"The competence of the Konoha Military Police Force remains as reassuring as ever."
Konoha, Hokage Building.
On the other end of the crystal ball.
Having concluded his surveillance, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a sigh that seemed genuinely heartfelt.
He had been watching all day.
Throughout the day, the Konoha Military Police Force had resolved numerous cases, both major and minor—from brawls between enraged gamblers in casinos to squabbles between elderly women in the marketplace.
Wherever conflict or chaos arose, the Military Police Force arrived at the scene with unmatched speed.
Thanks to their efforts, Konoha's internal affairs remained...
Unshakably stable.
Yet as the Hokage, the leader of the village, his perspective could not be so narrow.
An elite force capable of reaching any corner of Konoha in an instant...
This was also a testament to the Uchiha clan's power.
The Uchiha were akin to a blade—a cursed blade.
Externally, one could trust its sharpness to slay enemies and defend the village with unstoppable force.
But when such a blade lay hidden within the village...
Sarutobi Hiruzen, along with Konoha's higher-ups, could not help but wonder:
Would this blade one day shatter Konoha into pieces?
Or worse...
When would the Uchiha turn their blade against Konoha itself?
Especially after the night of the Nine-Tails' rampage.
A clan capable of controlling the Nine-Tails with genjutsu...
He took a long drag from his pipe and exhaled slowly, filling the spacious office with swirling smoke.
"Starting today, you will remain within the clan unless assigned critical missions."
After a prolonged silence, the elderly man who had reclaimed the title of Hokage issued a nearly inaudible command.
It was an order, yet it sounded more like a lament.
A shadow flickered across the empty floor.
A man in Konoha's green flak jacket emerged, his face concealed by an animal mask, with naturally curly hair.
"Yes."
"Hokage-sama."
The man was Uchiha Shisui—the sole Uchiha in Konoha's Anbu.
Shisui responded calmly before removing his mask.
The face bearing a striking resemblance to an old comrade softened Hiruzen's gaze momentarily.
"Though regrettable, I must ask this of you."
"Report any unusual activity within the Uchiha clan to me immediately."
Hiruzen repeated the order, his voice now heavy with exhaustion.
.......
The following morning.
Breakfast time as usual.
The Fugaku family of four sat together, the scene warm and harmonious.
Yet Itachi couldn't shake the feeling that something was... off.
Ever since he'd escorted Haruko back to the clan compound yesterday and rushed to the Military Police Force headquarters, his father's expression had become inscrutable.
For the first time, Itachi detected disappointment and resignation in his father's eyes.
"School today?"
As Itachi prepared to leave after breakfast, Fugaku suddenly inquired.
Itachi paused. "Yes, Father."
"I see..." Fugaku stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Work hard."
The mundane advice carried an inexplicable weight.
Itachi felt unsettled but couldn't pinpoint why.
Just as he was about to respond, Fugaku rummaged in his pocket and produced a stack of banknotes.
"Itachi, you've grown up."
"Though unrelated to training, managing finances is also essential for a shinobi."
"Remember: gifts are permissible, but never forget the three prohibitions."
With a meaningful smile, Fugaku placed the money on the table.
Mother Mikoto, cradling little Sasuke, chuckled and left the room.
At the dining table, Itachi's face was a canvas of confusion...
.......
Elsewhere.
Deep in the forest.
While Itachi was still receiving his allowance over breakfast, Qingchuan had already completed his routine 500-sword training.
The early bird catches the worm—time waits for no one.
Drenched in sweat, his blood circulation fully activated, Qingchuan closed his eyes, regulating his breath while sensing his surroundings.
No one within five kilometers.
Then...
"O ruler! Mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and chaos, seaward surges, advance unchallenged!"
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"
BOOM!!!!!!
The childish yet ethereal incantation culminated in a deafening explosion that ravaged the forest, leaving devastation in its wake.
Qingchuan stared excitedly at the destruction he'd wrought.
"This power..."
"Is fucking exhilarating!"
With his Shikai mastery past the halfway mark, Qingchuan's progress accelerated. In just a month, he could now barely unleash a mid-level Kidō spell.
"Though the incantation's a hassle."
He clicked his tongue and shrugged.
He had no chuunibyou habit of shouting attack names mid-battle—wearing women's clothing had already exhausted his lifetime quota of shame.
Yet the chant served to condense spiritual energy. Until he fully mastered Kidō or achieved precise control over his reiryoku, incantations remained indispensable.
For now, omitting the chant would render the Hadō spiritually hollow and weaker.
But perhaps a toned-down Shakkahō could masquerade as a Gōkakyū...
Currently, he'd all but abandoned chakra cultivation.
Though he'd briefly considered merging the two power systems, the complexity and time constraints forced him to abandon the idea.
Yes.
Even in drag.
He remained a man of singular focus.