Police Baton!

Konoha Police Force, Captain's Office.

The curtains were half-drawn, with only a few rays of sunlight falling across the desk.

Uchiha Fugaku sat in a leather chair, holding a thick file that contained not only financial reports but also optic nerve scan images.

More than half a year had passed since his return from the Land of Rain. His eyes had long since recovered, and the swelling and redness had faded, but the faint stabbing pain deep within his eyeballs whenever he used his Dojutsu had never disappeared.

"There are barely noticeable carbonization marks on the Chakra pathways around the optic nerves."

Nishikawa Tetsu stood opposite the desk, holding a pointer and indicating the eye structure diagram hanging on the blackboard. His tone was like that of someone reading out a sentence.

"Senior, although you now look no different from an ordinary person and your eyesight has not noticeably declined, my monitoring of your Chakra flow over the past two months shows that the Mangekyō Sharingan works by flooding the eyes with an extremely dense form of Yin Release Chakra."

Nishikawa Tetsu delivered the cruel diagnosis. "This Chakra is highly corrosive. Your optic nerves are like overloaded electrical wires. Every time you activate the Mangekyō, it is an irreversible 'burnout.' The more often you use it, the closer you come to complete blindness."

Fugaku set down the report and remained silent for a long while before finally rubbing his temples.

"...I understand."

His voice was calm. It was the resolve of a strong man.

"This power is both a curse and a trump card. Unless the Uchiha reach a life-or-death crisis, I will not use those eyes lightly."

"Not using the Mangekyō is the right choice, but you should also conserve the ordinary Three Tomoe in daily life."

Nishikawa Tetsu pulled a long black metal object from a box beneath the desk and tossed it to Fugaku.

"What is this?" Fugaku caught it. It felt heavy in his hand, with an excellent grip.

"I call it the 'Chakra Amplifying Baton,' or more simply, the 'Lightning Style Electric Stick.'"

Nishikawa Tetsu took the baton back and demonstrated it. He gripped the handle and fed in a trace of Lightning Nature Chakra. Using Chakra Conductive Metal seized from Root as its core, the tip of the baton instantly burst with a blinding blue-white electric arc, producing a scalp-prickling crackle.

"In the past, when the Uchiha enforced the law, they would activate the Sharingan and use genjutsu at the drop of a hat, or simply blast people point-blank with Fire Release. That method consumes a great deal of Chakra, is far too violent, easily gets people killed, and makes others resent us."

Nishikawa Tetsu explained, "This combines the paralyzing properties of Lightning Release with amplification circuits from Fuinjutsu. With just a little Chakra, it can unleash a high-voltage current powerful enough to stun a bull instantly."

"Nonlethal, no open flames, highly intimidating, and extremely Chakra-efficient."

Nishikawa Tetsu looked at Fugaku. "Senior, for the sake of your eyes, and for the Uchiha's newly established image among the people, don't go glaring at people with red eyes every time the Police Force patrols. Use this instead."

Fugaku looked at the crackling baton in his hand and imagined proud Uchiha clan members running through the streets holding batons. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

But when he considered that it could greatly reduce the clan's reliance on the Sharingan while also lowering complaints about violent law enforcement, he ultimately sighed and clipped the baton to his waist.

"I'll list it as standard equipment."

Two days later, at the training ground outside the Police Force building.

Namikaze Minato wore a crisp Police Uniform. As a special operations consultant, he held the "Lightning Style Baton" and demonstrated it to the team members.

Crackle!

A Nara clansman playing the role of a "criminal" instantly convulsed all over, rolled his eyes, and collapsed limply to the ground. There was no bloodshed throughout the process, only a faint burnt smell in the air.

"See? Instantly subdued, no bloodshed, and no permanent injury."

Minato flashed a sunny smile and gave a thumbs-up.

"This is civilized law enforcement in the new era!"

The surrounding Uchiha officers watched the scene, exchanged looks, and then erupted into fervent discussion.

Meanwhile, at the center of Konoha's power—the Hokage Building—the atmosphere was taut with hostility.

"Absurd! This is sheer nonsense!"

Shimura Danzō's cane struck the floor heavily. His single eye was filled with malice as he glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi behind the desk.

"Hiruzen, are you really going to hand Patrol District Three over to the Uchiha? That place is the village's throat! Handing the keys to the gate to that inherently evil clan—are you trying to give Konoha to them?"

It was not only Danzo. Even the two advisers who had always taken the middle ground now stood in opposition.

Utatane Koharu frowned. "Hiruzen, I also think this is inappropriate. The Second Hokage established the Police Force so the Uchiha could focus on internal security and stay away from the center of power. Now you are not only allowing them to reform, but also handing external defense over to them. That goes against the ancestral system."

"Exactly." Mitokado Homura also chimed in. "Uchiha Fugaku now possesses those eyes... You have seen the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan. It is an uncontrollable factor. If we expand their authority further, then if they launch a coup, the Anbu will be unable to seal them off from the perimeter in time."

