Hiko watched the dust settle in the alley. He didn't need to check the prisoners; he knew Zhiyan's crew would be thorough. The Uchiha youth were no longer just officers; they were becoming a pack of wolves, and he was their Alpha.
"A clean catch," a voice resonated from the shadows.
Hiko didn't turn. He knew that chakra signature—heavy, weary, yet undeniably sharp. "Patriarch. Come to tell me I've made a mistake?"
Fugaku stepped into the light, his Sangouyu Sharingan spinning. In the darkness, the red glow was a warning. "They were Danzo's men, Hiko. You know this. The village will not take this kidnapping of their kidnappers lightly."
Hiko chuckled, pointing his index finger at the stone beneath his boots. "This is the territory of the Uchiha Police Department. Two men wearing masks, carrying weapons, and lacking official Anbu identification marks attempted to seize a high-ranking officer. In the eyes of the law, they aren't 'Danzo's men.' They are spies. Assassins."
"Danzo will move against you," Fugaku warned.
"Let him," Hiko's voice turned cold, his teeth gritting. "We have retreated for years, Patriarch. Every time we take a step back, Danzo takes a yard. We are at the wall. There is no room left for concessions."
Fugaku stared at him, the silence between them thick enough to choke on. Finally, the Patriarch deactivated his eyes. "Uchiha cannot stand against the village. I will not allow you to lead us into the abyss."
"I'm not standing against the village," Hiko smiled, watching Fugaku's retreating back. "I'm just standing against a few old men who have forgotten that we built the house they're sitting in."
The Morning After: A Bitter Pill for the Root
By dawn, Danzo was a gargoyle of rage. He had waited all night in the shadows of the Root base, but his hounds never returned. He knew then that the "catfish" had not only escaped the net but had bitten the fisherman's hand.
Across the street, in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen was staring at a report that made his stomach churn.
"Two unknown combatants... impersonating Anbu... arrested for assaulting a Police Captain... currently held in the central prison," Sarutobi read aloud, his voice flat.
He didn't need a map to know what happened. Danzo had blundered. By sending men without official marks, he had given Hiko a legal "get out of jail free" card.
"Release them," Sarutobi sighed to his guard. "Send them back to Danzo. Tell him... to be more 'surgical' next time."
Sarutobi couldn't punish Hiko. To do so would be to admit that the Hokage's office sanctioned illegal kidnappings of its own officers. Danzo would have to eat this loss in silence, fuming in the dark while Hiko enjoyed his breakfast.
The Evolution: Beyond the Tomoe
Speaking of breakfast, Hiko was back at his favorite spot near the Ninja School. He watched the "tools" of his trade—little Sasuke and Naruto—trudge into the academy.
[System Notification: Copy Successful. Acquired high-density Indra Chakra. Fusion initiated?]
"Fuse it," Hiko whispered.
Suddenly, a wave of heat surged from his core to his optic nerves. It wasn't the sharp, stabbing pain of an injury; it was a dull, heavy swelling, as if his eyes were trying to contain a supernova.
The world around him slowed. The colors of the morning sun became vivid, almost violent. He felt his mental energy expanding, the spiritual pressure of Indra's ancient blood merging with his own.
So this is it, Hiko thought, rubbing his temples as the swelling subsided. Others need to lose their best friends or slaughter their families to feel this growth. All I have to do is eat noodles and watch a couple of kids play tag.
He dropped a few coins on the table and stood up. He felt lighter, faster—his perception of the world was no longer just 3D; it was as if he could see the intent behind every movement.
"Hard work and talent are great," Hiko mused, walking toward the Police Department. "But talent plus a cheat code? That's the real Uchiha way."
The Third Squad: A New Paradigm
When Hiko pushed open the doors to the Third Squad's lounge, he expected the usual chaos—shouting, gambling, or laziness.
Instead, he was met with a deafening, unified sound.
"GOOD MORNING, CAPTAIN!"
The "Thorns" of the Third Squad were standing in perfect rows. Their uniforms were crisp, their stances were disciplined, and their eyes—every single one of them—shone with a feverish loyalty.
Hiko paused, a smirk tugging at his lips. He had done more than just give them a pay raise. He had given them a reason to be proud of the name on their backs.
"Sit down," Hiko commanded, walking to the head of the room. "We have a village to manage, and an old dog in the shadows who needs to learn new tricks."