In Konoha, attacking the police department was considered a grave offense—doing so in public, in broad daylight, only worsened the charges.
Under the scrutinizing eyes of the villagers, Shimura Jiro stood accused. He wanted to defend himself, to explain it was all a misunderstanding, but no one was willing to listen.
"Take him!!"
Completely surrounded and unable to make a compelling defense, Shimura Jiro ultimately surrendered without resistance.
In his mind, all he had done was push someone. Yet now he was being charged with assaulting the captain of the Konoha Police Force.
Had he fought back, the accusation of resisting arrest would've compounded his troubles.
Though he believed he was being wronged.
For now, it was best to cooperate. Provoking the Uchiha police further would do no good. He'd wait until he was brought to the department for questioning and let things play out there.
Shimura Jiro believed that, as an innocent man, he would soon be cleared.
This was all just a misunderstanding.
Yes, the Shimura clan had Danzo's support—but that didn't mean they could act with impunity. In fact, it meant quite the opposite.
Danzo's position was too sensitive. If the Shimura name drew too much attention, Danzo himself might decide to "trim the fat."
"You just stay put and reflect."
Even after being imprisoned, Shimura Jiro was in a daze.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What the hell just happened?
"Captain, are you alright?"
Moments ago, she had seemed seriously injured, but now that she was back in the lounge, she was practically glowing with life. Quan's eyes were wide.
No matter how slow one was, it was clear now why the captain had faked an injury.
To fabricate charges!
"To frame someone!!"
"When did I ever say I was hurt?"
Yan casually adjusted his uniform, strolled into the office, and dropped into his chair, crossing his legs.
"Make me a cup of tea, would you?"
"But earlier you…"
Quan followed behind in disbelief.
"What did I do earlier?" Hiko asked innocently.
"…"
Quan froze. There was no winning this. With a sigh, she went to brew the tea.
She didn't understand why Yan had orchestrated things like this. But as his loyal aide and subordinate, she knew better than to ask unnecessary questions.
The captain always had his reasons.
Soon, chatter spread through the police department. Something strange was happening—patrol units were bringing in multiple suspects.
The charges varied, but the pattern was clear: most of those arrested were from the Shimura clan.
Ninjas. Civilians. All Shimura.
"Have the Shimura clan lost their minds? Why are they all causing trouble now?"
"Who knows. Maybe something's wrong with their water supply?"
"Hahaha, or maybe it's just genetic."
The arrests sparked gossip, not sympathy.
Everyone remembered how Danzo had harassed the Uchiha endlessly.
And Danzo was Shimura.
Now that the Shimura clan was reaping what they'd sown, few cared to feel sorry.
After all, if they enjoyed Danzo's protection and privilege, they also had to endure the backlash.
At the Uchiha Police Department, no one pitied the Shimura.
---
Shimura Clan Compound
Patriarch's Courtyard
"Patriarch, something's wrong. The police are targeting our clan members. They're being arrested and held without explanation. They won't even let us visit."
"Police Department?"
The head of the Shimura clan, currently trimming ornamental trees in his courtyard, paused and put down his shears.
"Yumu, are you sure? Why is the police department suddenly arresting our people?"
"I don't know, Patriarch," Yumu Shimura said, brows furrowed. "It started with one or two. But over the day, more than a dozen were taken in. Even two jōnin returning from missions were detained."
"The charges are all over the place. Some are 'under investigation.' Others allegedly resisted arrest. Jiro and Weirong… they've been charged with assaulting officers."
"What?! They attacked police officers?"
The Patriarch could no longer stay calm.
If it were just minor accusations or detentions, they could cooperate and wait it out.
But assaulting Konoha's law enforcement? That wasn't minor.
If not handled properly, they could end up in prison.
"Come with me to the department. I want to know what Uchiha thinks they're doing!"
The Patriarch rushed to change out of his gardening robes.
But just as he stepped toward the gate, he halted.
"Yumu… do you think this has anything to do with yesterday's incident?"
A fight on the commercial street—broad daylight, lots of damage, civilians involved. It had been the talk of the village by nightfall.
Uchiha had been at the center of the event. Many had scoffed at them.
But for the Patriarch, the connection was becoming clear.
Shimura Danzo was always targeting Uchiha. He must have had a hand in yesterday's mess.
And now, Uchiha was retaliating. Not against Danzo directly—but against the Shimura clan.
After all, they couldn't strike Danzo without consequences. But Shimura? They were fair game.
If Uchiha were suffering, then they'd make sure Shimura suffered too.
"I think there's a strong connection."
This wasn't the first time. The same patterns, same manipulations—Danzo using others to provoke the Uchiha. And Uchiha lashing back wherever they could.
And truthfully, the Shimura clan had often played a part in Danzo's schemes.
So Uchiha's retaliation… wasn't entirely unjustified.
"Wait. I'll go see Danzo-sama."
The Patriarch changed his mind. Confronting the Uchiha Police would be a waste of time.
Better to meet Danzo. If he could smooth things over, maybe Uchiha would let the clan members go—perhaps even offer an apology.
He changed quickly and headed for Danzo's compound.
The ANBU guarding the area pretended not to notice him and allowed him to pass.
"Danzo-sama."
Despite being clan head and blood relative, the Patriarch acted like a subordinate before Danzo—bowing deeply, not daring to make eye contact.
"I told you not to visit me during sensitive times."
Danzo's face was thunderous, and his voice sharp.
The Patriarch stiffened. He dared not reply.
After letting the tension hang for a few moments, Danzo sighed and softened his tone.
"Well? What do you want?"
"Danzo-sama, something strange is happening. Since morning, our clan members have been arrested left and right. The police say they're under investigation or suspect them of crimes.
Some even attacked police officers on the street…"
"We can't even visit them," the Patriarch added, trying to steady his voice.
"So you believe this is Uchiha's retaliation," Danzo said coldly, "since they don't dare touch me directly?"
Danzo's expression twisted.
"Heh… Uchiha dares to bare its fangs now?"
He waved his hand, cutting the Patriarch off.
"Let's go. We'll take this to Hiruzen. I'll report everything to him personally."
This kind of blatant retaliation—Uchiha would surely suffer for it.
Maybe they thought they were being clever. But the village's tolerance for Uchiha was not unlimited.
Let them keep acting out. It would only push the Hokage further into Danzo's camp.
Fools.
As he silently ridiculed Uchiha, Danzo also cursed the Shimura clan for their incompetence.
"And you," Danzo said to the Patriarch, "are even more disappointing. You come running to me over this? Can't even handle your own mess."
---
"Patriarch, what did Danzo-sama say?"
Yumu rushed to greet him as he returned.
"He told us to handle it ourselves… and to report it to the Hokage."
The Patriarch's expression was unreadable.
He had gone to beg Danzo for help, but all he received in return was scorn and dismissal.
A bitter truth settled in his heart—Danzo placed himself above the clan. The Shimura name was secondary to his ambitions.
To Danzo, the Shimura clan was disposable. Only his goals mattered.
And in that moment, the Patriarch Shimura realized something:
Danzo was just as selfish as Uchiha claimed.