Chapter 13 — Danzō: The Uchiha's Intent Is Truly Despicable!
"Our plan has finally taken its first step forward."
Uchiha Shisui let out a long breath, one filled with emotion he had kept restrained for far too long.
"With the reform of the Military Police Force, the conflicts between the Uchiha and the villagers can finally begin to ease," he said slowly, as if savoring the words. "At the very least, we've stopped the situation from worsening."
"And during this process," he continued, his gaze steady, "I'll also be able to accumulate prestige within the clan. That influence will be extremely important when it comes time to compete for the position of clan head."
"The Uchiha's situation… will only continue to improve from here."
Shisui looked at Shiraishi with genuine gratitude.
"Shiraishi," he said sincerely, "this is all thanks to you."
Those words came from the bottom of his heart.
Long ago, Shisui had already sensed that the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village was deteriorating—sliding down a dangerous slope with no sign of stopping.
He could see the ending.
If nothing changed, a civil war was inevitable.
And once it broke out, the Uchiha would suffer devastating casualties.
But the village itself would not be spared.
Konoha would be weakened to the core—and once that happened, the other great ninja villages would not miss such a chance.
War would follow.
The Fourth Great Ninja War.
Shisui had contemplated countless solutions over the years, yet one by one, he had rejected them himself.
Too passive.
Too extreme.
Too naïve.
Too late.
It wasn't until he spoke with Shiraishi that the tangled web between the Uchiha and Konoha finally began to unravel in his mind.
For the first time, he could clearly see the problem.
And for the first time, he could see a path forward.
A real one.
Now, standing at the starting line of reform, Shisui could finally glimpse hope.
After finishing the late-night meal, Uchiha Shisui departed.
Shiraishi returned to his room alone.
He, too, was quietly anticipating the changes that would follow the reform of the Military Police Force.
If the relationship between the Uchiha and the villagers truly eased…
What kind of transformation would the Uchiha clan undergo?
And how would Konoha's higher-ups adjust their attitude toward the clan?
"If such changes not only fail to ease the village leadership's targeting of the Uchiha," Shiraishi thought calmly, "but instead cause it to intensify…"
"Then the identity of the real problem will become obvious at a glance."
---
Not long after, news of the Military Police Force reform spread throughout Konoha.
The original Police Force had nearly sixty members.
After the reform, more than forty were dismissed outright.
Only thirteen remained.
Among them were Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Shisui.
There was also Uchiha Fugaku—who retained the title in name only, but did not directly participate in Police Force operations.
At the same time, a brand-new department was established.
The Patrol Management Division.
The division openly recruited members.
Ninja.
Civilians.
Anyone could apply.
As long as they passed the interview process, they could join, perform patrol duties, and receive proper待遇 and benefits.
The moment this announcement was made, the entire village turned its attention toward the Uchiha.
Most ninja clans chose to observe quietly.
Hyūga Hiashi stood by a window, gazing toward the Uchiha district. His eyes flickered with contemplation.
"What exactly are the Uchiha trying to do?"
Aburame Shibi adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable beneath his high collar.
Meanwhile, Akimichi Chōza and Yamanaka Inoichi headed straight for Nara Shikaku's study.
Ino–Shika–Chō.
The inseparable trio.
All three clans were aligned with the Sarutobi clan and revolved around it.
Yet among themselves, their bond was even closer.
And at the center of that triangle stood the Nara clan.
Because the Nara clan's heirs were always intelligent.
And only those who understood when to advance—and when to retreat—could survive in this world.
Raw strength alone had never been enough.
From the era of the Ninja Sect to the age of hidden villages, countless powerful clans had vanished into history.
Even the Uchiha's former ally, the Hagoromo clan, had disappeared.
Not to mention the Uzumaki clan, once unrivaled in sealing techniques.
"Shikaku," Yamanaka Inoichi asked, "what do you think?"
Nara Shikaku remained silent for a moment, fingers steepled before him.
"For now," he said slowly, "it looks like the Uchiha are retreating."
"For now?" Inoichi frowned.
Shikaku nodded.
"That's right. Whether this is genuine retreat or strategic withdrawal… it's impossible to say."
"We'll need to see what they do next."
"Even you can't see through it?" Inoichi asked.
Shikaku shook his head and tapped his temple.
"My brain works well," he replied dryly, "but it can't see the future. The information we have is still far too limited."
"However," he continued, "the Uchiha only have two possible paths."
"One is to accept their fate entirely and choose the same road as the Hyūga clan."
"The other…"
"…is to secretly accumulate strength."
Inoichi thought for a moment before speaking.
"I think the latter is far more likely. The personalities of those Uchiha are terrible. They'd never choose the first option."
"The Second Hokage said as much back then."
Akimichi Chōza glanced at him and shook his head.
"You can't lump them all together like that."
"There are still many decent people within the Uchiha clan."
"Uchiha Kagami back then. Uchiha Shisui now."
"If all Uchiha were truly problematic, they would have followed Uchiha Madara and left the village."
Chōza paused, then added,
"The Third Hokage also holds Shisui in extremely high regard."
Before leaving Konoha, Madara had once asked the clan if they would follow him.
They had refused.
And regarding the First Hokage's position, the original agreement between Madara and Senju Hashirama had been for Madara to take the seat.
But the village's development diverged from their vision.
The position was decided by vote.
And in that vote, the majority of the Uchiha chose Senju Hashirama.
Because of Uchiha Kagami, Akimichi Chōza did not harbor deep prejudice against the clan.
Back then, Akimichi Torifu and Kagami had been fellow disciples.
They had shared genuine camaraderie.
---
At the same time, inside the Hokage Tower, an argument was unfolding.
One man was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The other was Shimura Danzō.
"Hiruzen," Danzō said coldly, his cane tapping against the floor, "the Uchiha's actions—this intent of theirs is truly despicable."
"They are clearly preparing to secretly accumulate strength."
"And once they are ready, they will launch a civil war."
"We must act now and strangle this threat in its cradle."
His single visible eye gleamed sharply.
"Otherwise, once the Uchiha have gathered enough power, it will no longer be easy to deal with them."
"That would be Konoha's disaster."
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled slowly, smoke curling from his pipe.
"Danzō," he said calmly, "I don't believe the situation has deteriorated to such an extent."
"I was already aware of the Police Force matter beforehand. It was led by Uchiha Shisui."
"I trust Shisui."
"What he's doing is an attempt to ease the worsening relationship between the Uchiha and the village."
"What you're saying is nothing more than speculation."
"There is no evidence."
Danzō let out a cold snort.
"Evidence?"
"When it comes to the Uchiha," he said harshly, "what evidence do we need?"
"What kind of people they are…"
"…don't you and I know that perfectly well?"