Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke in a low voice:
"Chiyu, what did you say just now?"
Chiyu's tone was cold yet resolute.
"The Police Force wasn't originally meant to fight on the battlefield.
"Its purpose is to maintain order in the village, to safeguard our internal security. Deploying the Police Force to the front lines is completely unreasonable and irrational."
"In my capacity as Police Force Commander…
"I object!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen retorted icily:
"Times change. In wartime, one can't go by conventional norms."
Chiyu responded:
"Precisely because it's wartime, the village interior mustn't fall into chaos.
"Otherwise, who will handle security at home so the front lines get stable support?
"Moreover, this is a rule set by the Second Hokage when he created the Police Force. If you want to amend that rule, you at least need my approval as Police Force Commander."
"But I do not consent."
"You…!"
Uchiha Chiyu's firm stance shocked all the senior figures present at the Hokage's meeting. Yet for the Hyūga clan, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio—those being singled out by Sarutobi Hiruzen for payback—there was an indescribable sense of vicarious satisfaction…
Sarutobi Hiruzen was furious but had no choice but to swallow his anger for now.
"Fine. If the Police Force won't go, then at least the Uchiha clan must send its people.
"That should be acceptable, correct?"
"Wouldn't you agree, Fugaku?"
Just as Chiyu was about to speak, Fugaku intercepted him.
"I agree."
He shot Chiyu a look, telling him not to press the matter further.
Chiyu understood: he had already been too forceful. Fugaku was stepping in to diffuse the situation.
And of course, Hiruzen's purpose was obvious: the Uchiha clan had to pay its share of "dues." Sending Fugaku to the front would serve to keep the Uchiha in check.
They deliberated a while longer, finally settling on the decision.
Sarutobi Hiruzen cast a glance at Chiyu, then left on his own.
Chiyu ignored him but also noticed…
Shimura Danzō had not attended the Hokage Conference.
He mused briefly and already deduced a portion of the truth.
…
"Fugaku-sama, we'll have to watch each other's backs on the battlefield," Hyūga Hiashi said, approaching after the meeting adjourned.
Fugaku gave a faint smile:
"Likewise."
That was also why Fugaku accepted going to war.
If the Uchiha and Hyūga, plus the Ino–Shika–Chō clans, were all being targeted by Hiruzen, then forging ties on the battlefield might be the best opening…
Hiashi understood as well. The two men exchanged thoughtful, knowing smiles.
Elsewhere, the Ino–Shika–Chō folks didn't look so eager.
For this campaign against Kumo, Nara Shikaku was named commanding officer—but he only sighed. Obviously, he knew this mission was no favor.
After the crowd left, Fugaku placed a hand on Chiyu's shoulder.
"Chiyu, this war with Kumogakure may also be our opportunity. I plan to link up with the Hyūga clan and the Ino–Shika–Chō trio. As for the village and the clan while I'm gone, I leave them to you…"
Chiyu nodded.
"Understood."
Fugaku smiled.
"If you're in charge, I can go with an easy mind."
"But do stay alert—Hiruzen won't just let this go. He's promoted Koharu and Homura to head both the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, so they can consolidate forces and suppress us Uchiha.
"And you personally—he'll surely scheme to kill you."
"You've likely noticed Danzō's absence…"
"Yes. Presumably, he's the weapon Hiruzen intends to use on me."
Fugaku sighed.
"I suspect so. Anyway, be extremely careful…"
"I will."
…
That same year, a new war between Konoha and Kumogakure erupted.
Kumo's ninja forces crossed through the Lands of Frost and Hot Water, sweeping into the Land of Fire, attacking from the northeast front.
Konoha immediately countered. By Hokage's order, Nara Shikaku served as chief strategist, leading the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, the Uchiha, and the Hyūga to hold them off.
Although not an all-out Great Ninja War, it was hardly small. The entire shinobi world was alarmed, each Great Nation watching intently.
Inside the Konoha, the outbreak of war brought tension.
Sarutobi Hiruzen labored to supply the front lines, seemingly putting aside his vendetta against the Uchiha—for the moment.
Of course, it was only for show.
…
"Commander, the East District shows nothing unusual."
"The West likewise."
Inside the Police Force HQ, various sub-commanders gave reports to Chiyu.
The three sub-commanders were Uchiha Yakumi, Uchiha Tekka, Uchiha Inabi.
As for the North District—Chiyu personally led Aoki, Yamakaze, and others to patrol there, the area being the most complicated.
Uchiha Inabi spoke:
"The South is calm too. Thanks to your new directives, Commander—the heavy-handed laws implemented throughout the village—those troublemakers are scared stiff and dare not show themselves. However…"
"There is one strange matter."
The others glanced over.
"Strange matter?"
"A certain ninja filed a report…that someone dug up his ancestral grave…"
"Huh?"
Even the others were a bit taken aback.
Aoki frowned:
"We have grave-robbers in the Konoha? That's bizarre…"
Everyone felt it odd.
But Chiyu's eyes narrowed.
"Inabi, give me all the details."
Inabi, though not sure what the Commander had inferred, saw his grave expression and quickly obeyed.
"Understood, sir."
"The reporter is a genin named Daishi. His father was also a genin, not a famed ninja, did no high-level missions, and eventually died of illness. Yet apparently, the father's corpse was stolen from its grave.
"Daishi is furious—he wants us to catch the culprit and retrieve his father's remains, insisting that though neither father nor son achieved greatness, they served the village diligently for a lifetime; to have his father's body violated even in death is beyond obscene…
"But we found no clues at the site. If Daishi wasn't so devoted in visiting his father's grave, we might never have known."
"Commander, do you sense some hidden plot?"
To the rest, this was strange but not that big a deal.
However, Chiyu's face looked heavier than ever.
Thinking of recent happenings, he quickly deduced four words:
"Edo Tensei."
And indeed, he realized exactly what was behind this.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had dispatched the Uchiha, Hyūga, and the Ino–Shika–Chō to the front, leaving Koharu and Homura to head the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. All was to keep watch on the Uchiha in the village.
Meanwhile, Shimura Danzō had vanished from the public. His sole mission, presumably:
Kill Uchiha Chiyu.
Given what Chiyu knew of Danzō, it was obvious he would conspire with Orochimaru, gaining new powers from him.
Then, linking that with the exhumation of corpses, one could easily conclude Danzō or his allies had started using Edo Tensei.
They were secretly collecting corpses to further study or perform Edo Tensei…
All for one reason:
To kill him.
~~~
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