The massive procession advanced toward the Hokage Building, step by step.
The crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger. Even the vendors packed up their stalls, afraid of getting in the way.
At first, the villagers had felt uneasy when they saw the Police Force gathering. But now, their eyes shone with admiration. Some civilian ninja even thought about joining the Police Force, though they quickly dismissed the idea.
After all, ever since the Police Force was established, no one outside the Uchiha Clan had ever joined.
Hyuga Hiashi hurried over from his clan compound with Hinata. Looking at the Uchiha Clan's Police Force before him, a jumble of emotions welled up inside.
They were both among Konoha's two great dōjutsu clans. Why could the Uchiha have such unity, while his own clan was so stifling? All he saw in his clansmen was numbness and hatred buried deep in their hearts. The Main Family and Branch Family were like sworn enemies. And that accursed Caged Bird...
Amid the envy and astonishment of the onlookers, the Police Force continued forward until they reached the Hokage Building.
"Stop!"
At Senya's command, everyone halted at once and sheathed their Ninja Blades in the scabbards on their backs.
"Straighten up!"
Their hands moved in sequence, smoothing the creases over their shoulders before moving down to flatten the wrinkles in their clothes. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and the only sound was the uniform swish of their palms brushing over their uniforms.
Senya stepped in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Lord Hokage, what do you think of the Police Force's reorganization?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was both delighted and envious. His teeth practically ached with it. Why hadn't he thought of the Uchiha's approach sooner? The Uchiha had certainly made a spectacular impression in the village. But wasn't their performance also a sign that they were submitting to him?
That was Hiruzen Sarutobi's thinking. He felt that the Uchiha had finally given in, and that was a wonderful thing. Even his teacher, the Second, Tobirama Senju, hadn't managed it. Yet he had accomplished it during his own time in office. Pride and a sense of superiority rose within him.
"Excellent. I'm very pleased with the Police Force's reorganization. The Uchiha's performance has been so impressive that it's astonishing."
Senya smiled faintly. As expected, the old Hiruzen couldn't see through his plan at all. He could carry out the next steps without worry.
"Lord Hokage, that's not all. The most important news is yet to come."
"Really? Then let's hear it."
Hiruzen was eager to find out what else there was. He had thought the Uchiha would cause trouble today, but the opposite had happened. They had brought him quite a few pleasant surprises!
Senya turned to face the villagers.
"Starting tomorrow, the Uchiha Police Force will no longer be made up solely of Uchiha."
"Any Chunin or higher-ranking ninja who wants to serve the village and help maintain public order can apply to join!"
"As long as you pass the strength assessment, every position will be open to you—even my own, as deputy chief!"
"Once you join us, the villagers will be able to see how much the Police Force has changed!"
The villagers fell silent for a moment, then erupted with excitement! It wasn't just the civilians—even the eyes of the civilian ninja seemed ready to shine like gold! The other clans in the village were overjoyed.
This was the Police Force! They could detain and arrest criminals, command an armed force of ninja openly, and even wage war! And the Uchiha were actually willing to share their authority!
Hiruzen's excitement was so great that he snapped his pipe in his right hand. After this move, the Uchiha posed far less of a threat to the village and to him. Before long, he believed, they would become like the Hyuga of today—a tiger without claws. One day, he might even be hailed as the greatest Hokage in Konoha's history!
"That concludes the Uchiha's presentation of the Police Force's reorganization. We hope it meets with Lord Hokage's approval."
Fugaku stepped in front of Hiruzen. The clan leader had to handle the final formalities himself, after all. Officially, he was the head of the clan. They had to keep Senya's role as the family's true leader hidden from outsiders, lest that old dog Danzo start snapping at them.
Fugaku had often acted submissive in front of Hiruzen before, but Hiruzen was especially pleased with the Uchiha's performance today. Fugaku's respectful manner delighted him even more, and made him seem far more agreeable.
"Excellent. I'm very pleased with the Police Force's reorganization. I hope you'll work even harder in the future, Chief Fugaku."
Hiruzen's old face was practically split by his beaming smile as he happily walked into the Hokage Building. He was probably planning to enjoy the scenery in his crystal ball while he was in such a good mood.
The Police Force followed Senya and Fugaku away, leaving behind the villagers, who remained where they were, praising and envying the Uchiha Police Force and wishing they could join. More absurdly, some were already wondering how they could marry into the Uchiha Clan...
Itachi Uchiha watched everything silently from the shadows. Senya's plan had gone perfectly. In just one week, he had improved relations between the village and the clan considerably, and even Hiruzen Sarutobi was pleased.
But now it was time to report everything to Danzo. The old schemer was far more hostile toward the Uchiha than Hiruzen was. Itachi needed to find out how Danzo would react.
His figure gradually disappeared into an alley.
Inside Root Base, Itachi Uchiha wore Root's white cat-faced mask and knelt before Danzo, reporting everything that had happened from the village gate to the Hokage Building.
Danzo stood in front of Itachi, both hands braced on his cane. Fresh white bandages covered his right eye, and he held his head slightly raised, giving him the look of someone peering down his nose.
"Hmph. The Uchiha must have ulterior motives. They're definitely plotting something. That wicked clan wouldn't become so obedient just because Shisui Uchiha died."
"Itachi, you're different from the other Uchiha. You and Shisui are ninja who care about the village—the heirs of Kagami Uchiha."
"From now on, you must gather more intelligence on the Uchiha and report to me first! Hiruzen is old! The Uchiha's performance has clearly fooled him and blinded him!"
"Yes!"
After receiving Danzo's orders, Itachi left as usual, but his thoughts had changed.
Now, he found Danzo's face so vile it made him sick. The Uchiha had indeed planned the Police Force's reorganization, but their entire purpose was to ease the tension between the village and the clan.
No matter what the Uchiha did, Danzo always had something to say about it. He always claimed they had sinister intentions and were a threat to the village.
He even called himself Konoha's "Root," claiming he would protect the village from the shadows. What shameless hypocrisy! He was nothing but a parasite clinging to the village's trunk, constantly indulging his own selfish desires!
After leaving Root, Itachi returned to the clan compound and told Fugaku and Senya about Danzo's orders. Senya told Itachi to leak all the surface-level information to Danzo from then on, to throw him off the scent.
Maybe it would even let Hiruzen and Danzo, the old partners, relive the fiery clashes of their younger days...
Before you continue