The Cautious Third Hokage

Hokage's Office.

Smoke curled through the air before the desk.

The Third Hokage held an ANBU report in one hand and set his pipe down on the desk with the other.

There were three reports. The first contained the results Nara Luhe, Hyuga Hiashi, and ANBU had negotiated.

Namely, the division of responsibility zones for "coordination authority over the village's internal defenses."

The Ino-Shika-Cho represented by Luhe and the Hyuga Clan represented by Hiashi already had many clan members working throughout Konoha's various departments.

The Hyuga Clan in particular possessed the Byakugan, making them especially skilled at patrols and guard duty.

With an opportunity to expand their authority, they naturally had no intention of shortchanging themselves.

The Hyuga Clan opened all patrol routes around their clan grounds to the Police Force;

The three Ino-Shika-Cho clans opened their respective clan grounds: the Nara deer farm, the Akimichi secret medicine workshop, and the Yamanaka flower gardens and cultivation base.

The map was covered in crisscrossing blocks. After examining it from beginning to end, the Third Hokage saw that the Police Force could practically intervene anywhere in Konoha.

The only places entirely beyond their reach were the hospital, the academy, the ANBU base, and similar locations.

Danzo had done so much dirty work for him in the past, yet now he had suffered a major loss because of Danzo.

However, Konoha's losses in the Third Shinobi World War had been enormous, and the Third Hokage had no way to move against the Uchiha Clan by force right now.

Especially now that the Uchiha Clan had revealed five Mangekyo Sharingan.

The Third Hokage had no top-tier combat power on hand. Although he had already sent word to Jiraiya, he still had no confidence.

As the Third Hokage pondered, a pair of golden snake eyes surfaced in his mind.

If he were here, he should be able to suppress the Uchiha Clan, right?

Shaking his head, the Third Hokage cleared his thoughts and picked up the second report.

It stated that Naruto had been beaten again, but this time Zhengye had suddenly stepped in to help him.

The Third Hokage read it carefully. He did not simply dismiss the matter because Zhengye had not spoken much to Naruto.

He set everything else aside, got dressed, and prepared to visit Naruto first.

Konoha Police Force Headquarters.

The entrance of the usually empty building was packed with people today.

They included, but were not limited to, members of the Hyuga Clan, Ino-Shika-Cho, Aburame Clan, Inuzuka Clan, and other major clans.

Fugaku held a roster in his hand as he continuously made arrangements.

"...With the increase in personnel, directly stuffing everyone into the daily patrol teams will make those teams chaotic."

"The Police Force will temporarily be divided into three sections: the Combat Division, the Reconnaissance Division, and the Judgment Division."

"Our Uchiha Clan will mainly be responsible for the Combat Division, while the Reconnaissance Division will be handled by the Hyuga, Aburame, Inuzuka, and others."

"The Judgment Division will be centered around the Nara Clan."

"From now on, each division must remain separate. If the Reconnaissance Division reports a fight or a spy, the Combat Division will be responsible for making arrests. The Judgment Division will determine their crimes."

"Over time, we will gradually refine this system."

The person the Hyuga Clan had sent to handle the handover was Hyuga Aoba.

Or rather, he had been chosen as the leader of the branch family.

With the Hyuga main family refusing to leave their home,

Hyuga Aoba was already the highest-ranking member of the branch family. That was enough to show how much importance they attached to this cooperation.

After arriving at the Police Force, he began looking around with his Byakugan.

In a short time, he had gained a thorough understanding of the entire place. However, he did not find the person he had been looking for—Uchiha Zhengye.

Aoba was very patient. Now that he had joined the Police Force, there would be plenty of opportunities to deal with him in the future.

A house in Konoha's central district.

It was very close to the Hokage Building, arguably the best-located house in all of Konoha.

Yet the room inside was terrifyingly messy.

Dirty clothes, smelly socks, unwashed dishes, instant noodle cups with leftover broth, and sheets bearing the imprint of someone's body were scattered everywhere.

But the pots, bowls, and utensils in the kitchen were brand new, as though they had never even been unwrapped.

Click. The lock turned.

"I'm back." Naruto stood at the doorway and waited for two seconds.

As always, the room was cold and quiet. There was no sound, and no one was there.

"Hah..." Naruto smiled sadly.

He shoved the dirty clothes from the chair onto the floor, then sat down.

He looked at what he held in his hand—a skewer of three-color dango.

A faint smile could not help appearing on his face.

He carefully bit into one piece and slowly chewed it.

The soft, sweet flavor blossomed in Naruto's mouth.

For some reason, while eating the three-color dango,

Naruto's mood improved greatly.

It felt as though even the wound on his forehead no longer hurt.

That smug brat's clan seemed to be called Uchiha?

Just a simple skewer of three-color dango had made Naruto start to feel favorably toward that unfamiliar clan.

Knock knock knock! A rhythmic knock sounded from the door.

Naruto's eyes lit up, and he hurried over to open it.

"Third Hokage Grandpa, you're here!"

In Konoha Village, the Third Hokage was the only person who treated him well. He had given Naruto a place to live and even provided him with living expenses.

Naruto was filled with gratitude and affection for the Third Hokage.

"Mm." The Third Hokage walked into the room and nodded kindly. "I came to see you."

Seeing the injury on Naruto's forehead, the Third Hokage frowned. "Someone bullied you again!"

Naruto lowered his head, his face somewhat downcast.

The Third Hokage patted Naruto's head, his expression full of pity. "Sigh, I've been too busy. Otherwise, you wouldn't have suffered so much bullying."

Naruto hurriedly waved his hands, an anxious expression appearing on his face. "Third Hokage Grandpa, I'm fine."

He was young and did not speak with much logic, often doing whatever came to mind.

He ran to the table, picked up the skewer of three-color dango with only two pieces left, and offered it to the Third Hokage.

"Third Hokage Grandpa, someone gave this to me today. You can have it."

The Third Hokage saw Naruto staring at the dango while secretly swallowing his saliva, and a trace of approval flashed through his eyes.

All that time spent cultivating him was useful after all.

He gently pushed the dango back. "Naruto, you should eat it yourself."

"Who gave it to you?"

Only after seeing that the Third Hokage was no longer blaming himself did Naruto bite into another piece of dango.

"Mm, I don't know him, but he's from the same clan as that smug brat."

The Third Hokage smiled and asked, "Did he say anything to you?"

Naruto bit into the final piece of dango, his cheeks puffed out. "No, he just told me to go home earlier."

The Third Hokage nodded. Just then, a rhythmic knock suddenly came from outside the door.

Knock, knock knock, knock knock knock...

The Third Hokage's expression changed slightly when he heard the signal. He then took out 1,000 yuan from his clothes and handed it to Naruto.

"Spend it carefully. I have something to do, so I need to leave first."

Naruto looked reluctant, but he knew Third Hokage Grandpa was very busy.

"Okay, thank you, Third Hokage Grandpa."

The Third Hokage patted Naruto on the head and walked out.

An ANBU member was waiting outside.

"Hokage-sama, Danzo has awakened."