Itachi Uchiha: As Expected, Mocking Someone to Their Face Was the Most Lethal!

After Izumi left, Yan asked Itachi, who was standing before the desk:

"You should know why these people came to Konoha, right?"

"I do. They came because of the plot to assassinate the daimyo."

Itachi answered truthfully.

"Then tell me, what are the Police Department's duties?"

"Maintaining public order in the village, and..."

The Third Hokage had once said that although Itachi was a child, he was the child whose way of thinking was closest to that of a Hokage. That meant he was very intelligent.

Conversely, the smarter a person was, the more they knew, and the more things they cared about.

Faced with Yan's question, Itachi faltered.

Because the Police Department's original purpose, beyond maintaining order in the village, had also been to take part in apprehending spies, criminals, and a series of other important and dangerous assignments.

However, as the Third Hokage and the others heightened their guard against the Uchiha, the Uchiha had been left with nothing but the duty of maintaining public order.

As for other missions and authority, they could forget about them.

"Remember this: the Police Department's current duty is to maintain order in the village. Maintaining order is also the only authority we have left. As for everything else, we may have the will, but not the power.

"As for why things have developed to this point, you should understand it in your heart.

"All right, go back. As long as these people don't gather to cause trouble or do anything excessive, there's no need to concern yourselves with them."

"Konoha welcomes tourists and merchants from every region to visit and conduct business."

"As for what you mentioned, the Police Department has no authority to handle it. That falls within the Anbu's purview."

It sounded as though Yan was shirking responsibility, keeping his head down because it had nothing to do with him.

But in truth, Yan was lodging a protest—a protest against the village gradually stripping away the authority that had originally belonged to the Police Department.

From beginning to end, the Uchiha had always been in a passive position.

"Yes."

"Wait."

After saluting, Itachi was about to leave when Yan suddenly stopped him.

"Captain? Is there something else?"

Itachi halted, only for Yan to make a request that left him both angry and speechless.

Yan beckoned to the departing Itachi with a crooked finger.

"Come on, smile for me. Let me see it."

Itachi: "..."

It was obvious that Itachi wanted to punch him, because both his hands—no, his fists—were clenched rock-hard.

"Don't misunderstand. I'm not a pervert, and I don't mean anything else by it."

Yan smiled faintly and pointed to his own face.

"See this? Do it like this. Smile. Don't imitate your father, always wearing a stiff face with no expression.

"You're a member of the Police Department now. If you want to do your best in this position instead of being like the other clansmen, then you need to learn how to control and manage your emotions and expressions."

"A smile can easily bring people closer together. These are all things you need to learn. Besides, someone who smiles on the surface yet can be ruthless deep down is more dangerous."

There was so much messy reasoning mixed into something as simple as a smile?

This had already gone beyond Itachi's range of knowledge.

Because no one had ever asked this of him before.

Ever since he had passed the Chunin Exams and left his ninja squad, the smiles on Itachi's face had become much rarer.

Other than when he was with his mother, his younger brother, or Shisui.

Everyone else only ever saw Itachi's expressionless face.

"I know the clan head always teaches you in a rigid, stern manner, then praises you with a line like, 'As expected of my son.' Remember, whatever you do, do not learn from him.

"Because keeping a straight face isn't a good thing much of the time."

"It only makes people think you have a bad temper and are difficult to get along with. Setting status aside, with the clan head's face, how many people would dare strike up a conversation with him?"

"If you want to shoulder more responsibility for the clan, then your first lesson is to learn how to smile, how to communicate with the clansmen, and how to fit into their circles."

"..."

Do I really have to learn this?

Itachi felt that Yan was making things difficult for him.

"Clan head, was I right?"

Yan suddenly looked up and addressed the door.

"Father!"

Itachi was slightly startled and turned around.

Fugaku, who had been standing at the door for a while, had a face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Every one of Yan's "don't learn from your father" remarks made him deeply uncomfortable, not to mention Yan had been mocking him the entire time.

That particular line—"As expected of my son"—had nearly broken his composure.

Could it be that my way of educating children is wrong?

Fugaku could not help but doubt himself.

"Ahem!"

After clearing his throat, Fugaku pushed open the door. He still wore the same expression, and after giving Yan a subtle glare, he found it difficult to undermine him. He could only say to Itachi:

"Since this is the request of your senior and captain, Itachi, you must work hard to learn it, understand?"

"Yes, Father. I will work hard."

Itachi instinctively straightened his back and answered loudly.

Yan watched the father and son, whose relationship was rather delicate, with an odd look in his eyes as he suppressed a laugh.

"All right, you may leave first."

"Father, Senior."

After giving a rigid, proper salute, Itachi finally left, closing the door behind him.

"What are you doing?"

The moment his son left, Fugaku's face fell as he questioned Yan.

"I asked you to take over Itachi's squad, not to teach my son how to become someone who smiles on the outside while being ruthless underneath."

"Like you? Walking around with a grim face? Plenty of clansmen don't even dare open their mouths when they come to you with something. Is that the so-called dignity of the clan head?"

"Give me a break, my esteemed clan head."

Fugaku's grim face looked frightening enough to intimidate the other Uchiha, but unfortunately, that trick did not work on Yan.

"..."

Fugaku's head was covered in black lines after being so thoroughly mocked.

Knowing he could not outtalk Yan, he dropped the subject.

"Tonight, I will convene another clan meeting to continue discussing the reorganization of the Police Department. You need to attend."

"I'm not going."

Yan refused without hesitation. He had no interest in that sort of drawn-out affair.

The Hardline Faction's several elders were clinging on stubbornly and refusing to let go. Fearing that their authority would be stripped away, they had been obstructing Fugaku's efforts to reorganize the Police Department.

He could picture it without even thinking: at the meeting, Fugaku and several elders would argue back and forth.

At most, those who supported Fugaku would join in as well.

They would make a noisy mess, arguing until their faces were red and their necks thick, yet the issue would remain unresolved.

It was not that Yan enjoyed mocking him. It was simply that Uchiha Fugaku's performance at critical moments was truly disappointing.

Whether it was for the clan or for the village.

So much time had passed, yet he had not even managed to deal with a few elders from the clan's Hardline Faction.

And this was merely reorganizing the Uchiha, not wiping out and disbanding the Hardline Faction.

If the day ever came to truly act against the Hardline Faction, then with his wavering nature, he probably would not accomplish a damn thing.

It would have been one thing if he only wavered himself, but he also restricted others from taking action.