Kawasaki waved a hand. "Konoha's Police Force is hurting us more than helping us. Step one: relinquish control of the Police Force."
"Fourth Elder, Danzo took a huge loss today — tomorrow he'll definitely try to pick on us using the Police Force's authority," Kawasaki went on.
"Suspend everyone who's been complained about and recall them into the clan. If anyone starts asking questions, stall them. Keep stalling."
The four senior elders were utterly impressed with Kawasaki and beat their chests, promising, "Deputy Clan Leader, rest easy — this is my specialty."
"Third Senior, you've long tried to seize the Hokage post by force. After seeing those future fragments, what do you think?" Kawasaki asked.
The Third Elder gave a wry shake of his head. Indeed, he had always planned to seize power through force. But in those glimpses of the future, even controlling the Nine-Tails and using the Sharingan couldn't avert defeat. Coupled with that world-shattering jutsu (the devastating technique Kawasaki showed in one vision), he had grown despondent.
"If Konoha fears us having power, then let's just surrender the power," Kawasaki continued.
"Fugaku, you should find a proper chance to step down from your post as head of the Police Force. We've offended too many people for the sake of that authority — people now only remember the Uchiha for enforcement and oppression. Let's give up the power for now, as a tactical retreat."
"Third Senior, next you need to organize the hardliners who won't accept this peacefully," Kawasaki added.
The Third Elder frowned. "Kawasaki, what exactly are you planning?"
Not everyone could swallow this strategy. To some Uchiha, retreating would be unacceptable — which was how the clan's hawkish faction had formed.
"We need an 'uprising' and a decisive 'shock'," Kawasaki said with an enigmatic smile. "Otherwise how will we dispel the negative image attached to the Uchiha and allow people to go out and prosper without fear?"
The three elders exchanged looks. "But those people won't be easy to persuade," they said.
What they didn't know was that Shisui had awakened his Mangekyō and possessed the extraordinary ocular genjutsu — Kotoamatsukami. Kawasaki signaled to Shisui. Shisui understood immediately: Kawasaki intended to use his Kotoamatsukami.
He then explained Shisui's Kotoamatsukami ability to Fugaku and the two elders.
"Another Mangekyō pair?" the elders gasped. Mangekyō Sharingan were rare — now there were two new pairs in the clan. Fugaku's emotions swelled: between Kawasaki, Shisui and himself, the clan now counted three pairs of Mangekyō. If they weren't trying to hide things for Konoha, a direct uprising might have a real chance — no wonder Danzo had his eye on Shisui's power.
If Fugaku had known that Itachi also had a Mangekyō, he might have fainted from excitement.
After the elders left, Kawasaki asked, "Itachi — Shisui's left eye is with you, right?"
Itachi replied, "So the deputy knows everything." He called a ninja crow, who produced a small jar holding the Sharingan.
"Shisui, we need the Uchiha to unify. Recover quickly," Kawasaki told him.
"I will!" Shisui replied. He knew the weight of responsibility on his shoulders: this plan both preserved the clan and avoided open conflict with the village, but it required him to get well fast.
"I suspect someone from outside is watching the shrine's secret stone," Itachi said quietly.
Kawasaki nodded. "You mean the person near the shrine's engraving. I've heard of him. He'll make waves in the shinobi world someday, but I don't yet know his true identity. He's been appearing near that stone repeatedly — I suspect the inscription has been tampered with. Don't trust it."
Itachi was surprised that Kawasaki already knew, but said, "Understood, Deputy."
…
Late at night, when the meeting was over, Itachi walked out and saw Izumi dozing on a nearby bench. She had leaned against the seat and nodded off. The vision they'd seen earlier of Izumi's death snapped at his heart.
Itachi gently tapped her shoulder. "What are you doing out here?"
Izumi blinked awake. "Itachi?"
She gathered herself. "Oh—nothing. I'm going back."
Her cheeks had flushed; she hurried to stand and leave.
"It's fine," Itachi called softly, stopping her. She looked back, framed by the dim lamp light — lively, adorable.
After a pause, Itachi said, "Tomorrow — let's go eat three-colored dango."
Thump thump — Izumi's heart raced loudly in the quiet night. The sudden, simple happiness made her feel dizzy.
"O-okay!" she stammered, covering her face and fleeing. "Meet by the river tomorrow!"
Itachi watched her go and, for once, wore a rare gentle smile.
…
At Root's base:
"Sir, the Third sent people to retrieve Shisui's left eye," a subordinate reported.
Danzo ground his teeth. "Go to the warehouse and get me a Sharingan."
"But sir, we only have four Sharingan left," the Root operative replied.
Danzo slammed his hand on the armrest. "Do you think I don't know that?! If we don't hand over an eye, Sarutobi won't pass this!" (i.e., we won't get through Hiruzen's scrutiny)
"Yes, sir."
Danzo got angrier. "This is an outrage! Humiliating!" He'd never been outplayed like this before. After today's major loss, it felt like stealing a chicken and losing the pot. He couldn't believe timid Fugaku had hidden such steel in velvet, pushing a senior forward to be the clan's mouthpiece and risking open rupture with the village over Shisui's eye. He vowed to color their world.
…
At dawn the Fourth Elder Yohei—who had only slept a few hours—arrived at the Konoha Police Bureau. Every morning the police staff checked in for rotations; on some days they also held a brief meeting. Yohei walked to his desk and saw a stack of complaint letters waiting for him—mostly complaints about Uchiha heavy-handed law enforcement.
His usual solution was to redeploy those complained-about Uchiha to another post in the village: a way to resolve complaints without punishing clan members. But today he picked up the stamp labeled "Suspended for Reflection" and began slapping it down across the complaints.
To increase efficiency, the Fourth Elder split off several shadow clones to help. Shadow clones truly were a godly technique: before long, every complaint had been processed.
Yohei scanned the list: by his measure, about 80% of the police force would be suspended. They were mostly the hawkish Uchiha — hard personalities who'd burned bridges. A number of fringe figures were also suspended.
He read the names aloud: "Yuta, Yando, Naoto, Yao, Kei…" (names approximated)
"All the people I just read — due to complaints, you're suspended for reflection," Yohei announced.
Voices erupted: "Fourth Elder! You've got the wrong person! We're suspended?"
Yohei glared and they went silent. "Idiot! Don't argue. You have other assignments. Report immediately to the Deputy Clan Leader."
He gave them a particular look. These were the hawks, the ones who looked to the Third Elder for leadership. After last night, when Kawasaki had forcefully demanded Shisui's eye be returned, they'd recognized Kawasaki's hawkish streak — and now Yohei had quietly shuffled them into new roles.