The Aburame Clan Was Numb

The next day, when Inuzuka Fu arrived at the Military Police Force with seven clan members and twenty Ninja Dogs, he too was startled by the commotion at the entrance.

The Military Police Force, which usually radiated an unapproachable air, was now decked out in festive decorations. Above its entrance sign hung an enormous bright-red banner bearing the words:

Konoha Military Police Force Police Dog Donation and Inuzuka Clan Special Police Dog Breeding Base Establishment Ceremony.

At the entrance, Uchiha Toko and Uchiha Fugaku stood beneath the banner in formal attire. Beside them, dozens of Military Police Force members who had no assignments at the moment stood ramrod straight.

The sight left Inuzuka Fu completely at a loss. He had originally planned only to bring over the police dogs raised by the clan and a few promising juniors, while securing himself a position in the Military Police Force along the way. Yet the spectacle they had arranged made him lower his head and glance at the most ordinary Konoha ninja tactical vest he was wearing.

The other Inuzuka Clan members also suddenly felt as though they were not dressed formally enough.

However, having already spotted them, Uchiha Toko and Uchiha Fugaku led their people forward.

"Brother Fu, we've been waiting for all of you for quite some time," Uchiha Toko said warmly, taking Inuzuka Fu's hand. Then he went to the Inuzuka Clan members who had accompanied Inuzuka Fu, shook hands with each of them, and said, "Welcome, everyone of the Inuzuka Clan, to the Military Police Force family."

"Inaho, take our colleagues to change," Uchiha Toko instructed after the handshakes and pleasantries.

"Yes!" Uchiha Inaho answered. He walked over to Inuzuka Fu and the others and reminded them, "Everyone, please follow me."

The eight people and twenty dogs entered the Military Police Force under Uchiha Inaho's guidance. Before long, when they emerged, they had changed into new uniforms. Inuzuka Fu had even put on a Military Police Force ninja vest reserved for squadron commanders, while the twenty Ninja Dogs were fully equipped as well.

After changing, Uchiha Inaho brought everyone beneath the banner, where Uchiha Toko had already been waiting.

Once everyone had arrived, Uchiha Toko personally attached Military Police Force identification numbers to the eight newly joined Inuzuka Clan members. He then placed specially made police dog tags around the necks of the twenty police dogs. Inuzuka Fu's companion, Sumimaru, was even awarded the special number 00001.

"On behalf of all my colleagues in the Military Police Force, I welcome the ninja and Ninja Dog companions of the Inuzuka Clan," Uchiha Toko announced loudly after finishing everything.

Then, before the cameras, the image of Uchiha Toko and Inuzuka Fu smiling as they shook hands was preserved forever.

The Konoha Hokage Office and the major ninja clans soon learned what had happened outside the Military Police Force.

The Aburame Clan's upper ranks were especially numb. As one of the two clans that had received Uchiha Toko's visiting card that night, unlike the Inuzuka Clan, which had swiftly decided to throw its full support behind the Uchiha Clan, the Aburame Clan felt mostly fear in response to Uchiha Toko's card.

After all, not long ago, the Military Police Force had delivered Aburame Ryoma's corpse to them. A visiting card sent personally by Uchiha Toko at a time like this looked every bit like a hostile move.

Strictly speaking, though, the Aburame Clan could also be considered victims in this matter. Aburame Ryoma had been forcibly taken to Root by Danzo through near-extortionate means when he was very young, and he had rarely remained in contact with them over the years.

However, whenever Aburame Ryoma used the clan's Secret Insect Technique to handle dirty work for Danzo, he naturally offended many people. Unlike Danzo's other top subordinate, Yamanaka Fu, the Aburame Clan's Secret Insect Technique was far too conspicuous. The clans disgusted by Danzo did not dare oppose him openly, so they inevitably harbored some resentment toward the Aburame Clan instead.

Thus, the Aburame Clan had kept their heads down in Konoha all these years.

And now, a ruthless figure had suddenly emerged from the Uchiha Clan and directly killed Danzo. That alone would have been enough, but the Shimura Clan had been one of the village's fastest-growing ninja clans in recent decades. Though its growth had not matched that of the Utatane, Mitokado, and Sarutobi Clan families, after the Third took office, it had expanded from an ordinary family with a Summoning Technique inheritance to a scale rivaling the great clans of the Warring States era. Yet now, even their Clan Head had been arrested by the Uchiha Clan and thrown into the Military Police Force. No one even knew whether he was dead or alive.

What unsettled them even more was that the fatal wound on Aburame Ryoma's corpse, which the Military Police Force had simply left outside the Aburame Clan's gate, was the signature injury inflicted by Swift Lightning, the Ninja Blade feared throughout Kirigakure and known as the Bloodless Blade. The stab wound through his heart was black and smooth, without the slightest trace of blood.

That meant Aburame Ryoma had most likely died after attempting to assassinate Uchiha Toko. Uchiha Toko already had a ready-made reason to move against the Aburame Clan.

Yet now, apart from waiting anxiously for Uchiha Toko to come knocking, the Aburame Clan had no other options.

Although the Aburame Clan could barely be considered a major ninja clan within the village, with even several more jonin than the Inuzuka Clan, they had been helpless against Danzo. How could they possibly contend with the Uchiha Clan, which was now even more powerful than Danzo had been?

After handling the welcoming ceremony, Uchiha Toko remained in his office until the end of the workday, then left work right on time.

When he returned home, Sasuke had already arrived and was eating the snacks Keiko had prepared for him in the dining room.

"Teacher, you're back." Upon hearing Uchiha Toko enter, little Sasuke pattered over on his short legs.

"Well, Sasuke, you came pretty early today," Uchiha Toko said with a smile.

After two days together, teacher and student had grown familiar with each other. Sasuke was an exceptionally clever child. He could quickly memorize everything Uchiha Toko asked him to recite each day without missing a word, and after Uchiha Toko explained it to him, he could somewhat grasp much of the deeper meaning contained in those passages.

Soon, teacher and student began that day's lesson in the Study.

After Uchiha Toko finished explaining the final line, "Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire," they had completed the booklet Uchiha Toko had carefully selected from the Three Character Classic, Thousand Character Classic, and Analects as Sasuke's introductory teaching material.

"All right, Sasuke. That's enough for today." Uchiha Toko closed the book and spoke to Sasuke.

"Yes." Sasuke nodded. "Teacher, what will we study tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" Uchiha Toko smiled. "Starting tomorrow, you won't need to come for the time being. Teacher has some matters of his own to handle."

"Huh?" Sasuke froze at those words, then lowered his head slightly. "All right."

Over the past three days, Sasuke had grown very fond of Uchiha Toko, this teacher who told him so many interesting stories during lessons. Now that his teacher had suddenly told him not to come for a while, he found himself somewhat reluctant to part.

"Sasuke, Teacher has an assignment for you." Uchiha Toko stroked Sasuke's head and smiled. "During this time, carefully reflect on what I've taught you. Then use the principles I taught you to observe this world. When you begin to feel that these principles cannot fully explain the things happening in the world, come find me again. When that time comes, I'll teach you something new."

If everyone thinks this book is good, please keep reading. It really means a lot to me.

Also, regarding updates, rest assured that there will be a massive release once it goes premium.

Finally, a salute to all you esteemed readers!

Loyalty!