[Note: Read up to Chapter - 67 on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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That afternoon, the Police Force was deployed in full force.
Unless a shopkeeper paid the security management fee, they would either be arrested under some fabricated charge or suffer financial losses during an "accidental" scuffle caused during an arrest.
At the same time, the current heads of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans gathered together.
Yamanaka Inoichi, Nara Shikaku, and Akimichi Chōza—the trio representing the current generation of the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance—were all visibly tense.
"Shikaku, what exactly is the Uchiha clan trying to pull?" Inoichi asked, his face dark with frustration.
The Nara Clan's pharmacy had been shut down. All their medicinal stock was seized under the accusation of selling counterfeit drugs, a charge that seriously tarnished their reputation.
The Akimichi Clan's barbecue restaurants faced similar trouble—framed with food safety violations and forcibly closed. They were told they couldn't reopen unless they passed a so-called inspection by the Police Force.
As for the Yamanaka Clan, they owned a flower shop. Earlier today, during an alleged arrest of a thief, the Police Force "accidentally" destroyed all the flowers in the shop.
This wasn't carelessness—it was clearly deliberate.
"They want security management fees," Shikaku said calmly.
He understood the motive well enough. After all, the demand for fees had come before any actual enforcement.
"This so-called security management fee is something the Police Force has made up on their own. It's just a way for them to extort money."
Their goal was blatantly obvious because they weren't exactly attempting to disguise it at all, which made it all the more baffling.
They really dared to take such a direct, heavy-handed approach?
The Uchiha clan already had a poor reputation—this kind of behaviour only made it worse.
"I can't figure out Uchiha Kanzou," Shikaku admitted.
As Jōnin Commander and military strategist of Konoha, Shikaku prided himself on his analytical mind—but Kanzou's true intentions remained frustratingly elusive.
Even if they managed to earn money through this, it wasn't worth the damage to their reputation.
"Shikaku, do you have any countermeasures? We can't just let this go," Chōza said angrily, his large frame trembling with frustration.
"We'll pay to resolve the matter for now," Shikaku replied calmly. "I'll head to the Konoha Police Force, speak to the Captain, and try to get our detained clan members released."
"What? That's it? We're just going to let this slide?" Inoichi was visibly upset.
How could anyone feel at ease being bullied and then expected to endure it silently? Among the three families, the Nara Clan had suffered the most—countless valuable medicinal herbs were confiscated.
And yet, Shikaku was choosing to endure it?
"Let's wait and see how things unfold," Shikaku said. "The Uchiha clan has changed a lot recently. One way or another, Uchiha Kanzou will likely become the head of the Uchiha Clan."
Shikaku believed that being the first to stand up against the Uchiha Clan could make them the primary target, and he wanted to avoid that.
After all, it wasn't just the three families that suffered losses this time—even property belonging to the Third Hokage's Sarutobi Clan was affected.
For Uchiha Kanzou to pull off something so bold, he was either a complete fool or extremely confident.
And as the strongest individual in the Uchiha Clan who has managed to become the Captain of the Military Police Force, Kanzou was certainly not a fool.
Which means that he was certainly planning something…
There was no need to provoke him right now—someone else would make a move eventually. They could watch from the sidelines and figure out what's going on.
Why let their business be affected during this time?
Besides, they couldn't take on the Uchiha clan even if they wanted to.
Ever since the Senju clan had become a shadow of its former self, the Uchiha had stood as the most powerful clan in Konoha. While the Hyuga clan claims to rival them, in truth, they couldn't measure up to the Uchiha.
Even the combined might of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio couldn't compete with the Uchiha clan.
"If you're going to meet Uchiha Kanzou, we'll go with you," said Inoichi and Chōza, rising to their feet.
"Fine, I don't mind," Shikaku replied. "But when we get there, remember—don't speak unless I say so."
"We'll follow your lead," they both agreed.
Inoichi and Chōza exchanged a glance and nodded to Nara Shikaku.
Among the three, Shikaku was the strategist—the brains of the group—and they usually deferred to his judgment.
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When they arrived at the Konoha Police Force headquarters, the place was nearly empty. Most of the personnel had already been sent out by Kanzou to stir up trouble.
"Well, well, what a rare sight. What brings the three clan heads here today in person?" Kanzou asked with a smile.
Inoichi clenched his teeth. 'Uchiha Kanzou, don't pretend like you don't know why we're here.'
No one fakes ignorance that poorly.
Still, he had promised Shikaku beforehand that he would let him handle things—so he held back his anger.
"Captain Kanzou, we're here to pay the security management fee," Shikaku said calmly.
"Oh, so you've come to pay the security fee! Not many are as sensible as you, Nara Shikaku-san—you're the first one to come forward." Kanzou grinned.
Kanzou cast a glance at Shikaku, nodding with admiration.
As expected of a clever man—he knew how to resolve issues with minimal loss.
Reluctantly, Shikaku and the others paid the security management fee. One million ryō per month—it stung badly. Had it not been for Shikaku's persuasion, neither Inoichi nor Chōza would have agreed.
"In the future, I hope the Nara clan refrains from selling counterfeit medicinal herbs," Kanzou said with a smirk. "And the Akimichi clan should take more care with food quality."
After receiving the payment, Kanzou didn't miss the chance to deliver a smug lecture.
Shikaku listened in silence, but Chōza clenched his teeth in frustration. 'As if I don't know the food quality at my own barbecue restaurant.'
"This time, I'll release your people," Kanzou added, "but the confiscated fake medicines won't be returned. We can't risk them circulating and harming the public again."
"Understood. Thank you for your trouble, Captain Kanzou," Shikaku replied, voice calm.
But even he was clenching his fists by then, barely managing to hold himself back.
Fake medicine? The Nara clan had never sold counterfeit herbs in their lives.
"Who's next?" Kanzou muttered, tapping his fingers against the table. "I wonder if the rest will be as sensible as the Ino–Shika–Chō trio."
He doubted it.
Others definitely wouldn't bend as easily. The Hyuga Clan, for instance—one of Konoha's two great dōjutsu clans—never considered themselves weaker than the Uchiha.
They were proud and unlikely to compromise.
Then there were the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. Would they yield? Highly unlikely given the high political positions of their Patriarchs.
Konoha Police Force is going to be very lively in the coming days.
Kanzou stood up and stretched.
"Once I'm off duty, don't bother looking for me," leaving behind that message, he clocked out from the Police Force building on time.
Of course, while Kanzou left promptly, his subordinates had no such luxury.
They were still working overtime—by his design.
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Drop power Powerstonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 67 on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]