Chikage held the case file high.
"I'm going into the Hokage Building to report this case!"
"Anyone who stops me is obstructing law enforcement!"
"They're buying time for the real suspect!"
"They're trampling on Konoha's rule of law!"
He threw those accusations straight back at them.
The Anbu Captain's hand grew sweaty around his Ninja Blade.
He watched the growing crowd of villagers around them.
Their eyes were full of curiosity and suspicion.
Word of the vandalism on South Street had already spread.
Now Chikage had brought the case file to the Hokage.
This was perfectly legitimate official business.
If he ordered an attack on the Konoha Military Police Force now, he would be turning public opinion against himself.
The Anbu were already mysterious figures to the villagers.
If he earned a reputation for shielding a suspect as well, even Lord Hokage would not let him off lightly.
But if he did not stop them, was he really supposed to let dozens of Uchiha enter the building?
The Anbu Captain found himself caught between a rock and a hard place.
All he could do was stand on the steps, gripping his blade and watching Chikage.
Chikage looked at the Anbu Captain's conflicted expression.
He turned to Uchiha Hikari behind him.
"See?"
"As long as we're in the right and have the evidence to prove it..."
"They can't bring that blade down on us."
"Come on. Follow me inside."
Carrying his baton, Chikage strode up the steps.
Dozens of officers followed close behind.
Footsteps rang out across the square once more.
Several Anbu ninja instinctively took half a step back.
They did not dare attack.
They could only watch as Chikage led his men toward the entrance.
Meanwhile.
In the office on the top floor of the Hokage Building.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk.
Thin wisps of smoke rose from the pipe in his hand.
The window was half open.
Chikage's chakra-amplified shouts carried clearly into the office.
The Third's expression soured.
He tapped his pipe against the ashtray twice.
"That Shimura Ken is utterly useless!"
"He actually got caught red-handed by the Konoha Military Police Force collecting protection money."
"And he left behind so many witnesses and damage records."
The Third cursed Danzo countless times in his mind.
He had only just placated Uchiha Fugaku at the negotiating table yesterday.
And today, Danzo had caused this enormous mess.
Root had abducted a division commander of the Konoha Military Police Force in broad daylight.
How could something like that be allowed out in the open?
Now they had come knocking with evidence in hand.
And they had made such a spectacle of it.
Half the village was watching from the square.
If this was handled poorly, the authority of the Konoha High Command would suffer.
The Third stood and walked to the window.
He looked at the crowd gathering in the square below.
Then he looked at the black-haired youth leading the way up the steps.
Uchiha Chikage.
The name rang a faint bell.
He had heard the boy was a clerk who cared only about clocking out on time.
Why had he suddenly become so sharp-tongued today?
Every word he spoke rested firmly on Konoha's laws.
More troublesome still, he did not merely have a confession of dubious origin; he also had eyewitness statements and damage records.
Recalling Chikage's shouts, the Third's gaze gradually darkened.
This young man had not come to cause trouble.
He had brought the case, the evidence, and the watching villagers to the Hokage Building, forcing Konoha to take a public stance.
"Lord Hokage."
An Anbu ninja appeared in the office.
He knelt on one knee, awaiting instructions.
"Did you hear what's happening downstairs?"
"The Anbu squad doesn't dare stop them by force. They request instructions on how to proceed."
The Third sighed.
He knew there was no avoiding this matter today.
Having the Anbu drive them away by force would only trigger a bigger conflict.
Then the Uchiha would truly have grounds to accuse the village of trampling on its own laws.
"Have their leader, Uchiha Chikage, come up alone."
"The remaining members of the Konoha Military Police Force are to stand by in the square downstairs."
The Third gave his orders.
The Anbu ninja immediately acknowledged them and withdrew.
The Third turned back to the relocation list on his desk.
With new troubles colliding with old ones, he felt another headache coming on.
Danzo would have to explain this.
"Someone."
Another Anbu ninja appeared in the room.
"Go to the Root Base."
"Bring Danzo here immediately."
At the Konoha Military Police Force Headquarters.
