At daggers drawn

"What are you standing around for? Move! Kill anyone who resists! And fire a signal flare. Tell everyone to assemble and head to the Uchi-"

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly shot Danzo a look, signaling him to stay calm.

As expected of Hiruzen Sarutobi's old buddy, Danzo understood what that look meant in an instant.

So he forcibly suppressed his anger and waved at the Root members present, signaling them to hold off.

Seeing Danzo settle down, Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a small sigh of relief.

Then he turned to Seiichi.

And suddenly started.

"You... you're Uchiha Seiichi?"

Only then did he notice the enormous changes in Seiichi's build and appearance.

Ever since his build and appearance had changed dramatically, Seiichi had used a Transformation Technique whenever he went out, maintaining his original appearance to keep a low profile.

Counting them up, only the Uchiha leadership, the Konoha Military Police Force, and some Uchiha who did business knew.

Simply put, whether they had seen him or not, the news had only circulated within the Uchiha Clan. Outsiders knew nothing about it.

So, as Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered it, when Seiichi had last gone out a few days ago, he had still been a little kid barely over a meter tall. Now he had suddenly become an adult over 1.8 meters tall.

Apart from his face still being somewhat youthful and allowing people to vaguely recognize him, no one looking at him from behind would have thought he was the Uchiha Clan's young clan leader who had just turned ten.

"What's this? It's only been a few days, and you don't recognize me anymore, Lord Hokage?"

Seiichi's slightly teasing tone left Hiruzen Sarutobi a little displeased.

But none of that mattered.

"Uchiha Seiichi, as the Uchiha Clan's young clan leader, not only have you failed to set an example by following Konoha's rules, you've even taken the lead in inciting a riot.

I agreed when you didn't want to attend the Ninja Academy before, but is this how Fugaku taught you? Do you have any respect for the rules at all?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi seized the initiative, intending to pin a serious accusation on Seiichi and take them into custody while he was at it.

Before the fighting started, he would make the Uchiha Clan pay dearly to ransom them back.

Seiichi could only laugh at that. They wanted to trade words and twist logic with him? Fine, he would play along!

"What you're saying makes no sense, Lord Hokage. The Konoha Military Police Force exists to maintain Konoha's security. What, following regulations and investigating people concealing their identities who aren't Anbu now counts as inciting a riot?"

Seiichi's words made Hiruzen Sarutobi frown slightly. Root was a secret everyone in the upper ranks knew about.

But although everyone knew about it, it really did violate regulations. It was an illegal organization.

If Seiichi insisted on investigating this matter, there really was nothing he could do.

"There's no need to trouble the Konoha Military Police Force with this. You're already busy enough as it is. Leave this little matter to the Anbu.

However, about those who died earlier..."

With no other option, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only gloss over Root's affairs and planned to make an issue of the people who had died earlier.

"Hold on, Lord Hokage. I have a question!"

"You. Speak!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke through gritted teeth after being interrupted.

"If I remember correctly, the Anbu was founded by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

Its full name is the 'Special Assassination and Tactical Squad,' abbreviated as Anbu, and it takes orders directly from the Hokage.

It was a special intelligence organization established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Isn't that right, Lord Third?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had not worked out Seiichi's purpose, but most of those present knew the Anbu's origins. He could not refute it and could only nod in agreement.

"That's correct. And?"

"Under the Anbu regulations laid down by the Second, the Anbu's primary duties are protecting the Kage and preventing enemy incursions into the ninja village. Sometimes, they also handle missions such as gathering intelligence on enemies and assassinations.

The missions are generally extremely unpleasant or tedious, such as guarding important suspects. I haven't gotten anything wrong, have I, my dear Lord Hokage?"

Having served as Hokage for so long, Hiruzen Sarutobi was no fool.

The moment he heard Seiichi describe the Anbu's duties, his heart lurched.

He understood Seiichi's intention now, but with everyone watching, he had no way to silence him.

He had lost.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a long drag on his pipe and exhaled.

He admitted he had underestimated his opponent. He had thought too little of Uchiha Seiichi, the Uchiha Clan's young clan leader who was only ten years old.

Leaving strength and talent aside, that mind alone would surely make him a major threat in the future.

Fine. One more reason he had to be killed!

After hearing Seiichi's words, everyone present seemed to realize something.

They all cast covert glances at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken office, the Anbu under his command had gained more and more power.

Before Seiichi spelled it out, they had felt nothing much beyond a little unease.

But now that Seiichi had pointed it out, they came to their senses.

It turned out that most of what the Anbu had done over the years was the Konoha Military Police Force's work, encroaching on a considerable portion of its original authority.

They had left the Konoha Military Police Force with nothing but trivial matters involving villagers' petty squabbles and cats and dogs.

If this continued, the Konoha Military Police Force would exist in name only.

"According to the agreement the Second, Tobirama Senju, signed with our Uchiha Clan.

Our Konoha Military Police Force is responsible for maintaining public order in Konoha. The Second Hokage asked the Uchiha Clan to lead the police force for generations as a sign of honor and trust.

In other words, in Konoha, anything involving public order or security falls under the Konoha Military Police Force's jurisdiction. Do you still acknowledge that, Lord Hokage?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes snapped open.

He had already intended to back down. Why was Seiichi pressing even harder?

That was only because Seiichi did not know.

Had he known what Hiruzen Sarutobi was thinking, he would have spat a mouthful of soda in his face.

What, he could stir up trouble whenever he liked, then run away when he had no leg to stand on?

Nothing in this world came that easily!

As far as Seiichi was concerned, if he did not strip a layer of skin off him today, his surname was not Uchiha.

"What's wrong, Lord Hokage? Is that so difficult to answer?"

He watched Hiruzen Sarutobi's face gradually redden.

Seiichi was not afraid of angering him to death. He was even ready to prod him a couple more times.

"Fugaku, you're here. What happened today may have been a misunderstanding. Take your son home. Don't delay his dinner and affect his growth. It's all over. Everyone, disperse."

The two sides had been at an impasse for so long that more and more people had gathered around them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly spotted Uchiha Fugaku, and his eyes lit up. He quickly greeted Fugaku, signaling for him to step in.

Damn it, even if he could not handle Seiichi, surely he could handle Fugaku!

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, Fugaku was a soft persimmon he could squeeze however he pleased.

If he had not feared getting himself "dirty," Hiruzen Sarutobi would have squeezed that soft persimmon Fugaku until he went "splat" long ago!

Having said his piece, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned and was just about to leave.

Then he heard an answer rather different from what he had imagined.

"Lord Hokage, Seiichi is indeed my son, but he is also our Uchiha Clan's young clan leader and an official adviser to our Konoha Military Police Force. On a formal occasion like this, I need to respect his opinion."

Fugaku's words left Hiruzen Sarutobi's right foot frozen in midair just as he took a step.