Chapter 50: Domineering Uchiha, Forcefully Suppressing the Villagers
The lights of the Hokage Office remained lit until late into the night. Hiruzen Sarutobi's figure was somewhat blurry amidst the swirling smoke. After Itachi left, the phrase "His eye power is stronger than mine" echoed repeatedly in Hiruzen's mind.
Another Mangekyō Sharingan. And it appeared on Uchiha Akira, whom the Third Hokage could neither control nor see through. This was no longer a mere threat; it was a sharp sword hanging over Konoha's head, capable of falling at any moment.
Hiruzen rubbed his throbbing temples. He subconsciously looked at another scroll on the table, one submitted by Danzō. Elimination. Perhaps Danzō's method was the simplest and most effective. This thought flashed through his mind but was immediately suppressed.
No, he couldn't do that. Akira was now the spiritual pillar of the Uchiha clan; moving against him would be equivalent to directly igniting the entire Uchiha. That would be a civil war Konoha could not afford. He must find another way.
…
The next day, Konoha's streets were as bustling as ever. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. However, there was a subtle, unusual scent in the air.
"Have you heard? That newly appointed Uchiha Elder, Uchiha Akira," a villager whispered. "I heard he's very ambitious and wants the Uchiha to separate from the Village!"
"More than that! I heard the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox incident was related to him! The Uchiha clan has long wanted to rebel!"
At the entrance of a ramen shop, several housewives gathered, lowering their voices but unable to hide the excitement on their faces. They discussed animatedly. Miki Uchiha, a member of the Uchiha Police Force on patrol, happened to pass by and overheard their conversation. Miki's face instantly turned ashen.
"What nonsense are you talking about?!" he roared, rushing forward. Elder Akira was a hero who led the Uchiha to greatness. Miki would never allow these ignorant villagers to slander him.
The women were startled by the killing intent emanating from Miki. But the plump woman leading them quickly recovered. She stood with her hands on her hips, emboldened by the fact that they were in the Village center. "Oh, what did I say? We're just chatting casually. Does your Police Force control everything, even this?"
"You are spreading rumors! You are slandering our Uchiha clan's Elder!"
"Spreading rumors?" The woman's voice suddenly rose, attracting the attention of more passersby. "Who doesn't know you Uchiha? Every single one of you acts high and mighty! That Uchiha Akira, isn't he just relying on his strength? I think he's the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox in disguise!"
"You!" Miki's one-tomoe Sharingan involuntarily appeared in his eyes.
"What? Want to hit me?" The woman, far from being afraid, leaned her face closer, looking defiant. "Come on! Let everyone see! This is how you Uchiha oppress us ordinary villagers!"
The surrounding villagers pointed and whispered. Unfriendly gazes turned toward Miki. Humiliation, anger, and helplessness filled his mind. This reminded Miki of Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake. Wasn't that former Konoha hero forced to his death by rumors and gossip? Would Elder Akira also suffer the same fate? No, never!
Just then, a cold and steady voice came from behind the crowd. "What's going on?"
The crowd automatically parted, forming a path. Uchiha Akira walked slowly, followed by the expressionless Kenji and Shunichi. His arrival immediately cast an invisible pressure over the entire scene.
The Police Force member, seeing Akira, seemed to find his backbone and immediately stepped forward, reporting the entire incident in detail. Akira listened without any change in expression. His gaze fell upon the woman who was still standing with her hands on her hips, full of provocation.
"You said that Uchiha Akira is the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox in disguise?"
The woman felt a little uneasy, but her words remained tough. "So… so what if I said it? I don't believe you dare…"
She hadn't finished speaking when Akira tilted his head and ordered Kenji behind him, "Arrest her for public defamation of a Konoha Jōnin and Police Force Elder. She is also spreading rumors that endanger the Village's stability and unity. Sentence her to 15 days in the Uchiha Police Force prison."
The entire scene instantly fell into a deathly silence. Everyone thought they had misheard.
"You… you said what? You dare to arrest me?!"
Kenji's figure flashed, appearing behind the woman, a cold kunai pressed against her neck. "Please."
"Ah—! Murder! The Uchiha are murdering in the street!" The woman let out a pig-like shriek, attempting to cause a greater commotion.
Akira's brow furrowed slightly. "Too noisy."
Shunichi stepped forward, delivering a precise hand chop to her nape, and the pig-like screams abruptly ceased. Kenji dragged the unconscious woman away like a dead dog.
Akira's gaze swept over the stunned villagers. He recalled the fate of Sakumo Hatake. That Konoha hero, who abandoned a mission for the lives of his comrades, was instead criticized by villagers and comrades, eventually choosing to end his own life amidst endless slander and defamation. How pathetic. How ridiculous. To entrust one's fate to the judgment of a group of ignorant commoners was the behavior of the weak. And I, Uchiha Akira, never place my hope in the understanding or charity of others.
"Reputation is the shackles of the weak."
In less than half a day, hundreds of unruly villagers gathered at the entrance of the Uchiha Police Force. Leading them were the woman's family, who vehemently denounced the Uchiha's "atrocities." Among the crowd, Root spies continuously fanned the flames, attempting to escalate the situation completely.
"Down with Uchiha tyranny!"
"Give us justice!"
"Uchiha get out of Konoha!"
The crowd was furious. Several Police Force members tried to maintain order but were pushed around by the angry crowd. Inside the Police Force building, a Uchiha Jōnin reported to Akira with a grave expression.
"Elder Akira, the people outside are very agitated. There are many unidentified instigators mixed in, likely from Root. Should we… should we take a step back first? Release the person and calm the situation?"
His words carried a hint of hesitation. This was the Uchiha's habitual thinking when facing the Village for many years: compromise, concession.
"Retreat?" Akira stood up and walked to the window, looking down at the noisy crowd. "That word is not in my dictionary. They think that being loud makes them right? They think that the law doesn't punish the masses, so I can't do anything to them? How naive."
"Kenji, Shunichi."
"Here!"
"Lead the Elder Guard, and arrest all those leading the disturbance downstairs, as well as any suspicious instigators. Leave no one behind."
"Yes!"
12 figures swiftly darted out of the Uchiha Police Force building. Downstairs, the rioting crowd was still shouting. The members of the Elder Guard, with an almost brutal demeanor, charged into the crowd. The leading agitators were almost all subdued in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, more than 20 people were easily picked out by the Police Force members and thrown onto the steps. The previously boisterous crowd instantly fell silent.
Akira's figure appeared at the main entrance. "Is there anyone else who has an opinion on my decision?"
No one dared to answer. Not a single person dared to shout or even look directly at Akira.
"Remember, in Konoha, the Police Force is the law. Whoever dares to provoke, this is the consequence."
After speaking, he no longer looked at those people, turned, and walked back into the building. This scene made the young Uchiha clan members burst with fanatical adoration. This was the leader they wanted: strong, dominant, and capable of defending the family's dignity in the most direct way!
"Long live Elder Akira!" someone shouted first, and then cheers like a mountain and a tsunami erupted.