Fugaku set down his teacup and nodded firmly.
"I've been dealing with Danzo for a long time."
"He's definitely not the kind of man to swallow a loss."
"You backed him into a corner in the Hokage's Office today."
"That payment receipt for 350,000 Ryo, and humiliating him in front of everyone."
"He'll definitely hold you responsible for that."
Fugaku's tone grew especially grave.
"Those people in Root will stop at nothing."
"If they come at us openly, our Konoha Military Police Force has nothing to fear."
"It's their dirty tricks in the shadows that worry me."
Chikage blew the tea leaves aside and leisurely took a sip.
His expression remained relaxed. He had clearly already considered the matter.
"Uncle, you can put your mind at ease."
"If Danzo wants revenge on me, he'll first have to find a chance to strike without facing the consequences."
Fugaku looked at Chikage in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"You have to go to work at the Konoha Military Police Force every day. There are bound to be times when you're alone."
Chikage set down his teacup and sat up straight.
"Uncle, have you forgotten the conditions I mentioned?"
"I never work overtime, and I don't normally take field assignments. Today's emergency was an exception."
"I clock in at the Konoha Military Police Force compound at nine sharp every morning."
"At five sharp, I clock out and head home."
"I normally stick to two places: the Konoha Military Police Force and the Uchiha Clan Compound."
"Could Root take me away from either of those places without anyone noticing?"
Fugaku froze.
He gave Chikage's daily routine some careful thought.
The kid really did keep his word.
Aside from today's emergency, he had rarely left the Konoha Military Police Force since becoming deputy captain.
Every day at five, he bolted faster than a rabbit.
Even if Root wanted to ambush him, finding an opportunity without alerting anyone would be difficult.
"But..."
Fugaku still felt uneasy.
"What if they attack you on your way to or from work?"
Chikage spread his hands, answering with complete confidence.
"I take Konoha's busiest main road between the Uchiha District and the Konoha Military Police Force."
"There are three police posts along the way, plus the clan's patrol teams."
"In broad daylight, the streets are full of people. Attacking me would be easy. Leaving no trace wouldn't."
"If Danzo actually dared send Root ninja to attack the Konoha Military Police Force's deputy captain in the street..."
"The slightest piece of evidence would make it an open attack on a senior Konoha law enforcement officer. Even the Third Hokage would have trouble protecting him."
"Besides."
Chikage pointed at his uniform.
"I'm the Konoha Military Police Force's deputy captain now, after all."
"If something really happened to me on the road, would you, as clan head, let it slide?"
After hearing him out, Fugaku's expression eased slightly.
He had to admit that Chikage's chosen route and routine really did force Root to think twice.
The kid had made the most of the rules, his position, and his schedule.
He had practically fitted himself with a turtle shell that Danzo wouldn't dare touch lightly.
"You little rascal."
Fugaku pointed at Chikage helplessly.
"You've put all your brains into this."
"But you have a point. It's not that Danzo has no opportunities. He just doesn't dare risk the consequences lightly."
Fugaku paused, his tone softening a little.
"But you still need to be careful."
"Try to stay away from secluded places for the time being."
"If anything seems wrong, send a signal immediately."
This time, Chikage didn't brush him off. He nodded seriously.
"Got it, got it."
"I'll stick to a fixed route and carry a signal flare with me. I won't make things easy for Danzo."
"Don't worry, Uncle. My life is precious."
"I haven't had my fill of living yet. Why would I hand Danzo my head?"
Chikage stood up and stretched luxuriously.
"It's getting late. I'd better go home and sleep."
"I still have to get up early tomorrow to clock in."
Looking at Chikage's relaxed demeanor, Fugaku could only shake his head helplessly.
"All right, head home."
"Be careful on the way."
Chikage waved and turned to leave the living room.
As he reached the courtyard, he remembered to call toward the kitchen.
"Auntie, I'm heading home!"
"If the cafeteria serves boiled cabbage again, I'll be back to mooch another meal!"
Mikoto's gentle laughter drifted from the kitchen.
"Of course. Just tell me beforehand what you'd like to eat."
Chikage left through the courtyard gate, thoroughly satisfied.
The Uchiha Clan Compound was very quiet at night.
Whenever a patrolling police officer passed by and saw Chikage, they stopped to greet him respectfully.
With both hands in his pockets, Chikage strolled toward his home.
Well fed, with no overtime.
Now this was living.
As for whether Danzo was too furious to sleep or was smashing tables in his underground base...
What did that have to do with him?
Until nine tomorrow morning, nobody was getting a scrap of work out of him.
Off-duty hours were sacred and inviolable.
Morning sunlight spilled over Konoha's streets.
Uchiha Chikage strolled out of his home, holding a freshly bought meat bun.
He munched on it as he followed Konoha's main road toward the Konoha Military Police Force.
He had chosen this route carefully.
Besides the three police posts along the way, plenty of vendors were up early setting up their stalls.
With so many people watching, even if Root dared to act, leaving no trace would be difficult.
Even if Shimura Danzō was smashing tables in the Root Base out of sheer fury, he would have to consider whether he could bear the consequences before trying to seize Chikage on the main road.
Chikage swallowed the last bite of his bun and brushed the crumbs off his hands.
A working man's day ought to start with this kind of ease.
With a swagger that acknowledged no one, he sauntered up to the Konoha Military Police Force's front gate.
The minute hand on the clock above the gate was nearing nine.
The instant the second hand reached zero, Chikage stepped through the gate.
The system notification sounded in his mind right on time.
[Ding! Successfully clocked in for work today!] [Congratulations! You have received 100 daily points!]
Chikage checked the points balance on his system panel with satisfaction.
Ever since his promotion to deputy captain, each clock-in earned him a hundred points, once at the start of work and once at the end. It really did put him in a good mood.
As long as he kept plugging away steadily like this...
Those advanced ninjutsu and kekkei genkai in the shop would all be his sooner or later.
Humming an unfamiliar tune, he headed toward the Second Squad's offices.
When he had first been appointed deputy captain two days earlier...
The Second Squad's offices had still been utterly lifeless.
The police officers had been polite to him at best, and most of that had been mere lip service.
After all, as far as they were concerned, Chikage had avoided field assignments for years, and his ninja record was only at genin level.
In this Shinobi World, where strength spoke loudest, someone without impressive achievements naturally couldn't earn genuine respect.
But today, everything had changed.
The moment Chikage stepped into the Second Squad's main office...
The somewhat noisy room immediately fell silent.
Every police officer sorting case files or wiping down ninja tools stopped what they were doing at once.
Dozens of eyes turned toward Chikage in unison.
Yesterday's indifference and disdain were gone from their gazes.
In their place were awe and heartfelt acceptance.
After a brief silence...
Every police officer in the room stood up straight in unison.
"Good morning, Deputy Captain!"
Before you continue