All Coincidences Were Planned Long in Advance

No wonder that later, when Kumogakure pressured them, not a single clan spoke up for them.

From the very beginning, they had no allies worth trusting.

"Enough. Send all this intelligence to the Third Elder.

"Konoha needs to face reality. Our previous plan was ultimately too small-minded."

Shinichi Hyuga lightly tapped the table, curbing everyone's enthusiasm before assigning the busywork to the Third Elder.

All he wanted now was to see how the Uchiha Clan would respond when their conspiracy was exposed.

Would they still just wait for their destruction?

The Third Elder was stunned for a moment. It seemed his authority was growing by the day.

Then he thought it over. Everything was for the clan.

A clan like this was worth their sacrifice.

Shinichi Hyuga was planning an event that all of Konoha ought to take part in.

The Konoha Military Police Force in Konoha.

It had been established specifically by the Second, as a privilege reserved for the Uchiha Clan.

Its day-to-day duties involved handling the various disputes that arose in the village.

Its authority wasn't great, but it could drive a wedge between the Uchiha Clan and the other clans in the village.

The short-sighted Uchiha Clan had turned their backs on the ambitious Madara Uchiha in their hearts, all because of the Second's empty promises.

Now, every one of the Uchiha Clan's rights had been divided up among the other clans.

All they could do was cling to the Military Police Force, maintaining their last, illusory vestige of glory.

The Military Police Force's ninja also operated in teams of three to prevent extreme situations. Usually, each team included both Hawk Faction and Dove Faction members.

As for the Dog Faction, their numbers were too small, so they generally served in Anbu.

They followed their usual patrol routes around Konoha, maintaining stability in the village.

This, too, was a policy set by the Second. As long as the Uchiha Clan obeyed his orders and ingrained the spirit of protecting Konoha in their hearts, it would serve as another way to tame them.

Because of this, many Uchiha Clan ninja had long since grown lax.

But the clan's current leader was Fugaku Uchiha.

The Third had a hand in Fugaku's ability to secure the position.

Early morning.

The Uchiha Military Police dispatched a routine patrol team.

The team was led by Meihuo Uchiha, the son of the Uchiha Clan's Great Elder and a staunch Hawk Faction ninja.

Right behind him was Shinichi Uchiha, also a Hawk Faction ninja.

Keeping some distance from the two was Tomoya Uchiha, from the clan leader's branch and a Dove Faction ninja.

Though they belonged to different factions within the clan, the three usually got along well.

"Lord Meihuo, a scroll just hit me. It says there's a Kumogakure spy at the weapons exchange." Behind him, Tomoya Uchiha held a scroll bearing a man's portrait and intelligence about him.

"The weapons exchange is run by the Sarutobi Clan now, isn't it? We'd better not meddle.

"Besides, passing intelligence this way is probably a trap."

As a Dove Faction member, Tomoya Uchiha first recalled Fugaku Uchiha's words.

"With the Fourth Hokage in office, the Uchiha Clan will fit in better with Konoha. But only if we don't provoke the Third."

Looking at the hot potato in his hand, Tomoya Uchiha wished he could slap himself.

He had only stepped away from the other two for a moment when the scroll hit him. He couldn't help suspecting a plot, so he tried to talk Meihuo Uchiha out of it.

Not far away, Hyuga Hiashi watched them.

He had just sent the scroll flying with Gentle Fist.

"Damn it, Tomoya! What are you talking about? Why should we avoid the Sarutobi Clan? This is one of the Military Police Force's duties. Of course we have to investigate!"

Meihuo Uchiha was full of resentment toward the Sarutobi Clan.

It was the Third who had interfered in the Uchiha Clan's election, leaving the weak Fugaku Uchiha as their leader.

The intelligence on the scroll was detailed enough to make him believe at least some of it.

He snatched the scroll from Tomoya's hand, knowing there might be a plot behind it.

But the Uchiha Clan's refusal to heed warnings flared up in him all the same.

He headed for the weapons exchange.

Shinichi Hyuga and Hyuga Hiashi watched everything with the Byakugan.

They had been waiting a long time for this opportunity.

The only thing Shinichi Hyuga regretted was that

no one from the Dog Faction was taking part. Otherwise, the scene would have been even more dramatic.

The three sprinted to the entrance of the weapons exchange.

It was a two-story wooden building, but its footprint covered half of Training Ground 8. Inside, it was packed with all kinds of ninja tools commonly used by ninja.

The doors were taller and wider than those of ordinary shops, allowing cargo carts to pass through.

It was also one of Konoha's landmarks.

A convoy was in the middle of a transaction. Its merchant flags bore the insignia of the Land of Lightning.

Every cart was piled high with large crates, all of them filled with weapons.

They were about to trade with the Sarutobi Clan.

At any time, selling weapons was a highly profitable business.

Boom!

An explosion rang out.

It came from one of the crates, and the flash of fire stung the eyes of the people nearby.

In the ensuing chaos, the people who had been guarding the cargo scattered.

Only a scene of wreckage remained.

A mangled body lay right in front of them.

Meihuo Uchiha's attention settled on its face. Wasn't this the very person mentioned in their intelligence?

The man clutched a scroll tightly in his hand.

The seal on it bore the word Uchiha. The rest of the writing was sealed away, impossible to make out.

As if guided by something, Meihuo Uchiha couldn't help walking toward the body, intending to pick up the scroll in the man's hand.

"Lord Meihuo!"

Tomoya Uchiha stopped him at that moment.

One coincidence after another had happened to him, making him even more wary.

This kind of incident would normally be investigated by Anbu, especially since it had happened in territory controlled by the Sarutobi Clan.

The head of Konoha Anbu was now Shinnosuke Sarutobi.

He didn't want Meihuo Uchiha to clash with Konoha Anbu.

Meihuo Uchiha shot him a glance and kept reaching for the scroll.

Whoosh!

Just as his hand was about to close around it, a kunai cut across his path.

If he hadn't pulled his hand back fast enough, he would have been left with a wound deep enough to expose bone. Whoever had intervened clearly wanted to teach him a lesson.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have stopped at giving him a mere wound.

"This place is now under Anbu's control. Anyone not involved, leave."

An Anbu ninja stepped out of the weapons exchange, looking arrogant as he ordered Meihuo Uchiha around.

"Shinnosuke Sarutobi! You think I wouldn't recognize you just because you put on a monkey mask? I'm taking this man with me today. He's the Military Police Force's quarry."

A dangerous glint flashed in Meihuo Uchiha's eyes. Shinnosuke Sarutobi had been the one leading the pressure against the Uchiha Clan back then.

The two sides were on the verge of a fight.

Crack~