

"Brother Douhuan..." Faced with the gazes of the crowd, Uchiha Itachi felt somewhat uncomfortable.

"Address people by their title while on duty!" Uchiha Toko cut Uchiha Itachi off without mercy. "If this is Lord Hokage's decision, I'll turn around and leave immediately."

Uchiha Itachi turned to look at the surrounding spectators, who practically wished they could stretch their necks twice as far. Could he say this was Lord Hokage's decision?

What had happened at the village gates yesterday had fermented overnight and already spread to every corner of the village.

"Clan Head..." Under everyone's strange looks, Uchiha Itachi could only lower his head.

Uchiha Toko, meanwhile, led his men straight past him.

Before long, the Shimura Clan learned what had happened at the entrance. Shimura Hiro, the current Clan Head, led people to block Uchiha Toko's path inside the Shimura Clan Territory.

"My apologies, but the Shimura Clan is not receiving visitors recently." Shimura Hiro, dressed in a pure black kimono, spoke to Uchiha Toko with a cold expression.

"Then we really did come at an unfortunate time." Uchiha Toko nodded. "It seems the Shimura Clan is holding a funeral?"

"You Uchiha Clan members still have the nerve to come here?!" At that moment, an emotionally agitated young ninja from the Shimura Clan suddenly lunged at Uchiha Toko. The Military Police Force members behind Uchiha Toko were about to act, but Uchiha Toko raised a hand to stop them.

The agitated Shimura clansman was swiftly dragged back by the other Shimura ninja beside him.

"A junior of the clan does not understand proper conduct. Please forgive the offense," Shimura Hiro said.

"I understand, I understand." Uchiha Toko smiled. "However, I'm not here as a guest today."

Uchiha Toko's smile vanished. "Clan Head Shimura, please have Shimura Retto, Shimura Arashi, Shimura Yusuke, and the others come with us to assist in our investigation."

Behind Uchiha Toko, the Military Police Force members, who had already been holding in their anger, immediately prepared to step forward. Naturally, the Shimura Clan ninja present would not stand by idly.

"I'm afraid that would be against the rules," Shimura Hiro said quietly.

"It is merely to assist with an investigation. After all, the ledgers found by the Military Police Force in the Root Base show that the Shimura Clan had extensive financial dealings with Root. Personally, I believe Clan Head Shimura is innocent." As Uchiha Toko spoke, he took out the nearly burned ledger from the Sealing Scroll he carried.

"Clan Head, what is there left to say? The Uchiha Clan harbors wolfish ambitions! Elder Danzo died at his hands! Avenge Elder Danzo!" the restrained Shimura ninja roared.

"It seems the Shimura Clan truly colluded with Shimura Danzō and intends to betray the village." Uchiha Toko's expression turned icy, and the Three Tomoe in his eyes transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Shimura Hiro wanted to lash out, but when he saw the Mangekyō Sharingan gleaming in Uchiha Toko's eyes, he could only suppress his impulse and endure his fury. "Stop! I will have them go with you."

As Danzo's cousin, Shimura Hiro had personally witnessed the great battle between Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha back then. He understood exactly what terrifying power the Mangekyō Sharingan possessed. Otherwise, where would such a vast Valley of the End have come from? At this moment, within the Shimura Clan Territory, if Uchiha Toko unleashed his full strength, the final outcome was uncertain, but not a single Shimura clansman would escape.

At the same time, Uchiha Toko had come armed with righteous cause. If a conflict erupted between the two sides, they truly would not be able to clear their names even if they jumped into the Naka River.

"Wouldn't it have been better if you had cooperated from the start?" Uchiha Toko chuckled and waved for Uchiha Yanyu to lead people in and make the arrests.

"Clan Head!" The Shimura Clan's young members immediately protested. Used to throwing their weight around in the village, how could they stomach this humiliation?

"Clan Head Shimura, don't make this difficult for me." Uchiha Toko walked up to Shimura Hiro and whispered in his ear.

Shimura Hiro's mouth twitched, but in the end, he said nothing more. He could only step forward and signal for his clansmen not to get agitated.

The arrests did not take long. The people Uchiha Toko had named earlier were all present. After Uchiha Yanyu put them in handcuffs, he reported back to Uchiha Toko.

"Clan Head Shimura, thank you for your cooperation." With the men in custody, Uchiha Toko relaxed. "However, I must still offer you one piece of advice. At a time like this, holding a funeral for someone who betrayed the village seems rather inappropriate, doesn't it?"