"Police academy?" Nara Shikaku's brows furrowed deeply.
"Isn't it normal to establish a police academy?" asked Akimichi Choza and Yamanaka Inoichi, both puzzled.
For them, family jutsu and techniques were highly confidential, passed down orally through generations and never shared outside the clan. The Uchiha Clan had long overseen the Konoha Police Force, so building a training institution for their successors seemed perfectly logical. Why the concern?
"It's not that it's unreasonable," Shikaku replied, "it's that it's highly unusual. Look closely—this initiative isn't just for the Uchiha or even Konoha. They're opening admissions to the entire ninja world."
"You know what that means? It means they're inviting people from the Five Great Nations and all five Hidden Villages."
"That's outrageous!" Inoichi exclaimed. "Even if the Uchiha want that, Lord Hokage would never allow outsiders to manage Konoha's law enforcement."
"But opening it only to Konoha citizens? That's completely feasible," Shikaku added.
"So the Uchiha are really going all in?" Choza and Inoichi exchanged a look of disbelief.
Most clans were desperate to fill their departments with their own people. Yet the Uchiha were throwing open their doors to outsiders? Was it foolishness—or selflessness?
Shikaku stared at the intel in his hand, thinking for a long moment. "There are two possibilities. One: the Uchiha suffered heavy losses last night from internal strife and can no longer maintain public order alone, so they're looking to cooperate with other clans."
"Two: they're signaling weakness to the Hokage, offering to relinquish part of their power in hopes of regaining the leadership's trust—and reaching out to us for support, hoping to reintegrate fully into Konoha."
"Either scenario aligns with why Fugaku visited our three clans late last night."
"Now that you mention it…" Inoichi said, eyes narrowing, "Isn't Itachi technically a direct subordinate of Danzo in Root? Could it be that after Fugaku stepped down, the Uchiha decided to throw in with Danzo?"
"Impossible," Shikaku said flatly. "Danzo has always seen the Uchiha as a thorn in his side. At best, he ignores them. Offering an olive branch? Unthinkable."
"Besides, the Uchiha are proud and arrogant. There's no way they'd go crawling to someone like Danzo."
"There's only one real possibility—they've chosen to back the Third Hokage," Shikaku declared. "Find out what Itachi and Fugaku did today. And why the Inuzuka Clan is cooperating with the Uchiha!"
"Get your clan's people in ANBU and Root moving."
"If I'm right, Itachi's already resigned from Root and rejoined ANBU. He's picked a side—and it's the Hokage's."
"Understood." Choza and Inoichi got up, stepped outside, whispered instructions to their clan members standing guard, and in the next instant, a few figures darted away from the Nara compound.
Once back at the table, Choza frowned. "But Shikaku, I don't get it. Danzo clearly has the upper hand right now. Why would the Uchiha choose sides so early? Are they really that reckless?"
"Danzo? Upper hand?" Shikaku chuckled. "Danzo has no real advantage. Outside of Root and the Shimura Clan, he has nothing."
"All his power comes from the Hokage. And the Hokage can take it away with a single word."
"The Uchiha surely understand this, which is why they've placed their bet so decisively."
"But what I don't get," Shikaku continued, "is why Danzo would go so far—openly accusing the Hokage of conducting human experiments—when he knows he can't win. Did he really think Hiruzen wouldn't retaliate?"
"Or maybe... he has an ace up his sleeve?"
Just as he said that, a Nara clansman returned with a report.
"Report!"
"According to our sources in ANBU, Root led a crowd of villagers to publicly denounce the Third Hokage earlier—and exposed the fact that Yamato can use Wood Release."
"The Hokage flew into a rage and immediately ordered a crackdown. The Root ringleaders were executed on the spot."
"Right now, Kakashi is leading ANBU, and Uchiha Itachi is commanding the Konoha Police Force. Together, they've surrounded Root HQ and are moving in to apprehend Danzo and wipe out the Shimura Clan."
"So... war has officially broken out between the Hokage and Danzo?" Shikaku murmured.
"What do we do now?" Choza asked directly.
"What do we do?" Shikaku gave a small smirk. "We do nothing. Just wait and enjoy the show."
"The Uchiha made their move early because they want to get closer to the Hokage. Think about it—if Danzo falls, the position of Hokage's advisor will be vacant."
"You think... the Uchiha want that position?" Choza and Inoichi were stunned.
"They won't get advisor, but they'll definitely get a seat on the council," Shikaku said, stroking his chin. "But that's not easy to obtain."
"They'll have to prove themselves—by spilling their own blood for the Hokage. I'm betting the Uchiha are already attacking the Shimura Clan and Root."
"Then should we—?" Inoichi and Choza began.
Shikaku raised a hand. "Same answer: don't get involved."
"But we can send some of our branch members to enroll in the Uchiha's police academy."
"After all, the more Uchiha die, the more openings our clans will have later."
"But what if the Hokage or Danzo resents us for not choosing a side?" Choza and Inoichi asked.
"Who says we haven't chosen?" Shikaku smiled slyly. "Whoever wins—we support them. Until there's a clear victor, just have your clan members 'accidentally' run into the others on the field."
"Fake it. You know how."
"Our clan traits are so distinct, our fighting style so predictable—whether it's Root or ANBU, just put on a show. No one will die. Call it... inter-clan sparring."
"Oh, that makes sense," Choza and Inoichi nodded in sudden understanding.
Root Headquarters.
Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi led ANBU and the Konoha Police Force to encircle the compound from all sides.
"Konoha Police Force—official investigation!"
"Everyone inside, listen up! You're surrounded!"
"If you want to live, drop your weapons, bind your hands, and come out one by one—don't make us use force!"
"Men on the left, women on the right. If you're neither, stand in the middle!"
"Confess and be treated leniently. Resist and suffer the consequences!"
"Cooperate now and you might walk out alive!"
The Uchiha Clan led the charge.
Without hesitation, they stormed into the compound. Traps? Ambushes? They didn't care.
Any resistance was met with swift, lethal force—one strike, one kill.
ANBU agents twitched nervously at the sight.
Kakashi: "…"
ANBU: "…"
Do the Uchiha always go this hard during arrests?
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin