The air in the Hokage's office was oppressive.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind a large mahogany desk.
Wisps of smoke rose from the pipe in his hand, obscuring his expression.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, advisors to the Konoha High Command, sat on the leather sofa beside the desk.
They had been discussing compensation for the Uchiha's relocation with the Third Hokage when the commotion outside interrupted them.
Chikage pushed the door open and walked in, his footsteps especially distinct in the quiet office.
He slapped the case file onto the desk.
It landed with a sharp smack.
Then, utterly ignoring the scrutinizing gazes of the Third Hokage and the two advisors, he continued.
Chikage pulled out a solid wood chair opposite the desk and sat down with his legs spread wide.
He leaned back against the chair and settled into a comfortable position.
He even crossed one leg over the other, bobbing his foot in the air.
His lordly behavior left Mitokado Homura staring in disbelief.
Mitokado Homura abruptly stood and pointed a finger at Chikage's nose.
"Uchiha Chikage, how dare you!"
"This is the Hokage's office, the village's highest seat of power!"
"Who gave you permission to sit?"
"Have you no respect for rank or seniority?"
Chikage picked at his ear, then blew on his finger.
"Advisor Mitokado, that's a ridiculous thing to say."
"This chair is in the visitor area. Isn't it here for people to sit on?"
"Or did the Hokage Building buy it as a decorative art piece?"
"Besides, I'm here to report official business. What difference does it make whether I stand or sit?"
"Would standing somehow change the nature of this case?"
Mitokado Homura was momentarily at a loss for words.
He slammed his hand onto the coffee table in front of him.
"Stop twisting words!"
"You surrounded the Hokage Building with dozens of fully armed police officers."
"You call that reporting official business?"
"That's disrespecting your superiors and breaking the village's rules!"
"The Konoha Military Police Force is becoming more lawless by the day. What exactly are you Uchiha trying to do?"
Chikage uncrossed his legs and leaned forward.
He folded his hands at the edge of the desk and looked at Mitokado Homura.
"Advisor Mitokado, you can eat whatever you like, but you can't say whatever you please."
"We Uchiha have always upheld the law and followed the village's regulations to the letter."
"How does that become breaking the rules when you tell it?"
Mitokado Homura sneered.
"Storming the Hokage Building with weapons—is that what you call upholding the law?"
Chikage picked up the case file from the desk and waved it in the air.
"I'll say it again. We're here to report a case."
"The Konoha Military Police Force encountered violent resistance while carrying out its duties."
"We've brought the suspects' confession, witness statements, and the merchants' compensation claims to Lord Hokage."
"This is fully in accordance with the Konoha Public Security Administration Regulations."
Chikage slapped the case file back onto the desk.
"Certain people, on the other hand, have been throwing their connections around."
"They allowed their relatives to smash, loot, and burn their way through South Street in broad daylight."
"They openly extorted ordinary merchants."
"And after the Konoha Military Police Force caught them red-handed, they still had the nerve to mouth off."
"Advisor Mitokado, you're always talking about rules."
"So let me ask you something."
"Root lets its relatives collect protection money on the streets. Are those the rules your high command follows?"
A brief silence fell over the office.
Mitokado Homura's face turned a livid purple.
Clearly, he still didn't know exactly what had happened on South Street.
He only knew that the Konoha Military Police Force had brought people here to cause trouble.
Now that he had heard that Root had allowed its relatives to smash, loot, and burn, he didn't know how to react.
Utatane Koharu also straightened in her seat and looked toward the Third Hokage behind the desk.
The Third Hokage set his pipe on the ashtray.
He picked up the case file and opened it to the first page.
The first thing he saw was a confession bearing three bright red handprints.
It detailed how Shimura Ken had led his men to smash up a ninja tool shop on South Street and beat its elderly merchant.
Even Shimura Ken's boast that "the Shimura Clan sets the rules on South Street" had been recorded word for word.
There was no signature in the suspect's signature field at the bottom right.
But the bright red handprint, along with the signature of the witness Uchiha Hikari beside it, made the document fully legally binding.
The Third Hokage's expression changed.
He turned to the second page.
It was a joint compensation claim from more than a dozen South Street merchants.
Replacement costs for the ninja tool shop's damaged kunai.
Compensation for the fruit stall's trampled apples.
Medical expenses for the Dango Shop owner, who had suffered a fright.
All told, the sum amounted to hundreds of thousands of ryo.
