"Lord Danzo, the Third sent someone to collect Shisui's left eye."
Danzo gritted his teeth. "Go to the storage room, take out a Sharingan, and hand it over."
A Root member hesitated. "But we only have four left…"
Danzo slammed the armrest heavily. "Do you think I don't know that!? If we don't hand one over, Hiruzen won't let this pass."
The more Danzo thought about it, the more furious he became. "Damn it! What an unbearable humiliation!"
His face darkened. Never had he been schemed against like this.
Today he had lost face and suffered greatly—like losing both the chicken and the rice.
Who would've thought that the usually weak Fugaku was actually hiding such sharpness?
He pushed forward an elder as a mouthpiece, and for the sake of Shisui's Sharingan, he had openly broken with the village.
Danzo had to retaliate somehow.
At dawn, after only a few hours of rest, the Fourth Elder, Uchiha Youhei, arrived early at the Konoha Police Department.
Every morning, officers reported in, rotated shifts, and sometimes held brief meetings.
Arriving at his desk, Youhei found a huge pile of complaints.
As usual—most were about "Uchiha using excessive force."
In the past, he would handle it by rotating the members in question to another area,
solving the complaint without punishment.
But today was different. He picked up the stamp marked "Suspended for Reflection" and slammed it down onto the complaint forms one after another.
To speed things up, he even split into several shadow clones to help.
Shadow Clone Jutsu truly was a divine skill—within moments, every complaint was processed.
After checking carefully, Youhei realized that nearly 80% of the Police Force members had been dismissed.
Unsurprisingly, most were hawkish Uchiha, whose aggressive tempers naturally invited complaints.
Even some of the doves were dismissed as well.
When everyone gathered, Youhei read from a list:
"Yuta, Yato, Naoto, Yō, Kei…"
"All of you I just called—due to complaints, you're suspended for reflection."
Before he could finish, the crowd burst into protest:
"Fourth Elder! Are you serious!? We're suspended!?"
Youhei glared, and silence immediately followed.
"Idiots! What's with the shouting!? You have other arrangements. Now go report directly to the Vice Clan Head!"
He gave them a meaningful look.
These were all hawks, usually loyal to the Third Elder.
After last night's incident—where Natsuki had aggressively reclaimed Shisui's eye—
they had clearly seen his hawkish stance.
So with just one look, Youhei had them thinking.
They assumed the Vice Clan Head had big plans, and left quietly without another word.
Once the hawks were gone, the Police Department felt half-empty.
Only the doves and neutrals remained.
Youhei then ordered, "From today onward, patrol routes will only cover Uchiha-owned properties.
If anything happens elsewhere, do not interfere.
Protecting our clan's assets is the first priority. Understood?"
Though the remaining members were doves, more rational by nature,
they too had long endured the villagers' constant hostility.
Hearing that they no longer needed to patrol outside and only had to protect Uchiha property,
they were overjoyed and enthusiastically set out on their new patrol routes.
As expected, by morning Fugaku proposed convening a high-level meeting.
Those attending were the Third Hokage, Hiashi Hyūga, Fugaku, and Natsuki.
Danzo, ashamed after last night's humiliation, did not show his face.
Seeing Fugaku bring Natsuki again, the others muttered inwardly—
could it be that Fugaku was truly grooming this man?
Today, Fugaku seemed back to his old self. He respectfully said to the Hokage:
"Hokage-sama, please forgive me. Last night I was too distraught, and acted rashly."
Hiruzen kept a calm facade, but inside he wondered.
Wasn't Fugaku supposed to be here demanding justice?
"Fugaku, you're too polite. In such circumstances, no clan could remain calm."
Fugaku nodded and stepped aside, letting Natsuki speak.
Natsuki's tone was calm.
"Our clan head understands that the Police Force has had many frictions with the villagers.
If this continues, it will only harm Konoha's public security.
Thus, he has begun reforming the Police Force.
Those who were accused of using excessive force have already been suspended."
"Hmm…" The Third nodded noncommittally, wondering what on earth the Uchiha were plotting.
How many Uchihas hadn't been accused of violence?
Surely at least 80% had complaints lodged against them. And they had all been suspended?
Natsuki continued, "With most of the Uchiha suspended, many positions in the Police Force are now vacant.
That is why we invited Clan Head Hiashi here today—
to request the Hyūga Clan's assistance in filling these roles, so the Police Force may continue to function."
"What… WHAT!?"
The Third and Hiashi couldn't hide their shock.
The Police Force had always been an Uchiha domain.
Over 99% of its members were Uchiha, leaving no room for outsiders.
That was how the clan had consolidated such immense power.
But now Fugaku himself was opening the gates—
weakening their control, and thereby their influence over the village.
Even the Hokage seat drifted further out of reach.
Could it be…?
Was Fugaku signaling that he no longer cared for power?
Was this his way of earning goodwill from the village?
Or… was there some hidden alliance forming between Uchiha and Hyūga?
The Third pondered but couldn't be sure.
Keeping to politeness, he said:
"Vice Clan Head Natsuki, I'm pleased to see you considering Uchiha's relationship with the village.
I have no objections. Please, discuss it further with Hiashi."
Hiashi, however, was not blinded by the gift dropping into his lap.
His first thought was: What scheme does Fugaku have?
But with the meat practically in his mouth, whether it was bait or not,
the Hyūga would try it.
After all, the Hyūga clan had been declining, their influence waning within Konoha.
If they could gradually gain control of the Police Force…
Hiashi cast a friendly smile at Fugaku and Natsuki.
Natsuki smiled back.
The Uchiha had borne the villagers' scorn long enough.
Now, it was time for the Hyūga to take their turn.