Uchiha Keizumi had just returned to Konohagakure when he learned that Uchiha Fugaku had already resigned from his positions as clan head and captain.
This also meant that the entire Uchiha clan was now in a state of leaderless disarray.
But what was unexpected was that, despite having no leader, the Uchiha clan and the Konohagakure Police Force had not fallen into even the slightest chaos.
Everything remained as orderly and methodical as ever.
This situation perfectly highlighted how dispensable Uchiha Fugaku had become.
"Keizumi-senpai, that's how things stand now."
After speaking until her mouth went dry, Izumi continued, "Senpai, right now many Uchiha clansmen hope that you can take up the position of Chief Captain of the Konohagakure Police Force and lead the Police Force toward Absolute Justice. As for the vacant position of Uchiha clan head, the clansmen are still discussing who should take that seat."
"Keizumi-sama, I truly believe you should take the position of Chief Captain of the Police Force," one Uchiha jōnin said. "Only you can command everyone's respect. If you sit in that seat, no one will object."
Another Uchiha jōnin advised, "If Keizumi-sama doesn't take that position, there's a chance that the ousted Uchiha Fugaku might start stirring again."
"That man still retains a trace of prestige within the Uchiha clan. If he regains his position, his ideology will definitely obstruct the Absolute Justice of the Uchiha."
Uchiha Keizumi was too lazy to refuse. Whether viewed in the short term or the long term—
Taking the seat of Chief Captain of the Konohagakure Police Force would indeed help the power of Absolute Justice to take root and spread within Konohagakure.
"Alright."
The brief word that came from Uchiha Keizumi's mouth meant that the position of Chief Captain of the Konohagakure Police Force had officially changed hands.
And this news soon spread throughout Konohagakure.
…
The first to learn of it was Sarutobi Hiruzen. He slowly stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked to the window, gazing out at the scenery.
From the upper floors of the Hokage Building, he could overlook most of Konohagakure.
As he looked at the bustling crowds along the village's streets, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and murmured, "Certain rules and structures of Konohagakure will be rewritten after today."
The Chief Captain of the Konohagakure Police Force possessed a certain degree of authority to independently formulate laws unique to the village.
Uchiha Fugaku, in the past, had never abused that power.
Because Fugaku believed that arbitrarily revising the laws would inevitably arouse suspicion among the village's higher-ups, and all his efforts would be wasted because of his own actions.
It was precisely because of Fugaku's "restraint" that Sarutobi Hiruzen had once admired him.
But now, the "restrained" Fugaku had been forced to step down—
Replaced by the "radical" Uchiha Keizumi.
"Hah…" Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled another heavy sigh. "With Keizumi's extreme nature, he'll definitely issue a series of highly radical laws within the village to align with his Absolute Justice. The greatest problem is, it's hard for me to oppose him, because that is his right. And opposing him will inevitably lead to conflict."
There was one more thing Sarutobi Hiruzen left unsaid—among all of Konohagakure, there were probably very few people left who would dare oppose Uchiha Keizumi's Absolute Justice!
If Sarutobi Hiruzen were to "charge forward" himself, there might be hardly anyone left standing behind him!
And that was the most fatal part.
…
"What? Uchiha Keizumi has become the Chief Captain of the Konohagakure Police Force? Did he get the Hokage's approval? Did he get the approval of the senior advisers? He just became Chief Captain like that?!"
Inside Konoha Prison.
Although Utatane Koharu and a number of Root shinobi had been temporarily detained there, some Root shinobi still served as Koharu's eyes and ears, passing information from the outside into Konoha Prison one piece at a time.
Utatane Koharu had long known that Uchiha Fugaku had been forced to abdicate.
But she had not expected that the one to succeed him would be Uchiha Keizumi.
"Has Hiruzen really decided not to intervene at all? Letting that little extremist of justice step into power—how can that possibly be acceptable? The Chief Captain's position is already second only to the very highest ranks in Konoha!"
Utatane Koharu's expression flickered between gloom and agitation.
