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Five new chapters uploaded on PATREON.
Currently at Chapter 92 on Patreon. Read at one go.
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The next one chapter on webnovel will be uploaded in the next 2 days.
The next five chapters will be uploaded on Patreon in the next 2 days. (Chapter 92-97)
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Think here.
Itachi glanced at Shisui, for Shisui had told him earlier he would speak at this meeting.
Sure enough—
Shisui placed both hands on the table and slowly stood up.
Seeing this, Fugaku immediately sensed his intention and raised his voice. "Quiet, everyone."
The hall fell silent.
"Thank you, Patriarch," Shisui began respectfully. After a short pause, he continued, "I partially agree with Elder Setsuna's opinion. The Police Department is the foundation of Uchiha's standing in Konoha — our symbol of duty and authority. The power that should belong to us must be firmly held in our hands. But…"
Here came the key point.
Shisui's voice grew solemn. "Because the Police Department enforces the law and arrests criminals, it naturally attracts resentment. It's a fact that our reputation among the villagers has worsened.
If this continues, it will only deepen public distrust and sharpen the divide between Uchiha and the people. Even if we seize back every ounce of power, what good will it do? If the villagers reject our authority, the Police Department will lose its legitimacy entirely."
The room quieted as his words sank in.
Fugaku's eyes narrowed. "Then what do you propose we do, Shisui?"
"I suggest," Shisui said with calm conviction, "that Uchiha take the initiative to propose a reform of the Police Department."
Fugaku leaned forward, interest glinting in his eyes. "Reform? How do you intend to reform it?"
Truthfully, Fugaku himself had contemplated restructuring the department but had never dared to take that first step.
Shisui drew a steady breath.
"The most crucial change," he explained, "is to open certain positions in the Police Department — not limited to Uchiha alone, but to all shinobi in Konoha.
Any ninja, clan or civilian, can apply freely. As long as they pass the department's assessments, they may serve."
In Shisui's mind, this reform was the only way forward.
If Uchiha voluntarily shared authority, allowing ninjas from other clans and even civilians to join, it would ease the manpower shortage, improve Uchiha's public image, and dispel the villagers' growing hostility.
Before he could finish, however—
"No!"
Uchiha Yashiro — the department's deputy commander, who had only recently recovered from his injuries — stood abruptly, his face flushed with outrage.
"According to your proposal, Shisui, outsiders will flood the Police Department and replace Uchiha shinobi! Are we to surrender our ancestral duty to strangers?"
His objection drew immediate agreement.
"That's right!"
"Uchiha founded the Police Department!"
"Why should we give it away?"
The voices of dissent echoed fiercely through the hall. The Uchiha were proud; to them, the Police Department wasn't just a job — it was their symbol, their birthright. The thought of sharing it felt like humiliation.
Facing their resistance, Shisui didn't argue emotionally. He simply raised his voice calmly:
"All open positions will be filled through fair competition. If we truly are the strongest, what do we have to fear? Or…" His gaze swept the room. "Are the Uchiha no longer confident in their own strength?"
His question struck like a blade, silencing Yashiro and many others.
Shisui then added in a steady tone, "Even under the reformed structure, Uchiha will retain leadership authority — control over finances, appointments, and overall command. Non-Uchiha officers can rise only as far as squad leaders. They pose no threat to our clan's power."
Fugaku pondered these words. At last, he nodded slightly.
"Indeed… If I present this reform plan at tomorrow's council, I may gain the support of the other clan heads. It could reduce the tension between us and the village, perhaps even resolve the crisis."
He had to admit — Shisui's idea was daring yet thoughtful. Unlike Elder Setsuna's extreme call for confrontation, this was a path of coexistence, a bridge between Konoha and Uchiha.
Hearing the patriarch's approval, part of the clan quieted down and began discussing Shisui's proposal seriously.
But not everyone was convinced.
Several radicals still muttered in anger, believing the plan would only weaken Uchiha's authority and eventually hand the Police Department to outsiders. The meeting soon dissolved into noise — shouts, arguments, the clash of pride and fear filling the hall.
Fugaku sighed and finally spoke. "Enough. Quiet!"
The clan fell silent once more. Fugaku turned his gaze toward the right side of the table — toward a man who had remained silent all this time.
"Duan," he said firmly, "what do you think? Let everyone hear your opinion."
As the strongest Uchiha alive, Duan's words carried weight greater than even the patriarch's. Whichever side he chose would decide the clan's direction.
Duan raised a brow. Why me again?
He had promised his nephew to stay out of this mess. But now that Fugaku had called him directly, he could only glance sideways at Itachi — silently shifting the burden back.
Feeling his uncle's expectant stare, Itachi stiffened. Within seconds, every gaze in the room turned toward him — except for the blind Shisui, who only tilted his head slightly.
Why was Duan looking at Itachi instead of answering?
Dozens of eyes bore into him. Under that crushing pressure, Itachi finally exhaled. "Uncle… just say it. Whatever you want to say — say it."
Duan smirked and ruffled his nephew's hair. "You said it yourself."
He turned back to the clan, sweeping his sharp gaze across the hall — from Fugaku at the head table, to the elders, to the youngest shinobi seated in the back rows.
The entire room waited.
After a long pause, Duan spoke plainly:
"I suggest that Uchiha completely abandon the Police Department."
For a heartbeat — absolute silence.
Then the air froze. Dozens of faces went pale, eyes wide in disbelief.
Elder Setsuna's voice broke the stillness. "What did you just say, Duan? You want Uchiha… to give up the Police Department?" His jaw trembled.
Even Shisui, his bandaged face unreadable, stiffened at the words.
"Duan, are you serious?" Fugaku's tone was deep, his eyes searching for any hint of jest.
But Duan leaned back lazily in his chair, offering no explanation.
He'd already learned how his clan loved to interpret his words — radicals, moderates, neutrals alike. Each would twist them differently, debate endlessly, and find meaning where there was none.
If they love to guess, let them guess.
As he remained silent, murmurs rippled through the room again.
The strongest of Uchiha, the undefeated head of the Meat Reform Hall, was not one to speak carelessly. His words must have carried some hidden truth.
Everyone began whispering, trying to decipher his intent.
No one expected that the first to understand would not be Fugaku, Shisui, or Setsuna — but a young man from the back rows.
"I agree with the curator!"
The speaker, a ponytailed clansman in his twenties, raised his hand boldly.
His name was Uchiha Kenzo — a ten-year veteran of the Police Department, currently serving as a squad leader.
In an instant—
Every eye in the hall turned toward him.
Join my Patreon to read advanced chapters.
Five new chapters uploaded on PATREON.
Currently at Chapter 92 on Patreon. Read at one go.
patreon.com/FrancisMW
The next one chapter on webnovel will be uploaded in the next 2 days.
The next five chapters will be uploaded on Patreon in the next 2 days. (Chapter 92-97)
patreon.com/FrancisMW