"Then bring me the captain of the patrol squad. This kid belongs to the patrol squad."
"Yes! Understood!"
Anbu ninja Tatsushi vanished in an instant.
An eerie, suffocating silence fell over the scene.
At that moment, Tanaka Kenta's mind stopped working.
What had he just heard? He was calling—calling for the captain of the Uchiha patrol squad?
He instinctively glanced at the unconscious Uchiha Tekka on the ground, then at Hiroki, who issued orders as casually as if it were an everyday matter. A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.
How did he dare?!
That was the Uchiha!
That was the Uchiha!!! They weren't some random nobodies!
They were the village's greatest clan, the Uchiha of the red-and-white fan! One of Konoha's founding elder clans! Descendants of the heroes who had helped found the Land of Fire!
Tanaka Kenta had been a chunin in Konoha for over a decade. He was no longer some hot-blooded young man. He knew full well that there were certain rules in this village that could not be touched.
And "never provoke the Uchiha unless absolutely necessary" was the foremost ironclad rule etched into the bones of every non-Uchiha shinobi.
He had never even heard of Hyuga shinobi taking the initiative to provoke the Uchiha! Yet this man had directly named the patrol squad captain?
How did he dare?! Was he insane?!
"Lord Hiroki—" Tanaka Kenta's voice was somewhat dry. After gathering his thoughts, he tried to offer advice in the most tactful manner befitting his position. "Wouldn't this be—somewhat inappropriate?"
"The Uchiha Police Force is, after all, responsible for maintaining the village's security. Summoning their captain directly doesn't follow proper procedure. And if it leads to a conflict—"
He did not finish, but his meaning