Fugaku first addressed the remaining Uchiha members. "The Uchiha clan's patrol routes and defensive positions will remain unchanged today."
Fugaku nodded to Hizashi, who then stepped forward. "All Hyuga clansmen," he announced, "I have already relayed the new arrangements to Tokuma. Dismissed. Follow his assignments."
The Uchiha and Hyuga clansmen departed swiftly, leaving only Nakamura Kazuya and his squad of Root members.
With a stern expression, Fugaku issued his orders to Nakamura Kazuya. "Your patrol area will be Konoha's first through fourth districts. Your primary responsibility is to handle public security."
Nakamura asked, "Captain, Elder Danzo sent us to participate in patrol missions. Why are we being assigned to simple policing?"
Fugaku's face was a blank mask. "The patrol personnel have already been assigned. Your duty is to manage the public order in the first four districts."
"But—"
Fugaku cut him off with a wave of his hand. "There are no 'buts.' This is the Military Police Force, and I am the Captain. If you cannot follow orders, I will send you right back where you came from."
Nakamura Kazuya gritted his teeth. "We will comply with the arrangements!"
He schemed internally, deciding to first establish a foothold in the Police Force and look for an opportunity later.
Fugaku nodded, then turned to Hizashi. "You can handle the rest."
With that, he walked away at a measured pace.
...
"What is Fugaku playing at?" the Third Hokage mused to himself after receiving the Anbu report.
Fugaku had always been at odds with Root, especially after the incident with Shisui. Why would he allow Root members into the Military Police Force now?
Since their numbers were small, the Third decided to wait and see what Fugaku's scheme was.
From willingly relinquishing power and proactively allying with the Hyuga clan—which had nearly stripped him of his own authority—to now ceding control within the Police Force to accept Root members, the Uchiha's recent series of actions was completely baffling.
...
In the complaints office of the Military Police headquarters, the owner of the Shimizu Izakaya from the third district had arrived yet again. He had been coming almost every other day.
At first, his complaints were ignored. Then, he began to feel the Hyuga were worse than the Uchiha had been. He showed up almost daily.
Yohei was unconcerned. He had a way of dealing with the man each time he came.
"Rest assured," Yohei began, "in response to your previous complaints, we have already reassigned the Hyuga officers."
"They've been replaced by a more formidable unit, one that reports directly to a village elder."
"We are now wholeheartedly dedicated to serving the villagers of Konoha."
"Really?" The izakaya owner was skeptical. After all, he ran a tavern; troublemakers were common.
Back when the Uchiha were in charge, it didn't matter who caused trouble. They were all taken away, no exceptions, not even for his own staff.
Then the Hyuga took over. Their attitude was better, but they lacked decisiveness. They were slow to resolve issues, their efficiency a far cry from the Uchiha's.
And now they've been replaced again?
Elder Yohei smiled. "You have nothing to worry about. The new personnel start their shift today. This group doesn't hesitate."
The izakaya owner left, only half-convinced.
Once the owner was gone, Elder Yohei couldn't help but chuckle.
Root never hesitated. They were even more ruthless than the Uchiha had ever been.
...
Konoha's third district, Shimizu Izakaya. The owner was now completely at ease.
On his way over, he had seen the new security patrols already making their rounds. Two squads of stern-faced, unsmiling shinobi. He didn't recognize any of them; their faces were entirely unfamiliar.
He wondered which elder's personal guard they might be.
"*Hic*... Boss! This sake tastes wrong!" a drunkard bellowed from inside the izakaya. "Did you water it down?!"
Two customers who had just entered hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked back out.
The owner's expression darkened. There were always drunks like this, ones who'd get wasted and then complain about watered-down sake. He did add water, of course, but wasn't that what they always drank? Causing a scene now would just drive away business.
The owner gave his staff a subtle look. Two burly employees immediately moved to drag the drunkard outside.
"Sir, please don't cause trouble. You're disturbing our business."
"Damn you! You sell watered-down sake and then kick out customers!" The drunkard refused to go quietly and immediately started brawling with the two employees.
Outnumbered, the drunk was quickly shoved out the door.
The owner was used to such scenes, but he was not prepared for the sound of his employees' screams that came from outside just moments later.
He rushed out to find four members of the Military Police blocking the entrance. His two employees and the drunkard were already on the ground.
Three of the officers were pinning them down with grim expressions. They used so much force that the men were crying out in pain.
One of the squad members stepped forward and stated, "Your employees and this drunkard were brawling in the street. They are hereby arrested by the Military Police Force and will be detained for three days. You may retrieve them from headquarters after that time."
The owner's head spun. He had a business to run! How could he operate his shop if both of his employees were taken away just like that?
While the public security regulations did indeed state that brawling in the streets was punishable by three days' detention, enforcement was usually flexible. The decision to imprison someone was ultimately at the discretion of the Police Force.
No matter how much the owner pleaded, the Root members ignored him completely and dragged the men away.
The owner was left speechless with frustration. It was one problem after another. He would have rather had the Hyuga back.
Similar incidents played out across Konoha's first four districts. So many people were arrested that the Military Police holding cells were soon filled to capacity.
Nakamura Kazuya saw nothing wrong with this. They were simply enforcing the rules. If people broke the law, they should be arrested. With all the troublemakers locked up, wouldn't public order improve immediately?
In Konoha's eighth district, nearly every shop bore the Uchiha clan's crest. Many clan members who had not become shinobi had chosen to open small businesses here.
Starting last week, the number of Uchiha patrols in the eighth district had suddenly tripled.
Uchiha officers moved back and forth, ready to respond instantly to any disturbance.
Over the past few days, all the shopkeepers had noticed that business was much brisker than before. The streets were bustling with far more people than usual, especially today.
A great many people were flocking to the eighth district, leaving the merchants struggling to keep up.
Upon asking around, they learned the reason: the Police Force patrols in the first four districts had been replaced.
The Hyuga were gone, and the newcomers were cold and merciless.
Regardless of the reason, any conflict typically ended with an immediate arrest. Their methods were brutal and heavy-handed; broken bones were a common occurrence.
The people in the first four districts were now too scared to even speak up. Ordinary citizens had started going to the fifth through eighth districts for their daily shopping instead.
Because the fifth through seventh districts were patrolled by the Hyuga, and the eighth was Uchiha territory...
Today, Uchiha Yoki received an order from the clan's vice-captain to have all suspended Uchiha officers take a walk through their old patrol routes.
The order was confusing, but the Uchiha who had been benched were bored to death at home. Thinking it was a good chance to get some fresh air, they headed out into the streets.
What they hadn't expected was to be met with such warmth from the shopkeepers who had previously treated them like pests. It was as if they were greeting long-lost relatives.
Before, they were lucky if the shopkeepers didn't spit or cross the street to avoid them. Now, they were striking up friendly conversations.
As Uchiha Yoki approached the Shimizu Izakaya, the owner greeted him with effusive enthusiasm. "Captain Yoki! Are you back on patrol?!"
Yoki was a bit baffled but patiently explained, "I've been suspended. I'm not with the Police Force anymore. I'm just taking a walk today."
The owner grabbed his hand. "Oh, you can't be suspended! The Military Police Force is a job only the Uchiha can do right!"
Yoki was at a loss. He remembered this owner well. The man had always been arrogant, filing complaints at the slightest provocation, claiming the Uchiha police were lazy and did nothing all day. And now, here he was, singing their praises.