Danzo's Attention

Konoha, Root Base.

In the dim underground space.

A Root ninja knelt on one knee and gave a complete report of everything that had happened on the commercial street.

The faint candlelight flickered.

Danzo Shimura sat in the shadows, his exposed eye as cold as a blade.

"Uchiha You..."

He slowly spoke the name.

"Is he that young Uchiha Jonin who has been very active in the Police Force lately?"

The Root ninja kneeling on the ground replied in a low voice:

"Yes."

"Sixteen years old. Promoted to Jonin three years ago. Proficient in Fire Release, genjutsu, and swordsmanship. Suspected to have awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan."

Danzo's fingers lightly tapped the cane in his hand.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Each strike seemed to pound against one's chest.

"Only three tomoe?"

The Root ninja fell silent for a moment before answering:

"According to current intelligence, three tomoe."

"However, he moved extremely quickly today. Shimura Takuma had almost no chance to fight back."

Danzo narrowed his eyes slightly.

He knew Shimura Takuma's strength well.

Though he was not a top-tier Jonin, he was no weakling either.

For Uchiha You to defeat Shimura Takuma so easily in public meant his strength was anything but ordinary.

More importantly, there was his attitude.

He was far too hardline.

So hardline that he did not resemble the Uchiha Clan of today.

Though the Uchiha Clan had been dissatisfied these past years, they were still suppressed by the village, bound by the duties of the Police Force, and held back by the so-called bonds of comradeship.

But Uchiha You was different.

When he struck Shimura Takuma, he had not hesitated in the slightest.

He had even seemed to be deliberately making the matter bigger.

Such a person was dangerous.

Danzo said coldly:

"The Uchiha Clan has been growing increasingly restless lately."

The Root ninja lowered his head and said nothing.

Danzo continued:

"How is Shisui's situation?"

The Root ninja answered:

"Shisui Uchiha is still trying to reconcile the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village. He does not support the Uchiha Radical Faction."

At those words, a trace of greed flashed through Danzo's eyes.

Shisui Uchiha.

The Uchiha who possessed the strongest genjutsu.

As long as he obtained Shisui's eyes, the Uchiha Clan would no longer be a threat.

Even the Third Hokage might not be beyond his control.

But now was not the best time.

Danzo withdrew his thoughts and said coldly:

"A person like Uchiha You cannot be allowed to remain."

The Root ninja asked:

"Should we deal with him immediately?"

Danzo was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"No."

"Today, he acted under the authority of law enforcement. On the surface, he has done nothing wrong."

"If we move against him by force now, it will only intensify the Uchiha Clan's hostility."

As he said this, a dark glint flashed through Danzo's eyes.

"Notify Hiruzen."

"Tell him that Uchiha You has an extreme temperament and is unfit to remain in the village."

"We can arrange an assignment outside the village for him."

The Root ninja immediately understood.

"Deal with him during the mission?"

Danzo said blandly:

"The Land of Water has been unsettled lately."

"Hidden Mist rogue ninja, wandering ninja, pirates, spies... It would not be strange for a Konoha Jonin to die."

The Root ninja lowered his head.

"Yes."

Danzo continued:

"Send three Root members with him."

"Remember, make it clean."

The Root ninja hesitated for a moment.

"What if his strength exceeds our estimates?"

Danzo sneered.

"No matter how powerful Uchiha eyes are, they are still only flesh and blood."

"As long as he leaves Konoha, there are many ways to handle him."

The Root ninja accepted the order and withdrew.

In the shadows, Danzo sat alone.

His single eye grew ever colder.

"Uchiha..."

"These cursed eyes will sooner or later serve Konoha."

Meanwhile.

Uchiha Police Force.

Bang!

Shimura Takuma was thrown heavily into the interrogation room.

His two companions and the fat stall owner were also detained separately.

Quite a few Uchiha Clan members gathered within the Police Force.

When they learned that Uchiha You had not only arrested a Shimura Clan relative but had also beaten Shimura Takuma and brought him back, everyone's expressions became extraordinarily vivid.

Shock.

Worry.

Excitement.

Satisfaction.

All kinds of emotions mingled together.

"You, you've made too big a mess this time."

An older Uchiha ninja said with a frown.

"Shimura Takuma is no ordinary ninja. He belongs to the Shimura Clan, and Danzo stands behind him."

Uchiha You sat in a chair and poured himself a cup of tea.

"So?"

The older ninja choked on his words.

"So... we should at least report this to the clan head first."

Uchiha You took a sip of tea and said blandly:

"By the time we finish reporting to the clan head, they'll already be gone."

"By the time the clan head goes to the Hokage Building to negotiate, this matter will become a case of the Police Force using excessive force."

"By the time the Third Hokage comes out to smooth things over, we'll end up apologizing to the Shimura Clan."

"Am I wrong?"

The older ninja's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Because what Uchiha You had said was exactly what had happened countless times before.