A Root shinobi bowed his head and reported, "At present, there has been no visible action from Hokage-sama. He seems to have chosen silent observation—neither approval nor opposition."
Utatane Koharu felt a headache coming on.
"Hiruzen… when dealing with members of his own clan, even with me, he's always been so forceful. But when it comes to Uchiha Keizumi, how has he suddenly become so indecisive?"
"Is he ultimately afraid of that brat's strength? Or has he already given up on resisting Absolute Justice? Is he not afraid that the Will of Fire will be pushed aside and replaced by Absolute Justice?"
Utatane Koharu ground her teeth.
Never before had she felt that Sarutobi Hiruzen had performed so unworthily as Hokage as she did today.
In the history of Konoha, when had there ever been a Hokage so pressured by a single Uchiha shinobi that he had to shrink back and do nothing? If Tobirama-sensei were still alive, he would probably die of rage at Hiruzen!
…
And just as this piece of news was spreading through the village, another equally explosive report struck everyone in Konoha like a hammer to the head.
—The murderer who had killed the Hokage's daughter-in-law had already been found. It had all been a farce self-directed and self-acted by Sarutobi Nadeshiko herself, with the intent of throwing the village into internal chaos and using it to kill by proxy! Moreover, several shinobi within the Sarutobi clan had been deeply involved, even conspiring with spies from Kumogakure to achieve it!
The whole of Konoha instantly fell into an uproar!
The members of the Sarutobi clan who had earlier been worked up and ready to cause trouble were now all struck dumb, as if turned to mutes.
The gates of the Sarutobi clan compound were tightly shut.
All members of the Sarutobi clan convened a clan meeting—
A meeting without Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"...This is the truth uncovered by the Hokage's ANBU shinobi. And Hokage-sama has already made this truth public. The face of our Sarutobi clan has been utterly disgraced."
An elder of the Sarutobi clan, his old face grim, slowly spoke: "In the eyes of others, there are now three missing-nin within our Sarutobi clan. Everyone, speak your thoughts."
Once the elder's words fell—
A younger Sarutobi clan shinobi could no longer contain himself and stood up at once.
Clenching his teeth, he said, "I don't believe this so-called truth! Hokage-sama must have been deceived by false information! There must be someone in the ANBU who bears hatred toward our Sarutobi clan! They're framing us!"
"Nadeshiko-sama and her husband are the Hokage's right and left hands. She has always been absolutely loyal to Konoha and has upheld the Will of Fire to the fullest! How could she possibly cooperate with spies from Kumogakure just for revenge?"
"Besides, the so-called evidence was obtained through the Yamanaka Clan's memory search, wasn't it? Everyone knows that the Yamanaka Clan has already become the lapdogs of Absolute Justice!"
"How could the Hokage so easily believe evidence provided by a pack of justice lapdogs? I just don't understand!"
After finishing this outburst, the man sat down heavily, panting for breath.
At this, another Sarutobi clan shinobi spoke in a low tone: "Even if Hokage-sama doesn't want to believe it, he has no choice but to. Because Uchiha Keizumi's power has already grown so great that not even the Hokage's own strength can contend with it."
His words were shockingly irreverent: "This is the Hokage's own weakness and indecisiveness born of his frailty! He's already old!"
No one refuted what the Sarutobi shinobi said.
Even though some faces showed hesitation—
None of them said anything further.
The general thought among the members of the Sarutobi clan was nothing more than this—Even if, taking ten thousand steps back, the Sarutobi clan truly was at fault, isn't the Hokage himself also a Sarutobi? What's wrong with shielding a few clansmen? If even that can't be done, it only shows he no longer regards the clan at all!
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen had foreseen from the beginning—no matter what choice he made, it would bring negative consequences.
And this time, his reputation and prestige within the Sarutobi clan had already fallen to rock bottom.
Whether what he did was right or wrong, in the eyes of many Sarutobi shinobi, his actions were already—those of the highest-ranking member of the Sarutobi clan turning his back on his own kin!