As the saying goes, good things don’t go out the door, but bad news travels a thousand miles.
The news of Genya publicly convicting an ordinary Konoha villager and even dragging her off to the Uchiha Police Force spread through the entire village like a whirlwind.
Before the Anbu could even make a move, Fugaku stormed into Genya’s office in a fit of rage.
He couldn’t even wait to summon Genya; his perennial shoehorn-shaped face rarely displayed such an expression of broken-down fury.
“Uchiha Genya!” Fugaku roared, directly shouting Genya’s full name in his anger.
Genya sat behind his desk, his expression not changing in the slightest.
“I’m right here, Clan Head.
No need to shout so loudly.”
Seeing Genya’s shameless “dead pig not afraid of boiling water” attitude, Fugaku took a deep breath and barely managed to suppress his anger.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing?
Do you have any idea that doing this will make the entire Uchiha Police Force the target of public criticism in Konoha?”
Genya slowly took a sip of tea and looked back at Fugaku, asking, “You say that as if if I didn’t do this, the Police Force…
no, the Uchiha wouldn’t already be the target of public criticism in Konoha.”
Fugaku’s words caught in his throat, instantly silenced by Genya’s retort.
But he recovered almost immediately and yelled, “That is no excuse for your reckless behavior!”
“You must give me a reasonable explanation today!”
Hearing Fugaku say this, Genya knew his goal had been achieved.
Because Fugaku was only asking for a reasonable explanation, without any mention of punishment.
In other words, if Genya could provide a reason convincing enough to sway him, Fugaku would compromise.
A compromising personality really is easy to manipulate.
Genya put down his teacup and said slowly, “I won’t go into the details of the event.
Haven’t you thought about the excuse I used to arrest that villager?”
Fugaku frowned, quickly recalling the intelligence reported by his subordinates.
“You mean…
the Second Hokage?”
If there was one thing in Genya’s reasoning that baffled him, it was how he kept emphasizing during enforcement that the Uchiha Police Force was created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and was following his will.
Within the Uchiha, Tobirama Senju’s reputation was actually terrible, because the suppression of the Uchiha clan started with his generation and had continued until now.
In fact, the current Konoha higher-ups were all a faction composed of Tobirama Senju’s disciples.
The Uchiha clansmen were so dissatisfied with Tobirama Senju that they hardly ever mentioned his name in their daily lives.
“You want to use the Second’s identity to make a point?
But the Second is dead, and has been for a long time.
Now the Third and Fourth are in power together.”
A flash of disappointment crossed Fugaku’s eyes, feeling that Genya’s political awareness was far too naive.
Was he still too young after all?
Genya revealed a meaningful smile.
“That’s where you’re wrong.
Sometimes, dead people are more useful than the living.”
“Because dead people can’t talk or defend themselves, we can dress them up however we please.”
Fugaku felt a chill run down his spine from Genya’s gaze.
What did that mean?
Why were dead people more useful than the living?
Despite it being the middle of summer, Fugaku felt cold all over.
Just as he was about to ask further, an Uchiha member rushed in and said to Fugaku:
“Clan Head, the Third Hokage has come to the Police Force.
He says he wants to seek justice for the villager who was innocently harmed by the Uchiha.”
The veins on Fugaku’s temples throbbed, and his look at Genya said it all.
This is all because of the mess you caused!
But at that moment, Genya stood up.
“Clan Head, today I’ll show you how the power of the Police Force can be infinite.”
Looking at Genya’s spirited back, Fugaku eventually let out a deep sigh.
Having awakened the Mangekyo at this age, his youth and arrogance were understandable.
Almost every clansman who understood the Uchiha’s current situation was trying their best in their own way.
But politics was not such a simple thing.
Still, it might be good for Genya to suffer a setback; hopefully, he would learn a lesson.
Genya was still an Uchiha after all, and one who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan—one of the family’s trump cards.
No matter what, he had to be protected.
…
Hiruzen Sarutobi could hardly believe his ears after hearing the Anbu’s report.
Since when did the Uchiha clan have such guts?
Yes, in Hiruzen Sarutobi’s view, it was “guts.”
Where were those Uchiha who, when accused and cursed by villagers, were too proud and disdainful to even explain?
Where were the Uchiha who were so disdainful of his teacher?
Why did an Uchiha appear today waving Tobirama Senju’s banner?
Of course, after Hiruzen Sarutobi understood the situation, he immediately thought of a way to suppress the Uchiha while raising his own reputation.
That was to personally visit and seek justice for the wronged villager.
He would rescue the villager himself, and after some public manipulation and hype, the Uchiha’s reputation in Konoha would immediately become public enemy number one.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did exactly that.
After arriving at the Police Force, he didn’t even enter.
He stood in front of the gate with his hands behind his back.
He had an attitude of: if Fugaku didn’t invite him in today, he would just stand there until someone couldn’t take it anymore.
But instead of Fugaku, a young Uchiha walked out.
“Yo, if it isn’t the Third Hokage?
Why are you here instead of resting properly at home after retirement?”
Genya’s single sentence immediately drew Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attention.
He had an impression of this young Uchiha; he had defeated Kakashi not long ago and became a Jonin.
But he wasn’t here to argue, and arguing with a junior would be beneath his dignity.
Glancing sideways at this disrespectful junior, Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted.
Truly a “born evil” Uchiha brat, so lacking in manners.
Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi didn’t seem to intend to pay him any mind, Genya shrugged helplessly and then gave an order to Inabi beside him.
“Dispose of the body of the criminal we just executed.
Announce the crime of rebellion to all of Konoha.”
Genya’s words caused Hiruzen Sarutobi’s composure to completely shatter.
“What did you say?”
Genya said with feigned surprise, “Does the Third Hokage not know yet?
Under the brilliant leadership of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, the Police Force—from Director Fugaku down—has always taken the maintenance of Konoha’s fairness and justice as its standard.”
“Just now, there was a suspected foreign spy on the street who publicly attacked the Police Force.
According to Konoha law, they were sentenced for espionage.
No trial was necessary; immediate execution.”
“If the Third Hokage is here to take this ‘spy’ away for interrogation, then you’re going to be disappointed.”
“Because you can’t take her away; you can only carry her away in a bowl.”