Naruto, are you all so good at self-seduction

In the night, the streets of Konoha were bustling with people, and two drunk men were embroiled in a fight.

The two men were hurling all sorts of insults at each other, while onlookers stopped to watch but did not intervene.

The izakaya owner felt a bit cursed and retreated back into the establishment.

Not long after, members of the Konoha Military Police Force arrived on the scene, identifiable by the blue shuriken and uchiwa fan emblem on their sleeves. The police quickly separated the two drunkards and put an end to the altercation.

However, this only further angered the inebriated men, who began to insult the officers who had intervened.

"Get lost, Military Police!"

"Don't you guys love hiding away?"

"You only know how to bully us civilians!"

Hearing this, the Uchiha clan members became furious and forcibly subdued the two men, their rough actions causing the drunkards to scream in pain.

Eventually, the handcuffed drunks were taken away.

The crowd murmured amongst themselves.

"How harsh…"

"It's just a couple of drunks fighting."

"Why not just mediate it?"

Such incidents happened frequently every month, and the law enforcement of the police often left villagers feeling dissatisfied. The root of this negative perception stemmed from the Nine-Tails Incident years ago.

After tonight, yet another series of complaints would likely find their way to the Hokage's office.

"They just take people away like this, huh," Kakashi murmured from the crowd.

Itachi stood silently beside him, quietly observing the scene unfold. The police officers involved were members of his clan; he had seen them before.

"Still, this kind of thing happens often lately; everyone has grown accustomed to it," Kakashi added.

"Everyone hates the Uchiha," Itachi suddenly spoke, surprising Kakashi.

He glanced at Itachi, who remained calm and composed.

Kakashi took a look around at the onlookers, noticing how they gazed at the departing police with expressions full of disdain and resentment.

"It's not unexpected; as enforcers, they're bound to face misunderstandings and criticism," Kakashi replied.

"Misunderstandings and criticism…" Itachi murmured, contemplatively.

"Indeed, those who judge evil will inevitably be resented."

"…"

"If the Uchiha weren't in charge of the police force, would the current situation be better?" Itachi continued.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at Itachi, "Why do you think that? Since the Second Hokage established the police force, it has always been led by members of the Uchiha."

"But that power isn't a good thing," Itachi remarked softly, his gaze steady.

Kakashi chose to remain silent.

"Captain, I'll be leaving now," Itachi said, giving a slight bow as he prepared to depart.

"Okay, good work. See you tomorrow."

Itachi's figure melted into the crowd, while Kakashi remained in place, watching the dispersing people, recognizing the implications behind Itachi's words.

He could sense that there was something off between the village and the Uchiha.

Public opinion could indeed be lethal.

He pondered deeply.

When Itachi returned home, Sasuke had already come back from school, and Mikoto was in the kitchen preparing dinner.

They greeted one another, and Itachi headed directly to his father's study.

He quietly knelt before Uchiha Fugaku.

"Father."

"Hmm."

A mundane reply.

"What is today's mission?" Fugaku asked.

"An extermination mission; a ninja unit infiltrated our borders," Itachi explained.

"There's a clan gathering in two days. You will attend with me," Fugaku stated, nodding.

"But I have duty in two days."

"It's fine; I will discuss this with the Third Hokage," Fugaku assured, "and he cannot interfere with our clan rituals."

"…"

"Itachi, you are the connection between the clan and the village. You need to instill confidence in our clan members and show them your achievements."

"...I understand."

Noticing Itachi hesitating to speak further, Fugaku frowned slightly.

"What's wrong?"

After a moment of contemplation, Itachi slowly spoke, "I saw two villagers refusing to comply with the law today; they got into a conflict with our clan members."

Fugaku appeared somewhat surprised. "Since when did you start caring about the police?"

"Conflicts between the police and villagers happen often, don't they?" Itachi asked.

"Such incidents are commonplace. If villagers consciously obeyed the law, these things wouldn't happen," Fugaku replied lightly.

"But…" Itachi countered, "what have we gained from upholding these laws?"

Fugaku narrowed his eyes. "Did Shisui teach you this?"

Itachi paused momentarily.

"Are you suggesting that we Uchiha should consider relinquishing our control of the police force to gain the goodwill of the villagers?"

"…"

Shisui had said something similar before, hadn't he...

Itachi thought to himself.

"Itachi, you're too naive, just like Shisui," Fugaku said slowly.

"What would the villagers think if the Third Hokage announced tomorrow that the Uchiha clan would no longer be in charge of the police?"

Itachi didn't know how to respond to that.

"Would their attitudes toward the Uchiha change after that?" Fugaku continued.

"No, they would only gloat in their hearts, believing that the Uchiha were losing power."

Itachi fell silent, knowing his father spoke the truth. Given the Uchiha's current situation, his thoughts were overly idealistic.

Because what the Uchiha needed to do right now was to not relinquish control over the police force.

"We've been forced into exile, pushed out of Konoha's centers of power, and gradually forced down this path."

"But since there are those who wish to see us like this, then the Uchiha can walk this path to the end."

As Fugaku spoke, his tone remained calm, but his eyes glinted with a chilling light.

"When we seize power, Itachi, you will discover just how easy it is to guide the thoughts of these villagers."

Fugaku's words made Itachi's heart sink. He could feel the firm conviction behind his father's resolve.

"Thus, the Uchiha need a Hokage."

"One day, Itachi, you will sit in that position too, and then you will understand everything I've said."

The morning alarm awoke Oboro, and upon opening his eyes, he spotted a small head peeking through the window.

"Good morning, Oboro! Time to get up!"

Tenten often called out to him before heading to school.

The cold wind that blew in when the window opened quickly cleared much of Oboro's sleepiness. After turning off the alarm, he pulled the blanket over his head.

"Oboro, there's a note on your window."

Tenten noticed a piece of paper weighed down by a stone. She reached out to take it, but it was covered in strange letters.

"What's this?"

Tenten handed the note over, and after Oboro glanced at it, he was taken aback.

It was ANBU's special cipher code, which translated to—

"8 PM, Naka River."

Someone wanted to meet him.

"What does this mean?" Tenten asked, noticing Oboro seemed to understand.

Their curriculum at the Ninja Academy included lessons on such coding, but she found these strange letters completely baffling.

"Are you skipping school?" Oboro asked mildly.

"Oh! Bye, Oboro!" Tenten suddenly snapped back to reality, turning and rushing away.

The morning light spilled through the window, the ground still covered with unmelted snow.

With Shisui absent from the village, who else would seek him out?

And in such a manner...

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