The Uchiha Clan was already on full alert. They had even imposed martial law and dispatched patrol teams to search their controlled territory day and night.
No one had expected this group to discover Konoha's surveillance of them. It instantly stirred up public outrage, leaving everyone in an uproar. Even if Fugaku Uchiha had intended to gradually launch a coup, the two sides had been pushed into open confrontation in an instant, and tensions soared.
As for the Military Police Force, the Uchiha Clan simply announced:
"Due to the pandemic, the entire force has temporarily gone for nucleic acid testing."
"Hey, you up ahead! Stop! Where are you from?"
The moment Itachi appeared, several powerful men blocked his path. The symbols of Konoha's Will of Fire had been removed from their forehead protectors, replaced solely by the Uchiha Clan crest.
Their gazes were vicious. If Itachi made even the slightest move, those Sharingan would likely swallow him whole.
"Young Clan Leader Itachi, you're back! I didn't expect you to return. That's wonderful! We were so worried about your safety. The captain has gone looking for you so many times. Hurry, hurry to the Clan Head. He needs you."
Uchiha Yashiro was delighted. As Fugaku's foremost lieutenant, he had been on rotation duty today, but the information he had received had been deeply troubling.
Nearly half of their main force had been sent out, tied down by all sorts of strange missions. Even those who could return were few and far between.
Still, this was the best news they had received today. Everyone knew that Konoha would not dare openly do anything to them, but no one knew what underhanded methods that bastard Danzo might use.
"Father, has he been waiting that long?"
Itachi drew a deep breath and nodded. Along