Fugaku's "Fall"

Hidden Leaf Police Force Headquarters.

This building, located in the central district of the village, had once been the most heavily guarded and awe-inspiring place in the Hidden Leaf.

Every villager who passed by and saw that huge red-and-white fan crest would instinctively lower their voice and hurry their steps.

But today, things seemed a little different.

The door to the Police Force captain's office stood wide open.

Uchiha Fugaku, the Uchiha clan head who normally never cracked a smile and carried the sound of wind and thunder even in his stride, was now sprawled without the slightest regard for his image in that broad genuine-leather swivel chair.

His feet were propped up on the desk, and in his hands he held a novel with a gaudy cover—if one looked closely, it was Lord Jiraiya's newly published Make-Out Paradise.

The desk was piled with expensive refreshments, along with several empty bottles of sake.

"Clan head."

Yashiro Uchiha pushed the door open and came in, holding a thick scroll in his hand, his brows tightly furrowed. He was clearly somewhat unused to the sight before him.

"The villagers have complained that this week's public security patrols have been too lax. A few wandering ninja caused trouble in the east district, and our members actually only drove them away instead of arresting them."

Yashiro walked up to the desk and slapped the scroll heavily onto it, his tone carrying a bit of feigned disappointment at someone failing to live up to expectations.

"If this continues, where will the Police Force's authority be?"

Fugaku lazily lifted his eyelids and glanced at Yashiro over the top of the page.

"Authority?"

Fugaku gave a sneer, tossed the book onto the desk, reached out, grabbed a pastry, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Yashiro, you're just too rigid. Back when we cracked down strictly, they said we enforced the law violently, said we Uchiha had no human feeling. Now that we ease up a little and let them make trouble themselves, they say we're doing nothing."

Fugaku yawned and waved a hand. "Let them be. The brothers have been tired lately too. Let everyone rest. If there's nothing going on tonight, call a few squad leaders and go have a drink at the izakaya. Put it on my tab."

Yashiro froze for a moment, seeming not to have expected the clan head to say something like that.

"But... if the Hokage Building holds us accountable..."

"Then let them hold us accountable." Fugaku turned over, adjusting into a more comfortable posture. "At worst, they'll just cut a little funding. If it comes to it, I won't be captain anymore. I'll go home and retire."

At the same time.

Inside Hiruzen Sarutobi's home.

The retired Third Hokage was sitting in an old wicker chair, holding a pipe in his hand, with a crystal-clear orb placed before him.

"Telescope Technique."

As chakra flowed into it, the image of the Police Force office appeared on the crystal ball.

Amid curling smoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the decadent, lazy, even somewhat scoundrel-like Uchiha Fugaku in the image. His aged brows furrowed slightly, yet the tight knot between them relaxed somewhat.

"So this is the current Fugaku..."

The Third exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze complicated.

The previous Uchiha Fugaku had been like a bow drawn taut at all times, with sharp eyes and raging ambition. Every time the Third saw him, he could feel that oppressive sense that he was ready to strike back at any moment for the interests of his clan.

But now...

The Fugaku in the image was like a ball of cotton with its bones pulled out.

That sharp edge had vanished, replaced by a greasy weariness particular to middle-aged men.

"Looks like Shisui's intelligence was correct," the Third murmured. "The internal conflicts within the Uchiha have indeed left Fugaku disheartened. Even the clan head has begun to give up on himself. This clan... probably truly can't stir up any major waves anymore."

Just then, a plump merchant walked into the scene within the crystal ball.

The merchant's face was wreathed in smiles, and he carried a heavy gift box in his hands.

"Captain Fugaku! Just a small token, hardly worthy of respect." The merchant placed the gift box on the desk and quietly opened a crack.

Inside, golden light glittered. It was all gold coins.

Based on the Third's understanding of Fugaku, for such blatant bribery, Fugaku would absolutely throw the man out on the spot, perhaps even arrest him.

But the next scene made the Third's eyes nearly fall out.

Fugaku only pretended to refuse twice, then looked left and right before swiftly sweeping the gift box into a drawer.

Immediately after, that petty, greedy smile appeared on his face. He even patted the merchant on the shoulder warmly and personally saw him to the door.

"Heh heh..."

Seeing this, the Third could not help laughing aloud.

He withdrew his chakra, and the image on the crystal ball gradually disappeared.

"It's good to have desires."

The Third tapped the ash from his pipe, and a sharp glint flashed through his murky old eyes.

A clan head who fought for ideals and ambition was dangerous.

But a clan head who loved money, lust, and laziness was the easiest to control.

As long as Fugaku had weaknesses and selfish desires, then the blade called the Uchiha had gone dull.

"Someone."

An Anbu instantly appeared in the corner of the room.

"Go inform Danzo," the Third instructed. "The Uchiha have been in low spirits lately. Tell him not to press them too hard. Since Fugaku has already lost that drive, let the current situation remain. Otherwise, if we push them too far, it may backfire."

"Yes!" the Anbu accepted the order and vanished.

The Police Force office.

After confirming that the feeling of being watched had completely disappeared, Fugaku seemed to transform by magic, instantly sitting upright.

That lazy, decadent air was swept away.

His eyes became clear and deep once more, his back perfectly straight, as if the greasy middle-aged uncle from just now had only been an illusion.

"Pah."

Fugaku disdainfully threw that copy of Make-Out Paradise into the trash can, then opened the drawer, took out the box of gold coins, and casually tossed it to Yashiro, who stood at the side.

"Take it and put it into the public funds. Get the brothers a new batch of training ninja tools."

Yashiro caught the gold coins, a faint wry smile appearing on his face. "Clan head, your acting skills... if you weren't a ninja, you could go perform song-and-dance dramas in the daimyo's residence and become famous."

"Enough joking."

Fugaku wiped away sweat that did not exist from his forehead, then looked with a bitter smile toward the folding screen in the corner of the office.

"Xuan Shi, how much longer do I have to keep acting like this? I feel like my reputation for this lifetime is about to be completely destroyed. The way that merchant looked at me just now was like he was looking at a greedy dog."

Behind the folding screen, Xuan Shi walked out.

He carried a cup of hot tea in his hand and passed it to Fugaku, a faint smile on his face.

"Until... that Fourth Hokage regards you as 'one of his own.'"

Xuan Shi looked out the window, in the direction facing the Hokage Building.

"Although the Third has stepped down, he still holds the village's right to speak. Making him think you have 'fallen' is the best protection for us."

"Only when you are no longer perfect, no longer standing high above everyone else, will they feel that you are safe."

Fugaku accepted the tea, took a sip, and sighed. "I know. For the clan, a bit of reputation doesn't amount to much. It's just..."

He glanced at the book in the trash can. "That book was actually rather interesting."

Xuan Shi: "..."

Yashiro: "..."

"Ahem." Fugaku coughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. "Well, since things with the Third have stabilized for now, what's the next plan?"

Xuan Shi's expression turned serious.

He walked to the window and pulled the blinds shut, blocking out the noonday sunlight.

The office sank into dimness.

"The external pressure has lessened, Danzo has become blind, and the Third has lowered his guard."

Xuan Shi turned around, those eyes shining brightly in the gloom.

"Then it is time to improve our hard strength."

"Clan head, notify every clan member who has awakened the three-tomoe. Tonight, beneath Naka River Shrine."

"The real special training is about to begin."