A heavy, terrified silence blanketed the Konoha Military Police Force Headquarters.
Following Yashiro's explosive outburst, the subordinate officers stood paralyzed. The Genin who had intended to complain about the civilian protests quickly swallowed their words, preferring to face the angry mobs outside rather than provoke the furious Elder. The core problem remained: Uchiha shinobi were biologically and culturally conditioned for combat, not the agonizing intricacies of bureaucratic law mandated by Jin's new regulations. They simply lacked the skillset to process the paperwork.
Despite the tension, the Genin standing at the door gathered his courage.
"Elder Yashiro," he stammered, bowing low. "An Anbu operative just delivered a summons. The Hokage demands the immediate presence of the Commander of the Military Police Force at his office."
Yashiro's Sharingan deactivated, his rage instantly replaced by cold calculation.
'The Hokage summons the Commander,' Yashiro analyzed. 'The civilians have bypassed our precinct and taken their complaints directly to the Hokage Tower. This was expected. However, I am only an acting supervisor. I do not officially hold the title of Commander.'
"I understand. Return to your post," Yashiro ordered smoothly. The Genin fled the room as if granted a pardon.
Yashiro immediately left the headquarters and headed toward the Uchiha Ancestral Compound. He needed Jin's directive.
***
Within the Madara Estate, Jin was seated in meditation, steadily regenerating his depleted ocular chakra. Yashiro approached respectfully and relayed the Anbu summons.
"The Hokage wants the Commander of the Police Force?" Jin opened his eyes, a faint, mocking smile on his lips. "Then deploy Fugaku."
Yashiro blinked, entirely confused by the order. "Fugaku? But you stripped him of all operational authority. He has no real power. Is that wise?"
Jin sighed internally. The Uchiha truly struggled to grasp the mechanics of political warfare.
"Elder Yashiro, you must remember our primary objective," Jin explained, his tone firm and educational. "Our goal is not to efficiently solve the village's civilian disputes. Our goal is to weaponize the bureaucracy to waste the administration's time and resources. The busier the Hokage is managing minor civilian complaints, the less bandwidth he has to plot our assassination."
Jin outlined the legal reality. "Fugaku surrendered his absolute authority over the clan, but the village administration never officially revoked his title as Commander of the Military Police. I am officially just a Chunin. You are a Clan Elder. When the Hokage specifically summons the 'Commander,' sending anyone but Fugaku is a breach of protocol."
"We give them exactly what they asked for," Jin concluded. "Whether Fugaku can actually answer the Hokage's questions is irrelevant. As long as our administrative procedures are legally flawless, the Hokage has no justification to sanction us."
Realization dawned on Yashiro's face. The concept of malicious compliance—following an order so literally that it sabotages the issuer's intent—was entirely new to him, but brilliantly effective. He bowed and left to find the former Clan Head.
***
At a quiet residence within the compound, Fugaku was enjoying his forced retirement. Without the crushing weight of village politics and clan survival on his shoulders, the deep stress lines on his face had visibly faded. He looked years younger.
When Yashiro relayed the orders, Fugaku immediately frowned. "I have abdicated. I am a retired civilian. Why should I entangle myself in this administrative theater?"
Yashiro, exhausted and sporting dark bags under his eyes, felt a flash of envy at Fugaku's relaxed state. He used the only leverage he had.
"Consider it a political investment, Fugaku," Yashiro advised grimly. "You need to build goodwill with Jin. You know as well as I do that your son, Itachi, is completely indoctrinated by the Hokage's 'Will of Fire.' He is fiercely loyal to the Anbu, not the clan. When Itachi inevitably does something to threaten the Uchiha, he will face Jin's wrath. If you want any leverage to beg for your son's life in the future, you need to prove your usefulness to Jin today."
Fugaku stiffened, rendered speechless.
'Yashiro is right,' Fugaku realized with a heavy heart. During his busy tenure as Clan Head, he had neglected Itachi's emotional development. Now that he had time to observe his son, Fugaku saw the terrifying extent of Hiruzen's brainwashing. Itachi possessed zero loyalty to his own bloodline. The boy was beyond saving.
"Understood," Fugaku said, his voice laced with resignation. "I will go."
Stalling, delivering vague answers, and pretending to be cooperative were skills Fugaku had mastered over years of dealing with the village elders. This mission suited him perfectly.
***
Twenty minutes later, Fugaku stepped into the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, smoking his pipe beneath the shadow of his hat, took one look at Fugaku and felt a vein throb in his temple.
'Does he think I am an idiot?' Hiruzen thought, fighting the urge to curse aloud. 'Through Itachi and Shisui, I know for a fact that Fugaku is a powerless figurehead. He holds zero authority over the Police Force's current operations. Jin deliberately exploited my exact phrasing to send a useless messenger.'
"Lord Hokage," Fugaku greeted, his face a flawless, unreadable mask of polite indifference.
Hiruzen decided not to play the game. He completely ignored Fugaku, refusing to even acknowledge his presence. He tapped his desk sharply.
An Anbu operative dropped from the ceiling, kneeling.
"Go to the Uchiha compound," Hiruzen ordered, his voice tight with suppressed anger. "Summon Jin Uchiha. By name. Do not return without him."
The Anbu vanished.
Fugaku stood awkwardly in the center of the room, but his stoic discipline held. He simply closed his eyes and waited, perfectly content to waste the Hokage's time.
Twenty minutes later, the office doors opened again. Jin walked in, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He gave Fugaku a brief, respectful nod before turning to the Hokage.
"Lord Hokage. You requested my presence?" Jin asked politely.
Hiruzen finally looked up, his gaze piercing and dangerous. "Jin. Explain the situation at the Military Police Force immediately. Why are your officers refusing to process civilian disputes and arresting suspects?"
Jin blinked, feigning mild confusion. He gestured toward Fugaku.
"With all due respect, Lord Hokage," Jin replied, his tone laced with flawless, untouchable logic. "Fugaku is the official Commander of the Military Police Force. I am merely a Chunin without administrative clearance. Why are you asking me?"