There was an old saying:
Good news rarely leaves the house.
Bad news travels a thousand miles.
The story of Shinya publicly condemning an ordinary Konoha civilian and having her dragged into the Uchiha Military Police detention cells spread through the village like wildfire.
ANBU hadn’t even made a move yet when Fugaku stormed straight into Shinya’s office.
He hadn’t even bothered summoning Shinya to see him.
For once, genuine fury broke through that perpetually stern expression of his.
“Shinya Uchiha!”
Fugaku shouted his full name.
Shinya remained seated behind his desk, his expression completely unchanged.
“I’m right here, Clan Head.
You don’t need to shout.”
Looking at Shinya’s utterly shameless expression, Fugaku drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his anger.
“What exactly are you trying to do?!”
“Do you understand that what you did could turn the entire Konoha Military Police Force into the target of the whole village?”
Shinya leisurely took a sip of tea.
Then he looked at Fugaku and asked,
“You’re saying that as though, if I hadn’t done anything, the Military Police—no, the entire Uchiha clan—wouldn’t already be Konoha’s favorite target.”
Fugaku’s words immediately caught in his throat.
For a moment, Shinya’s reply left him unable to say anything.
But he quickly recovered.
“That does not give you the right to act however you please!”
“You’re giving me a reasonable explanation today, whether you like it or not!”
The moment Shinya heard those words, he knew he had already achieved what he wanted.
Fugaku had only demanded an explanation.
He hadn’t said anything about punishment.
In other words—
if Shinya gave him a reason convincing enough, Fugaku would compromise again.
People with personalities built around compromise really were ridiculously easy to handle.
Shinya set down his teacup.
“There’s no need to go over what happened from beginning to end.”
“Instead, think about the justification I used when I arrested that civilian.”
Fugaku frowned.
It didn’t take him long to remember the report his subordinates had delivered.
“You mean…
the Second Hokage?”
Of all the details surrounding the incident, there had been one thing Fugaku couldn’t understand.
Throughout the entire confrontation, Shinya had repeatedly emphasized that the Uchiha Military Police Force had been established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and that the organization was carrying out his will.
Among the Uchiha, Tobirama’s reputation was terrible.
It was during his generation that systematic suspicion and suppression of the Uchiha had truly begun, and its effects had continued all the way to the present.
Even Konoha’s current upper leadership largely consisted of Tobirama’s disciples and political successors.
The Uchiha resented him so deeply that they normally avoided even mentioning his name.
“You’re planning to use the Second Hokage’s reputation?”
Fugaku shook his head.
“But the Second Hokage is dead.”
“He’s been dead for years.”
“Konoha is currently governed jointly by the Third and Fourth Hokage.”
Disappointment flashed through Fugaku’s eyes.
Shinya’s political thinking suddenly seemed far too simplistic.
In the end, is he still just too young?
But Shinya only revealed a meaningful smile.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
“Sometimes, dead people are much more useful than living ones.”
Fugaku stared at him.
Shinya continued calmly.
“Dead people can’t speak.”
“They can’t explain themselves.”
“They can’t object to how others interpret their actions.”
“So we’re free to polish their image however we like.”
The look in Shinya’s eyes made a chill run down Fugaku’s spine.
What the hell did he mean by that?
Why would a dead person be more useful than someone alive?
It was the middle of summer.
Yet Fugaku suddenly felt cold.
Before he could ask, an Uchiha officer hurried into the room.
“Clan Head!”
“The Third Hokage has arrived at Military Police headquarters.”
“He says he’s here to seek justice for the innocent villager who suffered at the hands of the Uchiha!”
A vein visibly throbbed at Fugaku’s temple.
The look he gave Shinya said everything.
Look what you’ve caused!
But at that moment, Shinya stood.
“Clan Head.”
“Today, I’ll show you exactly what I meant when I said the authority of the Military Police can be limitless.”
Fugaku watched Shinya stride confidently toward the door.
In the end, he could only let out a deep sigh.
Shinya had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan at such a young age.
A little youthful arrogance was understandable.
Most Uchiha who understood the clan’s current predicament were already trying, in their own ways, to improve the situation.
But politics wasn’t nearly as simple as Shinya seemed to think.
Perhaps allowing him to suffer a setback here wouldn’t be a bad thing.
At least then, he might learn something.
No matter what happened, Shinya was still an Uchiha.
More importantly, he was an Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He was one of the clan’s hidden trump cards.
Fugaku would protect him no matter what.
…
When Hiruzen received ANBU’s report, he could barely believe what he was hearing.
Since when had the Uchiha clan become this bold?
That was exactly how Hiruzen saw it.
Bold.
Where were the Uchiha who used to endure villagers cursing them and misunderstanding them, only to arrogantly refuse to explain themselves?
Where were the Uchiha who had always openly disliked his teacher?
How had an Uchiha suddenly appeared who was waving Tobirama Senju’s name around like a banner?
Of course, the moment Hiruzen understood what had happened, he immediately saw an opportunity.
A way to suppress the Uchiha—
while simultaneously raising his own reputation.
He would personally visit the Military Police headquarters.
Personally demand justice for the innocent civilian who had been wronged.
He would rescue her himself.
Afterward, with the right amount of public attention and carefully guided discussion, the Uchiha Military Police’s reputation throughout Konoha would collapse even further.
That was exactly what Hiruzen intended to do.
After arriving at Military Police headquarters, he didn’t even enter the building.
He simply stood outside the main entrance with his hands clasped behind his back.
His stance made his meaning perfectly clear.
If Fugaku didn’t personally come out and invite him inside, Hiruzen would stand there all day and see who lost patience first.
But Fugaku never appeared.
Instead—
a young Uchiha stepped out.
“Well, if it isn’t Lord Third.”
Shinya smiled.
“Shouldn’t a retired old man be resting comfortably at home?”
“What brings you all the way out here?”
One sentence was enough to immediately draw Hiruzen’s attention.
He remembered this young Uchiha.
Not long ago, Shinya had defeated Kakashi and been promoted to jōnin.
But Hiruzen hadn’t come here to argue.
And getting into a shouting match with someone from the younger generation would only damage his dignity.
He glanced sideways at the disrespectful young man and gave a cold snort.
As expected of an inherently wicked Uchiha brat.
No manners whatsoever.
Seeing that Hiruzen apparently had no intention of responding, Shinya helplessly spread his hands.
Then he turned toward Inabi standing beside him.
“Dispose of the prisoner’s body from the execution earlier.”
“And publicly announce throughout Konoha that she was convicted of rebellion.”
Hiruzen’s composure shattered instantly.
“What did you just say?!”
Shinya looked genuinely surprised.
“Lord Third hasn’t heard?”
“Under the glorious guidance of Lord Second, Tobirama Senju, the Konoha Military Police Force—from Commander Fugaku downward—has always upheld fairness and justice throughout the village.”
“Earlier today, an individual suspected of being a foreign spy publicly attacked Military Police officers.”
“Under Konoha law, espionage committed under such circumstances permits immediate execution without trial.”
Shinya smiled politely.
“So if Lord Third came here hoping to take this ‘spy’ away for further questioning…”
“I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed.”
“You can’t take her away anymore.”
He paused.
“Although…
I suppose you could carry her away in a box.”