"Clan Head, that was truly a masterful verbal exchange…"
Uchiha Yakumi spoke with a mix of amusement and admiration.
Uchiha Tekka and Inabi silently nodded in agreement.
However, Uchiha Fugaku shook his head.
"Do you really think the Hokage came only because of Qianyu?"
"Hm? Wasn't that the case?"
"Qianyu was merely a pretext."
"He came to test the attitude of the entire Uchiha clan…"
The hot-tempered Uchiha Tekka immediately asked,
"What do you mean, Clan Head?"
Fugaku replied calmly:
"It's simple. If we had cowered, or even handed Qianyu over for the Hokage to deal with, what would he think?"
"And if we had completely ignored the Hokage's intent and defended Qianyu with everything we had—what would he think then?"
"One response would appear weak."
"The other, rigid and defiant."
Yakumi nodded slowly.
"So the Clan Head chose rigidity…"
Fugaku sighed deeply.
"It wasn't a choice. I had no choice at all."
"I couldn't truly hand Qianyu over to Sarutobi Hiruzen."
The room fell silent.
Uchiha Inabi sighed softly.
"Let us hope Qianyu understands the Clan Head's good intentions…"
Fugaku smiled faintly.
"Do you really think he couldn't predict this outcome?"
"Sometimes, you're all fooled by his cold and extreme exterior."
"That man likely calculated every move—mine and Sarutobi Hiruzen's—long ago…"
The others exchanged uneasy glances.
They knew Qianyu was terrifying.
But hearing the Clan Head describe him like this—
Was still chilling.
[Chakra increased by +3. Current Chakra: 650]
"Hm?"
"Three points of chakra overnight…"
"It seems my chakra refinement technique has improved significantly."
Uchiha Qianyu nodded in satisfaction.
Ordinarily, a Jonin possessed around 200 chakra.
His own reserves were already well above average.
Of course—
Compared to chakra monsters, it was still nothing.
For Qianyu, chakra quantity and ocular power were the absolute priorities.
Everything else was secondary.
As for the so-called Five Nature Transformations—
They weren't that important.
In fact, his swordsmanship surpassed his ninjutsu.
He preferred the feeling of killing with a blade.
Ninjutsu…
Was often flashy and impractical.
Qianyu rose efficiently, washed up, prepared a simple breakfast, and after eating, meticulously donned his Police Force uniform.
Precise.
Mechanical.
He knew exactly what was coming.
Sarutobi Hiruzen would most likely confront Fugaku personally.
But Fugaku would not hand him over.
That would be equivalent to roasting the entire Uchiha clan over an open fire.
Qianyu understood the situation clearly.
Too clearly.
Many cautious Uchiha believed that in times like this, one must tread carefully—avoid mistakes, lower one's head, and yield to the village leadership.
That was completely wrong.
If the ending was unavoidable—
Then everything you did would be wrong anyway.
In that case…
Why not be wrong on your own terms?
"My two subordinates didn't report to me this morning."
"So that was the Clan Head's decision…"
"Trying to keep me out of the storm."
Qianyu shook his head.
He understood Fugaku's intentions.
But he also knew—
They were meaningless.
He strode through Konoha's streets.
Villagers and ninja alike retreated at the sight of him, fear written plainly on their faces.
Qianyu frowned slightly.
Suddenly, chaos erupted ahead.
"Help! Thief!"
"Stop him!"
A thief was sprinting through the market, brandishing a knife.
The crowd scattered instantly, clearing a path—no one daring to intervene.
At the end of the street—
One man stood alone.
Like a mountain.
"Police Force?!"
"Move!"
The thief shouted, charging forward with false bravado.
Crack!
Crack!
"AAAAAAH—!!!"
Two sharp sounds echoed.
The thief collapsed instantly.
Both legs were grotesquely twisted outward—bones shattered completely.
He rolled on the ground, screaming in agony.
Ding!
[You have broken the thief's legs in time, successfully helping him quit his thieving habit.]
[Good deed accomplished. Merit Points +10]
Qianyu ignored the screaming man.
He picked up a money pouch from the thief's hand and tossed it to the victim.
"Th-thank you, Captain Qianyu…"
Though grateful, the victim's face was pale as he glanced at the thief screaming like a slaughtered pig.
Qianyu grabbed the thief by the collar and dragged him away.
Only after Qianyu disappeared did the crowd breathe again, erupting into mixed praise and condemnation.
Qianyu arrived at Konoha's prison.
The two Uchiha guards at the gate were already used to this sight.
"Captain Qianyu, this one is…?"
"A petty thief."
Thud!
Qianyu dropped the barely conscious man at their feet.
"Lock him up for three months."
"Yes, Captain!"
As Qianyu turned away, he said coldly:
"If I see you stealing again after you're released—
I won't stop at your legs."
The thief nodded frantically, soul nearly leaving his body.
"I—I won't! Never again!"
The guards watched Qianyu leave, bitter smiles on their faces—equal parts fear and reverence.
Near noon, Qianyu's patrol brought him back toward the Uchiha district.
He was just about to grab a few pancakes from Uchiha Teyaki's shop when—
He stopped.
A powerful chakra blocked his path.
And it unquestionably belonged to the Uchiha clan.
Among his people, only one possessed such chakra and ocular power.
"Uchiha…"
"Shisui?"
As the words fell, a young man—slightly younger than Qianyu—stepped into view.
Behind him stood two Uchiha Jonin in their thirties or forties, treating Shisui with utmost respect.
Naturally so.
Uchiha Shisui was acknowledged as the strongest of the Uchiha.
Unfortunately…
"Uchiha Qianyu. We meet again."
They had met before.
But Shisui's gentle righteousness clashed completely with Qianyu's ruthless justice.
They had no relationship.
"I'm on duty. I don't have time for idle conversation."
Qianyu moved to leave.
Shisui frowned.
The two older Jonin snapped.
"How arrogant!"
"You dare disrespect Lord Shisui?!"
They drew their swords in unison, blades aimed at Qianyu.
Qianyu stopped.
He didn't even glance at them—only looked at Shisui.
"Is this your intention?"
Shisui's expression changed immediately.
"Akagin. Shiden. Stop."
The two men flushed red, glaring at Qianyu, but reluctantly sheathed their swords.
"Qianyu," Shisui said, "I just want to talk."
"You want to talk…"
Qianyu's voice sharpened.
"Or does the Hokage want to talk?"
He pierced straight through Shisui's purpose.
Shisui's brows knit tightly.