On the outskirts of Konoha Village, at the Military Police Force's headquarters.
Fugaku was putting on his dark red armor one by one.
This set of armor, modified from Madara's original design, bore the prominent emblem of Konoha, symbolizing the bond between the clan and the village.
"Chief! The three squads of clansmen have assembled!" Uchiha Yashiro, wearing a standard Jonin flak jacket, reported to Fugaku.
"Let's go." Fugaku fastened his Ninjato at his waist and strode out of the Military Police Force's headquarters.
Outside the gates, an open area was already filled with over thirty members of the Konoha Military Police Force. Some wore the traditional Uchiha Clan's attire, while others were dressed in Konoha's Jonin flak jackets.
Gathered here were three squads, totaling nine teams… thirty-six shinobi, all at least Chunin-level with Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
Each team leader was at least a Tokubetsu Jonin, while squad leaders like Yashiro and Tekka possessed Elite Jonin-level strength.
Including Fugaku, there are five Special Jonin and five Jonin gathered here, which is enough force to destroy any small country!
Even among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, it was rare to deploy five Jonin for a single mission outside of wartime.
Not to mention that there is also someone like Shisui, who possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan.
As Fugaku stepped forward, Shisui, who is standing among the crowd, lifted his head, his one remaining eye solemnly gazing at the armored Fugaku.
Ever since his defeat at the hands of that mysterious girl who called herself Nanashi during the investigation of the upheaval in the Land of Bears and Hoshigakure, where he lost his left eye, Shisui had covered the empty socket with an eyepatch.
But even with only one Sharingan remaining, Shisui's combat prowess far surpassed that of his clansmen with Three-Tomoe Sharingan, earning their reverence.
In the entire Uchiha Clan, only Fugaku, who also possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan, is stronger than Shisui, as he now lacks one Mangekyo Sharingan.
"The mission assignments have been distributed!" Fugaku stood before his clan members and spoke passionately, "The enemy could infiltrate the village from any direction at any moment! As members of the Konoha Military Police Force, we, the Uchiha Clan, must swear to protect the village with our lives!"
"But our enemy is no ordinary foe! If you encounter him, if you find him, do not hesitate! Immediately fire the signal flare!"
Fugaku couldn't explain to his clansmen in detail what that man called Shura had done in Konoha and Kumogakure. He could only warn them this way, urging them not to underestimate the enemy out of arrogance!
"Move out!" After his speech, Fugaku raised his hand in command.
The Uchiha Clan's members left in an instant, following their respective squad leaders to patrol along the predetermined routes.
Fugaku himself led a small group of Uchiha Clan's members, standing by at the Military Police Force's headquarters. The moment a signal flare was spotted, they would rush to reinforce.
Shisui had been kept by Fugaku's side. Ever since Shisui's defeat at the hands of Nanashi and his return, Fugaku had learned that Shisui's eyes had awakened the Mangekyo.
Though missing one eye, Shisui was still valued by Fugaku.
If not for Shisui's indifferent attitude toward rank, his lack of interest in the position of Deputy Chief of the Konoha Military Police Force, and Fugaku's consideration for younger Uchiha like Tekka and Yashiro, Fugaku might have already promoted Shisui to Deputy Chief.
Now, at this critical moment, Fugaku naturally assigned Shisui to work alongside him.
Fugaku was confident that with their combined strength, with three Mangekyo Sharingan between the two of them, even if the enemy were Madara Uchiha himself, they could put up a fight!
Standing on the steps of the Military Police Force's headquarters, Fugaku gazed at the full moon in the night sky, his armor glinting coldly under its light.
Suddenly, he spoke to Shisui, "I've read Shura's notice letter. His target is the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan."
Shisui turned his single eye toward Fugaku, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan revealing a trace of confusion.
"Based on Shura's ability to move freely in and out of Konoha Village last time, he either has an intimate understanding of the village's barrier and layout, or he possesses some kind of long-distance movement Ninjutsu. That's why the main focus should be on the Hyuga Clan's compound." Fugaku stated his reasoning.
Shisui frowned slightly, "Then why did you still send our clansmen out on patrol?"
Fugaku crossed his arms, the metal plates of his armor clinking softly.
"Because it was Hokage-sama's order." Fugaku said solemnly, "The Uchiha Clan must also contribute to the village."
His words carried both loyalty and an undercurrent of resignation.
'Contribute to the village...' Shisui could sense Fugaku's feelings toward Konoha, but the rising discontent within the clan was like a tide, spreading relentlessly.
Right now, the Uchiha Clan was a powder keg… ready to explode at the slightest spark.
As Shisui pondered the growing unrest among his clansmen, Fugaku suddenly changed the subject: "How much do you know about the Kaguya Clan of Kirigakure?"
"The Kaguya Clan?" Shisui was momentarily confused by the shift in topic. After a brief pause, he replied, "They're a… crazy clan. Their combat prowess is formidable. I fought against them during the Third Great Ninja War. Even with my Three-Tomoe Sharingan awakened at the time, I was pushed to the brink multiple times."
Fugaku listened quietly before stating, "The Kaguya Clan has been exterminated."
"!!!"
Shisui's single eye widened in shock, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan trembling slightly.
The Kaguya Clan's status in Kirigakure was akin to the Uchiha Clan's in Konoha… both were the foremost Ninja Clans of their respective villages.
Moreover, the Kaguya Clan's reputation for battle prowess was renowned across the Ninja World. They're one of the few clans capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Uchiha Clan in one-on-one combat.
And yet, such a mighty clan had been wiped out… just like that!
"Though Kirigakure has adopted a policy of isolation, since a major Ninja Clan was exterminated, some scattered news has still leaked out," Fugaku continued grimly, "It's said that the Kaguya Clan attempted to overthrow the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, and launched a rebellion. The Fourth Mizukage mobilized the entire village's forces to crush them."
Each word struck Shisui's heart like a hammer.
He understood exactly what Fugaku was implying.
If even the Kaguya clan's rebellion had been crushed by Kirigakure, what would happen if the Uchiha, led by their radicals, took the same path?
"So, Shisui," Fugaku turned to face him, his gaze steady on the young man who, despite losing one Mangekyo Sharingan, still maintained an optimistic and bright spirit, "I hope you can become a bridge connecting the Uchiha Clan and the village."
"A bridge…" Shisui suddenly recalled how Hiruzen had also placed great hopes in him.
Fugaku nodded, "Yes. Additionally, I've proposed to Hokage-sama that Itachi be transferred into the Anbu to serve the village."
In Fugaku's mind, Itachi and Shisui were close friends, both rare voices of reason within the clan, unlike others who were all too eager to rebel.
He believed that the younger generation of Uchiha Clan, like Itachi and Shisui, could change the tense relationship between the clan and the village.
At the very least, they could prevent the Uchiha Clan from meeting the same fate as the Kaguya Clan.