The Hokage Tower stood at the very heart of Konoha, while the Police Force—responsible for village security and defense—was stationed in a comparatively secluded area in the village's southeast.
The Uchiha Police Force.
On the training grounds, Uchiha Yuan stood tall and motionless. His eyes were closed, arms crossed over his chest, posture straight as a spear.
Behind him, six youths stood quietly in a neat line—Uchiha Kawa, Uchiha Feng, and four others.
None of them spoke, yet the excitement and barely contained exhilaration on their faces was impossible to hide. Their eyes darted about, secretly observing their surroundings.
Although the Police Force was under Uchiha control, not every Uchiha clansman was qualified to enter.
To join, one needed at least elite chūnin–level strength.
At present, Kawa and the others were merely Yuan's followers—external personnel attached to the Police Force.
As time passed, more and more people began to gather on the training field.
Shua.
A figure flashed into existence near Yuan.
It was a man in his twenties, wearing the blue vest of the Police Force. His presence was sharp and oppressive, a terrifying killing intent radiating from him.
He glanced once at Yuan without saying a word, then turned his gaze toward Kawa and the others.
Under that stare, the six youths felt as though they were being targeted by a ferocious beast. Their bodies stiffened instinctively, fear rising unbidden in their hearts.
Just then—
Shua.
Another figure appeared beside the man.
The newcomer was a short-haired youth with two long swords strapped across his back. He glanced at the first man and greeted him casually.
"Yi."
"Xun."
The short-haired youth then turned his eyes toward Yuan and the six behind him, surprise flickering across his face.
"Yi, why are these brats here?"
Uchiha Yi gave Yuan a cursory glance and replied indifferently,
"No idea."
Uchiha Xun stepped up in front of Yuan, studying him closely. When he noticed that Yuan's eyes remained closed, his gaze shifted to Kawa and the others.
"This isn't a playground for you kids," Xun barked.
"Leave at once."
Summoning his courage, Kawa spoke up,
"We're Lord Yuan's subordinates. Lord Yuan is the captain of the Third Squad of the Police Force."
Uchiha Yi's expression didn't change. He merely glanced once more at Yuan.
Uchiha Xun, however, turned back toward Yuan.
"So you're Uchiha Yuan. Your name's been circulating quite a bit in the Police Force lately."
Yuan opened his eyes.
His calm gaze met Xun's directly.
"Uchiha Yuan," he said evenly.
"Captain of the Third Squad."
The moment Yuan's eyes opened, Xun's expression shifted slightly. That sharp gaze felt like two arrows loosed at once, sending a jolt through his mind.
"Uchiha Xun," he replied.
"Captain of the Second Squad."
He then gestured to the man beside him.
"And this is Uchiha Yi, captain of the First Squad."
Yuan turned to look at Yi. The two met each other's eyes briefly—then looked away.
Xun lifted his head toward the Police Force headquarters building and said to Yuan,
"There's quite a bit of opposition within the Police Force regarding your appointment as Third Squad captain.
"Especially the three team leaders under Third Squad. From what I hear, they're already preparing to challenge you."
"I'll make them accept it," Yuan replied flatly.
Seeing Yuan's utterly unconcerned expression, Xun couldn't help but laugh.
"I thought you'd push the problem back onto the clan head. Now I'm genuinely curious—how exactly do you plan to suppress your three team leaders?"
As he spoke, the captains of the other squads began to appear one after another, flickering into the field.
Investigative gazes, curious looks, amused scrutiny, and open skepticism all fell upon Yuan.
At the same time, more and more Police Force members assembled on the training ground, each group standing where their own squad belonged.
Yet—
In front of Yuan, there was no one.
The entire training ground fell into a strange, oppressive silence.
Nearly every gaze was fixed on Yuan alone.
Behind him, Kawa and the others grew increasingly uneasy.
The weight of the Police Force members' stares made them feel as though they were sitting on needles. To them, those looks seemed filled with ridicule and mockery.
They anxiously glanced around, searching for the members of the Third Squad.
But even faced with this scene, Yuan remained perfectly calm.
His breathing was steady, his presence unmoving—like a mountain.
Inside the Police Force headquarters.
On the third floor, inside a large hall, all members of the Third Squad were gathered.
Several figures stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the training ground.
One of them sneered,
"Tonghu, that brat's got some patience. Not a hint of reaction."
Uchiha Tonghu was a powerfully built man in his thirties. His features were hard and severe, his eyes brimming with ferocity.
He snorted coldly as he stared at Yuan's figure.
"Hmph. Just a stinking little brat. He's probably panicking inside already."
At his side, a slightly shorter young man spoke up,
"We should head out. If we delay any longer, Clan Head Fugaku might grow displeased."
At the top floor of the building.
Uchiha Fugaku was also watching the training ground below. A trace of approval appeared on his face.
Yuan's composure satisfied him greatly.
Faced with the Third Squad's blatant provocation—an open slap in the face—most Uchiha would have long since flown into rage and embarrassment, acting out of character.
Beside him, Itachi was also watching Yuan intently.
"Father," Itachi said with a frown,
"aren't the Third Squad members going too far?"
Fugaku sighed softly.
"This is something Yuan must face."
"He understands it himself. Being appointed squad captain as an outsider was bound to provoke controversy within the Police Force."
"But with Yuan's achievements and strength," Itachi said, puzzled,
"he clearly has the qualifications."
"Intelligence reports mix truth with exaggeration," Fugaku replied.
"Yuan has to make them feel his strength personally—only then will their doubts be silenced."
He looked back toward the field.
"Tonghu and the others are coming. Let's see how Yuan handles this."
As he spoke, father and son watched a group of men stride out of the headquarters building, swaggering toward the training ground.
The arrival of the Third Squad caused a ripple of commotion. All eyes turned toward the three men at the front.
"That's Uchiha Tonghu!"
"He's huge… and that gaze is terrifying!"
Kawa swallowed nervously as he stared at the towering figure leading them.
Moments later, footsteps came to a halt.
Uchiha Tonghu stopped several paces in front of Uchiha Yuan.
At that instant, every single gaze on the training ground shifted—once more—onto Yuan.
Some people die… but they don't die completely.
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