Uchiha Chuan could not help saying:

"You did nothing wrong today!"

"We're clearly enforcing the law. Why do we have to back down every time?"

Another young Uchiha spoke up as well:

"Yeah! They're practically walking all over us!"

"That fat man beat someone in the street and even dared curse at our Police Force. If we endure it again today, will anyone be able to point at our faces and curse us in the future?"

"So what if they're the Shimura Clan? Does that mean the Shimura Clan does not have to follow Konoha's rules?"

The older ninja fell silent.

It was not that he did not know how wronged the clan members felt.

But he understood even more clearly that the Uchiha Clan's current situation was dangerous.

Any conflict could become an excuse for the higher-ups to target the Uchiha Clan.

At that moment, Shimura Takuma's furious roar suddenly came from the interrogation room.

"Uchiha You!"

"You dare detain me? Lord Danzo will never let you go!"

Uchiha You set down his teacup.

He rose and walked into the interrogation room.

Shimura Takuma was tied to a chair, his face covered in blood and his eyes filled with resentment.

"Release me."

"Then personally go to the Shimura Clan and apologize."

"Otherwise, you and the entire Uchiha Police Force will pay the price!"

At those words, the expressions of several Uchiha Clan members who had followed him in darkened.

But Uchiha You smiled.

He walked up to Shimura Takuma and reached out to pat his face.

"Have you still not figured out the situation?"

Shimura Takuma glared at him.

"You dare humiliate me?"

Slap!

Uchiha You struck him across the face with a backhand.

The crisp sound echoed through the interrogation room.

Shimura Takuma's face was knocked to one side, and he was utterly stunned.

The Uchiha Clan members at the door were stunned as well.

Uchiha You shook out his hand and said blandly:

"Are you clear-headed now?"

Shimura Takuma's eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

"You're courting death!"

Slap!

Another slap.

Uchiha You's expression remained calm.

"I ask. You answer."

"Name."

Shimura Takuma gritted his teeth.

"Uchiha You, you..."

Slap!

The third slap landed.

Blood seeped from the corner of Shimura Takuma's mouth.

Uchiha You continued:

"Name."

Shimura Takuma trembled all over.

He glared fixedly at Uchiha You, wishing he could tear him apart with his eyes.

But when he met Uchiha You's calm, pitch-black eyes, an inexplicable chill rose from the depths of his heart.

This Uchiha truly dared to kill him.

Shimura Takuma gritted his teeth.

"Shimura Takuma."

Uchiha You nodded.

"Very good."

"Position."

"Konoha Jonin."

"Are you affiliated with Root?"

Shimura Takuma's pupils contracted slightly.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Uchiha You's gaze shifted slightly.

A trace of scarlet surfaced in his eyes.

Three tomoe slowly rotated.

Shimura Takuma's consciousness wavered for an instant.

But the next moment, he bit through his tongue and forcibly regained clarity.

"Sharingan genjutsu?"

"Uchiha You, you dare use genjutsu to interrogate a Konoha ninja?"

Uchiha You said blandly:

"In an interrogation room, the Police Force has the authority to use necessary measures."

Shimura Takuma sneered.

"You think I'll talk?"

Uchiha You looked at him.

"You don't need to say much."

"You only need to admit that you obstructed the Police Force in carrying out its duties today and attempted to attack a Police Force member."

Shimura Takuma froze.

Then he sneered.

"You want me to confess?"

"Dream on!"

Uchiha You did not waste any more words.

He turned to look at Uchiha Chuan.

"Record it."

Uchiha Chuan immediately picked up a scroll.

Uchiha You spoke:

"Konoha Jonin Shimura Takuma publicly obstructed the Police Force in carrying out its duties on the commercial street today, threatened enforcement personnel, and was the first to mobilize chakra in preparation for an attack."

"There were seven Police Force members at the scene, with more than thirty eyewitnesses."

"The illegal vendor himself also confessed that he had relied on his ties to the Shimura Clan to occupy the road in violation of regulations for a long time and evade oversight."

"Organize the statements and send them to the Hokage Building."

Shimura Takuma's expression changed.

"You dare!"

Uchiha You looked at him.

"Why wouldn't I dare?"

Shimura Takuma shouted angrily:

"You think Lord Hokage will believe your Uchiha Clan's one-sided story?"

Uchiha You smiled.

"Doesn't matter."

"I never expected the Third to believe it anyway."

Shimura Takuma froze.

Uchiha You approached him and lowered his voice.

"I merely want everyone to know that someone from the Shimura Clan was arrested by the Uchiha Police Force according to the rules today."

"And Danzo can only rage in the shadows."

Shimura Takuma's pupils contracted slightly.

Uchiha You patted his shoulder.

"See?"

"This is what you call a slap in the face."

With that, Uchiha You turned and left the interrogation room.

Shimura Takuma stared fixedly at his retreating back, his eyes filled with resentment and fear.