What Did Uchiha Do Wrong to Deserve Punishment, Elder?

Yan's voice gradually rose:

"Everyone, the Police Department is a department commanded by the Uchiha, and the clansmen who serve in it are all law enforcement officers. As law enforcement officers, what we need to consider is how to properly handle all kinds of messy emergencies, not how to reduce complaints."

"Utter nonsense! Then tell me, how do we solve the complaint issue?"

The Sixth Elder was so furious that his beard bristled and his eyes bulged.

"Why should we solve it?"

Yan sneered.

"Shouldn't that be something the Hokage Office handles? Why is it being shoved onto the Police Department?

"We keep restraining ourselves, but will those who make mistakes or even commit crimes do the same?"

"Or does the Sixth Elder think that when we, as law enforcement officers, arrive at a scene, our first priority should not be handling the case, but figuring out how to be gentle with everyone, otherwise we'll get complaints?"

"Should we give criminals a smile first when we arrive at the scene?"

"Pfft~~~"

The moment he said that, quite a few people burst out laughing.

The Sixth Elder, who had always advocated for this matter, was so furious that smoke practically came out of his ears. His old face reddened as he pointed at Yan, unable to utter a single word. He had clearly been enraged beyond measure.

Yan was unaffected and continued speaking.

"As a Police Department squad captain, I believe my subordinates and I have done everything we were supposed to do. As for complaints, that isn't something we should be worrying about."

"All kinds of shitty, troublesome, and offending matters are handled by the Police Department, yet the department that receives the most complaints is also the Police Department."

"I only want to ask, why?!"

Slamming his palm against the floor, Yan roared:

"Why is something the Hokage Office should coordinate being pushed onto our shoulders?!"

"Well said! I agree with the captain. I've had enough too. Restrictions today, restraint tomorrow—our Police Department might as well do nothing and just wait to be complained about every day."

Zhiyan was the first to respond.

For a moment, quite a few people resonated with him. Everyone worked in the Police Department and had already endured more than enough frustration. Each of them had been holding in their anger.

With Yan taking the lead, the resentment and dissatisfaction in everyone's hearts were immediately stirred up.

Many people repeatedly shouted their approval and applauded Yan.

The Sixth Elder's old face went completely dark, and he fell utterly silent. Even Fugaku, as the clan head, did not look pleased at this moment.

Because Yan was indirectly accusing him, the clan head, of being incompetent and causing the clansmen to suffer grievances every day.

"Enough."

Seeing more and more people echoing Yan, the Third Elder, unable to watch any longer, sternly rebuked them:

"What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket? You feel unhappy, but do you think we have it easy?

"Uchiha Yan, when you took the lead in saying these things, did you ever consider that the clan might be punished by the Hokage Office?"

As expected, all the doves were spineless cowards.

Yan made no effort to hide the disgust and disdain in his eyes as he asked contemptuously:

"May I ask, Elder, what did Uchiha do wrong to deserve punishment?"

"That's right, what did we do wrong to deserve punishment?"

"Why?!"

"Why?!"

At this point, even the doves were a little unable to accept it. They were doing their jobs properly, yet they were always misunderstood. They worked diligently only to be complained about and punished. What the hell were they even doing this for?!

"Well said!!!"

The hardline First Elder seemed to have found a kindred spirit. Looking at Yan with blazing eyes, he said loudly:

"The Uchiha have done nothing wrong. Why should we be punished? The matter of complaints should be handled by the Hokage Office, not us. Clan Head, what do you think?"

"..."

Fugaku's mouth twitched twice.

Good grief, even the hardline elder had stepped forward to support this with both hands and feet. What else could he, as clan head, say?

Oppose it?

Could he oppose it in the current situation?

Fuck. Fugaku could only nod slightly.

"I will go to the Hokage Office tomorrow to report this matter to Lord Hokage."

"Does anyone else have anything to say?"

After Yan's commotion, the matters that should have been brought up at the clan meeting were all overshadowed.

The monthly clan meeting came to a hasty end.

"Very good. The clan needs clansmen like you, those who can do things for the clan and dare to speak and act. Come talk with this old man when you have time."

Before leaving, the First Elder did not forget to enthusiastically recruit Yan.

Regardless of how sincere he was, he had at least put on a good show.

"Hahaha, Captain, that was beautifully done! Everyone admires you!"

Zhiyan was delighted like a child.

Most of those serving in the Uchiha were members of the younger generation, and they all had one thing in common—they could not stand being wronged.

A seemingly farcical quarrel at the clan meeting changed the way many people looked at Yan.

"What are you laughing for? Go back and rest early."

Yan dismissed Zhiyan, then waited at the entrance to the shrine. Before long, Fugaku emerged with his guards, tilting his head to signal for Yan to follow.

At Fugaku's signal, the two guards left immediately.

Only Yan and Fugaku remained on the road.

"What happened at the clan meeting put me in a difficult position."

"But that is the responsibility a clan head should bear."

"You're right. It is my responsibility. I will personally go to the Hokage Office to report it. The clansmen truly have suffered quite a lot over the years."

Fugaku did not shirk his own responsibility. Even if he went to the Hokage Office, he would not receive any pleasant treatment.

But he was the head of the Uchiha clan and had to shoulder the clan's burdens.

At that, Fugaku stopped and gazed at Yan.

"Have you considered that doing this will make the higher-ups wary of you?"

"Is that important?"

Yan laughed outright.

The higher-ups had always been targeting the Uchiha, and they had only become more excessive. The Uchiha took one step back, and the higher-ups took one step forward.

Did they really think the hardliners had shit for brains and wanted to stage a coup just because they had nothing better to do?

They had all been forced into it step by step by the Third Hokage and his group.

"I hope you won't regret it."

After saying that, Fugaku left directly. He neither blamed Yan for indirectly criticizing him nor lost his temper at Yan over the matter.

Once word of today's events spread, Yan would inevitably become a key target for the higher-ups' surveillance.

Because he had changed from an Uchiha who did not fight or compete into a key troublemaker standing at the forefront.

Watching Fugaku's gradually departing back, Yan shook his head slightly.

They had all been forced into it. If one could lie low and develop peacefully, who would be willing to step forward?

If I don't step forward now, it'll be too late for everything.

"Come out. You've followed me all the way."

After returning home, Yan turned toward the pitch-black alley.

Shisui walked out from the shadows within the alley.

His expression was complicated. "Yan, what you did tonight was dangerous. Have you joined the hardliners?"

The First Elder had showered Yan with praise in an attempt to recruit him, and Shisui had seen it all.

He was surprised that Yan had raised such doubts at the clan meeting, but more than the doubts themselves, he feared that Yan would join the hardliners and embark on the path of a coup.