In less than three minutes, the spacious courtyard of the Konoha Military Police Force was packed with the Uchiha Clan's elite.
They had all been handling paperwork or waiting on standby in the lounge.
At the clan head's summons, every one of them dropped what they were doing.
There were nearly a hundred Uchiha ninja in all.
They wore matching high-collared uniforms, with the clan's fan crest emblazoned on their backs.
Many had already activated their Sharingan, while the rest gripped their ninja tools tightly.
Every face wore a solemn expression.
They had already learned what had happened on South Street from the personnel left on duty.
Squad Captain Yashiro had been seized by Root in broad daylight.
Deputy Captain Chikage had taken the Second Squad to the Hokage Building to demand his release.
Together, those two incidents had lit the powder keg in every Uchiha's heart.
"Clan Head!"
An Uchiha Jonin stepped forward and dropped to one knee.
"Everyone has assembled."
"Please give your orders!"
Fugaku strode out of the building and onto the courtyard steps.
He surveyed the angry faces below him.
He looked at all those activated Sharingan.
Crimson eyes flickered throughout the courtyard.
Three years of pent-up humiliation and anger ignited completely at that moment.
Fugaku knew full well that if this incident was mishandled, the Uchiha Clan would have no footing left in Konoha.
The higher-ups would see them as weak and easily bullied.
The villagers would think they could not even protect their own clansmen.
Root would also use this incident to further erode the Konoha Military Police Force's authority.
Even Chikage had stepped forward to defend the clan's bottom line.
Was he, the clan head, supposed to keep hiding like a coward?
"Bring me my haori!"
Fugaku shouted.
An attendant hurried over, carrying a white haori in both hands.
A huge red-and-white fan crest was emblazoned on its back.
This was the battle robe worn exclusively by the Uchiha Clan Head.
Fugaku snatched the haori and draped it over himself.
From above, he looked down at his clansmen in the courtyard.
"The higher-ups have gone too far."
"Root disregarded Konoha's laws and seized our squad captain in the street."
"If they dare bypass the Konoha Military Police Force to arrest someone today, tomorrow they'll dare issue orders over all our heads."
"Right now, Deputy Captain Chikage is at the Hokage Building demanding justice for us."
"He is a child of our Uchiha Clan. We cannot let him face those higher-ups alone!"
Fugaku drew the ninja blade at his waist and pointed it at the sky.
"Everyone, take up your weapons!"
"Come with me to the Hokage Building!"
"We are not going there to storm the Hokage Building, nor to declare war on the village."
"We will make Lord Hokage answer to Yashiro, to the Konoha Military Police Force, and to the Uchiha Clan before the entire village!"
"Anyone who dares stop us is covering up Root's crimes!"
"The Uchiha Clan is not something anyone can trample at will!"
"Yes!"
Nearly a hundred elite Uchiha shouted in unison.
Their voices shook the air and soared into the sky.
Atop a tall tower outside the Konoha Military Police Force's compound.
Two Anbu ninja wearing animal masks lay prone on the roof.
They belonged to the Anbu team tasked with monitoring the Uchiha Clan's movements.
At that moment, both Anbu ninja were tense from head to toe.
Through their binoculars, they had clearly witnessed everything that happened in the courtyard.
Nearly a hundred Uchiha ninja were fully armed.
Many of them had already activated their Sharingan.
Killing intent continued to gather above their ranks.
Even Uchiha Fugaku, who had always advocated moderation, had donned the Clan Head's Battle Robe.
That formation, that oppressive presence-nothing about it looked like an ordinary group petition.
"C-Captain."
The young Anbu member could barely speak without stammering.
"Are the Uchiha about to rebel?"
The Anbu Captain swallowed, forcing down his fear.
"Stop wasting words!"
"Send the alarm now!"
"Inform Lord Hokage that the Uchiha are mobilizing in force!"
The young Anbu fumbled a Red Signal Flare out of his ninja tool pouch.
This was the red alarm signal the Anbu used for major disturbances within the village.
He yanked the cord at its base.
Whoosh!
A piercing whistle tore through Konoha's sky.
Immediately afterward.
Bang!
A bright crimson firework burst above Konoha.
Red light shone across every villager's face.
For a brief moment, all of Konoha fell deathly silent.
Then chaos erupted in the streets.
Panicked villagers ran for their homes.
The heads of the major ninja clans stepped outside and looked up at the red signal in the sky.
In the Hyuga Clan's compound, Hyuga Hiashi activated his Byakugan and looked toward the Konoha Military Police Force.
In the Akimichi Clan's barbecue restaurant, Choza Akimichi set down his grilling tongs.
In the Nara Clan's courtyard, Shikaku Nara sighed and rubbed his throbbing temples.
"This is serious trouble."
Shikaku gazed toward the Konoha Military Police Force and murmured to himself.
"That old bastard Danzo really pushed the Uchiha too far this time."
The gates of the Konoha Military Police Force were thrown open with a crash.
Fugaku marched at the head of the column.
His white clan head's haori snapped in the wind.
His Three-Tomoe Sharingan gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
Behind him marched nearly a hundred fully armed Uchiha ninja.
The column advanced down Konoha's main road toward the Hokage Building in force.
Shops along the route shut their doors one after another.
Pedestrians ducked into alleyways, not daring even to breathe loudly.
Fugaku kept his eyes straight ahead, his steps resolute.
Only two thoughts occupied his mind.
Back Chikage up.
Demand Yashiro's release.
As long as the Hokage Building was willing to handle things according to the rules, he would not strike first.
But anyone who dared treat the Uchiha as people they could dispose of at will was an enemy of the Uchiha Clan.
Several peripheral Root members tried to set up a roadblock at a street corner.
Fugaku did not even draw his blade.
He merely cast them a cold glance.
Several Uchiha Jonin behind him immediately rushed forward.
In a few swift moves, they disarmed the Root members and pinned them at the roadside.
"Tell Danzo."
Fugaku walked past them, his voice utterly devoid of warmth.
"The people who seized Yashiro today had better have an explanation ready."
The column advanced swiftly.
The Hokage Building drew ever closer.
Fugaku raised his head. He could already see the round red building.
He tightened his grip on his sword hilt.
Chikage, don't let them get the better of you.
Fugaku silently repeated the words in his heart.
Your old uncle is coming to back you up.
Meanwhile.
Inside the Hokage Building.
Chikage was leisurely making his way up the stairs to the top floor.
He tucked the copy of the Public Security Administration Regulations back into his pocket.
All he held was the case file detailing the incident.
The stairwell was lined with Anbu ninja.
Each gripped a weapon tightly, as though facing a formidable enemy.
Every gaze was fixed on the Uchiha boy ascending step by step.
Chikage completely ignored their tense stares.
He even had the leisure to glance at the clock on the wall.
Eleven fifty.
Ten minutes until the lunch break.
Time was a little tight.
He had to settle this quickly.
Chikage quickened his pace.
He reached the door to the Hokage's Office.
Two tall Anbu guards stood outside.
They reached out to block his path.
"Lord Hokage is waiting for you inside."
An Anbu guard searched Chikage and, after confirming that he carried no ninja tools, finally stepped aside.
Chikage reached out and grasped the handle of the solid wooden door.
He pushed it open and strode inside.
In the office, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind a large desk.
Smoke curled from his pipe, obscuring most of his face.
Chikage walked up to the desk and stopped.
He neither bowed nor offered a salute.
He simply slapped the case file onto the Third Hokage's desk.
"Lord Hokage, Uchiha Chikage, deputy captain of the Konoha Military Police Force's Second Squad, reporting for duty."
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