Uchiha Hokushin

At the sight of the Uchiha Clan crest, Hoshi could not help frowning slightly. His Shadow Clone had clearly gone to seek help from Uzumaki Mito, so why had members of the Police Force come instead? While Hoshi was still trying to make sense of it, the Uchiha youth beside him—whose speed had been frighteningly fast—suddenly noticed him. After giving him a couple of looks, the young man turned and smiled.

"Is this the Main Body? I was wondering why the one I ran into earlier felt a little strange... You're just a little kid, yet you've already mastered the Shadow Clone. You're really impressive."

Hoshi studied the man, somewhat taken aback. There were actually Uchiha Clan members who were this easygoing? Since this Uchiha clansman was so gentle, Hoshi stopped holding back. He first nodded at the man, then asked curiously, "Are you the reinforcements my Shadow Clone brought over? I originally asked him to fetch an elder I knew, so how did...?"

That was the downside of Shadow Clones. The Main Body and Shadow Clones could not share memories in real time. The Main Body could only receive the Shadow Clone's memories once it disappeared or was actively dispelled.

As a result, Hoshi had no idea what his Shadow Clone had done along the way.

Seeing Hoshi's curiosity, the Uchiha clansman took the initiative to explain what had happened.

"My name is Uchiha Hokushin. I'm the squad leader of the Police Force in this district. Your Shadow Clone ran into me while seeking help and asked me for assistance. When I heard there were spies, I naturally hurried over as quickly as I could.

By the way, why is there only one of them here? Weren't there two? Don't tell me you took care of the other one too?"

Uchiha Hokushin had only asked that as a joke. He did not believe four first-year Ninja Academy children could take down two Iwagakure spies.

Yet Sakumo, who had walked over, suddenly answered, "The other one is dead too. Upstream from the creek."

Uchiha Hokushin was visibly stunned. Was that a joke? Were Konoha's children this fierce now? Or had Iwagakure really declined to such a state?

He motioned for them to wait where they were, then ran upstream to the creek, seemingly unwilling to believe it. Before long, he returned carrying Qiu's corpse.

He had searched Qiu's body. Hidden within the lining of the man's clothes was his ninja identification, which stated in plain black-and-white that he was an Iwagakure Chunin.

Looking at the four little kids before him, each less than four feet tall, then at the two corpses on the ground that could not have looked more miserable, Uchiha Hokushin felt as though he were still dreaming.

This was way too outrageous. First-year Ninja Academy students could team up to kill Chunin? Once the four of them grew up, wouldn't they be able to take on the heavens themselves?

Uchiha Hokushin immediately began to take these four children extremely seriously. If they had truly defeated Iwagakure Chunin through their own strength alone, then he had to report this to the Hokage. Lord Hokage absolutely had to pay close attention to their development. Such pearls could not be allowed to gather dust.

His elder brother, Kagami Uchiha, had always taught him through word and example: if the Uchiha wanted to truly earn the villagers' respect, they had to sincerely regard everyone in the village as family. That was the best way for the Uchiha to overcome prejudice.

Uchiha Hokushin had always regarded his brother's words as gospel. Now that his brother was gone, he felt that he should take up the spiritual torch his brother had passed down and use his actions to encourage more clansmen to embrace his brother's ideals.

These four children before him would be his first step. On one hand, according to his brother, villagers should be treated with the warmth one showed family. Since four little geniuses had appeared in the family, of course he had to do everything he could to help them secure better resources.

On the other hand, Uchiha Hokushin had his own little selfish motives. Deep down, he could not help thinking: if his reminder really drew attention to these four kids and earned them better training, then he would count as having recognized their talent, wouldn't he?

Once these four children truly came into their own and became Jonin of the village, it would not be too much to ask them to put in a good word for the Uchiha and improve Konoha's citizens' opinion of the clan in return for that favor, would it?

If that day truly came, it would no longer be just a small step for Uchiha Hokushin. It would be a giant step toward clearing the Uchiha Clan's name.

As long as he kept doing this, one day the Uchiha Clan would be free of prejudice and become a great clan respected by all, just like the Senju Clan!

At that thought, Uchiha Hokushin's eyes practically shone. He grabbed Hoshi by the arm and said, "Um, kid, I'll need you to come with me next. Don't misunderstand—there's no special reason. I just need you to come to the Police Force and give a statement.

Once the statements are recorded, I can use them to apply for a school-wide commendation for you. Your actions protected the village's interests. You're little heroes of the village; you can't be allowed to go unnoticed."

After hearing that, not only Hoshi but even Sakumo, with his icy expression, was dumbfounded. Was this guy really from the Uchiha Clan? Was he actually a Senju Clan member wearing Uchiha skin?

Jiraiya, still clutching his cheek nearby, spoke indistinctly.

"Uncle, are you really an Uchiha ninja? Aren't all Uchiha...?"

It was worth mentioning that An Rui's earlier punch had knocked out Jiraiya's two front teeth. Now, whenever he spoke, air leaked through the gap, making him look even more comical.

Fortunately, Jiraiya was still at the age when he was losing baby teeth, so they would grow back later. Otherwise, Jiraiya's future image would have been...

Uchiha Hokushin did not get angry at Jiraiya's words. He even finished the sentence for him.

"Aren't they all fierce and arrogant toward everyone?

Actually, you're not wrong. Quite a few Uchiha clansmen really are like that. But I'm different from them, perhaps thanks to my brother, Kagami Uchiha.

My brother and I have always hoped to gradually change that bad habit among our clansmen while slowly improving the villagers' view of the Uchiha Clan. That is our dream."

Hoshi had been worried that this man might have some ulterior motive, that he might be trying to lure them into the Uchiha Clan Compound to kill them.

But once he heard that this man's brother was Kagami Uchiha, that was that. He could be one hundred percent certain that this guy was not a bad person.

Not only was he not a bad person, he was probably the sort of good person who was adorably foolish. Thinking that, Hoshi could not help feeling guilty for his earlier malicious suspicions.

Still, guilt aside, he had to remain cautious about the Uchiha Clan Compound. After thinking for a moment, Hoshi pointed at Jiraiya and said to Uchiha Hokushin, "Brother Beichen, I can go with you to give the statement, but we don't all need to go, right?

Besides, Jiraiya and the others are pretty badly hurt. How about this? Sakumo and I will go with you to give our statements. Let Orochimaru and Jiraiya go to the hospital first to have their injuries checked, and have them let our families know we're safe. Is that okay?"