The Hatake Clan courtyard.
It was the same familiar spot, with the same familiar figure.
"Shinichi, have you reached an understanding with the clan leader?"
Shisui looked at Shinichi expectantly.
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
Shinichi raised an eyebrow and said smugly, "That old guy Fugaku doesn't exactly look like the sharpest tool in the shed. Talking him around was a piece of cake. Don't worry, he's on our side now."
He was boasting a little, but that was more or less how things had gone.
"That's good."
Shisui had long since grown used to Shinichi's way of doing things. He smiled. "Then you should have no trouble taking office at the Konoha Military Police Force tomorrow. I'm sure the clan leader will assign you a few dove-faction members who are easier to manage..."
"No, you've got it wrong."
Shinichi shook his head and smiled faintly. "Fugaku did intend to do that, but I turned him down. I specifically asked him to find me a few aggressive, combative members of the Hawk Faction to serve under me."
"Why?"
Now Shisui truly didn't understand.
Wasn't that just asking for trouble?
Everyone knew the Uchiha were proud and arrogant, looking down on outsiders—especially the members of the Hawk Faction, who harbored resentment after years of being ostracized.
"Because I want to see just how stubborn people can be. Can you beat that stubbornness out of them?"
An intrigued smile spread across Shinichi's face. "I'm a curious person. The less I understand something, the more I want to learn about it. How could I turn down guinea pigs delivered right to my door?"
What a twisted sense of fun!
Shisui thought with an odd expression.
He was already silently mourning those unfortunate clansmen.
The next day, Shinichi got up bright and early, left behind a shadow clone specifically to cook, and headed straight out.
It was his first day at work. He had to make a good impression, and that meant he couldn't be late!
He arrived at the Konoha Military Police Force office.
Uchiha Fugaku, the force's commander, sat in the seat of honor with a stern expression. Several teenage Uchiha boys and girls stood behind him, apparently members of the police force as well.
"Hey, good morning."
Having put last night's events entirely out of his mind, Shinichi greeted Fugaku as though nothing had happened.
"Hatake Shinichi, you're here."
This brat really has no shame, Fugaku grumbled inwardly. His expression remained composed, however, maintaining his authority before his subordinates. "You will be taking office as a squad leader today. These are the team members I've specially selected for you. Introduce yourselves."
To give the old guy credit, Fugaku really did carry some weight among his clansmen.
Before he spoke, none of them had even dared breathe too loudly.
"I'm Uchiha Taro, fifteen. I awakened my Sharingan last year, and I specialize in ninjutsu."
"Uchiha Hayato, fifteen. I have a two-tomoe Sharingan and specialize in taijutsu and ninjutsu."
"Uchiha Kazuya, sixteen. Two-tomoe Sharingan. No obvious weaknesses."
"Hello, sir. My name is Uchiha Nami, and I'm fourteen. I only awakened my Sharingan a few days ago, so there's nothing much worth mentioning about me. I look forward to learning from you."
After their introductions, Shinichi realized that Fugaku had assigned him a fairly balanced team in terms of strength. They were all quite young, too, with the oldest only sixteen.
Perhaps Fugaku had deliberately chosen younger members out of consideration for his age, worried that he wouldn't be able to command older ones. Young though they were, however, they positively radiated arrogance, acting as if only heaven stood above them.
The youngest girl, Uchiha Nami, was rather cute, though. Her voice was soft, and she seemed quite respectful toward him, without a trace of overbearing arrogance. She even seemed a little shy.
If he had to describe her, Nami actually reminded him a little of Hinata when she was older.
These are the team members you picked for me?
Shinichi questioned Fugaku with his eyes, barely resisting the urge to roll them on the spot.
What happened to the seasoned old hands from the Hawk Faction you were supposed to assign me?
These were clearly just a bunch of kids, and one was a sweet little girl. How was he supposed to bring himself to hit them?
"Kazuya, take the others and go on patrol with Shinichi."
Seemingly sensing Shinichi's intense dissatisfaction, Fugaku felt a little awkward and could only find an excuse to send them away.
It wasn't really that Fugaku had done a poor job. None of the old hands in the Hawk Faction had been willing to serve under Shinichi. They already resented outsiders, so why would they agree to take orders from one?
Fugaku had gone to considerable trouble just to round up three young members of the Hawk Faction and add one adorably ditzy girl.
They were supposedly on patrol, but Konoha was quite peaceful these days. As long as nobody deliberately caused trouble, the members of the Konoha Military Police Force spent most of their time doing little more than strolling around.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Hatake Shinichi, as you all know."
After a moment's thought, Shinichi gave them a perfunctory introduction. "As for my age, I just turned twenty, so I suppose I'm your senior. I'm honored to be the squad leader of you little brats. Happy with that?"
