You're Uchiha Shisui?

He took the bowl and sat beside Uchiha Zongye, then picked up his chopsticks and stirred the noodles.

"I'll get you a key made tomorrow." He sighed. "But could you stop climbing in through the windows all the time? The neighbors will think there's a burglar in my house."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Uchiha Zongxin said indistinctly around a mouthful of noodles. "We're in the Police Force. We're the ones who catch burglars."

Naoki shook his head and lowered his gaze to his noodles.

They were simple noodles in soy sauce broth, with a little greens and egg. But on this night, so soon after the turmoil of war, they felt especially warm.

As they ate, Naoki asked, "By the way, what were you all busy with today? There was hardly anyone at the Police Force."

"There was plenty to do." Uchiha Zongxin went back for another bowl and stirred it. "We spent the whole day helping villagers who'd lost their homes build temporary shelters."

He glanced out the window at the heavy rain and added, "Good thing we finished most of them before it started. Otherwise, all those villagers would've been drenched."

Uchiha Zongye set down his chopsticks, his expression turning serious. "Have you heard the results of today's meeting with the higher-ups? The Third Hokage personally stepped in to clear our name. Someone deliberately framed us by making it look like the Sharingan was in the Nine-Tails' eyes."

Naoki nodded. "Uncle told me. It's good news, but we shouldn't let our guard down."

"I know." Uchiha Zongye sighed. "But the way Akimichi Choza acted at the meeting... The Third Hokage managed to put a stop to it, but plenty of people are still holding a grudge."

Naoki said nothing more. The three of them ate in silence for a while, with only the rain outside for company.

"By the way, I haven't congratulated you on your promotion yet."

Uchiha Zongye produced a small bottle of liquor from somewhere, poured a little into a cup, and handed it to Naoki before downing a big gulp himself.

Wiping his mouth, he said, "Congratulations."

Naoki downed the liquor in one go. Its fiery bite rushed into his nose, and he hurriedly ate a couple of mouthfuls of noodles to soothe the burn.

"So, Naoki, does that mean you won't be going on missions with us anymore?" Uchiha Zongxin asked.

"That's right."

"By the way, everyone knows you got promoted, but where did you end up? It sounds pretty mysterious," Uchiha Zongxin asked.

"The Internal Affairs Bureau, Inspection Division!"

Naoki's six words left the Uchiha brothers stunned.

"You got transferred to the Internal Affairs Bureau?" Uchiha Zongye said, unable to believe it.

Uchiha Zongye had good reason to be shocked.

The Police Force had three main bureaus.

The first was the General Affairs Bureau, which handled finances, personnel, records, and the like. Next came the Operations Bureau, the largest in terms of staff, responsible for patrols and all sorts of odd jobs. Last was the Internal Affairs Bureau, the most powerful of the three. It worked exclusively within the force, overseeing and inspecting all its members.

The heads of the first two bureaus were both senior members of the Uchiha Clan. For example, Uchiha Yashiro headed the General Affairs Bureau. The third bureau was different; Uchiha Fugaku personally oversaw it.

The Internal Affairs Bureau's middle-ranking officials already wielded considerable power and reported directly to Uchiha Fugaku, so it went without saying how much authority they had. Naoki had leaped from an ordinary member of the Police Force to a middle-ranking official in the third bureau, reporting directly to Uchiha Fugaku. It was a huge jump, so Uchiha Zongye could hardly be blamed for his surprise.

Uchiha Zongye said wistfully, "Looks like Fugaku really thinks highly of you."

"I've been working my way up in the Police Force since I was eight. I'm twenty-seven now, and I'm still only a squad leader—not even a division chief..."

"Don't lose heart." Naoki patted Uchiha Zongye on the shoulder. "Zongxin has plenty of talent. Even if you never make division chief, he'll get there someday."

"Hey, Uchiha Naoki, don't underestimate me! I'm not just going to become a division chief. I'm going to head the Operations Bureau, and even become deputy director and Fugaku's right-hand man!"

"Sure." Naoki grinned. "Time to start dreaming~"

On this stormy night, Konoha lay quiet and peaceful in the aftermath of the disaster. Far away, on the battlefield along the southern coast, twelve Konoha Ninja were pursuing eight Kirigakure Ninja through the rain. Leading them was Shisui, who had recently risen to fame on the battlefield.

Rain poured like a waterfall over the coast of the Land of Fire's Southern Border. Twelve figures raced through the mud, their footsteps all but swallowed by the thunder and rain.

Shisui charged at the front, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan glowing faintly red in the rainy night.

"Flank them from the left! Don't let them escape into the sea!" Shisui's voice was calm and clear, carrying through the rain to every member of his team.

The eight Kirigakure Ninja were clearly at the end of their rope. They had nearly exhausted their chakra in the earlier battle, but instinct kept them struggling to survive.

One of the Kirigakure jōnin abruptly turned and stopped, forming Hand Seals.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

With the surrounding sea lending it strength, a massive water dragon rose from the waves and surged toward the Konoha Ninja, sweeping the rain along with it.

Shisui flashed forward, closing in on the Kirigakure jōnin like a phantom.

"Genjutsu!"

One glance was all it took. The jōnin froze, confusion flickering in his eyes.

The next moment, Shisui's short blade pierced his chest.

"Captain!"

The other Kirigakure Ninja cried out, but it was too late.

Seeing their opening, the other Konoha Ninja rushed forward to kill the rest of the Kirigakure Ninja.

Suddenly, an explosion boomed across the sea.

Shisui furrowed his brow and walked to the shore, looking out at the churning water.

"What's going on out there?" asked the childhood friend and close companion who came up beside him.

"I don't know. Stay alert."

But the moment Shisui finished speaking, another tremendous blast erupted over the sea, as if it would tear the heavens and earth apart!

Shisui's pupils contracted. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan stayed fixed on the heaving waves.

It seemed an immense mass of chakra was rising from the depths...

"Everyone, fall back!"

He spun around and shouted to his companions, but his voice was nearly drowned out by the crashing waves.

It was already too late.

The waves grew higher and higher, and in an instant, a towering swell dozens, even hundreds of meters high had formed.

Then, as though an invisible force had parted the towering waves neatly down the middle, a short figure strode out across the water.

He was a short man, yet radiated authority. His pale green hair remained perfectly still in the downpour, and he held a strangely shaped Hook Staff. Most chilling of all were his emotionless, pale purple eyes, cold as the depths of the sea.

"Karatachi... Yagura?" The ninja beside Shisui spoke in a trembling voice. "Why is he here?!"

"Forget that! Hurry, get out of here! I'll handle this!" Shisui shouted to his companions.

"No! You can't stop him alone!"

While the two argued, Karatachi Yagura, backed by a towering wall of sea, had already approached.

"Hey, red-eyed kid. Are you Uchiha Shisui?"