Every item bore the merchant's own signature and fingerprint.
The Third Hokage found those vivid red fingerprints painfully glaring.
Danzo, you idiot!
The Third Hokage inwardly cursed Shimura Danzō up and down.
Just yesterday, Uchiha Fugaku had come demanding payment with an exorbitant bill.
Today, Danzo had sent his own nephew into Uchiha territory to cause trouble.
As if causing trouble weren't enough, the Konoha Military Police Force had caught him red-handed.
They had even secured a confession and a joint compensation claim from the merchants.
How was he, the Hokage, supposed to clean up this mess?
Sitting in his chair, Chikage watched the Third Hokage's shifting expression.
He raised his wrist and glanced at his watch.
Three minutes to noon.
It was almost time for the lunch break.
"Lord Hokage, you've read the case file."
Chikage broke the silence.
"The sequence of events is perfectly clear."
"Shimura Ken led a group to cause trouble, and Captain Yashiro of the Konoha Military Police Force took his officers to handle it."
"Then Root personnel suddenly appeared without any orders authorizing them."
"They forcibly took Captain Yashiro away while he was carrying out his duties."
Chikage tapped the desk twice with his finger.
"Root overstepped its authority by arresting a police officer. This is a serious violation."
"On behalf of the Konoha Military Police Force, I am now formally requesting the following of Lord Hokage."
"Please order Root to release Uchiha Yashiro immediately."
"And hand over the Root personnel who obstructed law enforcement so the Konoha Military Police Force can deal with them according to the law."
At this, Mitokado Homura could no longer contain himself.
"Absurd!"
"Root is the Anbu's training division, under the direct jurisdiction of the Hokage Advisor."
"They naturally have their reasons for what they do."
"Even if there were some procedural irregularities, your Konoha Military Police Force has no right to deal with them!"
Chikage turned to look at Mitokado Homura.
"Procedural irregularities?"
"Advisor Mitokado, you call seizing a captain off the street while he's enforcing the law a procedural irregularity?"
"Then can our Konoha Military Police Force smash down your front door tomorrow?"
"And call it a procedural irregularity in the course of law enforcement?"
Mitokado Homura's beard trembled with anger.
"That's sophistry!"
Chikage ignored him and turned back to the Third Hokage.
"Lord Hokage, Konoha is governed by the rule of law."
"If even the Konoha Military Police Force's authority to enforce the law can't be guaranteed..."
"Then we might as well let Root handle public security in Konoha."
The Third Hokage rubbed his throbbing temples.
He knew Chikage was forcing him to take a position.
If he didn't secure Yashiro's release, the Konoha Military Police Force would never let the matter rest.
Dozens of elite Uchiha were still standing in the square outside.
Even Uchiha Fugaku had already brought men over from the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters.
The Anbu had just reported that the entire Uchiha clan had assembled.
If this matter couldn't be settled, Konoha would face major upheaval today.
But if he directly ordered Root to release Yashiro...
Danzo would undoubtedly raise hell.
Root's prestige would also suffer a serious blow.
"Chikage."
The Third Hokage picked up his pipe again, softening his tone.
"The village will certainly investigate this matter thoroughly."
"If Shimura Ken truly violated the public security regulations, the village will show him no leniency."
"As for Captain Yashiro, I'll send someone to verify the situation."
"Take your people outside and go back for now."
"Once we have the results, I'll give your Konoha Military Police Force a satisfactory answer."
This was the Third Hokage's usual tactic for smoothing things over.
First, stall for time and send everyone away.
Then, once the uproar died down, slowly mediate the matter internally.
There was no way Chikage would fall for that.
He glanced at his watch.
Noon sharp.
It was time for the lunch break.
Chikage stood and pushed the chair back into place.
"Lord Hokage, since you need time to investigate..."
"The Konoha Military Police Force won't disturb you any further."
The Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief.
He thought Chikage had finally compromised.
But Chikage's next words sent the Third Hokage's heart leaping into his throat.
"However, since Root has taken away someone involved in our case..."
"Our Konoha Military Police Force also has a responsibility to continue pursuing the fugitives."
Chikage straightened his uniform, his tone utterly calm.
"Under the Public Security Administration Regulations..."
"For accomplices suspected of harboring suspects and violently resisting law enforcement..."
"The Konoha Military Police Force has the authority to issue a village-wide wanted notice."
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