About half an hour later, under Nami's care, Kazuya and the others woke up one after another.
The moment they opened their eyes, they saw Shinichi's amused face. As for the Shadow Clone, it had honorably vanished after finishing its ice pop.
"Well? Had enough?"
Shinichi chuckled. "It's fine if you haven't. I don't have many virtues, but I do have one: I'm incredibly persistent. Don't worry, I've still got plenty of chakra. I can make another Shadow Clone anytime and let you fight it for another three hundred rounds."
In other words, he would beat them until they accepted him wholeheartedly!
The best way to deal with these arrogant members of the Uchiha Clan was to win them over with overwhelming strength. Otherwise, they would never give him a second glance.
"We... have."
The three boys exchanged looks. In the end, they lowered their proud heads and answered quietly.
They had wanted to say they hadn't, but Shinichi had beaten them to the punch. Once they remembered the miserable scenes of his Shadow Clone thrashing them every which way, they had to concede out loud, even if they still refused to accept it inwardly.
"Senior, are you really human?"
Taro, the most straightforward of them, opened his mouth and immediately said something shocking.
"What? Do I look like a ghost to you?"
Shinichi raised an eyebrow. What's with this kid? Can't beat me, so now he's resorting to personal attacks?
"No, that's not what I meant."
Taro hurriedly shook his head like a rattle drum.
Fortunately, Hayato beside him quickly explained on his behalf. "Taro means you're as strong as a monster, sir. Even your Shadow Clone has more chakra than an ordinary elite jonin. It's really astonishing!"
Kazuya, the strongest of the three, nodded in wholehearted agreement. He couldn't help it. Rather than a battle, their earlier encounter had been a one-sided ninjutsu bombardment from the Shadow Clone, leaving them no chance to fight back.
At first, they had naively assumed their opponent would use sophisticated taijutsu and genjutsu against them, demonstrating the advantage of a senior's combat experience.
Instead, the Shadow Clone hadn't bothered with combat techniques at all. It had simply bombarded them with all kinds of ninjutsu, relying on overwhelming firepower. No thinking, just blasting!
They couldn't figure it out no matter how hard they tried. How could a single Shadow Clone possibly have so much chakra?
That was why they believed Shinichi wasn't human at all. He was a monster!
"That's why I say you youngsters are far too naive."
Shinichi shook his head, looking inscrutable. "You never know what kind of enemy you'll encounter on the battlefield. If you limit yourselves to conventional battles, you'll get stuck in your ways and never grow. Consider today a free lesson. Don't thank me-it's one of the perks of joining my squad."
"So that's it! Thank you for your guidance, Senior Shinichi!"
Understanding dawned on Taro and the others, and admiration appeared on their faces.
Only the adorably airheaded Nami felt that something sounded off. She had a feeling Senior Shinichi was forcing an explanation to justify himself.
Don't think being an airhead means I'm actually stupid, damn it!
"All right, to celebrate the formation of our squad today, I'm treating you to Ichiraku Ramen."
Shinichi swept his hand grandly and made the generous announcement.
Since he had come to the world of Naruto, the tradition of eating ramen when a squad was formed was a must.
"But sir, we still have to keep patrolling. Our shift isn't over yet!"
Nami checked the time and quickly raised her hand. "I think we should go after we finish our patrol!"
The other three boys agreed. The Uchiha Clan members in the Konoha Military Police Force had always strictly fulfilled their duties. They never arrived late or left early, and that was a source of pride for them as Uchiha.
"Patrol?"
Shinichi froze for a moment, then said solemnly, "Of course we have to patrol! But we need to patrol the street Ichiraku Ramen is on too. Eating ramen is just something we'll do along the way. Do you really think I look like someone who neglects his duties?"
Look like one? You are one!
Kazuya and the other three couldn't help silently complaining.
"Five deluxe bowls of miso ramen, old man!"
And so, Shinichi forcibly dragged the youngsters to Ichiraku Ramen, then extravagantly ordered the largest deluxe bowls available, practically announcing that he had more money than he knew what to do with.
"You again, Shinichi! You're always giving my little shop your business!"
Teuchi greeted him warmly and smiled. "Why didn't you bring Naruto today? These look like four fine youngsters!"
"Come on, Teuchi, we're old friends. No need for the pleasantries."
Shinichi waved a hand and grumbled, "I just started working for the Konoha Military Police Force! These are my squad members. Since it was our first meeting today, I thought I'd treat them to some ramen, but they insisted on finishing their patrol before coming. Isn't that just being stubborn?"
"Haha! They certainly sound like dependable police officers!"
Teuchi gave a dry laugh.
But your patrol can't be over at this hour, so why are you here already?
"Senior Shinichi, why don't you stay here and eat while we take turns patrolling?"
The more mature Kazuya offered a sensible suggestion.
He really couldn't stand the strange looks from the people around them. It felt as though they were accusing the Uchiha of neglecting their duties and eating at Ichiraku Ramen during working hours.
As a hawkish member of the Uchiha Clan, he had a strong sense of pride. How could he tolerate those doubtful looks?
"Are you worried about people gossiping?"
Seeing through the youngsters immediately, Shinichi actually pulled back the curtain and shouted at the onlookers, "What are you staring at? Never seen someone slack off at work before? If you've got a problem, hurry up and complain about us to the police force! What are you standing around acting so high and mighty for?"
"..."
For a moment, the entire street fell utterly silent.
Kazuya and the others were dumbfounded too. You... you could actually do that?
The most irritating part of their everyday work in the police force was dealing with all the villagers' complaints, citing things like excessive force or a lack of compassion. Their clan head, Fugaku, was doing his utmost to protect the Uchiha Clan's reputation and constantly instructed the officers to treat the villagers with the greatest care.
Yet now, with a single outburst, Hatake Shinichi had offended them all!
They could already picture the blizzard of complaint letters that would surely fill the police force's office tomorrow!
"How can he be so arrogant?"
"Hmph! Haven't the Uchiha always been this arrogant?"
"I'm going to write a complaint right now! Lord Hokage needs to put them in their place!"
A single stone stirred up a thousand waves.
Shinichi's words immediately provoked public outrage, and quite a few people declared that they would complain to the police force at once.
"Wait! Why does that guy look so familiar?"
"Now that you mention it... isn't that Lord Hatake Shinichi?"
"He's a hero of Konoha! Why did he join the Konoha Military Police Force? And he's with the Uchiha..."
Several sharp-eyed people soon recognized Shinichi and cried out in surprise.
They were completely dumbfounded.
Huh? What on earth is going on?
That outrageously arrogant and rude police officer was actually Hatake Shinichi, the hero of Konoha they admired? Their entire worldview nearly crumbled. It felt as though their idol had come crashing down.
So this is what the legendary Hatake Shinichi is really like?
"That's right, I'm Hatake Shinichi!"
Most absurd of all, Shinichi actually said smugly, "I just became a squad leader in the Konoha Military Police Force today. I'm the one who dragged these officers here to slack off and eat ramen during work. If you want to complain, direct it at me. This has nothing to do with their Uchiha Clan."
Damn you, Hiashi and Fugaku!
Aren't you two always plotting against me, trying to force me to become Hokage?
I'll ruin my own reputation in the village. Let's see how you make me Hokage then!
If Hiashi and Fugaku had known what bizarre thoughts were running through Shinichi's mind, they probably would have cursed him out: "Are you out of your mind?!"
"Becoming Hokage is out of the question. Not in this lifetime..."
Shinichi truly had gone to great lengths to eliminate any chance of becoming Hokage.
Before you continue