[Read up to Chapter - 75 on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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"Sarutobi Shinnosuke-senpai, it's been a while," Kanzou said with a cold smile.
He knew Shinnosuke from their time at the Konoha Ninja Academy—Shinnosuke had been a year senior. They'd clashed back then, and Kanzou had already taught him lessons a few times.
Now, fate had delivered Shinnosuke into his hands again.
Shinnosuke glared at Kanzou with pure hatred. Their past conflict had already been intense, and now it was about to explode.
"You dared to attack my Police Force, Senpai? You shouldn't have done that, you know," Kanzou's eyes narrowed. "That takes guts, senpai, after all, there are no academy instructors here to safeguard you here… Here, in am the instructor and I am the Principal… And you are a disobedient child… and do you know how the disobedient children are corrected? Well… I certainly know about it thanks to your credit… so let me give you a taste as well…"
"You wouldn't dare! If you lay a finger on me, my father won't let you off!" Shinnosuke tried to throw his weight around by invoking his father's name once more.
"Senpai, do you think dragging out the Daddy Hokage's name will help you now?" Kanzou scoffed and gestured toward the two Uchiha guards.
Without hesitation, the two Chūnin moved in and began pummelling Shinnosuke.
His screams echoed throughout the room.
"Uchiha Kanzou! Just wait—I won't let you get away with this!" Shinnosuke roared defiantly.
"Senpai, do you know, I like people who talk tough the most because it's fun when their real cowardice is revealed," Kanzou said with a smirk. "Slap him again."
The corners of Kanzou's lips arched slightly. 'Acting stubborn, huh? Let's see how long that lasts after a few more slaps.'
As for whether this would worsen things with Sarutobi Hiruzen—heh, Kanzou didn't care. That bridge had long since burned. He and Sarutobi Hiruzen were never going to coexist peacefully.
After the beating, Kanzou picked up a red-hot iron rod and slowly walked toward Shinnosuke.
"You… what are you planning to do?" Shinnosuke's voice wavered with fear.
Ssssss—! Kanzou didn't bother answering. Instead, he pressed the glowing iron against Shinnosuke's chest.
A searing hiss filled the room, followed by a guttural scream of agony.
A mark was now scorched into his skin.
"Tsk tsk… Shame no one can see it with your shirt on," Kanzou mused. "Senpai, want me to brand another one—on your face this time?"
Kanzou waved the still-glowing iron rod, and the sight alone was enough to terrify Shinnosuke into wetting himself.
He literally peed his pants as yellow liquid dripped visibly down from his crotch.
Being branded on the chest was one thing; he could at least hide that with clothing. But if Kanzou scarred his face, how would he ever show himself in public again?
"W–Wait! Stop! Please stop!" Shinnosuke shouted in panic as the iron neared his face.
"Fifty million ryō. That's the price for your release. Interested, senpai?" Kanzou asked casually.
"Yes! I agree!" Shinnosuke didn't dare refuse. He was convinced that the moment he declined, Kanzou would slam the red-hot iron rod into his face without hesitation.
"Have someone bring the money. Once I see it, you're free to go,. But if I don't get it by the end of the day…" Kanzou let the words hang, then added coldly, "This iron will leave a mark on your face for life, senpai."
With that, Kanzou tossed the hot iron rod aside and strolled out of the torture room, leaving Shinnosuke trembling behind on his own pee.
…
Back in his office, Kanzou had barely sat down to rest and was presented with tea by a beautiful brown haired Uchiha Kunoichi named Hazuki when someone came knocking again—this time, a messenger from the Root organisation.
"Uchiha Kanzou, Danzō-sama wants to see you. Come with me."
The Root agents were even colder and more emotionless than the ANBU. These operatives were nothing more than tools—completely brainwashed and under Danzō's control.
"Danzō wants to see me? Then tell him to crawl over here," shrugged Kanzou, taking a sip of tea, not paying any attention to the Root ninja.
"Uchiha Kanzou… how dare—" The Root ninja tried to draw his kunai and attack, but before he could make a move, a cold flash of steel sliced through the air from behind him.
His head was severed cleanly from his body and fell to the side with a dull thud.
"Daring to threaten Kanzou-sama in front of me…" Hazuki murmured coldly, wiping the blood from her short sword with a handkerchief.
"Very good, Hazuki… your speed this time was satisfactory," Kanzou murmured in approval, pleased with how swiftly she had dealt with the Root ninja.
