Police Force.
"I can't take it anymore!"
"A coup! We must have a Coup détat!"
"And to think I thought Shisui was on our side!"
"If this continues, the Uchiha will perish sooner or later!"
"Chief Fugaku! Say something!"
"That's right! We can't go on like this!"
The Uchiha Radical Faction gathered together, the atmosphere resentful and intense.
Yesterday, they had arrested two drunks, and the villagers had made a huge fuss, spreading rumors about violent law enforcement and a guilty conscience. Once or twice would have been fine, but who knows how many times it had happened over the past few years.
Are they supposed to bow and apologize, even when they insult the Uchiha?
Even the Conservative Faction couldn't stomach such a humiliating thing.
Everyone urged Fugaku to take a stand.
Fugaku closed his eyes as if he were deaf to their pleas.
A year ago, Shisui had come to him, saying he wanted to become the Clan Head. As the Clan Head at the time, Fugaku naturally wouldn't agree. After all, he also possessed the Mangekyo. Within the Uchiha clan, he was currently the most suitable.
But after Shisui revealed that his Mangekyo ability was Kotoamatsukami, Fugaku knew he wasn't the most suitable.
Additionally, Shisui told him that the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the villagers was being pushed by someone in the higher-ups and permitted by someone else.
Fugaku, who believed in Hiruzen, naturally opposed this vehemently.
Shisui didn't argue with him. Shisui had come that time for only one thing—to become the Clan Head of the Uchiha clan.
Fugaku agreed.
The results were obvious. Even when the Uchiha clan had almost staged a Coup détat last time, it had been forcibly stopped by Shisui just by stepping out.
But it was just as Shisui had said— "What I want is deterrence, not a threat."
Such an action was fine to use once. It hadn't even been a year yet. If he used it again, it would likely truly become a threat.
The Uchiha had reached a moment of life and death once again.
"Chief Fugaku! Say something!"
"Chief Fugaku! Let's stage a coup!"
"Chief Fugaku! We can't go on like this!"
"Chief Fugaku..."
Fugaku, who had stepped down from the position of Clan Head to become the Chief of the Police Force, closed his eyes.
A few seconds later, he spoke, "The timing isn't right yet. Let's wait a bit longer."
Hearing this, the clan members looked at each other. But they were nevertheless calmed by these words. At least, Fugaku seemed to support their coup.
"Fine."
"Alright."
"Then let's endure it a bit longer."
—
Afternoon.
It was time for class to end at the Ninja Academy.
Naruto glanced at Sasuke, who was surrounded by a group of girls, huffed, and walked out alone.
"Wait!"
Naruto felt like someone was calling him, so he turned around. When he saw who it was, he was taken aback.
Sasuke, the top of the class, was actually coming to see him?
This made Naruto a bit excited.
He had a crush on Sakura, who followed Sasuke around, but he wasn't quite sure if it was actual like or self-deception. After all, he didn't have a reason for liking Sakura, he just suddenly did.
Regardless, the person he paid the most attention to was still Sasuke. He wanted to be friends with Sasuke but his usual arrogant attitude really annoyed him.
Now, Sasuke was actually taking the initiative to talk to him!
Naruto was so happy that he couldn't help but act up, trying to hide the joy in his heart.
"Yo! If it isn't the class's busy man coming to see the great Naruto-sama!"
His look of smugness was practically bursting at the seams.
A vein popped on Sasuke's forehead. He didn't want to look for this dead last, Naruto. If he didn't need something from Hiromi, he definitely wouldn't have spoken a word to this dead last in his entire life.
"Come to my house today." His words sounded like an order.
But Naruto ignored the tone and only heard the barely audible invitation in the words.
"Are you inviting me?" He opened his mouth wide, eyes bulging, pointing at himself in disbelief.
"Yeah. Are you coming or not?" Sasuke was a bit impatient.
"I'm coming." Naruto grinned.
With his hands behind his head, he followed behind Sasuke.
Whenever he saw someone, he would say: "Sasuke invited me to his house to play."
At first, Sasuke found it embarrassing. But after it happened a few times, he sensed that Naruto was truly happy and fell silent.
The two of them headed all the way toward the Uchiha Clan Compound. However, they were stopped just as they were about to enter the compound.
Naruto didn't think the person was there to stop him. Instead, he boasted excitedly, "Long-haired Anbu-nii-san, Sasuke invited me to his house to play."
"..."
The Anbu who had always watched Naruto found it hard to speak for a moment at the thought of ruining Naruto's excitement.
"Long-haired Anbu-nii-san?" Naruto was confused.
Sasuke glanced at him, then pulled Naruto, intending to enter from the side. He was already impatient to ask Hiromi his questions.
But in the next second, he was stopped by that Anbu again.
Naruto grew even more confused. "Long-haired Anbu-nii-san, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
"..."
The Anbu finally sighed and said, "Naruto, you can't go in here."
The Anbu's sudden appearance on the street made the Uchiha Clan Members feel strange, and they watched with cold expressions.
Seeing that this Anbu had appeared just to stop a child from entering the clan compound, their expressions turned even uglier.
This place is called the Uchiha Clan Compound, right?
What? Now even someone entering our compound requires a nod from you Anbu?
Naruto asked with innocent confusion, "Why?"
"Because Grandpa wants to play with Naruto." A kind voice sounded from behind.
"Hokage-sama." The Anbu breathed a sigh of relief and bowed slightly.