Joining the Police Department

"Man! What can I say?" Uchiha Ling couldn't help but let out a long roar toward the sky.

The Mangekyo Sharingan truly lived up to its reputation as the eye that reflects the heart; with this, his greatest concern—survival—was finally resolved.

After redeeming the Mangekyo Sharingan, 3462 Emotion Points remained, and Uchiha Ling intended to spend them all in one go.

[Redeem Body Flicker Technique Mastery: 500 Emotion Points]

This could be considered the most cost-effective redemption in the System Store. In Naruto, the Body Flicker Technique was only classified as a D-rank ninjutsu.

Since the system priced items based on ninjutsu rank, Uchiha Ling had managed to pull off a massive bargain.

With the remaining Emotion Points, Uchiha Ling redeemed three Ninjutsu Mastery Scrolls (750*3), applying them to Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode, Yin Healing Wound Bullet, and Strength of a Hundred, respectively.

He pulled up the panel once more to check.

[Host: Uchiha Ling]

[Age: 13]

[Bloodline: Mangekyo Sharingan, Primary Uzumaki Constitution]

[Chakra: 25 Cal]

[Nature Transformation: Wind, Fire, Lightning, Earth, Water, Yin, Yang]

[Overall Combat Power Assessment: Strong Kage Level]

[Skills Mastered: Three Body Technique, Uchiha Style Body Technique, Shurikenjutsu

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Fire Style: Fire Dragon Technique

Hell Viewing Technique, Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique, Haze Clone Technique, Interrogation Genjutsu, Kari-shin Technique, Body Freeze Technique

Advanced Chakra Refinement Method, Chakra Control (Mastery), Hand Seals (Mastery)

Rasengan (Mastery), Strength of a Hundred (Mastery), Summoning Technique, Shadow Clone Technique (Mastery), Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode (Mastery), Mystical Palm Technique (Proficient), Yin Healing Wound Bullet (Mastery)]

[Personal Items: None]

[Overall Evaluation: 13-year-old Uchiha Madara was peeing by the river, 13-year-old Hashirama Senju was skipping stones, and the 13-year-old host has already become a top-tier powerhouse in the ninja world.]

"Oh, awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan also brought about a significant increase in my chakra reserves.

In this era of the ninja world, the only ones with Strong Kage-level combat power seem to be the elderly Madara and Nagato, who can summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, right?

Doesn't that mean I can walk sideways across the ninja world now!"

Seeing the combat power listed on the panel, Uchiha Ling felt a surge of excitement.

With his combat power no longer a concern, Uchiha Ling began to plan for the political front.

I, Uchiha Ling, have I ever lacked the dream of becoming Hokage?

His current status was somewhat delicate: nominally, he was a disciple of one of the Sannin, holding a transcendent position; but in reality, following his mentor's departure, he had become a "freelancer" without a fixed squad assignment.

In times of peace, this might have meant freedom, but on the eve of war, it implied extreme uncertainty and risk.

The once "toppled" Shimura Danzō had gradually regained power after the passing of Mito Uzumaki. If he were to be absorbed by Shimura Danzō and the "Root" organization under the guise of "special wartime conscription," it would completely disrupt all of his plans.

Uchiha Ling needed a fulcrum—a platform that could reasonably help him avoid the most brutal wars of attrition in the early stages of the conflict, while allowing him to legally accumulate credentials and delve into the core of power.

Uchiha Ling's gaze was cast precisely toward the solemn building on the other side of the river, adorned with the red and white fan crest: the Konoha Military Police Force Headquarters.

This institution, established by the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju with the intention of granting the Uchiha power while simultaneously marginalizing them, was, on Uchiha Ling's current strategic map, the most ideal safe haven, observation post, and springboard.

More importantly, within the Uchiha Clan, a trend of thought longing to change the status quo and improve relations with the village's mainstream forces was quietly surging; the doves were beginning to gain the upper hand.

As a "bridge" figure with close ties to the Hokage's inner circle (Namikaze Minato), one of the Sannin (Tsunade), and even the former Nine-Tails jinchūriki Uzumaki Kushina, his value in the eyes of the clan's top brass was no longer what it once was.

Opportunities are fleeting.

Uchiha Ling changed into a formal Uchiha clan robe, the dark, high-collared garment pressed flat, making his posture appear even more upright.

Uchiha Ling headed straight for the clan's council hall in the heart of the district to request an audience with the current clan head, Uchiha Chizheng, and the presiding elders.

Inside the council hall, the atmosphere was solemn and grave, the air filled with the faint scent of incense.

Clan Head Uchiha Chishin sat in the main seat. He was in his fifties, with a scholarly face, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, his gaze seeming to pierce through one's heart wherever it landed.

Uchiha Chishin was neither an extreme hawk nor a blind dove; his governing philosophy leaned toward pragmatically and cautiously seeking the possibility of coexistence with the village, provided the Uchiha's honor and pride were upheld.

The elders sitting on both sides had varied expressions, but compared to a few years ago, the voices advocating for a harder stance against the village's top brass had clearly subsided due to the looming threat of war.

Maintaining stability within the village to ensure the family's safety and interests during the war had become the more pressing consideration.

Uchiha Ling stepped forward: "Clan Head, Elders. I formally apply to join the Konoha Military Police Force!"

Uchiha Chishin's tone carried undisguised approval: "Ling, that you have this heart is the family's fortune. With the current situation in turmoil, the Military Police Force needs young people like you, full of vitality and ability, to show the village that our Uchiha is not just a clan of warriors, but an indispensable force for protecting Konoha."

As early as two years ago, when he was still at the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Chishin had thought highly of Uchiha Ling and hoped he would join the Konoha Military Police Force after graduation.

He believed Uchiha Ling was the key to solving the Uchiha's current problems, but because Uchiha Ling had been taken as a disciple by Tsunade of the Sannin immediately upon graduation, Uchiha Chishin had been unable to speak up.

Another elder, Uchiha Setsuna, who had previously been critical of Uchiha Ling's close association with the "Hokage faction," only frowned slightly this time and said in a deep voice: "The Military Police Force has heavy responsibilities and concerns the family's reputation. You must understand that once you put on that uniform, your every word and action will no longer represent just you alone."

Seeing Uchiha Setsuna relent, the Clan Head spoke slowly: "Uchiha Ling has the clan and the village at heart; effective immediately, you are officially inducted into the Konoha Military Police Force."

The Clan Head's decision struck like a hammer on an anvil, and most of the elders present tacitly accepted the result.

The entire process went more smoothly than expected.

The next day, Uchiha Ling collected the deep blue uniform that symbolized duty and authority at the Military Police Force headquarters.

According to the standard configuration of the Military Police Force, field missions were typically carried out by three-man squads.

Uchiha Ling was assigned to the Third Division, which was responsible for maintaining order in the core districts of Konoha, and formed a new squad with two other Uchiha elites of his age.

His two teammates were none other than Uchiha Tekka and Uchiha Yashiro, both of whom were renowned among the younger generation of the clan.

Uchiha Tekka was true to his name; his personality was like refined iron forged a thousand times—fiery, unyielding, and sharp-edged.

He had long heard of Uchiha Ling's strength and even harbored a desire to test his skills against him.

Uchiha Yashiro, on the other hand, stood in stark contrast to Tekka.

With a calm countenance and reserved gaze, he already exuded a level of composure and strategic depth that belied his youth, making him a rare intellectual talent among the younger generation.