Happy?
You're obviously unhappy with us!
Do you really think we're idiots?
"Shinichi... d-did I do something wrong?"
His words immediately flustered the sweet, ditzy Uchiha Nami. She hurriedly bowed and apologized. "I'm sorry. This is my first time serving in the police force. Please bear with me if I do anything wrong..."
"Nami, don't apologize to him!"
Hayato, the most hotheaded of the bunch, looked indignant. "We haven't done anything! He's deliberately picking a fight!"
"Trying to put us in our place on your first day? Do you really think being some hero of Konoha gives you the right to look down on everyone? Other people can respect you if they want, but we Uchiha won't give you the time of day!"
"That's right! If you've got a problem, fight us one-on-one!"
Taro and Kazuya had the typical Hawk Faction temperament as well, ready to explode at the slightest spark. From their stances, they clearly wanted to have a little spar with Shinichi.
As the saying went, newborn calves weren't afraid of tigers.
And these were Uchiha calves, making them even more arrogant.
These youngsters clearly didn't grasp just how formidable the Fourth Raikage was, which was why they dared challenge Shinichi so brazenly. Even their deeply respected clan leader probably wouldn't have had the nerve...
"Sure!"
A smile suddenly appeared on Shinichi's face as he deliberately provoked them. "All four of you can come at once. As long as you can work together to defeat my shadow clone, I'll let you do whatever you want from then on. How's that for a deal?"
A fight? That's exactly what I've been waiting to hear!
I was reluctant to lay a hand on you, since you're all the nation's budding flowers.
But since you're the ones asking for a fight, you can't blame me, can you?
"Kazuya, I really don't think we should!"
Anxious, the gentle Nami tried to talk them out of it. "Shinichi is a hero of Konoha. He must be really strong. How could we possibly beat him?"
Seeing this, Shinichi couldn't help feeling impressed.
Girls really did mature earlier than boys. They didn't make impulsive choices so easily.
"What's there to be afraid of?"
Kazuya looked disdainful as he activated his two-tomoe Sharingan. "No matter how strong he is, he's only using a shadow clone to fight us. Are you saying we Uchiha can't even beat a single shadow clone?"
The other three nodded in agreement with Kazuya, their faces eager for a fight.
Clearly, Uchiha Kazuya, the oldest and strongest of the four, was their pillar of support.
Poor kid. You have no idea how terrifying someone with cheats can be.
Shinichi might have produced only one shadow clone, but the amount of chakra it contained was probably several times greater than that of their clan leader Fugaku himself!
Poof.
He formed hand seals, and a shadow clone identical to him appeared.
"I'll leave this to you, then. Remember, don't hit them too hard. I'm going to buy a popsicle."
Shinichi gave his shadow clone its instructions.
"You always make me do this troublesome stuff. Being your shadow clone is exhausting!"
The shadow clone voiced its displeasure, shouting, "Don't forget to bring me one too! I want chocolate!"
"You got it!"
Shinichi waved without looking back.
Ten minutes later, Shinichi returned carrying two popsicles. He tossed one to the shadow clone and complained, "Won't that popsicle just turn into water and fall on the ground once you disappear? What a waste!"
"None of your business! I'm enjoying the experience, not trying to fill my stomach!"
The shadow clone protested again.
"Still getting mouthy with me? Want me to dismiss you right now?"
"Bro, my dear brother! At least let me finish this popsicle before I disappear!"
"Why couldn't you have had that attitude from the start?"
And so the man and his shadow clone launched into a bizarre round of banter.
Not far in front of them, three Uchiha boys lay unconscious on the ground, their faces bruised and swollen and their bodies a sorry mess. Yet one sweet little girl was practically unscathed, with only a scrape on her left knee and some redness and swelling on her forehead.
"Is this gender discrimination? Favoring girls over boys?"
Shinichi complained again.
"Of course not! This girl charged at me with a kunai, then somehow tripped over flat ground all by herself. She fell at least five times before you got back, so I couldn't bring myself to hit her."
The shadow clone explained with a helpless expression.
Hearing this, Uchiha Nami's pretty little face turned as red as an apple, making her look utterly adorable.
"So she's a natural airhead!"
Understanding dawned on Shinichi.
She had mastered the divine art of tripping over flat ground to perfection. What else could she be but a natural airhead?
"She's a little ditzy, but she really is cute..."
The shadow clone offered its assessment while sucking on its popsicle.
"Agreed."
Shinichi nodded with heartfelt agreement.
Uchiha Nami had already lowered her little head all the way to her chest, looking exactly like an adorable little quail.
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