Prelude to the Counterattack

Hane had just stepped out of the backyard when he ran into Fugaku and Mikoto.

Fugaku looked at Hane's grim expression, his heart skipping a beat. "Hane! There are some things you need to learn to let go of!"

Hane stared blankly at Fugaku. "You knew?"

Fugaku nodded silently.

Hane's face darkened further. "Since you already agreed, what does it matter whether I, his older brother, agree or not?"

With that, Hane left the house with Izumi, feeling somewhat stifled. At that moment, he wondered whether he had done something wrong.

He had clearly wanted so badly to stop the tragedy from happening, yet things always went against his wishes. After dealing with that stubborn fool Shisui, he had never expected events to continue developing in the direction he least wanted to see.

Hane felt slightly oppressed. Even the Azure Nether Art flowing smoothly within him faltered for a moment and gradually slowed. He truly loved this family.

Seeing Hane lower his head and head outside, Fugaku hurriedly tugged at Mikoto beside him.

Mikoto gave her husband a resentful glance, then looked at Hane's retreating figure as he held Izumi's hand and softly said, "Hane, come back on time for dinner tonight!"

Hane paused slightly. The heaviness in his heart dissipated considerably. "Got it, Mother!" There was no emotion audible in his voice.

Fine. Given the Uchiha clan's current strength, if Itachi really goes that far, then I'll let him see the village's darkness. Some people simply refuse to turn back until they hit a wall. Only when the facts are laid bare before them will they regret it!

Having thought it through, Hane's mood immediately improved. Izumi, who had been following behind him with a worried expression, also relaxed her furrowed little face.

"Looks like Hane has recovered." Feeling the chaotic aura around Hane return to its usual calm and steady state, Izumi's little face revealed a happy smile.

Fugaku watched Hane leave in silence and sighed helplessly. "Isn't Hane being a little too domineering?"

Mikoto rolled her eyes at Fugaku. "If Hane were truly domineering, he wouldn't have agreed to Itachi's request. There must be some reason behind this for him to be so angry."

Fugaku smiled awkwardly. "Hasn't the clan's life improved? Since the Third Hokage wants to promote Itachi into the Anbu, I thought this would also be a chance to ease tensions with the village."

"That's why you dragged me here in such a hurry?" Mikoto looked at her husband speechlessly.

Fugaku's old face reddened. "Isn't it because Hane has listened to you since he was young? I just didn't want the atmosphere at home to become too tense. You know his temper. If he refuses, even I, his father, can't do anything about it!"

Mikoto helplessly looked at her increasingly uninhibited husband. "If you had properly talked things over with Hane, he might not have been so angry. That child is usually very easygoing."

"Yes, usually very easygoing. But once he gets stubborn, he'll even hit his own father!" Fugaku said teasingly.

It looked as though Fugaku had the final say in all matters large and small within the clan, but when it came to whom the clansmen trusted more, ten of his words could not compare to a single word from Hane.

Fugaku had come to terms with that. The clan would sooner or later be handed over to Hane anyway, so what difference did it make whether it happened sooner or later? He had relaxed considerably now; otherwise, he and Mikoto would not have appeared here at this time.

Fugaku looked at his wife, who was watching Itachi and Sasuke train nearby. "Mikoto, how about we give Hane a little sister? Maybe if he has a younger sister, his personality will become much gentler."

Mikoto shot Fugaku a coquettish glare. "It's still broad daylight!"

"Young Clan Leader!"

"Young Clan Leader!"

After seeing Izumi home, Hane arrived at the secret meeting place. The moment the many clansmen saw him, they rose and greeted him.

Hane nodded. "How is everyone's training going?" he asked Uchiha Retsuyō, who stood nearby.

"Young Clan Leader! Two more clansmen broke through to the Three-Tomoe Sharingan today!" A faint smile appeared at the corner of Uchiha Retsuyō's mouth.

"Not bad. Have the clansmen intensify their training. It may come in handy before long."

"Yes, Young Clan Leader!"

