Undercurrents (I)

The sudden commotion in front of the pharmacy startled the villagers passing by.

But when many of them looked toward the two Police Department members at the entrance, they realized that one was the Smiling Executive Officer they all knew, Qingguang.

The gentle, refined smile that had always been on his face was gone, replaced by a stern, serious expression.

Quite a few young women passing by found themselves unable to move, and couldn't help stopping to take another look.

Some of those walking together even blushed and started whispering among themselves.

"I've never seen him make that kind of expression before. It's not bad, though. So cool and handsome."

"Exactly! The one beside him is pretty nice, too. It's been ages since I've seen a Police Department ninja wear an expression like that. It's kind of nostalgic."

Those words naturally reached Akiya's ears. The already serious expression on her face instantly turned to ice, making Yashiro feel a chill down his back. He couldn't help swallowing.

The commotion at the pharmacy made the owner, who was upstairs, too uneasy to stay put. He hurried down the stairs in a panic.

When he saw that the visitors were Uchiha from the Police Department, he immediately put on a stern face and walked up to Qingguang.

"Why is the Police Department sealing off my pharmacy? I run a perfectly legitimate business here. This is property of the Shimura family. What do you think you're doing?"

Qingguang turned to look at him. "Shimura Kougen, formerly a Konoha Chunin. You opened this pharmacy after retiring five years ago."

"Your store has been selling counterfeit medicine. Several people have already ended up in Konoha Hospital because of it. Please cooperate with our investigation."

Though Qingguang's tone was already quite polite, in Shimura Kougen's eyes, the Uchiha had never been any good, and the Police Department was no better.

Pointing right at Qingguang's face, he cursed, "I knew the changes in the Police Department lately were just an act. At heart, you're still a bunch of violent savages!"

"These are certificates authorizing the sale of medicine, personally approved by the Medical Department. Are you questioning the Medical Department?" Shimura Kougen walked to the counter and pointed at the license hanging on the wall.

The Medical Department's seal was clearly stamped on it.

Just then, Akiya came out of the shop's storeroom carrying two boxes of medicine and set them down in front of Shimura Kougen and Qingguang.

"Qingguang, the adulterated medicine is all here. Black Wind is still searching the rest of the store."

"What about the unopened ones, the ones with no detectable smell?"

Qingguang smiled at Shimura Kougen as he bent down and picked up a packet of Wind Cold Spirit from one of the boxes. "This is the medicine your store sells—Wind Cold Spirit, used to treat and prevent colds. Three children have already been admitted to Konoha Hospital after taking it. Would you like to try some yourself?"

Shimura Kougen immediately began stammering, sweat beading on his forehead as he tried to defend himself. "The Medical Department approved it. How was I supposed to know there was something wrong with the medicine?"

"What, is the Medical Department supposed to open and inspect every single packet?"

"Yashiro, Akiya, take all the medicine here, along with everyone in the shop. I'll ask Tsunade to help conduct a thorough investigation!"

The Police Department ninjas handcuffed the six employees in the pharmacy along with Shimura Kougen and escorted them to Konoha Hospital.

One Police Department ninja stayed behind to guard the scene in secret. Qingguang led the others toward the next suspicious location.

By the end of the morning, five pharmacies and eleven vegetable stalls throughout Konoha had been shut down.

At noon that day, the Police Department ninjas posted a new notice on every bulletin board in the village.

With such a commotion in the village—and the Uchiha of the Police Department behind it—the other ninja clans immediately had someone make a copy of the notice and deliver it to their clan heads.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, received a report from an Anbu ninja.

"Was this matter led by that boy, Qingguang?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked the white-haired ninja standing before him, whose face was hidden behind an Anbu mask.

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

"This is the notice the Police Department posted at noon."

The Anbu ninja placed the notice on the desk and continued to wait.

Reading its contents, Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes. "Sakumo, go and have Qingguang come see me."

"Oh, and summon Uchiha Fugaku as well."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Just as Hatake Sakumo was about to leave, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. The pipe in his mouth went out.

"Come in."

The office door opened, and Uchiha Qingguang and Fugaku entered.

Hatake Sakumo glanced at the two of them, then looked toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi waved him away, Hatake Sakumo immediately vanished, leaving through the window without a trace.

"Qingguang, Fugaku, you're both here. I was just about to send for you."

As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't smile at Qingguang as he usually did. His face was completely expressionless.

"Tell me what happened." Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe and looked at Qingguang.

Qingguang immediately laid out the recent cases of food poisoning and accidental medicine ingestion recorded at Konoha Hospital.

Then he gave a detailed account of the entire plan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was quite pleased with the operation, but one thing bothered him. "How did you find out about what was happening at Konoha Hospital?"

"A while ago, Kushina injured a few children at the Ninja Academy. I happened to be on patrol that day and ran into them. When I took them to the hospital, I noticed several villagers there with food poisoning, so I paid a little more attention."

"Konoha lies in the most fertile region of the Shinobi World. In theory, there shouldn't be any problems with either the vegetables or the meat, so I kept an eye on the matter."

"As it happened, Tsunade was on duty at Konoha Hospital that day. I saw the medical records from her clinic and noticed something seemed off, but I had no solid evidence. These past few weeks, though, cases like that have continued to turn up at Konoha Hospital. I didn't think it was a coincidence, so I brought it up with Minister Fugaku."

After hearing Qingguang's explanation, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze to Fugaku.

"Lord Hokage, everything Qingguang said is true."

Only then did Hiruzen Sarutobi smile and nod in satisfaction.

"Good. You handled this very well. It seems the recent changes in the Police Department really were the right move."

"You're not just protecting order and safety in the village. You're even looking out for the villagers' food, clothing, housing, and transportation. You've worked hard."

"I'll handle things with the Medical Department. I won't keep you from continuing to question them."

"As for the medicine, I'll have Tsunade assist with your investigation. Go ahead and do what needs to be done."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded approvingly at Qingguang, and the two of them left soon afterward.

Once Hiruzen Sarutobi was alone in the office, his expression instantly turned cold.

"Sakumo."

"I'm here." Hatake Sakumo knelt before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Come with me to the Medical Department."

"As you command, Lord Hokage."