In such a large police department, having only two people present was clearly abnormal.
"Hey! You Uchiha have made us wait so long. Aren't you even going to entertain your guests?"
A man standing at the gate grumbled loudly, arms crossed and clearly irritated. He had been talking for ages with no one responding, and it felt like performing a one-man show. "It's boring to be the only one talking, don't you think?"
"Apologies," came a calm reply from one of the two Uchiha officers inside. "Our duty is to protect the security of the police department. Entertaining you is not part of our responsibilities."
His tone was indifferent, his words precise. This was one of the more approachable Uchiha—one who hadn't been the subject of a complaint. But being easy to get along with didn't mean being a pushover.
In the past, the Uchiha had to swallow their pride and tolerate this kind of nonsense, but those days were over. Now that new directives allowed them to avoid unnecessary confrontations, why waste time appeasing troublemakers?
"What's with that attitude? Is this how the Uchiha treat fellow villagers? Believe it or not, I'll file a complaint!"
Shoda Yuta's face flushed with anger. He shouted with authority, thinking the word "complaint" would make these proud Uchiha bow their heads.
But the officer just sighed. "Go ahead. I'm due for a break anyway."
With that, he leaned back in his chair, ignoring the ranting villagers entirely.
The crowd grumbled and dispersed. After all, they were not ninjas—they had no real power here. The Uchiha didn't even acknowledge them, let alone handle their minor disputes.
There's a saying: no matter how fierce your move, it's useless if I refuse to engage.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage Building, Uchiha Fugaku and a young boy named Andrew walked into the office of the Third Hokage.
As soon as they met, Fugaku spoke earnestly. "Lord Hokage, I ask your forgiveness for what happened last night. We had no choice but to act the way we did."
On the surface, Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand dismissively. "Fugaku, you're too serious. Any ninja would struggle to remain calm under such circumstances. Let's not dwell on it. What brings you here today?"
But deep down, the Third Hokage was wary. Could the Uchiha really be admitting fault so easily? Or was there another scheme brewing?
His gaze shifted to Andrew. The boy had a youthful face, but Hiruzen recognized him immediately. This was the same child who had forced the Hokage himself to bow his head the previous night.
Fugaku gestured toward the boy. "This is Uchiha Andrew. He'll be taking over my duties in the police department. I brought him here to meet you today."
Andrew stepped forward and bowed politely. "Lord Hokage, it's an honor."
Hiruzen's eyes widened. "A child? The captain of the police department?" His mind reeled.
"Fugaku, what is the meaning of this?"
Fugaku answered evenly. "As clan leader, I have my hands full managing the family. The clan has agreed that Andrew will serve as the new captain. He has our full support."
Andrew nodded, his voice steady. "Yes, Lord Hokage. After last night's clan meeting, I requested to take over. Patriarch Fugaku agreed."
What he didn't mention—at least not yet—was that he had revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan to Fugaku the night before. That alone was enough to solidify the decision. The police department had nearly been abandoned, and if anyone could turn things around, it was Andrew.
Hiruzen's brows furrowed deeply. The police department was nearly 100% Uchiha. Though it was technically part of the village administration, the reality was that it belonged to the Uchiha. If the clan had made this decision internally, then even the Hokage's objections would mean little.
Andrew continued, "We're aware that the police department has had ongoing conflicts with the villagers. If that tension continues, it could jeopardize village security. Therefore—before coming here—we suspended and recalled all officers who had been complained about for violent conduct."
"Now, the police department is severely understaffed. Many areas are unpatrolled. We request that Lord Hokage mobilize other departments to fill the gap and maintain order."
Hiruzen nearly dropped his pipe. Every officer who'd received complaints was suspended? That would be... nearly the entire department!
What was Uchiha thinking?
He couldn't understand it. The police department was the clan's primary source of power. And now, they were abandoning it? Letting outsiders step in?
Was this a sign of submission? Or a calculated strategy?
"This… I'll have to think it over," Hiruzen said cautiously.
But Andrew wasn't about to let him stall.
"Lord Hokage, I urge you to act swiftly. Currently, 80% of the village is without police patrols. If a conflict breaks out, it could destabilize the entire community."
Andrew's tone was respectful, but there was no mistaking his resolve. He wasn't negotiating. He was informing.
The police department had already begun its retreat. The hole needed to be filled now, or the entire structure would collapse. The Uchiha had absorbed enough blame. It was time for someone else to step in.
"We Uchiha have weathered enough storms," Andrew said quietly. "It's time for change."
The Third Hokage understood the underlying message. If he didn't act, chaos would spread through the village. But filling the Uchiha-sized gap was no easy task.
Even if other clans joined the police force, who had the manpower? Who had the strength to enforce the law like the Uchiha could?
It would be a logistical nightmare.
Elsewhere, in Konoha's Commercial Street, the heart of the village bustled with life. Izakayas, restaurants, casinos, and hot springs lined both sides. Normally, three police teams patrolled here daily to keep the peace.
But today? No Uchiha in sight.
No one noticed, at least not at first. The villagers had always resented the police department anyway.
But reality hit quickly.
"You think you can drink for free and order a dozen dishes? You think this is some charity banquet? Get out of here before I break your legs!"
At a restaurant's entrance, two staff members dragged a drunken man out. The owner stood behind them, fuming.
The drunk man staggered, waving a hand. "It's just a meal! I forgot my wallet, that's all. I'll pay you back later."
"You think that's reasonable?" the owner barked. "Teach him a lesson!"
The two staff members descended on the man, fists flying. In minutes, he was on the ground, face swollen, blood dripping from his nose.
Normally, the police would've been there in seconds. Today? Not a single officer responded.
People gathered to watch the fight. No one intervened. They were too busy enjoying the show.
The drunk man cursed as he limped away. The crowd dispersed.
But just five minutes later, he returned.
This time, he wasn't staggering. He moved slowly, deliberately. In his hand was a cooking pot—not exactly a weapon, but something about the look in his dull eyes made people step back.
Without the Uchiha to respond, no one knew how this would end.
The silence from the police was deafening.
Back in the Hokage Building, Hiruzen rubbed his temple, sighing deeply. The Uchiha hadn't asked him for help.
They had offloaded the problem onto him.
And now, if something went wrong in the village, the Hokage would have to answer for it.
The Ministry of Police had handed off the blame—cleverly, legally, and without resistance.
And Hiruzen knew, this was just the beginning.
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