Turning the Tables

The Konoha Military Police Force was a department established by the Second Hokage.

Because every member of the force came from the Uchiha Clan, its emblem was a Shuriken inlaid with the Uchiha Clan crest—the Fire Fan.

"What ruthless methods."

Uchiha Fugaku glanced at the Konoha Military Police Force emblem and strode into the force's headquarters.

Seeing this department so deeply tied to the Uchiha Clan, he felt no pride whatsoever—only deep-seated malice.

The Second Hokage's intentions in establishing the Konoha Military Police Force had been exceedingly sinister.

First, by binding and isolating all Uchiha clansmen within a single department, he had severed the Uchiha Clan's interactions with other clans and isolated them.

Second, by assigning the Konoha Military Police Force responsibility for public security, he had made the Uchiha Clan offend other clans in the course of carrying out its duties, leaving it ostracized by them.

It was like urban management officers in his previous life.

Their notorious reputation was not because there were so many bad people among them, but because they stood in opposition to the majority.

Any slight mistake would be magnified without limit, until they became utterly infamous.

Finally, by gathering all Uchiha clansmen into a single department and restricting their range of activity to within the village, he had placed the Uchiha Clan under concentrated surveillance.

Among Konoha's four Hokage, the First Hokage was undoubtedly the strongest in terms of power. But when it came to schemes and intrigue, the Second Hokage was unquestionably the greatest.

Even the Third Hokage, who had inherited his "ideas," seemed far too immature in comparison.

Had he not been ambushed and died during the peace negotiations with Cloud Village, the Uchiha Clan would likely have ceased to exist long ago.

Arriving at his office, Uchiha Fugaku began today's work, handling the public security cases that had piled up from yesterday.

There were fights and brawls, lost wallets, drunken rampages that damaged shops, and disputes over compensation...

They were all trivial matters, and the Military Police Force members responsible for handling them directly had dealt with them fairly and impartially.

After reviewing them, he quickly signed his name, approving the resolutions proposed by the Military Police Force members.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

Uchiha Fugaku called out. Then a man pushed the door open and entered.

The man wore a green shinobi uniform, with a black armband bearing the Military Police Force emblem on his left arm. His black hair carried a faint brown tint, and the aura around him was no weaker than Shimura Ryoma's.

Uchiha Yakumi, a loyal supporter of the previous Fugaku, was a clansman the previous Fugaku had regarded as his right-hand man.

Like Shimura Ryoma, he was also an Elite Jonin.

He had already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and in terms of strength, he surpassed Shimura Ryoma.

"Captain, there is a rather unusual case that requires your prompt ruling."

After entering the office, Uchiha Yakumi spoke respectfully.

"What case?"

Uchiha Fugaku asked, imitating the previous Fugaku's usual tone.

"Last night, two groups clashed in a tavern. Both sides have been detained and brought back to the Military Police Force, but the exact judgment requires your decision."

Uchiha Yakumi said.

"The identities of the two groups are rather special?"

Uchiha Fugaku raised his brow slightly.

It was only a fight. They could simply follow the public security regulations; there was no need for him to personally make a ruling.

The only reason it had been brought to him was that the identities of both sides were unusual.

"Yes. One group belongs to the Hatake Clan, while the other belongs to the Sarutobi Clan."

"So it's those two clans. No wonder."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded, understanding Uchiha Yakumi's concern.

The Sarutobi Clan was the clan of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. It was currently at the height of its power, and one could easily imagine both its strength and its standing within the village.

As for the Hatake Clan, while it had never produced a Hokage, it had produced Konoha's White Fang, who possessed Kage-level strength.

A clan capable of nurturing a powerhouse like Konoha's White Fang was naturally no weak clan. Its strength and status within the village were naturally not low.

If the Military Police Force mishandled a conflict between members of these two clans, it could easily worsen the Uchiha Clan's already poor situation.

"Did the investigation determine which side bears greater responsibility?"

After considering it, Uchiha Fugaku asked.

"According to the investigation, the Sarutobi Clan members struck first. Although the Hatake Clan members also fought, they were mostly defending themselves and retaliating."

Uchiha Yakumi answered.

"The situation is already clear. Handle it according to the public security regulations."

Uchiha Fugaku said.

"According to the public security regulations, the Sarutobi Clan members who initiated the attack should be detained for ten days."

"However, they are members of the Sarutobi Clan, the clan of the Third Hokage. If we do this—"

Uchiha Yakumi hesitated.

The relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the Konoha High Command was already quite poor. If they further offended the Third Hokage over this, the Uchiha Clan's situation would become even more difficult.

"Don't worry. As long as we provide reasonable grounds, that fair Hokage will not deliberately target the Uchiha Clan over this."

Uchiha Fugaku sneered inwardly.

The Third Hokage had fashioned himself as Konoha's fair and righteous hero. Since he had given himself such a label, he would not easily violate it.

Therefore, as long as they provided reasonable grounds, the Third Hokage would not deliberately target the Uchiha Clan over this.

After all, once a label like that had been established, violating it would invite serious backlash.

Of course, the Third Hokage did not need to personally suppress the Uchiha Clan.

Because he usually handed such underhanded deeds, which would tarnish his own image, over to Shimura Danzō.

Throwing all the blame onto Shimura Danzō while making himself appear fair and righteous before the public had always been the Third Hokage's customary tactic.

"Go. Handle this case according to the public security regulations."

Uchiha Fugaku waved for Uchiha Yakumi to leave, but then thought of something and added.

"From now on, any public security cases involving the Sarutobi, Shimura, Mito, and Koharu clans are to be reported directly to me for judgment."

"Yes..."

Uchiha Yakumi was somewhat surprised, but he still acknowledged the order and left the office.

"Since they handed the Uchiha Clan the public security work that so easily offends people, then they cannot blame me for turning it to my advantage."

Alone in the office, Uchiha Fugaku snorted coldly.

Public security management did indeed make it easy to offend others, but if used well, its advantages could outweigh its disadvantages.

He could use the authority of public security management to suppress the Sarutobi, Shimura, Mito, and Koharu clans—four clans that could never be won over—in cases involving them, while showing goodwill toward clans outside those four and sending a signal that the Uchiha Clan wished to befriend them.

That would create rifts between the Sarutobi, Shimura, Mito, and Koharu clans and the other clans, breaking apart from within the large faction targeting the Uchiha Clan.

If handled well, he might even be able to win several allies for the Uchiha Clan.