A red signal flare burst over Konoha like a blood-red flower.
Shisui's expression changed. "It's the emergency assembly signal!"
Uchiha Rìtiān's heart lurched. What had to come had finally come.
"Shisui, what happened?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked, feigning calm.
"I don't know. Let's go take a look first." Shisui grabbed Uchiha Rìtiān's shoulder and activated the Body Flicker Technique.
The next second, the two of them appeared in Konoha's square.
Quite a crowd had already gathered in the square, and everyone was talking.
"What's going on? Why the sudden emergency assembly?"
"No idea. Could an enemy be invading?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Who would dare invade Konoha?"
Uchiha Rìtiān looked around and spotted the Third Hokage and Danzo standing on a raised platform.
The Third Hokage looked grave, while Danzo was expressionless, his gaze sinister.
Fugaku was there too, standing at the front of the Uchiha Clan, his expression rather grim.
"Quiet!" the Third Hokage spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.
The square fell silent at once.
The Third Hokage swept his gaze across the crowd and said solemnly, "I called everyone here today to make an important announcement."
"After deliberation, the Konoha High Command has decided-to establish the Konoha Military Police Force!"
The announcement caused an uproar.
"A police force? What's that?"
"Will they be responsible for keeping order in Konoha?"
Uchiha Rìtiān narrowed his eyes. Here it comes.
Sure enough, just like in the original story, Danzo had pushed through the establishment of the police force.
The Third Hokage lowered his hands, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
"The police force will be responsible for maintaining order in Konoha and handling various affairs within the village."
"And its members... will all be drawn from the Uchiha Clan!"
The entire square fell silent for three seconds, then erupted into even louder discussion.
"All Uchiha? Why?"
"The Uchiha Clan is powerful. They certainly are suited to it..."
"But... is putting all law enforcement in the hands of a single clan really a good idea?"
Uchiha Rìtiān noticed that the ordinary villagers around him had already begun to look at the Uchiha Clan differently.
There was awe and envy, but more than anything... wariness and distance.
What an openly laid trap!
On the surface, they were giving the Uchiha power, but in reality, they were setting the Uchiha against every villager.
Whenever anything happened in Konoha from now on, the Uchiha would be the first suspects.
That scheming old bastard Danzo really was ruthless.
Fugaku's expression was grim too, but he still stepped forward.
"The Uchiha Clan is willing to serve Konoha!"
His loud voice rang throughout the square.
The Uchiha clan members voiced their agreement, with plenty of spirit.
But Uchiha Rìtiān could tell that many of them were actually unwilling.
After all, the police force sounded impressive, but in reality, it was a thankless job.
The Third Hokage nodded. "Very good. Starting tomorrow, the police force will be officially established."
"You're dismissed."
The crowd slowly dispersed, but the discussions did not stop.
Uchiha Rìtiān remained where he was, his brow tightly furrowed.
The wheels of history were still rolling in their original direction.
"Rìtiān, what do you think?" Shisui's voice came from beside him.
Uchiha Rìtiān turned to look at Shisui, whose expression was also rather grim.
"What do you think, Shisui?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked in return.
Shisui was silent for a moment before sighing.
"This isn't a good thing."
Something stirred in Uchiha Rìtiān's heart. Shisui had indeed seen through it.
"Then what should we do, Shisui?"
Shisui clenched his fists, his gaze resolute.
"No matter what, I'll do everything I can to change things."
"This isn't how the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha should be."
Uchiha Rìtiān looked at Shisui, filled with mixed feelings.
He knew Shisui meant every word.
But some things could not be changed through effort alone.
Ding! Key plot point detected: establishment of the Konoha Military Police Force. Option one: accept reality and proceed step by step. Reward: chakra reserves +5%. Option two: use business methods to improve the Uchiha's image among the villagers. Reward: Uchiha reputation +10. Option three: secretly sabotage the establishment of the police force. Reward: Danzo's killing intent +5, courage +5.
Without a second thought, Uchiha Rìtiān said, "Option two!"
Option three was asking for death, and option one was too passive.
Only option two was both safe and useful.
Ding! Selection successful. Quest issued: improve the Uchiha's image. Quest requirement: increase Konoha villagers' favorability toward the Uchiha Clan by 20%. Quest reward: Mangekyō Sharingan evolution clue fragment x1, Show-Off Points +500.
Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes lit up. A Mangekyō clue fragment!
Together with the fragment from before, he would need just one more to unlock the Mangekyō quest!
"Don't worry, Shisui. I have a way." The corners of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth lifted.
Shisui paused in surprise. "You have a way? What way?"
Uchiha Rìtiān gave a mysterious smile. "It's a secret. You'll find out when the time comes."
Looking at Uchiha Rìtiān's confident expression, Shisui somehow found a trace of anticipation rising in his heart.
This kid always managed to surprise people.
Maybe... he really could change something.
Just then, a Root ninja walked over.
"Uchiha Rìtiān, Lord Danzo requests your presence."
Uchiha Rìtiān raised an eyebrow. Danzo wants to see me again?
What is he up to?
Shisui's expression changed. "What does Danzo want with you?"
"Don't worry, Shisui. It's fine." Uchiha Rìtiān patted Shisui's arm. "I'll be right back."
He followed the Root ninja toward Danzo's office.
But inwardly, he was quietly weighing things up.
What was that scheming old bastard Danzo up to this time?
Before you continue