Uchiha Fugaku sat at his newly replaced desk, holding a cup of hot tea.
He looked at the freshly revised supplementary terms for relocation compensation on his desk, feeling quite pleased.
That boy Chikage really was a lucky charm.
Ever since taking that bill to the Hokage Building yesterday and making life miserable for the high command, Fugaku felt as though even breathing had become easier.
He was even considering giving Chikage another raise.
After all, people who could solve problems with their brains were far too rare in the Uchiha Clan.
Just as Fugaku was pondering how to improve Chikage's benefits.
The office door was violently thrown open.
An Uchiha Chunin assigned to remain at headquarters stumbled inside.
His face was deathly pale, and he could barely catch his breath.
"Clan leader!"
"Something terrible has happened!"
Fugaku set down his teacup.
"What are you panicking for?"
"If the sky falls, I'll hold it up. Catch your breath before you speak."
The Chunin swallowed, his voice trembling.
"Division Commander Yashiro was arrested by Root while enforcing the law on South Street!"
"Deputy Commander Chikage has already assembled everyone in the Second Division."
"They took their weapons and went straight to the Hokage Building to demand his release!"
Fugaku's hand froze in midair just as he lifted his teacup again.
He wondered if something was wrong with his hearing.
"Who did you say was arrested?"
"Division Commander Yashiro."
"Who led the men to the Hokage Building?"
"Deputy Commander Chikage."
Fugaku stood frozen, saying nothing for a full half minute.
Chikage?
The Chikage who clocked out on time every day and considered even one extra step too much effort?
The Chikage who flatly refused to become commander because he didn't want to work overtime?
He actually led men to the Hokage Building to demand someone's release?
Fugaku's mind raced.
He knew this nephew of his all too well.
Chikage's greatest ambition in life was to coast along without a care.
How far must they have pushed him for him to willingly lead men to the Hokage Building?
"What exactly did Root do?"
Fugaku's voice turned cold.
The Chunin hurriedly gave a complete account of what had happened on South Street.
From Shimura Ken smashing up the shops, to Yashiro's arrest, to Chikage breaking Shimura Ken's leg.
By the time Fugaku finished listening, his expression had darkened.
The Shimura Clan.
Root.
Danzo.
Those names circled through Fugaku's mind and immediately formed a chain.
Yesterday, the high command had lost out in the relocation negotiations.
Today, Danzo had sent his own clansmen to stir up trouble on Uchiha territory.
He had even stationed Root nearby in ambush and had them seize a division commander of the Konoha Military Police Force.
What was this supposed to be?
This was an outright slap in the Uchiha's face!
They were declaring to all of Konoha that the Uchiha Clan was a pushover anyone could bully!
More importantly, if Root could bypass the Konoha Military Police Force and arrest Yashiro today, they could use the same excuse to interfere with any police operation tomorrow.
This was no longer an ordinary street altercation; it was undermining the very foundation of the Uchiha's authority over law enforcement.
Fury flared inside Fugaku.
He had thought that as long as the Uchiha were willing to compromise and discuss matters reasonably at the negotiating table, the high command would know when to stop.
Now he realized he had been completely wrong.
With someone like Danzo, giving an inch only made him take a mile.
They had even driven someone like Chikage, who cared only about clocking out on time, to take up arms and demand a prisoner's release at the Hokage Building.
The high command had gone too far!
Fugaku abruptly rose to his feet.
The black pupils in his eyes transformed.
Three black tomoe spun rapidly within his blood-red eyes.
An enormous surge of chakra erupted from his body.
Bang!
Fugaku drove his foot into the solid wooden desk before him.
The desk, replaced only yesterday, shattered into pieces.
Wood splinters scattered across the floor.
"Relay my orders!"
Fugaku's voice echoed throughout the Konoha Military Police Force building.
"All Uchiha clan members at headquarters, assemble in the courtyard immediately!"
"Get every available fighter out here!"
The Chunin delivering the message was startled by the killing intent radiating from Fugaku.
He quickly straightened up and loudly acknowledged the order.
"Yes, sir!"
Before you continue