To Be Hokage, First Master the Art of Checks and Balances

Logically speaking, a petty offense like posting small advertisements did not need to be specially reported to Uchiha Setsuna, captain of the Public Security Brigade and the Chief Elder handling clan affairs.

But the arrested men had produced identification tokens resembling those of Anbu members, leaving the Police Force's rank-and-file patrolmen hesitant.

After discussing it among themselves, they ultimately decided to report the matter to their superiors. If they really had arrested people from some secret department within the village, low-level public servants like them could not shoulder the responsibility.

"Root?"

Uchiha Setsuna exchanged a glance with Uchiha Lucha, and both saw profound confusion in the other's eyes.

Was there such a department in the village?

"Are they registered village ninja?"

The most direct way to determine their identities was to check their records. Konoha had a comprehensive archive of ninja registrations, though those documents were classified.

Fortunately, the Police Force had partial authority to access the files and could investigate these men's backgrounds.

"We checked. There's no information on them among the ordinary registered ninja."

The patrolman who had come to report shook his head. Uchiha Setsuna's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this.

There were only two possibilities.

First, they were frauds or spies impersonating Konoha ninja.

Second, their information was classified at too high a level for the Police Force's authority to access.

These were troubled times, and the Uchiha Clan's position was hardly ideal. Uchiha Setsuna believed they needed to handle this cautiously and avoid bringing unnecessary trouble upon the clan.

"Take me to them."

With that, Uchiha Setsuna rose to his feet. After excusing himself to Uchiha Lucha, he left.

Inside the Konoha Police Force's temporary detention center,

Three ninja dressed in Anbu uniforms crouched in a neat row with their hands bound behind them, awaiting