The situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control.
Several agitated police officers had already instinctively raised their hands to form hand seals.
Shisui gritted his teeth, his right hand hovering beside the short sword on his back.
He did not want to fight his clansmen.
But if someone actually attacked him, he could not just stand there and take it.
Just then.
"All of you, shut up."
Chikage's voice rang out through the noisy hall.
It was not loud, yet everyone heard it clearly.
He raised his right hand and gave a casual wave.
The clamorous hall quickly fell silent.
Everyone turned to look at Chikage.
Though Yashiro's face was full of resentment, he forced himself to swallow his words.
He stepped back twice, making room for Chikage.
Uchiha Hikari also lowered her hands indignantly.
They were now thoroughly convinced of Chikage's abilities.
Since their deputy captain had spoken, they had to listen.
Chikage walked up to Shisui.
He ignored the helpless look on Shisui's face.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward the black leather money chest on the floor.
His eyes gradually grew serious.
Chikage stared at the money chest for a moment.
The atmosphere in the hall remained tense.
No one knew what this newly appointed deputy captain was thinking.
The silence made Shisui's chest tighten, too.
He was just about to explain.
But Chikage suddenly smiled.
He slowly crouched down.
His hand reached toward the money chest containing three hundred and fifty thousand ryo.
"Three hundred and fifty thousand ryo."
Chikage's voice echoed through the quiet hall.
"We really can't just accept this money as it is."
Shisui's heart sank.
Was Chikage going to refuse this compensation, just like Yashiro and the others?
If even Chikage refused to accept it, there would be little room left to resolve the matter.
Chikage rested his fingers on the money chest's clasp.
There was a click.
The clasp sprang open.
Chikage lifted the lid.
Neat stacks of brand-new banknotes lay inside.
A faint smell of ink drifted out.
Chikage casually picked up a stack of banknotes and weighed it in his hand.
"Shisui."
Chikage stood up and looked Shisui in the eye.
"You said you were paying this on Danzo's behalf?"
Shisui nodded.
"Yes. Lord Hokage ordered me to deliver the payment to the Konoha Military Police Force."
Chikage's smile deepened.
"Before Danzo sent you with the money, did he read the Payment Receipt he signed?"
"These three hundred and fifty thousand ryo were only the amount due yesterday."
"When does he intend to pay the late fee incurred today?"
Shisui's eyes widened.
Every police officer in the hall froze as well.
A late fee?
What was that all about?
Chikage tossed the banknotes back into the chest.
He dusted off his hands.
"The end of the Payment Receipt Danzo personally signed spells it out clearly."
"Under Article Forty-Two of the Konoha Public Security Administration Regulations."
"In all serious public security cases involving picking fights, vandalizing shops, and similar offenses."
"All fines and compensation must be paid in full on the day the penalty is issued."
"Overdue payments incur a daily late fee of five percent."
Chikage looked at the stunned Shisui.
"I clocked out at five sharp yesterday afternoon."
"Danzo's money still hadn't arrived."
"It's already the next day."
"Five percent of three hundred and fifty thousand ryo is seventeen thousand five hundred ryo."
Chikage held out one hand, palm up, in front of Shisui.
"It's not enough."
"Come back to process the payment once you've made up the difference."
Shisui could hardly believe his ears.
Danzo had only agreed to put up those three hundred and fifty thousand ryo because Lord Hokage had pressured him.
And now Chikage actually wanted another seventeen thousand five hundred ryo in late fees?
That was undoubtedly another pound of flesh carved out of Danzo!
"Deputy Captain Chikage, this..."
Shisui was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Danzo only provided three hundred and fifty thousand ryo. He didn't set aside anything for this late fee."
"If we remain deadlocked over this money, it will only worsen the relationship between the village and the clan."
Chikage withdrew his hand, and the smile vanished from his face.
He looked at Shisui, his tone growing stern.
"Deadlocked?"
"I'm acting according to the receipt Danzo signed himself, and you call that a deadlock?"
"Shisui, you keep saying this is for peace."
"But how long can peace without firm boundaries last?"
Chikage pointed at the money chest on the floor.
"You think bringing me three hundred and fifty thousand ryo on his behalf and getting me to waive the late fee will settle everything nicely?"
"That the higher-ups will think the Uchiha understand the bigger picture?"
"Wrong!"
Chikage's voice rose sharply.
"They'll only think that as long as they invoke the Hokage's orders, the Konoha Military Police Force's rules are negotiable!"
"Giving ground without firm boundaries won't buy peace. It'll only invite them to test us again."
"Only when everyone knows that breaking the rules comes at a price."
"Will they stop to consider whether they can bear the consequences the next time they try to bypass the Konoha Military Police Force and arrest someone!"
Shisui took half a step back as he listened.
His expression grew deeply conflicted.
He had always believed that someone had to take the initiative to ease tensions between the village and the clan.
But Chikage was right, too.
If the side that followed the rules had to yield every time a conflict arose, then this so-called peace would eventually become one-sided endurance.
Listening nearby, Yashiro, Uchiha Hikari, and the others felt their blood surge.
They had not expected this either.
Not only had their deputy captain refused to bow to the Hokage's orders.
He had used the rules to demand another payment.
A late fee!
What a satisfying charge!
Chikage looked at the silent Shisui and waved impatiently.
"What are you standing around for?"
"Go back and tell Danzo."
"The Konoha Military Police Force doesn't accept incomplete payments."
"Either make up the seventeen thousand five hundred ryo and come back to process the payment."
"Or take these three hundred and fifty thousand ryo back untouched, and the late fee will keep accruing daily."
The police officers in the hall finally caught on.
A burst of cheers erupted.
Yashiro slapped his thigh excitedly.
Now this was their Uchiha deputy captain!
He held the higher-ups accountable using the very rules they had established, leaving them no grounds to complain!
Shisui's hand tightened slightly around the money chest's handle.
He knew that if he repeated those exact words when he returned.
The sound of a desk being smashed would probably ring out in the Root Base again.
But Danzo had signed the Payment Receipt himself.
And the regulations were written there in black and white.
Shisui could find no grounds to argue.
Chikage paid Shisui no further attention.
He turned and strolled toward his office.
"Yashiro, keep a close eye on Shimura Ken."
"Fifteen days in detention. Not one day less."
Chikage's voice drifted back from the corridor.
"The debt is one matter, detention is another. Follow the rules for both."
"I still need to get back to studying the Dango Shop's discount coupons."
"Don't let this sort of thing keep me from clocking out on time."
Shisui stood where he was.
He watched Chikage's retreating figure disappear at the end of the corridor.
He suddenly realized.
If the path to peace he had always upheld lacked clear boundaries.
Then before this deputy captain, who strictly observed even his quitting time.
It truly seemed to lack strength.
And the money chest containing three hundred and fifty thousand ryo.
Still sat in the center of the Konoha Military Police Force Hall.
It was neither a bargaining chip for reconciliation nor a gift from the higher-ups.
It was merely a fine that had yet to be paid in full.
Waiting for Shimura Danzō.
To add another seventeen thousand five hundred ryo.
Chikage returned to his office and picked up his now-lukewarm cup of tea.
He looked out the window at Konoha's bustling streets.
A mocking smile curled his lips.
Danzo wanted to use the Hokage's orders to make the Konoha Military Police Force let part of his bill slide?
Then let him see.
What a working man's rules looked like.
As long as it wasn't quitting time yet.
He had plenty of ways to take his time settling accounts with these higher-ups, strictly by the rules.
Before you continue