The morning sunlight bathed the streets of Konoha, covering the entire village in a layer of golden light.
Uchiha Chiya stood outside the entrance to the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters.
He straightened his uniform before walking into the office.
“Chiya, you’re responsible for patrolling the eastern district today.”
Captain Uchiha Tekka spoke without even looking up as he handed Chiya a mission scroll.
“Understood.”
Chiya accepted the scroll and opened it.
It contained the new guidelines for the Military Police Force that the Uchiha elders had drafted the previous day.
The most eye-catching part was the title:
“Bring Humanity to Law Enforcement.”
Chiya smiled.
Apparently, the old men of the Uchiha clan had actually taken his words to heart.
After all, the Uchiha of this era were not yet the Uchiha who would eventually be driven to the outskirts of the village and treated with suspicion.
For now, most of the clan still felt a strong sense of belonging toward Konoha.
Otherwise, when Uchiha Madara had left the village back then, many of them would have simply followed him.
Chiya finished getting ready and left the office.
The eastern district was one of Konoha’s busiest areas, filled with shops and crowded with pedestrians.
Chiya walked down the street with two other officers, scanning his surroundings and making sure everything remained orderly.
However, it wasn’t long before a commotion broke out ahead.
“What happened?”
Chiya frowned and quickly headed toward the noise.
Two drunken shinobi were staggering down the middle of the street, bottles of alcohol in their hands as they cursed loudly.
The surrounding villagers hurried out of their way, expressions of annoyance and helplessness written across their faces.
“Hey! You two!”
Chiya stepped forward, his voice stern.
“This is a public area. Causing a disturbance while intoxicated is prohibited.”
The two drunk shinobi turned around.
They narrowed their eyes as they looked Chiya over before sneering.
“Well, well. It’s the Uchiha police.”
“What, are you going to start controlling how we drink now?”
Chiya ignored their provocation and spoke directly to the two officers behind him.
“Take them back to the station to sober up. Process them according to village regulations.”
“Yes!”
The two officers stepped forward and grabbed the drunk men from either side.
“Let go of me!”
“What gives you Uchiha the right to arrest people?!”
The drunk shinobi struggled and shouted.
Chiya gave him a cold glance.
“You violated the regulations against public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.”
“Take them away.”
The surrounding villagers looked surprised.
In the past, the Uchiha Military Police Force had been known for strict enforcement.
But its officers were often arrogant, sometimes resorting to force without much consideration.
Chiya’s handling of the situation today was different.
He had been fair, restrained, and straightforward.
Several villagers couldn’t help taking another look at him.
After dealing with the two drunkards, Chiya continued his patrol.
When he reached a grocery store, another argument caught his attention.
“You useless Genin!”
“You can’t even pay for something this cheap, yet you still have the nerve to come shopping here?”
The shopkeeper’s voice was sharp and unpleasant.
“I’m sorry.”
“I was in a hurry when I left home today and forgot to bring my money…”
“I’ll definitely pay you back tomorrow!”
A familiar voice answered, filled with embarrassment and pleading.
Chiya followed the sound.
Surrounded by several villagers and shinobi was a man wearing a familiar green jumpsuit.
It was Might Duy.
The man’s face was filled with embarrassment.
Several people around him were pointing and whispering, making insulting remarks.
“He’s still a Genin at his age. What a disgrace!”
“I heard he can only use taijutsu. He doesn’t even know any decent ninjutsu.”
“No wonder he’s been a Genin his whole life.”
“A useless guy like that should just retire already…”
“…”
Might Duy lowered his head.
His fists were tightly clenched, but he didn’t argue.
Chiya’s eyes grew cold from a distance.
Did this Genin eat your rice or something?
What’s with all the nonsense?
Are you people professional hecklers?
Chiya strode over.
“What happened here?”
He asked in a deep voice.
The shopkeeper immediately changed his attitude upon seeing someone from the Military Police Force.
“Officer, this man took goods without paying and is trying to get away with it!”
Chiya glanced at Might Duy.
Duy hurriedly waved his hands.
“No! That’s not it!”
“I simply forgot to bring my money!”
Chiya didn’t say anything else.
He reached into his pocket, took out some money, and handed it to the shopkeeper.
“I’ll pay his bill.”
“Is that enough?”
The shopkeeper froze for a moment before accepting the money with an awkward smile.