"By the way, how is the matter I had the Military Police Force investigate?" Hane continued.

"Young Clan Leader, most of the missing children cases point to a secret base outside the village. A large number of Anbu are guarding it!" Uchiha Retsuyō hurriedly answered with a solemn expression.

"Find out their hidden contacts within the village as soon as possible. Once we have sufficient evidence, do not hesitate. Immediately dispatch members of the Military Police Force to launch the Konoha Anti-Crime Operation. This case has been piling up for far too long. It is time to give the parents of those missing children an explanation." A cold smile appeared on Hane's lips.

"Hmph! Third Hokage, your good days are about to begin!"

"Yes, Young Clan Leader!" A cold glint appeared in Uchiha Retsuyō's eyes as well.

Early in the morning, a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere filled the streets of Konoha.

Children who had risen early played and chased one another along the road, while vendors at the surrounding stalls continuously called out to passersby, hawking their goods.

Suddenly, the lively atmosphere fell silent. The children who had been playing quickly hid behind their parents. Not far down the street, a large group from the Military Police Force appeared on the central road, dressed in black uniforms with large Uchiha crests emblazoned on their backs, their faces cold and impassive.

A murderous aura hung over every one of them!

Konoha's villagers watched the scene nervously.

Suddenly, the Uchiha Military Police Force stopped before a pork vendor. The Uchiha captain leading them waved a hand. "Surround this place! Don't let even a mosquito escape!"

"Yes, Captain!" The Uchiha ninja immediately spread out, each drawing the weapon at their waist and staring red-eyed at the pork seller, who had been chatting and laughing with a customer.

Under the gaze of dozens of eyes, beads of sweat appeared on the pork seller's forehead.

"What are you trying to do?! I'm a legitimate Konoha merchant! I have a business permit issued by the Hokage Building!"

The captain of the Uchiha Military Police Force snorted. "Recently, we received reports from villagers that many children have disappeared within the village! We suspect you are connected to numerous cases and may be involved in human trafficking. This is an arrest warrant issued by the Military Police Force. Come with us!"

The Uchiha captain's voice was loud enough for nearly the entire street to hear.

In an instant, the entire street erupted in an uproar.

"How could that be possible? Wu Xia is an honest man. He never shortchanges anyone when selling meat, and his prices are much lower than elsewhere. How could such a good man possibly be a human trafficker?" A villager immediately stepped forward to explain loudly.

"That's right! Could the Military Police Force have made a mistake?"

"Don't arrest an innocent man by mistake!"

For a time, the villagers all echoed those sentiments.

"Silence! The Military Police Force naturally has evidence when conducting its affairs. Once the case has been confirmed, everything will be announced on the Military Police Force notice board!" A thunderous voice infused with Chakra drowned out the street's noisy clamor.

The villagers stared blankly at the pork seller, whose body had begun trembling with tension. Even now, they could not believe that this honest-looking, kind-faced man could be a vicious human trafficker.

"Arrest him!" the Uchiha captain ordered coldly.

"Damn it, cursed Uchiha!"

The pork seller no longer dared to keep hiding. Once he was taken into the Military Police Force, he would definitely reveal all his secrets. Over the past six months of handling cases, the Uchiha had made it clear that unless they had enough evidence, they would never dare make such a grand display when arresting someone.

That was also why the surrounding villagers only dared to speak up and not a single one stepped forward to stop them.

At the thought of going inside and facing the Uchiha's various Genjutsu and tortures, the pork seller shuddered. His face gradually twisted, losing all its usual kindness and gentleness.

He flipped over his stall, pulled a butcher's blade more than two meters long from beneath it, and charged toward the most crowded part of the street with a murderous expression!

The Uchiha Military Police Force captain sneered. "Resisting law enforcement adds another charge!"

As he spoke, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan appeared in his eyes. The instant their gazes met, the pork seller charging toward the crowd froze in place.

Only then did the surrounding villagers realize that something was wrong, horror filling their eyes.