Uchiha's Taijutsu Supreme

A torrent of air swept across the ground, stirring up dust and leaving the Konoha shinobi standing below looking somewhat disheveled.

They hastily channeled chakra to maintain a semblance of composure, though their efforts only went so far.

*Vroooom...!*

The deafening roar of a colossal steel contraption shook the eardrums of everyone present, a testament to its immense power.

Even the Third Hokage and the nearby Anbu couldn't ignore the intense chakra surging from within the Uchiha fortress.

What drew even more attention was the enormous Uchiha clan crest emblazoned atop the diamond-shaped structure, its crimson half-circle gleaming with a blood-like radiance, captivating every gaze.

Hiruzen, stroking his beard with an air of calm, couldn't entirely mask the astonishment in his eyes. After a moment, he sighed and spoke with a tone of helplessness:

"While it's delightful to have Fūma-kun back in the village, this level of commotion is... excessive. My old heart can hardly take it."

His face held a warm, grandfatherly smile, the streaks of gray in his hair and the deep lines on his face completing the image of a kindly elder.

"Apologies, Third Hokage," Fūma replied with a good-natured laugh as he jumped down from the fortress.

Clapping the Hokage's shoulder with a brotherly air, he said, "I received this as a gift from a friend during my travels across the shinobi world. I hadn't had the chance to report it to the village yet. I hope it didn't cause too much trouble."

Behind them, Koharu twitched her lips, mentally preparing a diatribe:

[The head of the Uchiha clan is disturbing the village's order and should face disciplinary action. He expanded an unapproved structure with potential espionage risks—it must be subjected to a full investigation...]

But before she could speak, she furrowed her brows and stepped back.

Koharu remembered the aftermath of her argument with Fūma during the "Cloud Incident."

Homura and the Hiruzen had both harshly reprimanded her, stripping her of authority and sidelining her for months—nearly forcing her out of Konoha's upper ranks.

[Perhaps it's better to hold my tongue and let the Hiruzen handle it]

Hiruzen, however, found himself in an awkward position. By standard protocol, Fūma's actions violated Konoha's shinobi regulations, disrupted order, and occupied significant public resources.

In theory.

The memory of his old friend, Danzo, being pummeled into the floor of the Uzumaki compound by Fūma like a sack of potatoes still lingered. The thought left him feeling numb.

This Uchiha, unlike any other, was infuriatingly polite. But should words fail, his fists had no regard for status or location. And worse, Fūma always took the moral high ground before striking, often disarming his opponents' arguments entirely.

Take now, for instance. His immediate apology—sincere or not—offered Hiruzen a dignified way out, avoiding a direct confrontation.

Hiruzen glanced over his shoulder at his subordinates. His face darkened as he observed their reactions. 'Those who usually rail against the Uchiha are now retreating faster than anyone else.'

Since Danzo's retirement, the Hokage no longer had anyone willing to boldly charge into situations and play the "bad cop" on his behalf.

Danzo, after all, would've likely faced Fūma head-on—or even Madara—and still delivered Tobirama's old lines about the "evil Uchiha clan."

Behind him, Homura adjusted his aging black-rimmed glasses with his trademark stern expression. Yet his gaze seemed distant. Koharu whispered with an Anbu member, her tone lively but her strategies unclear.

The only one who seemed at ease was Sakumo, who exchanged a casual nod with Fūma, much to the Hokage's dismay.

'None of them are dependable!'

The Hokage sighed internally, forcing a smile. "Fūma, next time, please inform the village in advance for such matters. Let's avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings."

"Ah, of course, my apologies," Fūma replied, waving dismissively. Then he turned to Fugaku and gestured with his hand.

"Call the Police Force members over. There are supplies here for you all. Bring tools—it's quite a haul."

"Yes, Chief Fūma!"

At the mention of "supplies," the eyes of the surrounding shinobi gleamed. Many rooted themselves to the ground, staring intently at the fortress.

As a warrior class, shinobi lacked self-sufficiency, relying on their nations for provisions—rice, flour, oil, kunai, and explosive tags. These resources were often controlled by their governments or certain clans, with even those in charge acting more as intermediaries than producers.

The Third Hokage walked to the fortress and placed his weathered hand on its steel exterior, feeling its cold, unyielding surface. His heart sank.

"This isn't ordinary steel... It's tempered to the point of being forgeable into ninja swords. Melting down the fortress' shell alone could re-equip Konoha's entire ninja force with new tools…"

'Where did the Uchiha get the resources for such extravagance? Even the Daimyo of the Land of Fire couldn't afford something so opulent.'

As the leader of Konoha, he understood the importance of finances—blood and lifeblood to a village. He fought annually with the Daimyo and officials over funding, struggling just to avoid deficits.

The extravagance of Fūma and Orochimaru, however, was another level entirely. To them, a lack of money simply meant "borrowing" directly from Daimyo palaces, taking whatever they wanted with impunity.

"This fortress is impressive," Hiruzen said, trying to keep his tone even. "What is its name, Fūma-kun?"

"It's the Uchiha Fortress," Fūma replied with a smile. "Soon, it will serve as a second base for the Konoha Police Force, hovering in the sky to protect the village."

"That's… wonderful. The Police Force's growth is a source of great pride for us all," Hiruzen replied, his diplomatic tone hiding his unease as his gaze swept over the fortress' intricate design and formidable cannons.

The Third Hokage quietly observed the scene before him. He calculated the capacity of the fortress and found that, even after housing thousands of ninja, it had yet to reach its limit.

