The Mangekyo Sharingan's Barrier and Changes in the Military Police Force

A Summoning beast...

The Lava Behemoth. If it was the "stone man" he had in mind, it should be fairly strong. But did he need the Shinobi World's revised version?

Set it aside for now.

As for the Flying Thunder God Technique, he might still have a chance to learn it if he had a heart-to-heart with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Cross it off.

Sealing Jutsu...

It might not seem useful to him, but there were plenty of situations in the Shinobi World that called for Sealing Jutsu. It was useful for almost anything, and it essentially represented the Uzumaki Clan's lost legacy!

Of the remaining Uzumaki, Karin was still young.

And Nagato didn't know a damn thing.

It was undeniably precious.

But compared with Nine-Tails Chakra...

It didn't quite measure up.

As a member of the Uchiha Clan, Big Brother Shinji had no shortage of chakra. People only called the Uchiha chakra reserves lacking when they compared them to Hashirama Senju's.

Besides, his Yang Release had long since reached S-rank. After years of cultivation and development, his chakra reserves had grown downright monstrous.

But... no one ever complained about having too much chakra.

This "Nine-Tails" might be a bootleg copy in its infancy, but its ability to grow by devouring other Tailed Beasts' chakra made up for every shortcoming.

And there was something else.

Big Brother Shinji had learned that the Nine-Tails Chakra granted by the system would recognize him as its master immediately. He could become a Perfect Jinchuriki on the spot...

His combat strength would soar!

"I choose the Uzumaki Bloodline and Nine-Tails Chakra!" After weighing his options, Big Brother Shinji made his decision.

The instant the words left his mouth.

Blue chakra erupted around Big Brother Shinji!

Wave after wave of force spread outward from him like a hurricane, leaving Uchiha Itachi wide-eyed.

"...What a terrifying amount of chakra!"

Under that pressure, even moving a finger felt difficult to him, let alone forming Hand Seals!

Big Brother Shinji, meanwhile, felt the vitality of his cells multiply several times over. Chakra poured forth as though he were sitting atop a mountain of riches and counting his wealth. Even he, who had never known what it felt like to lack chakra, found the rate of extraction unnerving!

His S-rank Yang Release and the Uzumaki Bloodline had combined to produce a terrifying effect greater than the sum of its parts!

And then...

"The Mind's Eye of the Kagura?"

With a thought, Big Brother Shinji brought everything within nearly a hundred kilometers of Konohagakure into his sensory range!

An unexpected bonus!

Big Brother Shinji had never expected the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to be imprinted in the bloodline, almost like a Kekkei Genkai.

And Adamantine Sealing Chains! They were inherited the same way!

Nearby.

Uchiha Itachi first sensed the vast surge of chakra from Big Brother Shinji. Then he felt as though someone had used the Byakugan to see straight through him.

He couldn't sit still.

Big Brother Shinji really is mysterious... The strength he's shown is only the tip of the iceberg!

Fortunately.

The Nine-Tails Chakra granted by the system stayed well hidden when it wasn't in use. Otherwise, Uchiha Itachi might have been scared to death.

Ignoring everything around him, Big Brother Shinji sank his consciousness into a sealed space filled with grass stretching as far as the eye could see.

There was no iron cage or sinister atmosphere. There was only a strange seal he could open and close at will. Curled up asleep in the grass was a fluffy little red fox about the size of a rabbit.

Sensing Big Brother Shinji approach, it lazily flicked its tail. Though it didn't open its eyes, its thoughts conveyed a natural affection and dependence.

"What a terrifying amount of chakra..."

Big Brother Shinji studied the adorable little fox as its tail swept back and forth across the grass, quietly shaken.

Just one-tenth of the complete Nine-Tails' chakra felt like staring into a vast, unfathomable ocean. How terrifying would the complete Nine-Tails be after Yin-Yang Fusion?

He left the space within his consciousness.

Big Brother Shinji used the SS Instant Upgrade Card on his Yin Release.

His spiritual energy surged again, this time in a clear qualitative leap! As Big Brother Shinji felt the Three Tomoe in his eyes, he sensed a thin barrier just beyond his reach. The slightest push would break through it...

He just needed a catalyst!

Sure enough.

Only a fool would waste a precious 5,000 gold coins when every requirement had already been met and surpassed.

After a long while.

Big Brother Shinji opened his eyes and glanced to the side. Uchiha Itachi was staring intently at him.

"Big Brother Shinji, were you meditating just now?"

"Mm."

Big Brother Shinji stretched.

A complicated look flashed through Uchiha Itachi's eyes.

Shinji had only just become the Uchiha Clan Head, yet he had meditated without a shred of caution in front of a double agent for the village and the clan, someone his own clansmen despised?

And that agent was the previous Clan Head's son...

"Itachi, what are your thoughts?"

Uchiha Itachi let out a long breath. "I don't know. I used to be deeply disappointed in the clan. Coups and power struggles seemed utterly pointless, and the clansmen's ideas seemed childish and meaningless. I came to the Clan Meeting today because I wanted to listen seriously to what you had to say, Big Brother Shinji..."

