The Uchiha Clan Is Needed

Konoha's Yachimata District was lined almost entirely with small shops run by the Uchiha Clan.

Many Uchiha Civilians without talent as shinobi made their living here.

Ever since last week, the number of Uchiha patrolling Yachimata had tripled.

Numerous Uchiha officers patrolled back and forth. Whenever a public security issue arose, they arrived on the scene very quickly.

Over the past few days, all the shopkeepers had also noticed that business in Yachimata was much better than usual.

The foot traffic was far greater than normal, especially today.

Many people had poured into Yachimata, leaving the shopkeepers somewhat overwhelmed.

After asking around, the merchants learned that the Police Force members from First Street through Fourth Street had all been replaced. They were no longer from the Hyuga Clan, and the new appointees were cold-blooded and merciless.

No matter the reason, as long as a conflict occurred, they would usually just arrest everyone involved.

Their methods were brutal, and they struck with extreme severity. Countless people had lost limbs.

The people on First Street through Fourth Street had all fallen silent out of fear. Civilians simply went to Fifth through Eighth Street to buy the supplies they needed.

That was because Fifth through Seventh Street were under Hyuga jurisdiction, while Eighth Street was handled by the Uchiha Clan.

Today, Uchiha Haruki received an order from the Vice Clan Head: all suspended Uchiha were to visit the streets they had formerly been assigned to.

Though the order was rather puzzling, the suspended Uchiha had been stifled in the clan compound for too long and wanted to relax, so they still went out into the streets.

Yet what none of the Uchiha expected was that the roadside shopkeepers, who had once looked at them as though they were flies, now greeted them with fervent enthusiasm.

It was as if they had seen family.

In the past, people would either spit twice at the sight of them or take a detour. Now, they actually came up to start conversations.

When Uchiha Haruki reached the area near Kiyomizu Izakaya, its owner enthusiastically called out to him.

"Captain Haruki, has your unit taken over patrols again!?"

Haruki did not quite understand, but he patiently explained, "I've already been suspended. I won't be working for the Police Force anymore. I'm just out for a walk."

The izakaya owner grabbed his hand. "Hey, you can't be suspended! The Police Force was best when it was run by you Uchiha!"

Haruki did not know whether to laugh or cry. He had dealt with this izakaya owner quite a few times before.

This man had always been arrogant before, lodging complaints at the drop of a hat.

He used to say that the Uchiha Guard Team spent every day loafing around and living off the public. How had he suddenly changed his tune and started saying the Uchiha were the best?

"Hey, let go... I really have been suspended. I got too many complaints before, so the Vice Clan Head won't let me do Police Force work anymore."

"I'll withdraw the complaints! I'll withdraw them! Could you Uchiha come back on duty!?"

Helpless, Haruki formed hand seals and used the Substitution Technique to escape the izakaya owner's iron grip. He fled Third Street in a rather sorry state.

Yet Haruki suddenly felt much better inside. All the grievances he had suffered before now vanished like smoke.

Similar things happened on every street the Uchiha had previously patrolled.

Many former members of the Uchiha Guard Team received warm welcomes from those shop owners.

Upon learning that they had not returned to patrol, the shopkeepers were deeply disappointed.

They said all sorts of flattering things, hoping these Uchiha clansmen could return to work.

If these Uchiha had not all been so agile, they would have been trapped on the streets and unable to get away.

These Uchiha were all hawkish members. They had been forceful in their work before and had offended plenty of people.

But now, shopkeepers grabbed each of them and begged them to return.

A ray of light finally shone into their long-suppressed hearts, dispelling all their resentment and gloom.

So there were still people who needed us Uchiha. The moment we were gone, they realized how good we were?

Some were even tempted to go back and plead with the Clan Head to let them resume their posts.

After all, the captain of the Police Force was Uchiha Fugaku. Whether they could return to work was not just a matter of a few words from him?

After returning, several of the suspended Uchiha really did request an audience with the Clan Head.

What they said made Fugaku wonder whether he had fallen under a genjutsu.

He neither agreed nor objected, merely telling them to continue their leave.

He summoned Natsuki, Shisui, and Itachi.

For the past few days, Natsuki had been staying at the training ground, practicing hard every day, with Itachi sparring against him.

Shisui, having recovered from his injuries, was also doing rehabilitation training.

The three soon arrived together.

"Sit. Shisui, how is your recovery?"

Fugaku first nodded to Natsuki and Itachi, then asked Shisui.

"Thank you for your concern, Clan Head. I've basically recovered and am currently doing rehabilitation training."

Shisui had always been meticulous. Even though he had only recently recovered, he sat perfectly straight and answered seriously.

"Natsuki, were you the one who sent those people out?" Fugaku asked.

Natsuki chuckled. "Have they stopped making a fuss now?"

Fugaku nodded. "Your method really works. Before, wherever they went, people looked at them coldly. Now, wherever they go, people drag them over and want them to come back."

Natsuki turned to Shisui and Itachi. "Shisui, Itachi, what have you discovered over these past few days?"

Over the past two days, Shisui and Itachi had also been closely watching the suspended Uchiha who had returned.

They were afraid those people would cause trouble. But aside from the first couple of days, the subsequent developments had taken both of them by surprise.

Itachi said, "Senior has highlighted the irreplaceability of our Uchiha Clan."

Shisui said, "Senior, I think it is because our Uchiha Clan is needed."

Natsuki nodded.

These two foolish boys had some sense after all.

They were only in their teens. In his previous life, they would have merely been middle school students.

This was precisely the stage when one's thinking underwent drastic changes. Without proper guidance, even geniuses could become fools.

"People have a bad habit of routinely overlooking what is right beside them. So no matter how much our Uchiha do, it will be ignored."

"And that neglect can be highlighted through loss and comparison."

"Our Uchiha have served as the Police Force for so long. No one is more suited to it than us, and no one can do it better than us."

"But there are schemers in the village who always think our Uchiha Clan will seize everything, and they do everything they can to suppress us."

"So we retreat in order to advance, removing the threat posed by the Uchiha Clan. Then, when these villagers discover that their earlier assumptions were merely their own fantasies, they will remember our virtues."

Everyone listened quietly.

This was only very basic knowledge, but they lacked it. In this cruel world, countless children went to war before the age of ten. How much education could they receive?

Genius referred to combat ability. In other aspects, they were far too immature.

Danzo could cripple their judgment with just a few words.

Otherwise, they would be brainwashed by the Third Hokage's Will of Fire.

Fugaku asked, "Some Uchiha already want to return to the Police Force. Natsuki, what do you think?"

Natsuki rolled his eyes and said irritably, "I don't think much of it."

Shisui hesitated. "But many villagers desperately want us Uchiha to go back."

Only Itachi sat obediently. He knew Natsuki would explain it to them.

Natsuki slapped Shisui on the head, rubbing his hair into a bird's nest. "Shisui, you really forget the pain once the wound heals. Have you forgotten how your eye was dug out?"

"People are forgetful creatures. If the Uchiha return to duty now, we'll only repeat the same mistakes."

"Although those merchants and civilians will be delighted at first, once enough time passes, things will return to how they were."

"Until the root of the problem is resolved, everything you said is meaningless."

As Fugaku watched Natsuki speak with such confidence, he sometimes felt that his own thinking was far too simple. Maintaining a clan well was truly difficult.

Fortunately, there was Natsuki.

Itachi hesitantly asked, "Then, Senior, what is the 'root'?"