Convening the Clan Assembly, the Police Force's Violent Enforcement?

Convening the Clan Assembly, the Police Force's Violent Enforcement?

"The Hyuga Clan... Heh heh!"

On the way back, the snow fell even harder, yet a smile curled at Xuanyu's lips.

Xuanyu admired the falling snowflakes, but his heart was filled with emotion, and his steps unconsciously quickened.

However, when he reached a corner, his body paused slightly. Light flickered in his eyes as he activated his Byakugan.

He continued forward calmly, as though he had noticed nothing.

Yet his eyes had already scanned everything within a one-kilometer radius in all directions, leaving nothing in the surrounding area unseen.

He discovered two Chakra silhouettes hiding in a concealed corner behind and to his right, secretly watching and monitoring him.

As Xuanyu walked forward, the two figures followed along before hiding in another location.

A smile appeared on Xuanyu's lips as he continued walking. "Root, or Anbu shinobi?"

What had I done recently to draw the attention of Anbu or Root?

To have them monitor a child like me!

With a smile, Xuanyu did not dwell on it any further. Everything would become clear when the time came.

For now, he would go home and sleep.

When he returned home, his parents were still waiting for him. They had been worried that he had come back so late.

Only after seeing Xuanyu return safely were they relieved.

They each went to sleep.

The next day, Xuanyu got up early to run. He was still running with Might Guy. Since he had to go to the clan Training Grounds today, he ran ten laps around the village before returning to eat and prepare to head there.

"Xuanyu, you don't need to go to the Training Grounds today. Rest at home!" During breakfast, his father, Uchiha Hanjō, stopped him and indicated that Xuanyu could take the day off.

"Huh? Not going to the Training Grounds?" Xuanyu was startled. He had not expected to hear that, and he could not help asking, "What's going on? Did you find me a new teacher?"

"..." Uchiha Hanjō was speechless. Looking at him, he said, "The Uchiha Clan is convening a clan assembly tonight. Uchiha Zhen and the others will be attending too. They're going door to door notifying everyone and don't have time to teach you!"

"A clan assembly?" Xuanyu raised an eyebrow. He had not expected one to be convened now.

Could they be discussing the Coup?

"Dad, can I attend the clan assembly tonight?" Xuanyu blinked, equally curious about what kind of meeting this would be.

"You? What would a child like you do there?" Uchiha Hanjō shook his head. It would not matter if he brought Xuanyu along, but because of his business dealings, he was not valued within the clan. Bringing Xuanyu would not earn him any attention either.

"Dad, I want to take a look. I also want to meet the other uncles in the Uchiha Clan!" Xuanyu began acting cute. He had to attend this clan assembly.

A clan assembly!

There were still four years until Itachi's Clan Massacre. What urgent matter could the clan possibly have now that required a full clan assembly?

He also wanted to see the Uchiha Clan's current factions, as well as the representatives of the Conservative Faction and the radicals!

And besides,

perhaps he would get to see Itachi, who had already entered the Hokage's camp, as well as Uchiha Shisui.

A month ago, Itachi had been summoned by the Third Hokage. He had now entered the Third Hokage's camp, though he apparently had not joined Anbu yet. He remained by the Third Hokage's side, awaiting orders at any time.

As Itachi was chosen by the Third Hokage, Shisui began appearing before Xuanyu more and more frequently.

Xuanyu did not know whether the Third Hokage had sent Shisui to monitor the Uchiha Clan's movements, or whether he was deliberately distancing Shisui so that Itachi and Shisui would not have much contact.

Given the Third Hokage's shrewdness, he was likely having Shisui monitor the Uchiha Clan while reducing Shisui's meetings with Itachi, thus brainwashing Itachi more effectively.

He wanted Itachi to inherit the Will of Fire, for he might prove useful in the future.

That evening,

his father returned early from the Merchant Guild, changed into Uchiha Clan attire, and headed toward the clan grounds with Xuanyu.

Uchiha Hanjō brought Xuanyu to the main clan compound.

"Hanjō, over here!"

The moment Xuanyu and his father arrived at the main clan compound, someone called out to them.

They turned to look.

They saw Uchiha Kai waving at them. More than a dozen Uchiha shinobi who had recently joined the Merchant Guild were gathered there. Aside from Uchiha Da Cun and two jonin who were away escorting a mission, all the shinobi who had joined the Merchant Guild had come.

After joining the Merchant Guild, Uchiha Hanjō had become their pillar.

"Uchiha Kai, did you forget? Brother Hanjō has a seat on the Elder Council Seat!" A Merchant Guild shinobi beside him spoke to Uchiha Kai, then gestured for Uchiha Hanjō to take his seat.

"That's right, Brother Hanjō should sit on the Elder Council Seat!" Uchiha Kai nodded as well.

"I'm just a merchant. I'm not important, and it makes no difference where I sit!" Uchiha Hanjō smiled calmly and sat down among the Merchant Guild shinobi with Xuanyu.

During the Third Shinobi World War, Uchiha Hanjō had provided the Uchiha Clan with large amounts of money and supplies, so the clan had given him an elder's position. However, it was merely an honorary title. Whenever the clan held meetings, they had never informed him.

Now that these Merchant Guild shinobi had gathered together, they had seemingly formed a small faction.

After Uchiha Hanjō sat down, he looked at the people who had yet to arrive and asked, "Kai, why are they convening a clan assembly today?"

"I heard it's because villagers filed complaints against the Police Force. It seems the Third Hokage is involved, and the matter has become quite serious!" Uchiha Kai said to Uchiha Hanjō, while Xuanyu listened beside them.

Konoha's villagers had filed complaints against the Police Force? The Third Hokage was involved?

Could the Third Hokage be trying to strike at the Uchiha Clan's foundation—the Police Force?

Uchiha Hanjō frowned as well. "Why did the villagers complain about the Police Force? Did they kill someone?"

Seeing Uchiha Hanjō's puzzled expression, Uchiha Kai continued explaining, "A cousin of mine is a squad captain in the Uchiha Police Force. I heard that quite a few villagers recently complained that its members were using violent enforcement. The complaints reached the Hokage Office, so the Third Hokage wants our Uchiha Clan to provide an explanation."

"Violent enforcement? The Police Force beat people? They convened a clan assembly over that?" Uchiha Hanjō was doubtful. If it was only complaints about violent enforcement, they should not have summoned so many people to a clan assembly.

There had to be something else. The Uchiha Clan had always been rather arrogant, and its members had injured villagers before, but at most they would apologize and offer compensation.

"It's not as simple as beating people. The clan has been suppressed by the village lately, and the Police Force's authority within the village has also been declining. When the Police Force goes to maintain order, some people simply refuse to cooperate. Some even insult Uchiha clansmen, leaving the Police Force with no choice but to forcibly stop them, which causes conflict!" Uchiha Kai sounded somewhat dejected as he said this.

"In just these seven days, there have been several incidents of people provoking the Police Force. The Police Force stopped them, but in the end, every case was labeled violent enforcement by the Police Force!"

If this had been during the Uchiha Clan's heyday, people would have treated the Uchiha Police Force with respect and fear wherever it went. Now, however, there was more disgust than anything else.

Hearing Uchiha Kai's words, everyone frowned. Indeed... as the Uchiha Clan's prestige in Konoha continued to decline, the members of the Police Force were becoming less and less convincing.

Some people were even trying to challenge the Police Force's authority.

Yet the Third Hokage was holding them accountable over this matter?

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