For Shinji Uchiha, who had just endured the crucible of war, patrol duty with the Konoha Military Police Force felt more like a chance to rest and absorb what he had learned.
Routine patrols through the village, mediating disputes, dealing with petty theft-compared with the life-and-death battles he had faced on the battlefield, these mundane tasks belonged to another world entirely.
Yet he did not slack off. Instead, he approached them almost as a form of training.
He clearly remembered the Third Hokage's advice: "Settle down and digest what you gained from the war."
On every patrol, he deliberately practiced fine control over his chakra, trying to integrate the explosive power he had unleashed on the battlefield into a steadier, more sustainable flow suited to everyday use.
Although his Sharingan remained inactive, the exceptional perception it granted him had become instinctive. He could easily catch subtle changes in people's expressions, irregular chakra flows, and even clues in overlooked corners.
The acuity he honed amid the ordinary was another part of absorbing what he had gained.
Yet the illusion of peace did not last long.
Half a month later, a mission scroll marked "A-Rank" reached him directly through the Military Police Force's channels.
Mission details: proceed to the designated area along the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth and conduct intensive patrols for one week. Investigate and deter potential Iwagakure infiltration. If necessary, employ any means to maintain border security.
"Finally." Shinji rubbed the smooth surface of the scroll. He felt little emotion, only the calm sense that this had been inevitable.
Iwagakure had been the second village to sue for peace during the Second Shinobi World War and had suffered relatively modest losses. A single peace treaty would never extinguish its ambitions.
Such probing along