“Yes, yes. That’s more than enough!”
Chiya ignored him.
Instead, he turned toward the surrounding crowd.
“Genin, Chūnin, and Jōnin are all shinobi of Konoha.”
“Each has their own duties.”
“Where is this distinction between high and low supposed to come from?”
“Even though he’s a Genin, he’s carried out countless missions for the village.”
“His contributions should not be dismissed.”
“If we can’t even respect our own comrades, then what exactly are we talking about when we speak of the Will of Fire?”
His voice wasn’t loud.
But every word carried weight.
The crowd immediately fell silent.
Those who had been mocking Duy moments earlier lowered their heads in embarrassment, unwilling to meet Chiya’s eyes.
Might Duy raised his head.
His eyes were practically overflowing with tears.
“Thank you, Chiya!”
Chiya noticed that Duy’s nose was beginning to run.
He immediately took a couple of steps backward.
“No need to thank me.”
“Just remember to bring your money next time.”
Might Duy nodded vigorously.
“I’ll definitely pay you back!”
“You don’t have to worry about it.”
“If you really want to repay me, just hand the money to the Military Police Force.”
Chiya shook his head before turning and walking away.
The surrounding villagers watched his back and began whispering among themselves.
“I never expected someone from the Uchiha to help another person like that…”
“What he said actually makes a lot of sense.”
“Maybe not all Uchiha are arrogant after all…”
“…”
Chiya paid no attention to their discussion and continued with his patrol.
However, he didn’t notice the figure quietly watching him from a nearby dango shop.
A golden-haired woman sat inside, holding a skewer of dango.
Her light-brown eyes were filled with curiosity and admiration.
Tsunade had originally just stopped to grab something to eat before leaving the village for a mission.
Instead, she had happened to witness the entire scene.
“Uchiha Chiya…”
She quietly repeated his name, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
“What an interesting guy.”
She bit into another piece of dango, her gaze remaining fixed on Chiya’s departing figure.
This young Uchiha had repeatedly shattered the preconceived notions she had about his clan.
The way he behaved, and the things he said, made him seem more like a true shinobi than many of the people who called themselves inheritors of the “Will of Fire.”
Perhaps he really is different from the other Uchiha…
Tsunade thought silently.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Chiya continued his patrol, occasionally stopping to help villagers push carts or move goods.
“Big Brother Chiya!”
A clear voice suddenly called out.
Chiya turned around.
The person approaching him was dressed in the traditional clothing of the Uchiha clan.
She had delicate and gentle features, with a calm and graceful appearance.
Her long black hair reached down to her waist.
It was smooth as silk and loosely tied behind her head with a dark-purple ribbon.
Two wisps of bangs fell across her forehead, adding to her gentle appearance.
Her dark eyes were deep as ink, with slightly upturned corners.
When she smiled, her eyes curved into crescent moons.
It was Uchiha Mikoto.
“Mikoto, what brings you here?”
“Don’t you have a mission today?”
Mikoto nodded.
“Mm. My teacher said we could take the day off today, so I came out to buy some ingredients!”
At the mention of buying ingredients, Chiya’s eyes immediately brightened.
He stepped closer to her.
“Are you cooking again today, Mikoto?”
Mikoto looked at Chiya seriously.
“Mm!”
“Big Brother Chiya, remember to come over for lunch…”
“I’ll make you sushi!”
“What a good girl!”
Chiya smiled and reached out, gently patting her head and running his fingers through her soft hair.
“Whoever marries you in the future is going to be one lucky man!”
Mikoto’s face immediately turned red.
She didn’t resist his affectionate gesture.
Looking at the beautiful girl before him, Chiya couldn’t help sighing inwardly.
He remembered Mikoto from the original Naruto storyline.
Gentle, considerate, elegant, graceful…
She was practically the definition of an ideal wife and mother.
And yet, in the end, she would meet such a tragic fate, dying at the hands of her own son.
Chiya couldn’t help feeling sorry for her.
Mikoto… you wouldn’t want to be killed by your own son in the future, would you?
Since I’ve been given another chance at life, I’ll change your fate.
At that moment—
[Mission triggered: Steal Uchiha Mikoto.]
[Mission Reward: One random Mangekyō Sharingan ability.]
“Hm?”
Chiya’s eyes widened.
A Mangekyō Sharingan ability?!