Uchiha Fugaku, whose temperament leaned toward caution and steadiness, did not answer immediately.
The number of Konoha's ninja forces was information known only to the village leadership.
However, the Uchiha Police Force held real authority over investigating ninja records.
They were the only ninja clan unit in Konoha that operated under the same system as the Hokage's ANBU, receiving official salaries and conducting patrols throughout the village.
Through ninja identification numbers alone, Fugaku could roughly estimate the number of ninja registered in Konoha.
Adding together the garrisons stationed across various fronts, Shimura Danzo's desperate attempts to recruit troops yesterday, and the sudden appearance of watchers around the clan compound last night…
A realization dawned in Fugaku's mind.
The ninja force heading toward the southwest must have truly alarmed Konoha's leadership.
Which meant one thing—
Within Konoha itself, the forces directly under the Hokage had shrunk significantly.
The ninja army personally loyal to Hiruzen Sarutobi numbered at most around two thousand.
More than eighty percent of them were genin.
There were fewer than twenty jōnin.
Under such circumstances, the clan should take a stronger stance and secure more initiative.
But the balance must still be maintained.
They could not push themselves into becoming the common enemy of both the Hokage faction and the other ninja clans.
We must recognize who our enemies are… and who our friends are.
The words Uchiha Anlan had spoken during the clan meeting echoed in his mind.
Fugaku, still young enough to possess sharp edges and a fighting spirit that life had not yet dulled, spoke decisively.
"The Police Force has its own regulations."
"Anyone who threatens Konoha's safety…"
"The Police Force will eliminate them without hesitation."
His voice rang firmly through the room.
The others could not help but smile.
"I'll go report to Anlan first," Mikoto said as she stood up.
"For what follows, please act according to the will of the clan."
The afternoon sun shone brightly.
Konoha's streets bustled with people, peaceful and lively.
But that calm was soon broken by hurried footsteps and a chilling aura.
Led by Uchiha Fugaku, two squads from the Uchiha Police Force moved swiftly through the streets.
They headed straight for several hidden surveillance points around the outskirts of the Uchiha compound.
Behind Fugaku followed Uchiha Shisui, sharp-eyed and agile.
And beside him—
Uchiha Tekka, whose cold expression barely hid the excitement and aggression burning inside him.
"Move."
Fugaku spoke only one word.
His usually composed face now carried a ferocious edge.
The Uchiha had already locked onto their targets.
They scattered instantly like hunting leopards, rushing toward the watchers who believed themselves perfectly concealed.
"What do you Uchiha think you're doing?! We are—"
A ninja hiding among the tree branches had just begun shouting, intending to declare his identity.
But the moment he met Fugaku's three-tomoe Sharingan, glowing crimson—
Everything stopped.
Sharingan Genjutsu.
His words cut off abruptly.
His eyes turned vacant.
His body froze as if shackled by invisible chains.
"Not good!"
An alarmed shout came from another ANBU.
The sound of kunai clashing rang out immediately after.
The dull thuds of bodies being struck—
The occasional cries of pain that were quickly silenced—
All echoed sharply through the once peaceful street.
Yet to the Uchiha…
It sounded strangely pleasant.
Some watchers had their animal masks knocked off during the fight, revealing shocked and furious faces underneath.
Others had their masks forcibly torn away by Uchiha hands.
A few, even with mouths bloodied and broken, still managed to shout hoarsely.
"We're ANBU! We were ordered to monitor you!"
"Uchiha… you're rebelling against the village!"
The response they received—
Was even fiercer attacks.
"ANBU? What ANBU?"
"We only see suspicious foreign spies trying to steal Konoha's secrets!"
"Konoha was founded by the Uchiha and the Senju!"
"Now that the Senju are gone, the Uchiha are the rightful masters of Konoha!"
"What rebellion is there to speak of?"
"And who do you gutter rats think you are to spy on the Uchiha?!"
Tekka's mocking voice echoed loudly.
Nearby ninja who had heard the commotion stopped in their tracks.
Everyone watched as Tekka crushed a fox mask beneath his foot.
Their expressions were complicated.
Anyone with eyes could tell these people were ANBU.
Attacking them was equivalent to challenging the Hokage himself.
This was clearly a power struggle between the Uchiha clan and Konoha's leadership.
Ninja in the village center understood the situation well.
Unless they were directly involved—
And until things became clearer—
It was wiser to simply observe.
After all…
Nothing new ever happened under the sun.
In the midst of the fight, Shisui moved like lightning.
Every strike he delivered instantly robbed his opponent of the ability to resist.
One strike to the mouth.
Two strikes to the legs.
A third strike forced the enemy to collapse to their knees.
These bastards standing between the clan and Konoha… deserve this.
Shisui had not yet interacted much with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Between the village and the clan—
He chose to trust Fugaku, his respected senior.
As long as the poison inside Konoha was removed…
The clan and the village would surely move forward together toward a brighter future.
Fugaku stood atop a streetlamp.
His arms were folded.
His expression cold.
The shouting of the supposed ANBU below meant nothing to him.
Others might not recognize them—
But the Uchiha leadership knew very well who they were.
These people were not true ANBU.
They were rats hiding behind ANBU masks.
Members of Danzo's Root.
Even the weakest members of the Police Force were Uchiha chūnin.
To deal with two squads—eight Root operatives total—
The Uchiha had deployed an equal number.
That alone was already generous.
The true confrontation would come next—
Either at the Hokage Tower…
Or at the Uchiha Police Headquarters.
"Capture them all."
"If they resist, use necessary force."
Fugaku's order echoed in every Uchiha's ears—
And in those of the Root operatives as well.
"Necessary force."
The phrase gave the Uchiha an extra sense of… restraint.
They struck in ways that left their opponents unable to escape—
Yet ensured they screamed in pain.
The battle ended quickly.
It was a complete crushing victory.
Every Root ninja was captured.
Their arms twisted behind their backs and tied with special ropes.
Most were bruised and battered.
Some had dislocated joints.
Others suffered broken arms or legs.
Low groans of pain filled the air.
A few had spoken recklessly and received special "attention."
Even if they recovered—
Their future as ninja was uncertain.
"Take them."
Fugaku gave the order.
Under the shocked, fearful, and thoughtful gazes of gathering civilian and clan ninja—
The proud Uchiha marched forward.
Like hunters displaying trophies.
They tied the injured Root operatives together with rope and dragged them through the streets like prisoners of war.
The scene was like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake.
The entire village of Konoha rippled with shock.
At the front of the procession walked Fugaku.
His face was calm.
But his mind was clear.
The struggle between the Uchiha clan and Konoha's leadership—
Had only just begun.
Anlan…
No.
This was the clan's decision.
"There's no mistake about it."
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