Far from the heart of Konoha Village.
A towering, oppressive structure loomed in the darkness.
At its center was a massive shuriken emblem, with the Uchiha clan's fan insignia blazing at its core.
This was the headquarters of the Konoha Military Police Force.
Uchiha Yoru strode inside, his two subordinates trailing behind him—trembling, heads bowed, as if walking on thin ice.
The moment he entered, an icy, overwhelming chakra pressed down on him.
Its source?
Uchiha Fugaku—the clan's leader.
Surrounding him were elite members of the Military Police: veterans like Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Inabi, Uchiha Tekka, and Uchiha Inawaka.
Every eye locked onto Yoru the second he appeared.
Especially Fugaku's.
The clan head took a deep breath, his face twisted in rare fury.
"Yoru. Explain those two corpses."
He pointed at the neatly covered bodies on the floor.
Yoru didn't even glance at them.
"The man was a gambling addict who stole his own son's life-saving money—leading to the boy's death. He deserved execution."
"The woman was an accomplice. She shielded the killer, then attacked an officer. Guilty on both counts. Her death was justified."
Fugaku stared, dumbfounded.
The other elites exchanged uneasy glances.
"Yoru… Do you even believe your own words?!"
"With absolute conviction."
"…"
Fugaku's voice rose.
"Do you have any idea how this makes the Uchiha look to the village?!"
"After the Nine-Tails' attack, Konoha already distrusts us! The higher-ups are watching like hawks! And in this powder-keg situation—you choose to escalate?!"
Yoru remained unmoved.
"Tell me, Clan Leader—what method would make Konoha's shinobi and villagers respect the Uchiha?"
"What action could possibly stop the higher-ups from scheming against us?"
"That's…"
Fugaku faltered.
He had no answer.
No matter what the Uchiha did, Konoha's suspicion wouldn't fade. The elders' hostility wouldn't waver.
Yashiro and the others shared bitter smiles.
"Even so, we're sitting on a barrel of explosives! Why light the fuse yourself?!"
Yoru's voice was calm. "The fuse was never in my hands."
"You know exactly who holds it."
"As for my methods—I stand by them."
"Everything I do is for justice."
"I have no regrets."
"If you believe I've violated orders, remove me from the force."
"You—!"
Fugaku's temples throbbed.
This man was impossible!
And yet…
Yoru was powerful. He had loyal followers. The Uchiha needed him.
Deep down, Fugaku even understood his ruthlessness.
"Elder Yashiro—talk some sense into him!"
Yashiro sighed.
"Clan Leader, if he won't listen to you, what hope do I have?"
"Still… Yoru."
"That gambler was beyond saving, fine. But the woman? Did she really need to die?"
"Spare me the 'attacked an officer' excuse. A middle-aged civilian couldn't lay a finger on a jonin like you."
Yoru shook his head.
"I said it already. She watched her son's killer walk free—then defended him even as I executed justice."
"The world has no place for fools who sympathize with evil."
"They're just as guilty."
Yashiro inhaled sharply.
This man was terrifying.
And his twisted logic was nearly impossible to refute.
Uchiha Yoru lived by his own code.
Fugaku massaged his forehead.
"Yoru… I know you're young, ruthless, and uncompromising. But…"
"Can't you consider my position?"
"If the Hokage demands answers, am I supposed to recite your 'philosophy' to him?!"
"Is there a problem with that?"
Yoru didn't flinch.
Fugaku was speechless.
"If the Hokage insists on accountability, I'll face him myself."
"Whatever punishment you or he decree…"
"I'll accept it."
With that, Yoru turned and left.
The headquarters fell into uneasy silence.
Fugaku and the others could only exchange resigned glances.
Hokage's Office.
Smoke curled through the dimly lit room as the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, puffed on his pipe.
Exhaustion weighed on his features, but he forced himself to keep reviewing documents.
Behind him, hidden in shadow, Shimura Danzo watched silently—his expression unreadable.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen set down his papers. "Anbu?"
"Enter."
Two masked Anbu operatives stepped inside.
"Report. Any unusual activity from the Uchiha?"
The operatives hesitated.
"Unclear if it counts as 'unusual,' but…"
"Uchiha Yoru has killed two more Konoha civilians."
Hiruzen's pipe trembled slightly.
"That cold-blooded bastard again?"
"What was his excuse this time?"
They relayed the incident in full.
Hiruzen's face darkened.
"Hmph. That man grows bolder by the day. Does he think himself above the law?!"
"The Second Hokage created the Military Police to sideline the Uchiha—to pit them against the village!"
"Does Yoru truly believe he holds the power of life and death?!"
From the shadows, Danzo chuckled.
"Hiruzen, by your logic, Yoru's brutality only deepens the village's hatred for the Uchiha."
"Isn't that exactly what we want?"
"Why the outrage?"
Hiruzen's voice turned icy. "That's not the point."
"If the Uchiha and their Police can execute villagers without the Hokage's authority—what does that say about Konoha's rule?"
Danzo smirked.
"Or rather—what does it say about your authority, Hiruzen?"
The Hokage's gaze cut toward the darkness.
"Is there a difference?"
Danzo didn't answer.
The Anbu cautiously pressed, "Shall we demand accountability from the Police?"
"Or…"
"Order Fugaku to hand over Yoru directly?"
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe before exhaling sharply.
"For all we know, Fugaku approved this."
"With tensions already at their peak, allowing Yoru's actions… Is the Uchiha preparing for open rebellion?"
Danzo's eye gleamed in the dark.
"All the better."
"The 'tumor' that's festered since Konoha's founding can finally be cut out—by our hands!"
Hiruzen shot him a glare. "Watch your tongue, Danzo!"
"Tch. You've always been too soft, Hiruzen."
"Enough! I am the Hokage!"
"…You'll regret this."
Danzo melted back into the shadows, slipping through a hidden door.
Left alone, Hiruzen stewed in silence.
Finally, he muttered:
"Very well."
"I'll use this incident… to test the Uchiha's intentions myself."