The poor fool hadn't even realized when Hazuki—who had been standing quietly beside Kanzou—vanished and reappeared behind him to deliver the killing blow.
Her speed was indeed up to standard.
"Of course, it's all thanks to your teachings, Kanzou-sama," Hazuki said with a respectful bow.
"Hmm…" Kanzou hummed with a smile.
"I'll get this trash cleaned up," Hazuki said flatly.
Kanzou nodded and added, "Also… bring me the one who allowed this trash inside."
"As you command, Kanzou-sama," Hazuki replied with a bow before leaving the office.
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"Kanzou-sama," Satoru rushed in from outside, dropped to one knee, and glanced at the headless corpse.
"My apologies, Kanzou-sama. I failed to guard the door and let him break in."
"I'll let it go this time. But I don't want to see it happen again… No matter who it is… unless they are given permission to meet me… they must not be allowed inside… Even if it's the Hokage, they must not be allowed inside… understood?"
"Yes, Kanzou-sama, I understand," nodded Satoru.
"I'm quite optimistic about you, Satoru—don't disappoint me," said Kanzou, adding.
"Yes, I am grateful for that… I swear I won't let you down again," said Satoru.
In Uchiha Satoru's heart, he wanted nothing more than to whip the corpse of the intruder who had broken in—he had nearly caused Kanzou-sama to lose interest in him.
"Anyway… help Hazuki with the cleanup of trash. The official report will state that a spy infiltrated the Police Force with the intent to steal information and was executed on the spot."
The accusation was made without hesitation. After all, the dead couldn't defend themselves. Especially the dead of the Root.
"Understood."
Satoru swiftly got to work. His movements were sharp and efficient—proof that he was indeed worth training.
As a Jōnin on the verge of reaching Elite Jōnin, Satoru stood out as one of the most promising leaders among the current ranks.
To Kanzou, the Root operative was nothing more than a minor annoyance. These rats lurking in the gutters of Konoha, barely managing to gnaw on their roots, weren't even worthy of his attention.
After the corpse was cleared away, Kanzou turned to Hazuki and said, "What do you think… isn't it about time I officially claimed the title of Patriarch?"
Hazuki smiled and replied, "That position has always been yours, Kanzou-sama. It's only natural for you to take your rightful seat. We Zodiacs have always looked forward to the day we could call you Patriarch."
"Well then… It's time to return and put on a grand performance," Kanzou murmured with a smile.
In the past, Kanzou had no interest in becoming the Uchiha patriarch.
Indeed, even if his zodiacs and other loyal subordinates wished for him to become the Patriarch, he still wasn't all too keen.
The position was thankless—full of responsibility but offering no real benefit, especially with the constant pressure from Konoha's leadership.
But now, things had changed. The pressure from Konoha's higher-ups no longer fazed him, and Kanzou needed the entire Uchiha clan's support to help him accumulate evil points.
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As the team of police force marched through the streets of Konoha, everyone who saw them quickly stepped aside.
Over the past two days, both the Uchiha and the Police Force had made a name for themselves.
But it wasn't a good reputation—it was one of fear and infamy.
Now, whenever the villagers saw a member of the Uchiha clan, they instinctively backed away.
Walking behind Kanzou, the Uchiha Clansmen noticed the fear in the villagers' eyes—and held their heads high with pride.
"So arrogant," someone muttered.
"I suggest you shut your mouth. Unless you want to be summoned by the guards for 'tea.'"
"Onii-chan, if you want to get yourself killed, don't drag me down with you."
Neither ordinary villagers nor most ninjas dared to provoke the Uchiha clan.
Rumour had it that even the Hyuga and Sarutobi clans had suffered humiliating defeats at their hands.
For civilian-born shinobi with no powerful backing, offending the Uchiha was out of the question.
Even when they talked about the Uchiha, it was always behind closed doors, or in their hearts—no one dared speak ill of them face-to-face.
Kanzou returned to the Uchiha compound with his entourage, exuding the clan's full authority.
At this time, the Uchiha district was still located at the heart of Konoha.
It was only after the Nine-Tails' attack that the higher-ups began pushing the clan further out from the village centre.
But for now, as one of the two founding families of Konoha, the Uchiha compound still sat at the village's center.
Upon returning, Kanzou didn't head home.
Instead, he led his people straight to Uchiha Fugaku's residence—a good show was about to begin.
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Drop power Powerstonessssssssss!
[Read up to Chapter - 75 on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]