Chapter 16 "The Worth of the Uchiha"
Konoha's Eighth Street was almost filled with small shops run by the Uchiha clan.
Many Uchiha civilians who had no talent for becoming ninjas made their living through business here.
Since last week, the number of Uchiha patrolling Eighth Street had tripled.
Countless Uchiha team members now walked back and forth, and in the event of any public disturbance, they arrived on the scene with lightning speed.
In recent days, the merchants had noticed something unusual—business on Eighth Street had boomed.
There were far more customers than usual, especially today.
The sudden influx overwhelmed many of the store owners.
Upon inquiring, they discovered the cause:
The security team members from First to Fourth Streets had been completely replaced.
They were no longer members of the Hyuga clan, and the new enforcers were cold-blooded and ruthless.
No matter the reason for a dispute, if a conflict broke out, people were usually arrested on the spot.
Their methods were brutal—broken limbs and severe injuries had become common.
The civilians from those areas grew silent and scared, choosing instead to do their shopping in the Fifth to Eighth Streets.
The Fifth to Seventh were under Hyuga control.
The Eighth belonged to the Uchiha.
That day, Uchiha Tatsuya received an order from the deputy clan leader: all suspended Uchiha were to revisit the streets they had previously patrolled.
Though the order was confusing, the Uchiha—bored after being suspended—took the opportunity to stretch their legs and visit the village.
What none of them expected was the reaction.
The shop owners who once looked at them like filth were now watching them with hopeful eyes.
It was like seeing a beloved relative return.
Before, they had either spat at them or taken detours to avoid them.
Now, they eagerly approached and started conversations.
When Uchiha Tatsuya walked near Izakaya, the owner greeted him enthusiastically.
"Captain Tatsuya! Is it your turn to patrol again?"
Tatsuya blinked, confused. Still, he responded patiently.
"I've been suspended. I'm no longer part of the security team. I'm just taking a walk."
The izakaya owner grabbed his hand tightly and pleaded,
"No, you can't be suspended. You Uchiha were the best thing about the security team!"
Tatsuya was both amused and baffled.
He had dealt with this particular shop owner countless times before.
The man used to act all high and mighty, complaining daily.
They'd say things like, "The Uchiha guards just eat and drink for free!"
Now they were saying the Uchiha were the best?
"Let me go..." Tatsuya muttered, uncomfortable.
"I have been suspended. Too many complaints piled up. The deputy chief said I'm not allowed to return."
"I'll withdraw the complaint!" the owner cried out. "I'll take it back! Please, can you Uchiha come back on duty?"
Embarrassed, Tatsuya quickly formed hand seals and used the Body Flicker Technique to escape the desperate grasp.
He fled the area in haste, but strangely, his heart felt lighter.
All the resentment he had been carrying started to fade away.
Similar scenes played out across other streets once patrolled by the Uchiha.
Former guards were now warmly welcomed.
When it became clear they weren't there to resume duty, shop owners were visibly disappointed.
They said all kinds of sweet things, begging them to return to work.
If the Uchiha weren't so quick on their feet, they might've been mobbed by grateful citizens.
These Uchiha had been hawks—firm in enforcing rules, unafraid of offending people.
And yet now, the very people who once cursed them were begging for their return.
A long-forgotten warmth filled their hearts.
Maybe… maybe they were needed after all.
Had their absence finally made people see their value?
Some were even tempted to beg the clan leader to let them return to the guard.
After all, the captain of the guard was Uchiha Fugaku.
If he said the word, they'd be reinstated.
Later that day, several suspended Uchiha went to request an audience with the clan leader.
When Fugaku heard what they said, he felt like he was trapped in a genjutsu.
He neither agreed nor refused.
Instead, he simply told them to continue resting.
Afterwards, he summoned Kaien, Shisui, and Itachi.
Kaien had spent the last few days training intensely, with Itachi often joining him.
Shisui, recently recovered from injury, was easing back into recovery exercises.
All three arrived quickly.
"Sit down," Fugaku said, nodding to Kaien and Itachi before turning to Shisui.
"How's the recovery going?"
"Thank you for your concern, Chief," Shisui replied, sitting upright with his usual seriousness.
"I've mostly recovered and resumed light training."
Fugaku turned to Kaien.
"Did you send those people out?"
Kaien smirked.
"Well, are they stirring up trouble?"
Fugaku nodded, impressed.
"Your little scheme worked. The people who once looked down on them are now clinging to them, begging for their return."
Kaien looked at Shisui and Itachi.
"What did you two observe these past few days?"
Both had been watching the developments closely, afraid the suspended Uchiha would cause trouble.
But after the first two days, things had taken a surprising turn.
Itachi said, "Senior, you've demonstrated how irreplaceable the Uchiha are."
Shisui added, "Senior, I feel like we're needed."
…..
Kaien nodded.
These two weren't hopeless, after all.
They were still young—barely in their teens.
In another world, they would've been middle schoolers.
This was the time when their worldviews were being shaped.
Without guidance, even geniuses could turn into fools.
Just look at how easily Danzo had manipulated them—or how they were brainwashed by the so-called Will of Fire.
Fugaku interrupted the conversation.
"Some clan members are requesting to return to the guard. What do you think, Kaien?"
Kaien rolled his eyes.
"Not a good idea."
Shisui hesitated.
"But… many villagers are desperate for us to return."
Itachi remained silent, waiting.
He knew Kaien would explain.
Kaien reached out and playfully ruffled Shisui's hair.
"Shisui, have you already forgotten what happened to you? Forgotten how your eye was stolen?"
"Humans forget pain far too easily."
"If the Uchiha return now, everything will just repeat."
"Sure, the villagers will welcome us at first. But eventually, they'll go back to their old ways."
"Until the root problem is dealt with, nothing we do matters."
Fugaku listened to Kaien with a sigh.
Sometimes, he felt too soft to truly protect the clan.
But thankfully, they had Kaien.
Itachi looked up.
"Then what is the 'root' of the problem, Senior?"
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Translated By – Ancient Lores
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