"Stop them!"
"What spies? You're slandering us!"
"The Uchiha clan is abusing its power! Lawless! Fight them!"
The once-bystanding, accusing crowd completely lost control, transforming into a furious human tide that surged forward. Stones, wooden sticks, even vegetable leaves and eggs… Anything they could grab was used as a weapon by the enraged villagers, hurled at the four Uchiha members surrounded in the middle. Countless arms reached for the controlled woman, trying to pull her back into the crowd, and even more hands grabbed at the four Uchiha! Tugging at their clothes, shoving their bodies! Fists and feet flew, spit splattered!
The scene completely devolved into the most chaotic, most dangerous physical conflict!
This was what was known as a "mass incident": an accidental gathering of people temporarily formed due to certain social contradictions, involving large-scale collective activities. These events manifest as verbal, behavioral, or physical conflicts, either expressing demands and claims, directly striving for and protecting self-interests, or venting dissatisfaction. Consequently, they are incidents that cause significant negative impact on social order and stability.
One could even say that, under the influence of Hyuga Kawa, this was the first "mass incident" instigated by civilians since the founding of Konoha!
Uchiha Yashiro and his three comrades naturally didn't know what a "mass incident" was, nor did they understand how destructive a "mass incident" could be in an isolated Konoha. Uchiha Inabi, Tekka, and Yakumi, driven by extreme anger and dangerous instinct, had already completely unleashed themselves. Their Sharingan spun, their dynamic vision allowing them to catch every potentially threatening movement in the chaos. They parried incoming punches and kicks, and inevitably used genjutsu to retaliate. However, because they didn't dare to use heavy force, only putting the villagers to sleep, the situation became even more chaotic.
"Stop! Everyone, stop it!"
Uchiha Yashiro roared hoarsely, trying to stop his clan members, trying to quell the enraged villagers, but his voice was drowned out by the curses and fighting. Looking at Inabi's distorted face, at the woman still screaming in terror, at the villagers surging from all directions… Uchiha Yashiro's heart felt as if it had fallen into an icy abyss, a chill pervading him. Always composed, he now felt a ringing in his ears, stunned and at a loss for what to do.
However, with the situation escalating to this point, it couldn't be allowed to continue.
Splash!
A massive water sphere suddenly appeared above the crowd. Before anyone could react, it burst open, pouring down onto them.
"Ah!"
"Pfft! Cough, cough!"
The previously deafening roar of voices choked instantly, as if someone had grabbed their throats. The icy cold water soaked their bodies, making everyone caught in the pulling, shoving, and cursing shiver! Everyone was drenched to the bone, hair plastered to their scalps, clothes clinging to their bodies. Curses were caught in their throats, and swinging fists froze mid-air. The entire street fell into an eerie silence, broken only by gasping breaths and coughs from being choked by the water. The anger that had ignited the collective emotion was largely extinguished.
"Enough!"
Two figures appeared in the center of the crowd using the Body Flicker Jutsu. They were Hatake Kakashi and Yamato (Tenzo), wearing Anbu masks. The former's left hand firmly gripped Uchiha Inabi's arm that was holding the woman. With a forceful push, he snatched the woman back from the dazed and startled Uchiha Inabi.
"Everyone stop!"
Yamato's cold voice, transmitted through his mask, exuded a natural deterrent. His gaze swept over everyone present, all soaking wet, including the four equally drenched Uchiha members. Their handling and actions were swift and efficient. If it hadn't been for Kakashi's sudden anomaly, they should have appeared even earlier.
Their Anbu attire and the Water Release jutsu had an effect. Although the crowd's eyes still burned with anger towards the four Uchiha, their bodies gradually ceased their movements as reason returned.
"Lord Anbu, you both saw it!"
The villagers, roused by the cold water, seemed to have found their backbone. They pointed at the four Uchiha and the terrified, sobbing woman.
"It was them! The Uchiha started the physical assault!"
"That woman just said a few words and was threatened and even forcibly taken by them!"
"Ouch, they even injured several people! This is clearly violent enforcement! Are the Uchiha above the law?"
"Yes! Baselessly slandering people, these mad dogs…"
The crowd's fury was like a temporarily cooled volcano, but the residual anger lingered, its矛头 (spearhead) still firmly pointed at the four Uchiha, their words filled with deep disgust and hostility.
"You!"
A vein throbbed on Uchiha Inabi's forehead, but just as he was about to speak, a deep voice entered his ears.
"Inabi! Haven't you caused enough trouble?!"
Everyone instinctively looked towards the source of the voice. Outside the crowd, Uchiha Fugaku walked steadily forward. Little emotion could be read on his cold, stern face, only a heart-stopping sense of oppression emanating from the depths of his black eyes. The already noisy street quieted down even more. Beside him walked Uchiha Itachi.
The gathered crowd instinctively parted a path. Fugaku walked directly to the core area of the conflict. Uchiha Itachi stopped outside the crowd. Now eleven years old, he had gradually shed his naivete, calmly taking in the entire scene before him.
"Lord Fugaku, it's them…"
Uchiha Inabi opened his mouth, still wanting to argue, but under Fugaku's calm, icy gaze, all his words caught in his throat. Fugaku's gaze then swept over the disheveled Yashiro, Tekka, and Yakumi, lingering for a moment on their humiliated, unwilling, and fearful faces, before finally settling on Kakashi.
"My apologies, for troubling my Anbu colleagues," Uchiha Fugaku exhaled. "Thank you for coming to quell the chaos."
Then, without waiting for Kakashi's response, he slowly turned and faced the still-angry villagers. Under everyone's gaze, the head of the Uchiha clan and captain of the Leaf Military Police Force slowly bowed his rigid back.
"I am deeply sorry,"
Uchiha Fugaku's head was bowed, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears: "The duty of the Military Police Force is to protect the safety of the villagers and maintain order, not to create conflict and panic."
"As for today's incident, regardless of the reason,"
"Forcibly taking villagers and instigating physical conflict are serious errors that severely violate Military Police regulations. It is due to my lax supervision and poor guidance as the captain of the Military Police Force."
"On behalf of the Military Police Force, and on behalf of the Uchiha clan, I extend our sincerest apologies to all those who were startled and unjustly accused, especially this lady."
With that, Uchiha Fugaku straightened up, his face still unperturbed. He said in a deep voice, "All clan members involved will be punished according to the highest disciplinary regulations!"
"Regarding today's misunderstanding and any potential losses you may have incurred, the Military Police Force will send special personnel to offer a personal apology and verify compensation. We hope that you all…"
His words were cut short.
Splatt!
A foul-smelling egg, flying from who knew where, violently smashed onto Uchiha Fugaku's shoulder, staining his clothes and even splashing onto his cheek.
Immediately after, a voice filled with anger rose from the crowd, shouting: "Punishment? Who believes that?! Compensation? Who cares about a little compensation like that?!"
"Don't pretend to be sincere here. We just want to do business normally, and stay far away from you Uchiha!"
"…"
At these words, Kakashi's face beneath his mask twitched. This time, even he felt a headache coming on.