A Stir in Konoha

Eight o'clock.

The doors of the Konoha Military Police Force opened on time.

Uchiha En appeared at the entrance in dark blue clan robes, followed by a group of subordinates.

He surveyed the dense crowd before him, a faint smile of satisfaction touching his lips.

Then he unleashed his powerful Spiritual Pressure.

It swept across the street like an invisible tide.

The noise at the entrance vanished as though someone had pressed pause.

Not a sound remained.

Everyone fell silent. Cold sweat beaded on some foreheads, some legs trembled, and a few people even stepped back without thinking.

The old woman selling dango nearly dropped her spatula.

But the pressure disappeared as quickly as it had come.

Uchiha En withdrew it, and his gentle smile returned.

"Everyone."

He did not raise his voice, yet every person heard him clearly.

"My name is Uchiha En. I am the current head of the Uchiha Clan."

"I also serve as Head of the Konoha Military Police Force."

He paused and looked over the crowd.

"And this man beside me."

He gestured toward Kakashi.

"Kakashi Hatake, formerly an Elite Jōnin of the Anbu."

"A personal disciple of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."

"As of today, he has officially joined the Konoha Military Police Force."

"He will serve as its Deputy Director."

The street erupted.

"D-Deputy Director?!"

A young Genin stared, his voice cracking.

"Kakashi is the Deputy Director of the Konoha Military Police Force?!"

"That's the second-highest position there!"

"And it went to someone outside the Uchiha Clan?!"

A middle-aged ninja beside him looked just as stunned.

"The Uchiha Clan handed such an important position to an outsider?"

"How... how is that possible?!"

But after the initial shock, someone was first to grasp what it meant.

A Chunin in a worn vest clenched his