Naruto: Mastered Your Strategy?

In the night, the bustling streets of Konoha were crowded with people. Two drunken men were brawling, their loud, slurred voices spouting insults. Onlookers gathered, but no one stepped in to intervene.

The tavern owner, feeling unlucky, turned around and headed back into his shop. Before long, members of the police force arrived—recognizable by the blue shuriken and fan insignias on their sleeves. These were the Uchiha clan's police force members. They quickly pulled the two drunk men apart, stopping the fight.

However, instead of gratitude, the drunks cursed at the officers, extending their insults to the very people trying to restore order.

"Get lost, police!"

"Aren't you guys always hiding away?"

"All you know is how to push us common folk around!"

The Uchiha police officers, angered by the insults, slammed the two men to the ground and forcefully subdued them. Their strong-arm tactics made the drunks cry out in pain.

With their hands bound, the two men were hauled away, leaving the crowd to murmur amongst themselves.

"So strict..."

"It was just a drunken brawl."

"Couldn't they have just calmed things down?"

Incidents like these happened frequently, and the villagers' dissatisfaction with the Uchiha police force was growing. The harsh enforcement style was often seen as excessive, but the roots of this animosity stretched back to the Nine-Tails attack years earlier.

After tonight, more complaint letters would surely be sent to the Hokage's office.

"They really just took them away like that, huh?" Kakashi muttered softly.

Standing beside him, Itachi remained silent, his eyes fixed on the scene. He recognized the police officers; they were all members of his clan.

"This sort of thing has been happening more and more lately. People are getting used to it," Kakashi added.

"Everyone really dislikes the Uchiha, don't they?" Itachi finally spoke, his words catching Kakashi off guard.

Kakashi glanced at Itachi, who wore a calm expression. Then, looking at the lingering crowd, Kakashi noticed the cold, distrustful stares directed at the departing police officers—stares full of resentment, dislike, and hostility.

"Not exactly. As enforcers of the law, they're bound to face some misunderstanding and criticism," Kakashi replied.

"Misunderstanding and criticism..." Itachi murmured quietly, reflecting on the words.

"Yes. Those who judge the guilty will always attract hatred."

"…"

"If the Uchiha weren't in charge of the police force, would things be better for them?" Itachi asked, his voice thoughtful.

Kakashi looked at him, puzzled by the question. "Why would you think that? Ever since the Second Hokage created the police force, the Uchiha have always been its stewards."

"But this authority... it doesn't seem to be a good thing," Itachi said, his gaze steady and contemplative.

Kakashi, sensing the weight behind Itachi's words, chose to remain silent.

"Captain, I'm heading back," Itachi said, bowing slightly as he prepared to leave.

"Alright, good work today. See you tomorrow," Kakashi replied.

As Itachi's figure disappeared into the crowd, Kakashi remained in place, watching the dispersing villagers. He understood the deeper meaning behind Itachi's words. There was certainly something off between the village and the Uchiha clan.

Reputation can be a lethal weapon, Kakashi thought, his expression turning somber.

When Itachi arrived home, Sasuke had already returned from school, and Mikoto was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen. After a quick greeting, Itachi headed straight to his father's study.

Uchiha Fugaku, sitting cross-legged at a low table, was sifting through documents. As the head of Konoha's police force, he was constantly occupied with official matters. Without a word, Itachi knelt before him.

"Father."

"Hm," came Fugaku's flat response.

"What was your mission today?" Fugaku asked without looking up.

"A task to eliminate a group of enemy ninja who infiltrated our borders," Itachi answered.

"There will be a clan meeting the day after tomorrow. You are to attend with me," Fugaku informed him.

"But I am scheduled for duty that day," Itachi said.

"No matter. I will speak to the Third Hokage about it," Fugaku replied. "He cannot interfere with our clan's religious affairs."

"…"

"Itachi, you are the bridge between our clan and the village. You must give our people confidence, show them your accomplishments," Fugaku continued.

"I understand," Itachi responded, though he hesitated, as if there was more he wanted to say.

Fugaku noticed his hesitation and frowned slightly. "Is there something on your mind?"

After a brief pause, Itachi spoke, "Today, I saw two villagers resisting arrest, and they got into a confrontation with our clan's police force."

Fugaku looked surprised. "Since when do you concern yourself with police matters?"

"Conflicts between the police force and villagers… these incidents happen frequently, don't they?" Itachi asked.

"This is nothing new. If the villagers obeyed the law, there would be no trouble," Fugaku replied calmly.

"But," Itachi continued, "what do we gain by enforcing these laws?"

Fugaku's eyes narrowed. "Is Shisui teaching you this?"

Itachi froze.

"Are you suggesting that we, the Uchiha, relinquish control of the police force to earn the goodwill of the villagers?"

"…"

Did Shisui say the same thing? Itachi wondered.

"You're being naïve, just like Shisui," Fugaku said slowly. "If the Third Hokage were to announce tomorrow that the Uchiha would no longer oversee the police force, what do you think the villagers would feel?"

Itachi didn't have an answer.

"They would rejoice. They would think we, the Uchiha, had lost power."

"Suspicion doesn't form overnight, and it won't vanish quickly either. Changing the villagers' perception of us would take too long. For the Uchiha now, that's time we don't have," Fugaku stated.

Itachi remained silent, knowing his father was right. His idealistic vision was unrealistic given the Uchiha's current position.

"We were forced to relocate, pushed away from Konoha's center of power. We've been driven down this path."

"But if people want to see us walk it, then the Uchiha will follow it to the end," Fugaku said, his voice calm but his eyes flashing with a cold determination.

"When we seize power, Itachi, you'll see how easy it is to control the thoughts of the villagers."

Fugaku's words weighed heavily on Itachi, making him realize how resolute his father was in his intentions.

"The Uchiha need a Hokage."

"One day, Itachi, you will sit in that seat. Then you'll understand everything I've told you."

The sound of an alarm clock woke Ren. When he opened his eyes, he saw a small head peeking through the window.

"Good morning, Ren! Time to wake up," Tenten called out cheerfully, as she often did before heading to school.

The cold wind that blew in through the open window jolted Ren fully awake. After turning off the alarm, he pulled the blanket over his head.

"Ren, there's a note on your window," Tenten said, noticing a piece of paper weighed down by a stone. She handed it to him, but the writing on it was strange, filled with odd letters.

"What does it say?" Tenten asked curiously, seeing that Ren seemed to understand it.

"Aren't you going to be late for school?" Ren asked, avoiding her question.

"Oh! Bye, Ren!" Tenten suddenly remembered and hurried off, leaving the room.

As the soft morning light illuminated the snow-covered ground outside, Ren examined the note more closely. It was written in a special encrypted script used by the ANBU, and when deciphered, it read:

8 p.m., Naka River.

Someone wanted to meet him.

Who would reach out to me this way? Ren wondered. With Shisui out of the village, who else could it be?

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