"Clan Head, that was truly an impressive exchange," Uchiha Yakumi said with admiration.
Uchiha Tekka and Uchiha Inabi silently agreed.
But Uchiha Fugaku merely shook his head.
"Do you really think the Hokage came only because of Chiba?"
"Wasn't that the reason?" Tekka asked.
"Chiba's matter was merely the spark," Fugaku replied quietly. "He came to test the attitude of the entire Uchiha clan."
The hot-tempered Uchiha Tekka frowned.
"What do you mean, Clan Head?"
"It's simple. If we had acted submissively and handed Chiba over for the Hokage to deal with, what would he think?"
"And if, like just now, we firmly protected him and ignored the Hokage's intent, what would he think then?"
"Either weak… or resolute."
Yakumi nodded slowly.
"So you chose to be resolute."
"I had no choice," Fugaku sighed. "I could not hand Chiba over to Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Silence fell over the room.
Uchiha Inabi murmured softly,
"I hope Chiba understands the Clan Head's intentions."
Fugaku gave a faint smile.
"You think he hasn't already anticipated this outcome?"
"Sometimes, you're all fooled by his cold exterior."
"That man… has likely calculated even the moves between myself and Hiruzen."
The others exchanged uneasy glances.
Chiba was already frightening enough.
But to think he might be this calculating?
…
[Chakra +3. Current Chakra: 650]
"Mm?"
"Three points in a single night…"
"It seems my Chakra Extraction Technique has improved."
Uchiha Chiba nodded in satisfaction.
Ordinary jonin typically possessed around 200 units of chakra.
His reserves were already considered abundant.
Of course, compared to certain monsters, he was still far behind.
Chakra.
And ocular power.
Those were his priorities.
As for the Five Nature Transformations, they were secondary.
In fact, his swordsmanship surpassed his ninjutsu.
He preferred the feel of a blade.
Ninjutsu…
Often too elaborate.
Chiba rose efficiently, washed up, prepared a simple breakfast, and after eating, dressed neatly in his Police Force uniform with mechanical precision.
He already knew what would happen next.
Hiruzen Sarutobi would very likely visit Fugaku to demand an explanation.
But Fugaku would never hand him over.
Doing so would place the entire Uchiha clan over an open flame.
Chiba understood the situation clearly.
Many cautious members of the Uchiha believed that at times like this they must tread carefully, avoid mistakes, and show humility toward Konoha's leadership.
A grave misunderstanding.
If the ending is unavoidable…
Then everything you do will be wrong.
In that case—
Why not choose your own way to be wrong?
"The two from my squad didn't report in this morning."
"So that was the Clan Head's decision…"
"To keep me home and let the storm pass?"
Chiba shook his head slightly.
He understood Fugaku's intentions.
But he also knew it would change nothing.
He strode through Konoha's bustling marketplace.
Villagers and shinobi alike stepped aside the moment they saw him, fear and respect mixed in their eyes.
Chiba's brows furrowed.
Ahead, chaos erupted.
"Stop! He's stealing!"
"Catch him!"
A thief dashed forward, waving a knife wildly. The crowd scattered, no one daring to block him.
The street parted.
Except at the far end—
Where a lone figure stood unmoving, like a mountain.
"The Police Force?"
"Move!"
The thief hesitated for a split second before charging forward with the knife raised.
Crack.
Crack.
"AHHH!"
Two sharp sounds rang out.
Then came a scream that echoed down the entire street.
The thief collapsed, both legs bent unnaturally, his bones shattered. He writhed on the ground in agony.
Ding!
[You broke the thief's legs in time and successfully corrected his habit of stealing. Good deed. Merit points +10]
Ignoring the man's screams, Chiba calmly picked up the dropped money pouch and tossed it back to its owner.
"T-Thank you, Captain Chiba…"
Though grateful, the victim's face remained pale as he glanced nervously at the screaming thief.
Chiba grabbed the thief by the collar and dragged him away.
Only after his figure disappeared did the marketplace breathe again, whispers rising in equal parts praise and fear.
…
Inside Konoha Prison, the two Uchiha guards barely reacted.
"Captain Chiba, this one is…?"
"A petty thief."
Thud.
Chiba dropped the weakened man in front of them.
"Three months."
"Yes, Captain!"
As he turned to leave, Chiba spoke without looking back.
"If I see you stealing again…"
"It won't just be your legs."
The thief nodded frantically despite the pain.
"Yes… never again…"
The guards watched Chiba leave, unable to decide whether they admired him—or feared him more.
…
Near noon, Chiba's patrol route brought him back toward the Uchiha district.
He was about to stop by Uchiha Teuchi's shop for a quick bite—
When he suddenly halted.
A powerful chakra blocked his path.
And it unmistakably belonged to an Uchiha.
Among the clan, only one possessed such chakra and ocular power.
"Uchiha…"
"Shisui?"
As the name left his lips, a young man stepped forward.
Behind him stood two older Uchiha jonin—both clearly deferential toward him.
Uchiha Shisui was widely recognized as the strongest of the current generation.
"Uchiha Chiba."
"We meet again."
They had met before.
But Shisui's gentle nature clashed sharply with Chiba's severity. They had never developed any real connection.
"I am on duty."
"I have no time to chat."
Chiba moved to leave.
Shisui frowned slightly.
The two jonin behind him stepped forward, drawing their blades.
"How arrogant!"
"You dare show disrespect to Shisui-sama?!"
Cold steel pointed directly at Chiba.
He stopped.
But he did not even glance at them.
Instead, he looked straight at Shisui.
"Is this your intention?"
Shisui's expression changed slightly.
"Akakin. Shiden."
"Stand down."
Though clearly angered, the two obeyed.
"Chiba," Shisui said calmly, "I only wish to speak with you."
"Is it you who wishes to speak…"
"Or the Hokage?"
Chiba's words sliced straight through the pretense.
Shisui's brows tightened.