Away from Konoha's central district stood a tall, oppressive building cloaked in darkness.
At its center was a massive shuriken emblem, and within that shuriken lay the crest of the Uchiha clan—the fan symbol.
This was the headquarters of the Police Force.
Uchiha Chiba strode inside.
The two subordinates behind him trembled, walking as if on thin ice, not daring to raise their heads.
The moment he stepped into the headquarters, Chiba felt a cold and powerful surge of chakra wash over him.
It came from the Clan Head of the Uchiha—
Uchiha Fugaku.
Several elite members of the Police Force stood around him, including the senior Uchiha Yashiro, along with Uchiha Yakumi, Uchiha Tekka, and Uchiha Inabi.
The instant Chiba arrived, every pair of eyes locked onto him.
Especially Fugaku's.
He took a deep breath, his expression rarely this furious.
"Chiba, what is the meaning of those two corpses?!"
He pointed toward the covered bodies lying on the ground.
Chiba did not even spare them a glance.
"The man was addicted to gambling. He stole his own son's life-saving money and caused the child's death. He deserved death."
"The woman shielded a criminal. Even knowing her son died because of that man, she still protected him. That makes her an accomplice."
"On top of that, she attacked an officer."
"Her punishment was justified."
Fugaku stared at him in disbelief.
The surrounding elites exchanged glances, utterly speechless.
"Chiba, do you even believe what you're saying?!"
"I believe it completely."
"…"
Fugaku's voice rose.
"Do you realize how the village and its shinobi will view the Uchiha if we enforce the law like this?!"
"Since the Nine-Tails incident, suspicion toward the Uchiha has only grown."
"The village leadership watches us closely."
"At a time like this—when tensions could ignite at any moment—you still dare to use such extreme methods?!"
Chiba remained unmoved.
"May I ask, Clan Head—"
"What method would make Konoha's shinobi and villagers look at the Uchiha differently?"
"What method would stop the village leadership from watching us like hawks?"
Fugaku fell silent.
It was true.
At this point, nothing the Uchiha did could change Konoha's perception of them—or alter the leadership's stance.
Yashiro and the others exchanged bitter smiles.
"Even so, we're sitting on a pile of explosives," Yashiro said.
"Why light the fuse yourself?"
"The fuse was never in my hands," Chiba replied calmly.
"As for whose hands it is in—Clan Head, you know very well."
"As for whether my methods are extreme, I reserve my own judgment."
"I only know that everything I do is for justice."
"My conscience is clear."
"If you believe I have violated orders, you may remove me from the Police Force."
"You—!"
Fugaku felt a headache coming on.
How could someone be this stubborn?
Completely unyielding.
Yet at the same time, he knew Chiba was powerful and commanded loyal followers. The Uchiha clan needed his strength.
Deep down, Fugaku did not entirely reject his extreme methods either…
"Elder Yashiro, say something to him!"
Yashiro forced a wry smile.
"Clan Head, he doesn't even listen to you. What difference would my words make?"
"But still… Chiba."
"That gambler was beyond saving. Killing him is one thing."
"But was it truly necessary to kill the woman?"
"Don't hide behind that 'assaulting an officer' claim."
"She was an ordinary middle-aged woman. Could she really threaten a jonin like you?"
Chiba shook his head.
"I've already said it."
"She offered no resistance to the man who caused her son's death."
"Even after I killed him, she defended him and turned her anger toward me."
"Such ignorance makes her an accomplice."
"In this world, evil men deserve death."
"But those who sympathize with evil—"
"—have no greater right to live."
Yashiro inhaled sharply.
This man was terrifying.
And the worst part—
His twisted logic was difficult to refute.
Chiba would rather live within his own conviction.
Fugaku rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"Chiba, I know you're young and ruthless in your methods, but…"
"Can you consider my position as well?"
"If the Hokage questions me, do you expect me to defend this reasoning?"
"What is wrong with that?" Chiba replied calmly.
Fugaku fell silent again.
"If the Hokage wishes to hold someone accountable, let me speak to him personally."
"No matter how you—or the Hokage—choose to punish me…"
"I will accept it."
With that, Chiba turned and left.
Inside the Police Force headquarters, Fugaku and the others could only exchange helpless smiles.
…
The Hokage's office was thick with smoke.
The pipe of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, glowed faintly in the dim light.
He looked weary, yet forced himself to continue reviewing documents.
Behind him, in the shadows, Shimura Danzo watched silently, his expression unreadable.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen set aside his papers and frowned slightly.
"ANBU?"
"Enter."
Two ANBU members wearing strange masks stepped inside.
"What is it? Any unusual movement from the Uchiha?"
The two exchanged glances behind their masks.
"Not exactly movement…"
"That man named Uchiha Chiba has killed two Konoha civilians again."
Hiruzen's pipe trembled slightly.
"That cold-blooded man again?"
"What was the reason this time?"
They reported everything in detail.
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
"This man grows more excessive by the day. He acts without restraint."
"The Second Hokage established the Police Force to distance the Uchiha from political power—and to widen the rift between them and the villagers…"
"And Uchiha Chiba truly thinks he has authority over life and death?"
A cold chuckle echoed from the shadows.
"By your logic, Hiruzen, if Chiba's methods are so extreme, doesn't that make the villagers resent the Uchiha even more?"
"Isn't that exactly the outcome you once desired?"
"Then why are you so agitated?"
Hiruzen's voice turned cold.
"That is a separate matter."
"If the Uchiha and the Police Force can decide the life and death of villagers without consulting the Hokage…"
"What becomes of Konoha's authority?"
Danzo let out a faint scoff.
"Is it Konoha's authority…"
"Or your authority as Hokage?"
Hiruzen glanced toward the darkness.
"Is there a difference?"
Danzo snorted softly but did not answer.
One ANBU member cautiously asked,
"Hokage-sama, shall we summon the Police Force to answer for this?"
"Or perhaps… demand that Clan Head Fugaku hand over Uchiha Chiba?"
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe and slowly exhaled.
"Who is to say Fugaku did not approve this?"
"With tensions between the Uchiha and the village already this strained, yet he allows Chiba to act so brazenly…"
"Could it be he is preparing for a complete break?"
Danzo's eyes glinted faintly in the darkness.
"Wouldn't that be ideal?"
"A festering problem since Konoha's founding could finally be removed in our generation."
Hiruzen shot him a sharp glare.
"Danzo. Mind your words."
"Hmph. It is you who are too indecisive, Hiruzen."
"Enough, Danzo. I am the Hokage."
"…You will regret this, Hiruzen."
Danzo's figure disappeared into the shadows through a concealed doorway.
Hiruzen sat in silence for a long time.
"Then I shall use this incident…"
"And personally visit the Police Force."
"To test the Uchiha's stance."