The Security Force

Majestic Destroyer Flame covered a wide area and packed tremendous power, but it also consumed a great deal of chakra. For Fugaku, every use took a considerable toll.

Compared with Majestic Destroyer Flame, Fugaku preferred the Great Fire Dragon Jutsu. Once mastered, it could strike a target with precision.

Fugaku memorized the hand seals and principles behind Majestic Destroyer Flame. He could practice it gradually; as his strength grew, he would need to learn jutsu like this.

As for the Uchiha's Forbidden Techniques, Izanagi and Izanami, which Fugaku most wanted to see, there was no trace of either. They were probably kept at Naka Shrine or hidden in another secret chamber.

At least Fugaku could be certain that Izanagi was still with the Uchiha. Madara Uchiha had not taken it with him, or Danzo could never have learned the Forbidden Technique later.

As for Izanami's whereabouts, he would have to leave that to chance. The technique was not particularly important to him right now anyway.

Little remained of his two-month leave. Apart from his daily training, Fugaku spent his time in the secret chamber studying historical records.

Beside a small lake on the outskirts of Konoha, Fugaku Uchiha wove a rapid sequence of hand seals.

"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

A stream of fire burst from his mouth and spread swiftly across the lake. The flames burned fiercely, raising the temperature all around. The blaze raced over the water until it covered a small area.

Fugaku was disappointed, though he could hardly be surprised. In his hands, it was merely a powerful Fire Release technique. In Madara Uchiha's, it would have become a sea of flames.

At least three transformations separated them: from the Three-Tomoe Sharingan to the Mangekyo Sharingan, then the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, and finally the Rinnegan. Each transformation brought a qualitative leap in power.

For Fugaku, that road was long and distant, and full of challenges.

He finished training and entered the village. The bustle pulled his thoughts back to the present. The fighting in the Land of Rain had done nothing to dampen Konoha's liveliness. The war had yet to break out in full, and to ordinary people, it still felt far away.

That evening, while Fugaku was studying some records, he heard Uchiha Tenjo's voice.

Fugaku put down the scroll and went to the living room, where Uchiha Tenjo was already waiting.

"Father," Fugaku said, "is there a mission?"

"Nothing serious." Uchiha Tenjo smiled at him. "The Hyuga clan head's two sons, Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, are about to graduate from the Ninja Academy. I hear they've both done well there. Our families are two of Konoha's most prominent, and we've competed for years.

"Your recent performance has brought the Uchiha considerable honor. I hope you won't neglect your training and let those two Hyuga boys surpass you."

Fugaku nodded. "Yes, Father. I won't let the clan down."

The Hyuga Brothers were already graduating. Over the next few years, the future clan heads of Konoha's Great Families would graduate one after another. Once grown, this generation of ninja would become Konoha's backbone.

"Father, are you on duty with the Security Force tonight?" Fugaku continued. "As a member of the Uchiha, I've never done anything for the Security Force. I still have some leave left, so I'd like to spend a few days on patrol and do my part for the clan."

"Have you heard something? Has someone been spreading rumors to you?" Uchiha Tenjo's expression turned stern. "Don't believe what outsiders say. With your talent, you won't be limited to the Security Force, and I don't want you joining it so early."

Fugaku was a little surprised. From his father's reaction, there were clearly unflattering rumors about him, possibly within the Uchiha itself. Otherwise, his father would not have been so sensitive.

Fugaku paid little mind to gossip. The Uchiha respected strength above all. As long as he kept growing stronger, the rumors would eventually die out. Even so, he still wanted to spend a few days with the Security Force.

There were things he could do there without anyone being the wiser.

"Don't worry, Father," Fugaku said. "I just want to see what the clan members' daily work is like. No one has been spreading rumors to me."

Uchiha Tenjo realized he had been too sensitive. His expression eased. "If you want to go, take seven nights of duty with the Security Force. Go there tonight and find Uchiha Saki. He'll arrange it for you."

Uchiha Saki had been present at the meeting his father held last time. He was a fairly high-ranking member of the Uchiha.

"Yes, Father."

Fugaku's thoughts wandered as the sky outside gradually darkened and a bright moon rose overhead.

Fugaku left the Uchiha compound and walked through Konoha's streets. He was in no hurry to reach the Security Force. He had something important to do tonight, and he could not entrust it to anyone else without greatly increasing the risk of exposure.

His task was simple: spread word of Hashirama Senju's greatness and the power of Wood Release, so people would understand how strong the First Hokage had been when he quelled the wars of the Shinobi World.

He wanted people to believe that with Wood Release, the war in the Land of Rain would soon be over.

Fugaku's targets were simple: ordinary people in Konoha. He would start the story circulating among them.

In a world ruled by ninja and strength, no one paid attention to what a few ordinary people talked about each day. Once enough people joined the discussion, the news would naturally reach the Konoha leadership.

Amid the stream of pedestrians, Fugaku Uchiha found a restaurant across from a tavern. He went in and took a seat by the window, with a clear view of the tavern opposite.

He ordered a few simple dishes and ate while casually watching the tavern.

Business was good. After a long day, it was common for people to have a drink in the evening and relax.

A group of ordinary townspeople came out of the tavern and stood outside talking loudly. Fugaku quickly picked his first target: the most talkative of them.

He paid his bill and left the restaurant, strolling down the street. Ahead of him, his chosen target walked with an unsteady gait. Fugaku watched the man enter a courtyard, then stopped.

After memorizing the location, he turned toward the Security Force. The Second Hokage had created the department to accommodate the Uchiha, giving them authority while also restricting and isolating them.

Of Konoha's first three Hokage, each had been less broad-minded than the last. To establish the village, the First Hokage had been willing to yield the position of Hokage to Madara Uchiha.

For the sake of peace in the Shinobi World, he had even distributed the Tailed Beasts in his possession to other Ninja Villages.

The Second Hokage had fallen short of that standard; his attitude toward the Uchiha alone showed the difference. As for the Third Hokage, he had not even made room for the White Fang of the Leaf, a man who had rendered Konoha countless services. He had let rumors spread through the village. That said enough about the difference between them.