Hokage's Office.
Smoke curled around 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 of the discussion between Nara Shikaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and ANBU.
Namely, the division of responsibility zones for "village defense coordination authority."
The Ino-Shika-Cho represented by Shikaku 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 exceptionally skilled at patrols and guarding.
With an opportunity to expand their authority, they naturally refused to shortchange 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 reserve, the Akimichi secret medicine workshop, and the Yamanaka flower gardens and cultivation bases.
The map was covered in crisscrossing blocks. After reviewing it from beginning to end, the Third Hokage realized that the Police Force could intervene in nearly all of Konoha.
The only places they could not interfere with at all were the hospital, the academy, the ANBU base, and similar locations.
Danzo had done so much dirty work for him in the past, yet he had now suffered a major loss because of Danzo.
However, Konoha's losses during the Third Shinobi World War had been enormous, and the Third Hokage had no way to take action against the Uchiha Clan by force at the moment.
Especially now that the Uchiha had revealed five Mangekyō Sharingan.
The Third Hokage currently lacked top-tier combat strength. Though 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, 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 Zhengye had suddenly stepped in to help him this time.
The Third Hokage read it carefully. He did not dismiss the matter lightly just because Zhengye had not said much to Naruto.
He set the other matters aside, got dressed, and prepared to visit Naruto first.
Konoha Police Force Building.
The entrance to 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 list in his hand as he continuously made arrangements.
"...With the increase in personnel, stuffing everyone directly into the daily patrol teams will make those teams chaotic."
"The Police Force will temporarily be divided into three departments: the Combat Department, the Reconnaissance Department, and the Judgment Department."
"Our Uchiha Clan will mainly handle the Combat Department, while the Reconnaissance Department will be handled by the Hyuga, Aburame, Inuzuka, and others."
"The Judgment Department will be centered around the Nara Clan."
"From now on, each department must remain separate. When the Reconnaissance Department reports a fight or spies somewhere, the Combat Department will be responsible for making arrests. The Judgment Department will determine their crimes."
"Over time, we will gradually improve this system."
The one sent by the Hyuga Clan to handle the handover was Hyuga Aoba.
Or rather, he himself had been selected as the leader of the Branch House.
With the Hyuga Main House unwilling to leave their homes,
Hyuga Aoba was already the highest-ranking member of the Branch House. That alone showed how seriously they took this cooperation.
After arriving at the Police Force, he began surveying the surroundings with his Byakugan.
In a short time, he had learned everything about the place, but he did not find the person he was looking for, Uchiha Zhengye.
Aoba was very patient. Since he had already joined the Police Force, there would be plenty of chances to deal with Zhengye in the future.
A house in Konoha's central district.
It was very close to the Hokage Building and could be considered one of the best-located houses in all of Konoha.
Yet the room was terrifyingly messy.
Dirty clothes, smelly socks, unwashed bowls, instant noodle cups with leftover broth, and bedsheets imprinted with the shape of a sleeping person were scattered everywhere.
But the pots, bowls, and utensils in the kitchen were brand-new, as if they had never even been unpacked.
Click. The lock turned.
"I'm back." Naruto stood in the doorway for two seconds.
The room was as cold and silent as ever. There was no sound, and no one was there.
"Whew..." Naruto smiled forlornly.
He shoved the dirty clothes off the stool onto the floor and sat down.
He looked at what he held in his hand—a skewer of Three-Color Dango.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He carefully bit into one and began chewing it slowly.
The soft, sweet flavor blossomed in Naruto's mouth.
For some reason, as Naruto ate the Three-Color Dango,
his mood improved considerably.
It was as if even the wound on his forehead no longer hurt.
That stuck-up kid'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 knocking came from the door.
Naruto's eyes lit up, and he hurried over to open it.
"Third Hokage Grandpa, you're here!"
In Konoha, the Third Hokage was the only one 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 entered 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 expression dimming.
The Third Hokage patted Naruto's head, his face full of pity. "Sigh, I've been too busy. Otherwise, you wouldn't have suffered so much bullying."
Naruto hurriedly waved his hands, looking anxious. "Third Hokage Grandpa, I'm fine."
He was young, so his words lacked much logic, and he did 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 Three-Color Dango while secretly swallowing his saliva, and a trace of approval flashed through his eyes.
All that time spent cultivating him really was useful.
He gently pushed the Three-Color Dango back. "Naruto, you should eat it yourself."
"Who gave this to you?"
Only after seeing that the Third Hokage was no longer blaming himself did Naruto bite into another piece of Three-Color Dango.
"Mm, I don't know him, but he's from the same clan as that stuck-up kid."
The Third Hokage smiled and asked, "Did he say anything to you?"
Naruto bit into the last piece of Three-Color Dango, his cheeks puffed out. "No, he just told me to go home early."
The Third Hokage nodded. Just then, a rhythmic knock suddenly sounded outside the door.
Knock, knock-knock, knock-knock-knock...
The Third Hokage's expression changed slightly upon hearing the signal. He then took out 1,000 yuan from his robes and handed it to Naruto.
"Spend it carefully. I have something to take care of, so I need to leave first."
Naruto looked reluctant, but he knew that Third Hokage Grandpa was very busy.
"Mm, thank you, Third Hokage Grandpa."
The Third Hokage patted Naruto's head and walked out the door.
An ANBU member was waiting for him outside.
"Hokage-sama, Danzo has woken up."
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