That's Right, It's Like This

"Although everyone's wages won't be as high as previously discussed, to make up for it, I've decided to allocate a portion of funds from our Uchiha Clan as bonuses. As long as you earnestly complete your training and fulfill the tasks of the Military Police Force, you'll all receive this bonus. Combined with the wages from the Military Police Force, the total amount each of you can take home every month won't differ much from what was originally promised!"

As if he had just made some decision that defied his ancestors, Uchiha Kazuto immediately turned around and left after speaking.

"Commander!"

These shinobi stared at Uchiha Kazuto's retreating figure as if they were seeing a walking, warm sun. Especially those from other Konoha clans—shock was written plainly across their faces.

The village was the village, the clan was the clan.

Although these clans had already joined the village, they still retained a great deal of autonomy. It was basically unheard of for a clan to sacrifice its own interests to compensate for the village's. The Uchiha Clan had been the same way before.

But now, everything seemed to have changed.

Uchiha Kazuto—he was the clan head of the Uchiha—yet he was using the clan's resources to make up for the village's losses. This... this...

The shinobi from Konoha's various clans were stunned. In that moment, the image of Uchiha Kazuto in their eyes had completely transformed.

This was a commander who possessed a grand vision, who loved the village more than his own clan!

Lord Kazuto!

Lord Kazuto possessed the purest Will of Fire!

Among the crowd, some Anbu shinobi planted by Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Uchiha Kazuto's demeanor and resolved to report everything that had just happened to Lord Hokage. Lord Kazuto was too good, too kind, too gentle!

"Loyalty!"

"Loyalty!"

"Loy-al-ty!"

The next moment, these shinobi raised their fists one after another, shouting the slogan of loyalty toward Uchiha Kazuto's back. The sound seemed ready to lift the roof, echoing without end.

Yes, that's it!

Uchiha Kazuto felt the rapidly rising loyalty. Yes, exactly this. Before these troops were fully unlocked, the fastest way to increase loyalty was to make these shinobi identify with him, even adore him. The lower their vigilance, the less resistance they felt, the faster they became loyal.

When absolute loyalty was achieved, even if he asked them to send their own wives to him, they wouldn't hesitate.

Even if they shouted "For Lord Hokage" ten thousand times, when the moment came to strike against the great Lord Hokage, they would still make their move without a second thought.

"Talk or not? Talk or not? Talk or not!"

In the interrogation room of the Military Police Force, two Uchiha held police batons, continuously striking a figure.

"Mmph... mmph..."

Fuu Yamanaka's eyes were filled with unbearable pain and despair. Talk? What could he say? He wanted to say something, but he couldn't!

"Tough bones. Still won't talk, huh?"

After a while, Uchiha Inaho put down his baton, shook his head, picked up a document of fabricated evidence from the side, grabbed Fuu Yamanaka's finger, and pressed it onto the paper.

I'd talk if I could, but take the cloth off my mouth first!

Fuu Yamanaka stared at Uchiha Inaho in agony and weakness. He felt like he was dying—really dying.

The pain. The unbearable pain.

Ever since Shimura Danzō died and he was captured here, at first he could still put up a tough front, acting like he'd never talk no matter what.

But these bastards never intended to let him speak at all. They'd directly severed his hand and foot tendons, tied him up, and beat him senseless every single day. From time to time, they'd pull out a forged document and press his fingerprint onto it.

The Uchiha Clan had a scheme—a terrifyingly massive one. Fuu Yamanaka felt an overwhelming dread, but there was nothing he could do.

At this moment, he desperately wished Lord Hokage would discover the Uchiha Clan's conspiracy. Otherwise...

"How is it? Has he confessed?"

Just then, a figure walked in. Seeing this person, Fuu Yamanaka's pupils contracted. A surge of strength came from somewhere in his exhausted body, and he began to struggle.

This madman, this monster—in the illusion, he had nearly tortured him to death.

"Tch, don't squirm, alright? If you won't talk, we won't do anything to you. At worst, we'll just hit you a few times, right? Heh, don't be scared!"

Uchiha Kazuto walked over, looked at Fuu Yamanaka, reached out and grabbed his head, then knocked it a few times with a bang bang.

Fuu Yamanaka stopped struggling in terror.

"Mhm, full of energy. Looks like life in the Military Police Force is treating you well!"

Uchiha Kazuto nodded, then picked up a document and began reading it.

On it were some of Shimura Danzō's crimes—some real, some fabricated. Truth mixed with lies. Uchiha Kazuto didn't care whether the other party knew what was real or fake. After all, these charges weren't meant for Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes anyway.

"Mhm, treat him well. I'm leaving."

Uchiha Kazuto put down the document and left the room.

Not enough. Completely not enough. I need more power.

Uchiha Kazuto felt the Dojutsu power continuously increasing within him and shook his head.

Hiruzen Sarutobi... you're too much of an obstacle!

As long as Hiruzen Sarutobi remained in the position of Hokage, as long as he himself hadn't reached the peak of power in Konoha, his Dojutsu's operation would never reach its maximum.

On the other side, after being ordered by Hiruzen Sarutobi to stop investigating Uchiha Kazuto, Uchiha Itachi did not completely give up.

"Lord Hokage, you have been deceived!"

Uchiha Itachi clenched his fists. He simply did not believe that Uchiha Kazuto was innocent. There had to be a massive conspiracy surrounding Uchiha Kazuto. For the sake of the village, he had to uncover the hidden scheme Uchiha Kazuto was concealing.

Damn it, if only he also possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan...

Uchiha Itachi recalled those eyes of Uchiha Kazuto. It was precisely because of those eyes that he dared not make a move against the inherently Evil Uchiha Clan, fearing he would alert the enemy and provoke Uchiha Kazuto into acting against him.

He had gone to see Uchiha Shisui, but Shisui also advised him not to investigate recklessly, lest he displease Lord Kazuto.

Listen—how pleasant the slogans outside were, how full of praise.

How could a Lord Kazuto like that possibly be hiding any conspiracy? Lord Kazuto was wholly devoted to Konoha—how could there be any problem with him?

Damn it, one after another... Uchiha Kazuto, you bastard!

Unfortunately, up until now, Uchiha Itachi had indeed uncovered nothing at all.