"This is a weapon of war," he murmured to himself. "With this thing in existence, there's no way we can afford to turn against the Uchiha Clan..."

Late at night, when he had been pushed to his limit by Fuma's relentless actions, the Third Hokage had once entertained the idea of a full-scale internal war, a final desperate bid to protect Lord Tobirama's legacy, even if it meant civil strife.

But now? Forget it. With something like this, the Uchiha could pack up their entire clan and move into the skies at any moment. They weren't even on the same playing field anymore.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Moments later, dozens of members of the Police Force soared out of the fortress, twisting and turning joyfully in the air.

Even for ninja, the freedom of flying through the sky was a rare and exhilarating experience.

"With gear like this, who could possibly stand against the Uchiha? I'd fly right up to the enemy's face and hit them with a Great Fireball Jutsu!" Uchiha Yatsushiro shouted excitedly.

"Idiot," Uchiha Fugaku snapped. "Don't forget the Aburame Clan. They're our unbreakable allies!"

He turned to Aburame Shikuro, who stood nearby, and offered an apologetic nod. "Don't mind him. The Uchiha and the Aburame are equals in the Police Force, working together for Fuma-san. He's a fair man."

Shikuro adjusted his sunglasses with a faint smile. "Perhaps it's just that the Aburame tend to be… less conspicuous. Yatsushiro-san must have forgotten."

Fugaku didn't hear this, as he was already running into the fortress to claim his own flying gear.

"Look, I told you! The Aburame Clan's insignia is on it too," Fugaku said, returning with two sets of flying gear. He handed one to Shikuro.

On the Uchiha Clan's red-and-white fan emblem, a small spider—representing the Aburame—was engraved. Meanwhile, other Aburame Police Force members carefully painted their clan's emblem on the fortress walls, further cementing the alliance between the two clans.

Shikuro silently accepted the gear, his gaze shifting to the Leaf headbands nearby. His eyes lingered on the Uzumaki swirl, now a relic of a once-great clan that had been erased from history.

"The union of Senju and Uzumaki forged Konoha's unparalleled strength," Shikuro thought. "But they've faded into history, sacrificed for the village. Though noble, it's not a fate I wish for."

He looked at the combined Uchiha-Aburame insignia and shook his head with rare determination.

"That will never happen here. Fuma-sama isn't the type to cut his own flesh to feed eagles. He'll take the enemy's meat and feed it to his own."

With that thought, Shikuro clumsily strapped on the gear and took to the skies, his stoic face momentarily replaced with the joy of flight.

The Third Hokage watched the Aburame ninja's reactions with a dark expression and let out a long sigh.

Fuma's intentions were crystal clear. First, he gathered Konoha's ninja with an ostentatious display. Then, he presented immense benefits while giving the Aburame a significant share of the spotlight.

What was Fuma plotting? His actions were insidious. What did he hope to change, destroy, or overturn?

Grinding his teeth, Hiruzen sidled up to Fuma, speaking as mildly as he could.

"Fuma-kun, could you introduce this 'friend' of yours to the village? These flying tools are of immense strategic value. Perhaps we could arrange mass production?"

Fuma smiled faintly, feigning surprise. "Oh, Hokage-sama, you actually believed that story? I only said that to set a good example for the village."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "The truth is, I stole these."

The Hokage stiffened, his composure threatening to break. Fuma's voice wasn't quiet, and nearby ninja began casting curious glances.

"If you stole them, which village created these inventions? Losing something so valuable could easily lead to war, you know. Konoha just signed a peace treaty with the Cloud. We can't risk another conflict over something so trivial."

The Hokage's tone grew sharper, his words edged with a veiled accusation.

"Heh."

Fuma waved a dismissive hand. "Relax, Hokage-sama. It wasn't from any major village. I came across an unknown ninja village during my travels. They attacked me first."

"As for war? That won't happen. I wiped the village off the map—left no trace."

The Hokage fell silent, his face pale. After a long pause, he managed to mumble, "Violence only breeds chains of hatred… We must pursue peace."

Around them, the gathered ninja couldn't hide their growing excitement. The flying tools were a game-changer. For stealth, reconnaissance, and survival, they were unmatched.

"Of course, I can't spare any for the Anbu," Fuma said cheerfully. "But I don't mind letting a few students at the Academy try them out. It's important to inspire the next generation."

The Hokage's heart sank further. Fuma's offer struck at his greatest fear, yet he couldn't refuse. Parents among the ninja cheered. No one cared about Fuma's deeper intentions; they only saw a chance for their children to gain an advantage.

In the crowd, someone sighed wistfully. Another clicked their tongue.

"Man, this is amazing…" someone finally said aloud, voicing what everyone was thinking.

Fuma smiled knowingly.

Konoha's diplomatic strategy had always been peculiar—generous to outsiders, ruthless to its own. The village had won three Ninja Wars but never claimed reparations, weakening itself with each victory.

Meanwhile, villages like the Cloud thrived through aggression and self-interest, uniting their people through shared strength.

Watching Fuma's actions, a flicker of rebellion ignited in the hearts of Konoha's ninja.

"What if we could take some for ourselves too? My family could really use it…"

Even Hyuga Yuto, a proud but desperate member of the Hyuga Clan, couldn't suppress his admiration.

"This is the kind of leader we need," he thought, his resolve hardening. "Fuma-sama can save not just the Hyuga, but all of Konoha. I need to find a way to earn his favor."

As plans and schemes swirled in the minds of Konoha's ninja, the Third Hokage, his face dark and clouded, turned and walked back to the Hokage Residence.