"And now?"

"I have no reason to disagree with your ideals, Big Brother Shinji..."

Big Brother Shinji nodded and took his gaze off Uchiha Itachi's neck. "Good."

Itachi hesitated. "I've thought carefully about everything concerning the village and the clan. I want to follow your example and try to change the clan from within, so I can improve its relationship with the village. That's why I want to leave ANBU..."

"No."

Big Brother Shinji stood and patted Itachi's shoulder, his expression complicated. It was like looking at a demon who had turned over a new leaf.

The thought felt oddly jarring.

After a moment's thought.

Big Brother Shinji asked in a measured tone, "Itachi, have you considered how the village will react when it hears about everything that happened among the Uchiha tonight?"

Itachi frowned. "Big Brother Shinji... I'm not politically astute enough to tell."

"Never mind. I want every word of tonight's Clan Meeting to reach the Third Hokage's desk, so he can see it all clearly..."

Big Brother Shinji smiled. "That includes my plans for the Konoha Military Police Force and the founding of the Uchiha Self-Defense Force."

"...Yes!"

Uchiha Itachi nodded.

"One more thing. I have a question, and I want your answer."

Big Brother Shinji chose his words carefully. "Suppose you had to leave the village and your family, venture into danger alone, stand against everyone, and become a rogue ninja reviled by all. But you would be doing it for the peace and future of the village and the clan..."

Big Brother Shinji rested a hand on his shoulder. "Would you do it?"

Resolve flashed in Uchiha Itachi's eyes. He dropped to one knee. "Big Brother Shinji, before I came here today, I was already thinking about something. The village and the clan don't just need a Clan Head who stands in the sunlight. They also need a crow hidden in the dark..."

He raised his head sharply, revealing his Mangekyo Sharingan. "And I've long been prepared to shoulder that burden!"

Big Brother Shinji stared at him in surprise. This time around, instead of becoming completely trapped in his own thinking, had Itachi actually figured something out?

Did this count as redemption?

Had he redeemed himself?

"...Good! Go home and get some rest."

After a moment's thought, Big Brother Shinji gave a rare smile. "Get ready to welcome the coming... Dawn. And a new Uchiha Clan!"

"Yes!!!"

The night passed.

Konoha was as bustling as ever. No one knew what had happened among the Uchiha the night before.

But.

The changes in the Konoha Military Police Force caught everyone's attention.

"Ma'am, where are your son and grandson? Why are you hauling such a heavy load to your stall all by yourself?"

The stooped old woman in a coarse linen shirt jumped. The person before her was one of those frightening uniformed officers from the Konoha Military Police Force!

They all had black hair and dark eyes, with cold, unapproachable demeanors. They always seemed to look down on everyone, keeping others at a distance.

They enforced the rules impartially, without a trace of warmth.

The residents of Konoha generally kept their distance.

Today was different.

After instinctively shrinking away, the old woman studied the officer before her. His smile was stiff, as though he were carrying out an assignment and forcing himself to look friendly.

After hesitating, she said, "My son was a Chunin... He died on the battlefield eleven years ago. My grandson was a student at the Ninja Academy, but eight years ago, when the Fox Demon caused havoc in the village, he died too..."

Uchiha Qingcheng froze.

At first, he had only approached her because of the Konoha Military Police Force's new "assessment": one complaint from a villager meant permanently losing the chance to join the Uchiha Self-Defense Force's reserve unit. It had forced them to treat people kindly and take their work seriously.

But now, arrogant and aloof though he was.

He couldn't help being moved.

"Ma'am, what are you selling? Which street are you headed to? I'll carry it for you," he offered sincerely, wanting to help her.

The old woman waved her hands in alarm. "I couldn't ask a ninja to do rough work. These are just some Soldier Pill candies I made myself, little treats for children."

Uchiha Qingcheng waved a hand. "Come now, ma'am, that's not right. We're all part of Konoha. No one is above or below anyone else. There's no need to call me 'ninja.' Your son was a comrade the Uchiha Clan respects... Uh, well, we're all one family, neighbors and all... One family, right?"

"Uh..."

The old woman stared at him in astonishment.

The muscles around Uchiha Qingcheng's mouth twitched. "That's how Lord Kei taught us to say it. Did I get something wrong?"

After a long pause, the old woman said, "I'm going over by the Ninja Academy..."

Uchiha Qingcheng froze, then broke into a delighted grin!

It worked!

"Right! Ma'am, stay right here. I'll deliver the goods first, then come straight back for you. It won't take long, don't worry!"

With that.

Ao Cheng slung the sack of candy she had been dragging over his shoulder, leaped onto a roof, and vanished across the rooftops in a few quick bounds.

The old woman stood there, terrified.

Only after a long while did she stammer, "Wait, no, that's not right! If no one's there to watch the candy, won't it get stolen?"