"Evil Uchiha kid, you're fine."
Danzo's cold and expressionless face didn't waver, despite the hostile, resentful glares from the Uchiha clansmen surrounding him. In front of everyone, he casually labeled Yan as "evil" and deliberately included a jab at the Uchiha as a whole.
"Thank you for the compliment, Master Assistant. But may I ask what business brings Master Assistant to me today?"
Yan, unbothered by Danzo's disparaging words, only smiled calmly.
"I still have a task to attend to. Too many shadowy rats and venomous snakes lurk in the village's gutters. If I'm not cautious, these beasts will jump out and bite. For the safety of Konoha, as Captain of the Police Department, I must remain vigilant."
Come on, let's trade jabs. You can't openly touch me anyway.
Cursing inwardly, I, Uchiha Hiko, fear no one.
"Where are the old man's people?"
Having just insulted Yan, Danzo found himself the target of Yan's sharp metaphors—rats, snakes, and other crawling filth. Not adept at such verbal warfare, Danzo moved on and bluntly stated his real purpose.
"People?"
Yan feigned ignorance.
"Who are you referring to? Did you perhaps mistake the Police Department for your own office? You might want to check at home."
Then, as though realizing something, Yan suddenly slapped his forehead and widened his eyes in mock alarm.
"Oh! I forgot. You don't have a home, do you? You're still loyally serving the village, a widower with no descendants."
"Uchiha Hiko!!"
Danzo erupted in fury.
The Police Department doesn't have one. Why not try Konoha Prison?
Yan had openly mocked him in front of so many people, even going so far as to satirize him as a lonely old man without a family. It was a cutting insult, one that struck deeper than any blade.
"Uchiha Hiko!"
A loud rebuke cut through the air. Fuyake had finally arrived, having been urgently notified, and he shouted sharply at Yan.
"What are you doing?! Why are you being so disrespectful to the Assistant? Shouldn't you be on patrol? Have you forgotten your duties?"
Well done.
Yan almost wanted to give Fugaku a standing ovation. For once, the always-reserved clan head had taken a firm stance—albeit subtly.
With a silent smile, Yan shrugged at Danzo, feigning helplessness. He raised his hands and backed away with casual grace.
"Then I won't trouble the clan head or the esteemed assistant any longer."
"Third Team, move out. Let's not inconvenience the elderly. You know how moody they can get when they're childless and alone. One wrong word and they might bite."
"…"
The Uchiha team members lowered their heads and followed Yan silently. Some did their best to suppress their laughter, while others simply didn't dare show any expression.
Zhi Yan, a hulking man in the team, had to hunch over slightly, his shoulders shaking with the effort not to burst into laughter.
Yan had set a new precedent within the Uchiha clan.
Every member of the Uchiha who knew anything about Danzo—his tactics, his history, and his methods—despised him to the core.
But reality was cruel. No one dared act openly against him. All they could do was bury their rage and hatred deep in their hearts.
Yan, however, did not abide by those rules.
Danzo called him a brat, so he called him an old fossil.
Danzo labeled him an evil Uchiha, so he labeled Danzo a rat and a snake slithering through filth.
He hadn't used Danzo's name explicitly.
If Danzo insisted on believing the insults were directed at him, well then… Yan could only apologize for his imagination.
To most clansmen, Danzo was a major figure in the village's leadership. But to Yan, he was nothing but a stinking relic.
As long as Danzo didn't resort to underhanded tricks, Yan wouldn't bother with him.
Even if Danzo did try to use dirty methods, Fugaku would intervene. If anything happened to Yan, it would cost the clan head the confidence of the Uchiha people.
As Yan's unofficial shield, Uchiha Fugaku wasn't pleased with the situation but could only endure it.
That's why the moment he received the alert, he rushed over and loudly scolded Yan in public, pretending to act in discipline but really shielding him.
"Clan Head Fugaku, your Uchiha clan truly shows no respect for authority!"
Danzo, fuming and humiliated by Yan's performance, now redirected his wrath at Fugaku.
"Please, calm yourself, my lord. Yan is still a child. I will discipline him thoroughly. I guarantee this won't happen again."
Uchiha Fugaku maintained his composed demeanor. The matter had gone this far, and all he could do now was try to smooth things over.
"Hmph." Danzo scoffed coldly.
"There won't be a next time. Now hand over my people."
The threat behind his words was crystal clear—he wouldn't hesitate to kill Yan at the first opportunity.
So that's what he came for—his people.
Fugaku had already guessed this. Luckily, during last night's arrest, he had planned for this outcome.
"My lord, there are no personnel affiliated with you in the Police Department. However, two unidentified assailants attacked Captain Yan last night and were detained. They have since been transferred to Konoha Prison. Perhaps you could check there?"
"You…"
My people? Unidentified? Imprisoned?
Danzo could barely contain himself. What he hated most was having his operatives caught and publicly detained.
"Well done. The old man will remember this."
Danzo was a high-ranking official of the village. He couldn't swear and curse like Yan. He could only suppress his fury, his face twitching.
The captives were already in prison, and the Third Hokage had no doubt received word. The thought of being embarrassed in front of Hiruzen made Danzo tremble with murderous rage.
With one final venomous glare at Fugaku, Danzo turned on his heel and walked away, the thudding of his cane echoing ominously.
---
Quan was numb. Her entire body felt frozen. She'd thought her first day would go smoothly. But what had she just witnessed?
Her captain had stood face-to-face with one of Konoha's highest-ranking elders and insulted him!
The Assistant to the Hokage!
She followed behind Yan in a daze, her mind unable to process the events, and she couldn't even remember what district the Third Team was supposed to patrol.
"What? Scared?"
Yan stopped outside a small food stall and bought several skewers of meatballs, handing a few to her.
"T-Thank you, Captain…"
It took Quan several seconds to react. She accepted the food and bowed deeply.
With the skewers in hand, she stared in conflict. Should she eat them or save them?
Eventually, she gave in. The smell was too tempting. She bit down gently and chewed slowly.
After two skewers, her spirits began to lift. She was no longer trembling with fear.
Apparently, sweets really did improve one's mood.
"People seem… afraid of us."
Only then did Quan notice the way the villagers reacted to them. As she and Yan walked the streets, people either stepped aside or cast cold, resentful stares their way.
"Yes."
Now that she was officially a member of the Police Department, this would become her daily reality. As her captain, Yan felt it necessary to explain.
"That fear is the result of the Police Department's reputation. Most of our duties involve dealing with trouble. We uphold the law. That rarely wins people's love. Over time, fear and hostility grew."
"Some say they're afraid of Uchiha. That's not entirely true."
Yan shook his head solemnly.
"These villagers don't fear the Uchiha clan. They fear the Police Department."
"Of course, part of this stems from how we operate. We move as a family unit. That never sits well with others. You probably felt this before—even back in the academy."
Izumi nodded quietly. She'd experienced it firsthand.
Commoner children avoided her because she was Uchiha. Clan kids shunned her because of her status.
"And those who glare at us with hatred… likely have had run-ins with the Police Department before, or have friends or relatives who were arrested."
"Many claim we're abusive, or that we target civilians. Most of these claims come from those unwilling to accept the consequences of their actions."
"They can't fight back. So instead, they slander us. They complain. They sow resentment."
Being responsible for law and order meant constantly making enemies. Over time, it took its toll.
And the village? It never publicized the good Uchiha did.