Chapter 11: The Burden of Peacekeeping: Hinata Takes Command
As Kaien had expected, the security situation in Konoha had been deteriorating lately. There were no major conflicts, but minor frictions were being overlooked.
Thankfully, the Third Hokage had instructed the Anbu to keep an eye on things—without them, chaos might have erupted by now.
The complaints to the former Uchiha-led Garrison had stopped, but now people were showing up daily to ask when the security patrols would resume.
Unfortunately, the Uchiha no longer held that responsibility, and the clan had no available personnel to redeploy. Helpless, the concerned merchants turned to the Hokage for assistance.
Not everyone could meet the Hokage directly, but the villagers—well-connected and numerous—managed to relay their concerns. Eventually, public pressure reached the Third Hokage, who was forced to urge the Hyuga clan to assume the role of village security.
At his insistence, the Hyuga family expedited their preparations and, by the sixth day, deployed members to take over patrol duties. However, the number of units and their size were notably smaller than when the Uchiha oversaw the garrison.
That said, the Hyuga were well-equipped for the job. With their Byakugan and Gentle Fist, they could observe and neutralize threats precisely. Predictably, the security situation in Konoha quickly improved once the Hyuga took over.
The leader of the newly formed garrison was none other than Hinata, and its members were entirely from the Hyuga clan. Learning from the mistakes of the Uchiha, Hinata instructed all members to enforce the law gently and avoid inciting complaints from the villagers.
Though branded with the Caged Bird Seal, the branch members had long served on the front lines. They were not arrogant but modest and approachable. Most disputes were settled through verbal persuasion.
The villagers, surprised by the Hyuga's gentle demeanor, praised them enthusiastically:
"The Hyuga clan is dependable."
"Much gentler than the Uchiha."
"They should've been the garrison from the start!"
Kaien and Itachi strolled through the village streets. Itachi had recently resigned from his position in the Anbu, and Kaien intended to deepen their connection.
He recognized Itachi's potential but also knew about his illness—something that would need to be addressed eventually.
Fugaku, too, wanted Itachi to grow closer to Kaien. For his part, Itachi admired Kaien's insight. Both were curious to see how the villagers reacted now that the Uchiha were no longer part of the garrison.
"Itachi," Kaien asked, observing the bustling streets of Konoha, "what do you think our people need?"
Konoha may be called a village, but its size was nothing short of a metropolis. Judging by the activity, its population easily numbered in the hundreds of thousands. No wonder the Uchiha once desired more power. Yet, Kaien knew that in the shifting future of the ninja world, ordinary people would have little say. Without elite combat strength, Konoha was growing weaker despite its apparent order.
The Hokage's administration had long refused to trust the Uchiha. Forget the position of Hokage—even an advisory elder seat had never been offered to the clan.
It was no surprise that the Uchiha harbored resentment. After all, during the Nine-Tails' attack, the higher-ups deliberately kept the Uchiha from participating—only to let public suspicion fall on them afterward.
"A sense of belonging," Itachi answered thoughtfully. "That's what we lack."
Kaien smiled and waved. "Just call me 'senior.' Titles like 'deputy patriarch' sound weird."
"But think about it—how many jōnin does the Uchiha clan have? And how many are there in Konoha?"
Konoha had around 200 registered jōnin. Each could lead three to five four-man squads in times of peace, even more during war. Their value was immense.
Yet, within the garrison, a jōnin Uchiha was merely a squad leader. Over 30 of them held such roles. Despite the Uchiha having far more jōnin than other clans, they were all concentrated in one role: village policing.
"As long as we're in the garrison, we'll never be accepted," Kaien said.
"All our talent is being dulled, wasted on daily squabbles."
Itachi nodded in silent agreement.
"I've heard the Hyuga are doing well now. Fewer complaints," he said. "What do you think, senior?"
Kaien grinned at the new form of address. That sounded much better.
He turned to look at the other side of the street.
Two Hyuga garrison members were trying to resolve a dispute. Initially, it seemed under control, but things escalated quickly.
"What right do you have to interfere in my affairs? My wife is from the Yamanaka clan!"
"And I'm from the Shimura clan! Ever heard of Elder Danzo?!"
The Hyuga were stuck—unable to arrest anyone without it being a serious offense.
"Sir, please calm down," one of the Hyuga officers, Hinata Hechuan, said patiently.
"You provoked the conflict. The other party merely defended themselves."
"You're just a Hyuga mutt with a cage on your head," the drunk man spat. "You dare to touch me?"
The insult struck a nerve. As a branch member, such words were taboo.
With restrained fury, Hechi struck a pressure point. The man collapsed face-first into the dirt, nose bleeding.
"Police brutality!" the drunkard cried. "I'll report you!"
Hechi, now pale and anxious, hurriedly dragged the man away with his teammate.
Itachi had seen this before—Shisui often dealt with similar incidents. He always apologized, trying to mediate, but many in the clan disliked that approach.
Most merchants and nobles in Konoha were tied to major clans. Every dispute came with threats and name-dropping. The Uchiha had long been caught in the crossfire.
But unlike the Hyuga, the Uchiha didn't care for polite façades. They enforced the law impartially—if someone deserved arrest, they were arrested.
This, ironically, was also part of the Second Hokage's strategy: to ensure the Uchiha never gained political trust. If they upheld justice too strictly, they would offend the elite. And without elite support, the Uchiha would never be Hokage.
Kaien sighed. Based on Fugaku's contribution during the Third Ninja War, he should have at least earned a seat among the advisors—if not more.
But that wasn't how Konoha worked.
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Translated By – Ancient Lores
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