The Military Police Force Was Intercepted

Before long, as expected, Uchiha Huo sent word about the Military Police Force via a Ninja Cat.

The Anbu had stopped everyone from the Military Police Force.

After hearing the news, Uchiha Fugaku had a pretty good idea what was going on. It looked like he would have to make a trip himself. After all, his mission was at stake. If his excessively filial son, the furious child, or Danzo made a move against the Military Police Force and caused his mission to fail—

Uchiha Fugaku would be in tears. And if what he lost happened to be his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, he might as well lie down, have a white sheet thrown over him, and let the whole village feast.

Fugaku then turned to Uchiha Setsuna beside him.

"Great Elder, I'm going to meet our people from the Military Police Force, before anything irreversible happens."

"Please keep an eye on things here. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Uchiha Setsuna had also thought of Danzo. Given his character, he really might do something like this.

And if anyone from the Military Police Force were killed or injured, a battle between the clan and the village would truly become unavoidable.

He had long entertained such thoughts, but for the sake of the Uchiha Clan's continued survival, he understood that he couldn't let that happen.

"Very well. Go, Clan Head Fugaku. Come back quickly."

After receiving Uchiha Setsuna's reply, Uchiha Fugaku immediately headed for the Military Police Force.

After all, although the original story never mentioned it, Danzo might have been the one who targeted the Military Police Force. Otherwise, where had that pile of Sharingan come from?

When Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the Military Police Force, he saw the Uchiha clan members being held up.

In a flash, Uchiha Fugaku appeared silently in front of them.

"Didn't I give the order? Whatever the reason, return to the clan compound first."

Uchiha Fugaku looked at the members of the Military Police Force as he spoke.

One of them started to say something, but Uchiha Fugaku cut him off.

"My order is to return to the clan compound, no matter what."

The members of the Military Police Force had no choice but to return to the clan compound first. After all, Fugaku wasn't just their clan head—he was also the head of the Military Police Force.

The three Root operatives, who had been ignored until then, immediately stepped forward.

"Clan Head Fugaku, the Hokage has ordered the Military Police Force to maintain order and security in the village. You cannot move them without authorization."

Uchiha Fugaku had no intention of arguing with them. His excessively filial son Itachi and the furious child, Uchiha Obito, could show up at any moment. If they arrived early, no one would be able to stop them.

"You're Root operatives under Danzo, aren't you?"

The Anbu who had stopped the Uchiha also glanced at him, but still answered calmly.

"You're mistaken, Clan Head Fugaku. We're Anbu."

Fugaku smiled when they refused to admit it.

"You won't admit it? Then show me the Hokage's order."

When they still didn't move, Uchiha Fugaku's expression suddenly darkened.

"There isn't one. Since there isn't, what gives you the right to stop the Uchiha Clan?"

"I'll stand right here and watch. If you dare make another move, don't expect me to show you any mercy."

"Uchiha Huo, Uchiha Zhi—take everyone and leave. Return to the clan compound."

Uchiha Zhi and Uchiha Huo didn't hesitate. They immediately led everyone away. Some of the others had hesitated, but when they saw the rest leaving, they ultimately chose to follow.

When the Root operatives saw the Uchiha clan members starting to leave, they couldn't possibly let them go. They launched a surprise attack on Uchiha Fugaku.

After all, taking Fugaku down was the best way to control the Uchiha members of the Military Police Force.

But they hadn't expected that Fugaku alone would be stronger than all the members of the Military Police Force put together.

Demon Blade Thousand Edges appeared out of thin air in Uchiha Fugaku's hand, then shattered into fragments. As he swung the blade, the pieces rapidly reassembled.

Watching the blade flash past, one thought came to the Root operatives' minds as they realized they couldn't dodge in time.

"What a strange blade."

The Root operatives who had charged at Uchiha Fugaku slowed to a crawl, then fell to the ground all at once. Blood gushed from beneath their bodies, forming pools around them.

The Military Police Force members who had been slow to leave couldn't help shivering. Then they hurried away.

From that moment on, Uchiha Fugaku's new image slowly began to spread through the Uchiha Clan.

"Is this really our Clan Head Fugaku?"

Uchiha Fugaku glanced at the Root operatives hiding elsewhere, then followed the members of the Military Police Force toward the clan compound.

After all, it wouldn't be good if people were missing tonight and no one had warned him.

As expected, the Root operatives hiding in the shadows immediately went back and reported everything.

When Danzo heard the report from the returning Root operative, his heart leaped with joy. He had finally found his chance. In the past few years, the Uchiha Clan had been too timid under Fugaku's leadership, and he hadn't been able to find a decent pretext to move against them.

The only pretext he could come up with was the Nine-Tails Incident seven years ago.

Danzo knew the Uchiha Clan in Konoha probably hadn't been behind the Nine-Tails Incident. But if the Uchiha Clan weren't wiped out, how could they start eliminating the other clans?

That was the village's development strategy laid down by his teacher.

Though Danzo was excited inside, his face remained calm. He handed the report to the Root operative beside him and gave an order.

"Pass this report to Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Sarutobi Hiruzen received the latest report. After reading it, a flicker of conflict crossed his face, then his expression hardened.

So it had finally come to this. But for the sake of the village's peace, Kagami, don't blame me.

"Are all the Anbu in position?"

"Third Hokage, they're all in position. We've also completely cleared out everyone unrelated to the matter from the area around the Uchiha Clan."

Sarutobi Hiruzen then went into the Hokage Office and took out his Crystal Ball.

"Telescope Technique."

He began using the Crystal Ball to monitor what was happening with the Uchiha Clan.

After all, as Hokage, he couldn't directly interfere in the affairs of the village's clans. His involvement would mean something different from Danzo acting on his own.

As long as he, as Hokage, didn't take action himself, there would still be room to turn things around.