After Lance's relentless verbal onslaught, Shisui Uchiha nearly ended up branded as a traitor to his own clan.
If word got out that Shisui had opposed improving the clan's benefits and welfare, he would instantly become a pariah.
Even the pacifists among the Uchiha the so-called Dove faction would view him with disgust.
When Shisui returned home with the Sixth Elder, the old man was still fuming. He downed several cups of tea in a row, but the anger refused to subside. At last, he slammed his cup down, shattering it into pieces.
"Lance Uchiha, that arrogant brat!" the elder roared. "He has no respect for his elders at all! What happened to basic decency?"
Shisui could only sigh silently. Complaining wouldn't solve anything.
Right now, the pressing issue was how to salvage the Doves' standing within the clan.
But after Lance's bold stunt, their influence had taken a serious hit and there was no denying that he'd struck a nerve. The problem was, Lance wasn't targeting the Doves specifically. He was thinking about the entire clan.
Even though Shisui himself had been publicly humiliated, he couldn't bring himself to resent the young man. Lance's heart was in the right place.
"Shisui," the elder finally asked, rubbing his temples, "you've spoken with that boy before. Maybe he'll listen to you. What exactly is Lance trying to do?"
Shisui hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Elder… Lance isn't after anyone. He's just pushing for reforms that benefit the clan as a whole. We just happened to be in the way."
The Sixth Elder could only curse under his breath. Damn it all. What did I ever do to deserve this mess?
Meanwhile, Fugaku Uchiha the clan head himself found his hands tied.
Lance's words had already spread, and the people were waiting for action. If Fugaku backed down now, it would look like he was ignoring the clan's suffering.
With no other choice, he announced a raise in pay and benefits for the Police Force.
The news spread through the Uchiha district like wildfire. Cheers erupted in every corner.
After all, everyone knew the police department's wages were meager. Officers couldn't take on outside missions like other shinobi, which meant no extra pay just that single, pitiful salary. Many families barely scraped by.
Now that benefits were being increased, morale soared overnight.
And naturally, Lance's name was on everyone's lips once again.
By the end of the day, a steady stream of clan members were visiting his office, offering congratulations, flattery, and even requests for transfer into his team.
Unfortunately, the personnel department was swamped and for the first time in years, they couldn't afford to be lazy.
Fugaku stormed through the office that afternoon, scolding anyone who wasn't working fast enough. His stern lectures echoed down the hallways until every staff member moved like their life depended on it.
Still, there was no denying it Lance's popularity within the clan had skyrocketed.
He'd earned genuine admiration from many, though he had inevitably made a few enemies as well.
Not that it mattered. None of them posed any real threat. No one dared challenge him outright.
Soon, another reform from the Police Force stirred things up again:
They would no longer handle trivial domestic disputes missing chickens, stolen vegetables, noisy neighbors, and the like.
Those petty matters would now be redirected to the Mission Office.
If someone wanted help, they would have to pay for a mission request like everyone else.
The announcement sparked outrage among certain villagers.
Ordinary citizens weren't too affected, but some groups particularly those who had relied on free help from the police were furious.
"Why is it so noisy downstairs?" Lance asked, frowning from his office. Even from the top floor, he could hear the commotion echoing up from the lobby.
Izaya, one of his subordinates, was leaning over the balcony with a grin. "Looks like a bunch of livestock breeders, Captain. They're demanding that we cancel the new policy."
Lance raised an eyebrow. "Who's handling it?"
Izaya chuckled. "Who else? Our beloved hero, Shisui Uchiha."
Lance sighed. Of course.
In the past, Shisui had been hailed as the pride of both the village and the clan a true hero. But lately, his reputation had become something of a punchline. Even within the Uchiha, people now whispered that his 'peaceful ideals' had gone too far.
When Lance and Izaya reached the first floor, they found a small crowd of angry villagers arguing with several officers. The situation had clearly gotten out of hand.
The lead villager a burly man with a red face jabbed his finger toward Shisui. "What kind of nonsense is this? Our animals go missing, and suddenly we have to pay for you to find them? Isn't that your job?"
Shisui wiped the sweat from his brow, doing his best to calm them down. "Please, everyone, listen. The police force is understaffed, and we need to focus on maintaining public order. These minor issues"
"Excuses!" one man shouted. "You just don't want to work! You Uchiha think you're above everyone else now, huh?"
"Yeah!" another villager chimed in. "You're supposed to protect the village! What are we paying taxes for?"
The officers around them clenched their fists, visibly restraining themselves.
In the old days, anyone who dared insult the Uchiha Police Force would've found themselves cooling off in a holding cell by now.
But ever since the Nine-Tails incident, the clan's reputation had plummeted. The villagers had grown bolder, and the Doves' constant appeasement had only made things worse.
Now, even a random farmer felt brave enough to scold an Uchiha officer to his face.
At the center of it all stood the loudest of them a man named Mokurō, who seemed almost gleeful in his defiance.
Once, no one would have dared raise their voice to a Uchiha. But those days were gone.
Mokurō smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "What's the point of having a police force if you won't even help your own people? We lose animals, you tell us to file a mission request. Do you think we're made of money?"
He crossed his arms, glaring straight at Shisui. "You just sit around in your fancy uniforms doing nothing. If you won't help us, then what's the point of your department at all?"
The officers' jaws tightened. Shisui opened his mouth, struggling to explain yet again but Lance had already stepped forward.
His presence was calm, yet commanding.
The crowd quieted almost instinctively.
"Are you done shouting?" Lance asked flatly. "Good. Now listen carefully. The Police Force isn't your personal servant. We handle criminal cases theft, assault, missing persons, real threats to the village's safety. Not every lost cow qualifies."
The villagers grumbled, but Lance continued before they could interrupt.
"You're free to post a mission if you need help. Our shinobi will find your animals faster than any civilian ever could. But if you want us to waste time and manpower for free while bandits, thieves, and spies run loose then no. That's not happening."
Silence fell over the hall. Even the loudest complainers shifted uneasily.
Lance folded his arms. "You want respect? Start by showing some. We serve this village too and we'll do it properly."
Behind him, Shisui stared quietly, unsure whether to feel impressed or embarrassed.
Either way, one thing was certain Lance Uchiha was no longer just another talented young shinobi.
He was becoming a force within the clan and perhaps, the entire village.
Konoha had a new star rising.