Meanwhile, over in Konoha...
Because of the Uchiha Clan's departure...
A series of reactions had begun to unfold in the village.
Previously, when the Military Police Force was still in Uchiha hands, the Uchiha had loosened their grip on its authority for the first time ever.
They had traded the Military Police Force's authority to other ninja clans for large sums of money.
Naturally, Hiruzen Sarutobi had noticed at the time.
He had wanted to intervene.
But that had been when tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha were at their highest.
Feng Yao's behavior had given the impression that the slightest spark would set him off.
Besides, the Military Police Force was something the Second Hokage had promised to hand over to the Uchiha to appease them.
For all these years, the Uchiha had kept a firm grip on the Military Police Force's authority.
They had allowed no outsiders to interfere.
Precisely because of this, the Military Police Force had long been regarded as Uchiha property in Konoha.
If the Uchiha shared what belonged to them and you still criticized them for it, weren't you looking down on the Uchiha?
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had instinctively sensed something was wrong, various considerations had kept him from intervening.
There had even been tacit approval from his three old friends.
Danzo: "The Uchiha have actually loosened their control over the Military Police Force. There must be a plot, but it'll be safer to get the Military Police Force into my hands first!"
And so, apart from Fugaku serving as captain, the Military Police Force had ended up staffed almost entirely by members of other ninja clans.
After all, in their eyes, the Uchiha's presence was inconsequential.
The Military Police Force was an institution of power in Konoha.
There was simply so much they