Konoha Military Police Building
Conference Room
Uchiha Sanzang sat in the central seat of the conference room, while dozens of Uchiha ninjas sat cross-legged inside.
Most of the Police Force members wore Konoha Chunin or Jonin flak jackets and Forehead Protectors.
Their armbands were embroidered with a green Shuriken, with a Gunbai emblem in the hole at its center. This was the symbol of the Military Police Force.
A few promising young Genin had no Konoha flak jackets. Instead, they wore clothes embroidered with the Uchiha Gunbai.
After a brief exchange of greetings, the squads began reporting on their work.
The First Squadron, led by Uchiha Naraku and formerly the harshest squad when it came to suppressing villagers, reported only a few minor incidents.
Most of its report concerned releasing detained villagers, identifying suspicious individuals, keeping a close eye on a few Konoha Ninja who had gone mad to prevent them from harming the village, and other such matters.
Being a ninja was a high-risk occupation. Many who had just entered the battlefield or faced overwhelming psychological pressure during missions—or who had lost comrades in battle or loved ones—could become distressed and mentally unstable.
At the time, there was no such thing as psychological treatment in the shinobi villages. Ninjas simply tried to toughen themselves up and heal on their own.
These psychological problems weren't limited to any one clan or individual. They were common issues in the high-risk profession of being a ninja.
The guidance offered by Naruto-series characters in the later anime had led people to think these problems were unique to the Uchiha, which was clearly absurd.
"Why has the First Squadron handled so many fewer matters involving villagers?"
Uchiha Sanzang asked in a low voice. He obviously already knew the answer and was asking just to highlight Naraku's achievements.
Uchiha Go, captain of the First Squadron's Third Unit, stood and replied:
"Captain, it's because Lord Naraku divided up the team members' duties. My Third Unit in the First Squadron only handles matters involving villagers and street sanitation. Since we set aside an area for street vendors, they now have somewhere to make a living, so there have been far fewer conflicts."
"We also carefully observed the area and chose the stalls' locations to ensure they wouldn't obstruct traffic or draw complaints from villagers. As for those who set up stalls illegally, we drove them out and punished them."
"Most villagers and vendors approve of our work, so there have been fewer conflicts."
Uchiha Go calmly explained why the number of conflicts with villagers had declined.
"Dividing up duties? Setting aside an area for street vendors? Good."
Uchiha Sanzang nodded slightly. In the Military Police Force, he carried himself with authority, like a leader.
"The other squads should learn from the First Squadron," Sanzang said, offering some encouragement to the other two squads.
"Yes!"
The people below answered in unison.
Uchiha Naraku sat in the front row, with four unit captains beside him. He kept his eyes lowered and his mind still. He really had no interest in a meeting that felt like a mere formality.
The meeting lasted nearly two hours. Each squad and unit reported on its key duties and any unusual situations that had come up. Naraku was so bored he nearly dozed off.
"All right. I hope you'll all work hard and keep Konoha peaceful. Now, I have an important assignment."
"Once the meeting ends, each squad will send two units to the village entrance to maintain order and welcome the heroes of Konoha home!"
Uchiha Sanzang had listened to two hours of trivial reports without showing the slightest impatience. Only as the meeting drew to a close did he assign the important task.
It was clear that, in Uchiha Sanzang's eyes, welcoming Konoha's heroes wasn't as important as the Police Force's day-to-day duties.
"The ninjas who went off to war are finally coming home?"
The thought crossed Naraku's mind. Year 38 of Konoha was nearly over, and the Second Shinobi World War was probably nearing its end too. All that remained were scattered local clashes.
"Yes!" the subordinate ninjas answered in unison.
At the gates of Konohagakure.
Countless villagers were already waiting for the Konoha ninjas to return, flowers in hand.
The Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stood at the entrance. The two advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, stood slightly behind him.
The Military Police Force stood in front of the villagers, maintaining order and keeping the road clear for the returning troops so the villagers wouldn't crowd in and block their way.
Beyond the village gates, a vast column of ninjas gradually came into view. Thousands of them were returning. With their hands clasped behind their backs, they seemed eager to get home as they made their way toward the entrance.
At the head of the column were the Konoha Sannin.
Cold Lord Orochimaru had long, smooth hair that fell to his waist, a pale face, and purple eye shadow. A faint smile rested on his face. He was quite popular among the villagers: mysterious, powerful, and dependable. That was how the Konoha ninjas saw Orochimaru at the time.
Princess Tsunade, granddaughter of the First Hokage and a medical Jonin, had saved countless Konoha ninjas. She was also a skilled shinobi with an outgoing, bold personality, and she was held in high regard throughout Konoha.
Mad Ghost Jiraiya was one of the Sannin, a ninja who called himself the Toad Sage and specialized in the Summoning Technique.
Shimura Danzō, the commander of this war, was nowhere to be seen. The Leader of Root, who lurked in the shadows, apparently had no liking for the sunlight.
During the Second Shinobi World War, many ninjas earned great renown. Those who made a name for themselves included Hatake Sakumo, known as the White Fang of Konoha, and the Konoha Sannin.
Uchiha Naraku, the Copy Ninja, and Wicked Eye Fugaku had also made names for themselves early in the war. But after displaying their prowess at the start, Naraku and Fugaku had soon vanished from the public eye.
Of all the ninjas with fearsome reputations, the White Fang of Konoha was the greatest.
The great nations had all issued notices saying that anyone who encountered the White Fang of Konoha could abandon their mission without being punished. That showed just how fearsome his reputation was.
"Heroes! Welcome home!" The Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, greeted the returning troops in person, his pipe clenched between his teeth.
The villagers scattered flower petals, creating a scene of celebration.
"Sensei!"
"Old man!"
"Gramps!"
"Lord Hokage!"
The returning ninjas greeted Konoha's leader. Sarutobi's three students all called the Third by different names.
Uchiha Naraku stood on the roof of a nearby building, watching the grand welcome ceremony.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen is really sparing no effort to build up his students' reputations."
Uchiha Naraku shook his head, grumbling inwardly.
The returning ninjas continued to file into the village. The villagers scattering flower petals grew nervous, their eyes fixed on the troops as they searched for their loved ones.
Those who still hadn't found their loved ones began to look anxious and afraid. Not finding them meant they might have...
The villagers on either side called out their loved ones' names.
"Daliwan! Where are you?"
"My child, Sasaki! Where are you?"
"Big Brother! Murata! Where are you?"
The villagers' cries continued.
"I'm here!"
"Over here!"
From time to time, a ninja in the ranks called back loudly. The greetings and concern of their families and fellow villagers warmed the returning ninjas, bringing smiles to their faces.
The villagers who heard a reply immediately lost their anxious, fearful expressions and broke into cheerful laughter, scattering even more petals toward their loved ones.
But those who received no reply grew even more anxious. Many were so worried that tears spilled from their eyes, while sweat ran down their faces like rain. Some even called out louder, their voices breaking with sobs.
Orochimaru, walking at the head of the returning troops, watched the scene and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"Humans... are so fragile..."
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