The next day.
Just as the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon, Hyuga Wuye arrived at the Konoha Police Force headquarters on time.
When the Uchiha ninjas saw him, they wore expressions of inexplicable awkwardness.
Aside from Uchiha Fugaku and a few others who were more politically sensitive, the rest of the Uchiha only saw the surface of things: Hyuga Wuye had smashed up more than half of the Uchiha Clan compound and ground Uchiha pride beneath his feet.
If the clan head and Great Elder had not repeatedly warned them, if they had not known they could not beat him, if they really could not beat him, if not for...
Forget it. Considering he had Uchiha blood too, they would not hold it against him.
The members of the Uchiha Police Force consoled themselves this way, pretending not to see Hyuga Wuye even when they clearly did.
"I know you hate me."
Wuye walked to the head seat and looked down at everyone, his tone calm.
"But the police force is responsible for maintaining order in the village and arresting villagers who commit crimes. First and foremost, you must maintain an objective stance yourselves."
He tapped the table, producing a series of thuds. His words rang out firmly. "Tell me, was what happened yesterday the Uchiha Clan's own fault or not?"
The Uchiha ninjas looked at one another, unable to speak.
Before this, even if they knew in their hearts that they had violated village regulations, they would have found all sorts of excuses for their clan and considered it only natural.
But now they could not say it aloud, because of strength.
Pride depended on whom one faced. Just as they would not be foolish enough to act proudly before the Third Hokage, they could not