Smoke filled the office. Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, his expression obscured by the haze.

Facing the pressure from his three old friends, he did not lose his temper at once. Instead, he calmly picked up a report.

"The 'Uchiha Police Force' you speak of is already a thing of the past."

The Third Hokage spread the report over the desk and pointed at the personnel chart.

"The Police Force now includes not only the Uchiha, but also members of the Hyuga Branch Family, elites from the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans, and even commoner geniuses like Namikaze Minato serving as consultants."

He raised his head, and his gaze sharpened.

"If you suspect the Police Force of plotting a coup, are you saying that all these clans are conspiring to rebel?"

"This..." Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a look, momentarily at a loss for words.

Indeed, Uchiha Fugaku's move of "joint law enforcement" had directly tied the Police Force to the village's other powers.

Using the excuse of "guarding against the Uchiha" to restrict the Police Force now would mean guarding against the entire ninja clan alliance.

"That is their disguise!" Danzo still refused to let it go.

"That brat Fugaku is deeply scheming, and there is also that Nishikawa Tetsu... Hiruzen, have you forgotten how Root was 'legally robbed' by them?"

At the mention of Root being raided, Danzo nearly ground his molars to dust.

"That was a law enforcement operation approved by me." The Third Hokage coldly cut Danzo off. "The Police Force's reputation is excellent now, and the villagers support it. If we not only fail to reward them at this time but suppress them over baseless suspicions, that is what would truly force them into rebellion."

Hiruzen rose to his feet and made the final decision.

"I have decided. The transfer of defense for Patrol District Three must proceed."

"And, to prevent any accidents..." The Third Hokage glanced at Danzo. "I will have Hatake Sakumo personally handle the transfer. With him watching over it, you should be reassured now, shouldn't you?"

At the mention of the White Fang, Danzo's pupil contracted slightly. In the end, he merely snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and left.

Seeing this, the two advisers could only sigh helplessly and leave the office as well.

The Third Hokage looked at the empty room and slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, a trace of weariness flashing through his eyes.

In truth, he had not wanted to grant the Police Force more authority either. But Danzo had gone too far over the years, and he could not ignore the opinions of the major ninja clans.

"The way of balance truly is difficult..."

Police Force, Captain's Office.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was a knock at the door, followed by the door being pushed open.

Nishikawa Tetsu walked in, followed by Hatake Sakumo, who had just received the Hokage's secret order.

He had long silver-white hair, a Chakra short blade emitting white light strapped to his back, and a gentle yet sharp expression.

"Lord Hatake?" Fugaku was slightly surprised and quickly stood.

"No need for formalities, Captain Fugaku."

Hatake Sakumo smiled. His smile was warm, not as cold and ruthless as the stories claimed.

Or rather, his ruthlessness was reserved only for enemies.

"Today, I represent the Anbu and the Jonin Squad to transfer the defense of Patrol District Three to the Police Force."

He placed a document on the desk, stamped with the Hokage's bright red seal.

Fugaku accepted the document. Looking at that seal, he could imagine the sort of struggle that had taken place behind it.

Patrol District Three was a vital location that had always been controlled by the Anbu.

Its transfer to the Police Force meant that the Hokage had withstood the pressure from the high-ranking officials and was truly beginning to trust Konoha's Police Force.

"Thank you, Lord Hatake," Fugaku said solemnly.

"Don't thank me. You earned this yourselves."

Hatake Sakumo walked to the window and watched the Uchiha and non-clan officers below practicing with their batons. A trace of admiration appeared in his eyes.

"To be honest, I used to be prejudiced against the Uchiha as well. But seeing the Police Force as it is now, I think... Konoha may truly be able to welcome a new era."

Hatake Sakumo turned around, his gaze sweeping over Fugaku and Nishikawa Tetsu.

"You have done very well. Especially this idea of turning Chakra into tools—it is highly forward-looking. Hokage-sama used the results of your reforms to silence the advisers at the meeting. Well done."

Nishikawa Tetsu inclined his head slightly. "It was merely to improve efficiency."

Hatake Sakumo nodded. He did not linger and turned to leave.

Watching the White Fang depart, Fugaku let out a long breath and sat back down. The hard chair beneath him finally seemed a little more secure.

"Did you see that, Senior?"

Nishikawa Tetsu leaned against the desk, spinning a pen between his fingers. "This is momentum. When even the White Fang takes the initiative to show goodwill, and when the Hokage is willing to refute the advisers for the Police Force's sake, that old man Danzo will have to think twice before making a move against you."

"Yes..."

Fugaku touched the baton at his waist, and a relaxed smile finally appeared on his face.

"Although I can no longer use my eyes freely, this road is only growing wider."

"However..." Nishikawa Tetsu changed the subject, his expression turning serious. "Reform is only the first step. Now that we have territory and resources, it is time to begin a true arms race."

"What do you mean?"

"Scientific Ninja Tools!"