"Clan Head, that was truly a masterful battle of words…"
Uchiha Yashiro spoke with a mix of admiration and amusement.
Uchiha Tekka and Uchiha Inabi at the side also nodded silently in agreement.
However, Uchiha Fugaku shook his head.
"Do you really think the Hokage came only because of Qianyu?"
"Hm? Wasn't that the case?"
"Qianyu's matter was merely a pretext."
"He was most likely testing the entire Uchiha clan's attitude…"
The hot-tempered Uchiha Tekka blurted out, "What do you mean by that, Clan Head?"
Fugaku replied calmly, "It's very simple. If we were submissive—if we even bound Qianyu and handed him over, allowing the Hokage to deal with him however he pleased—what do you think he would have thought?"
"And if, like just now, we completely ignored his deeper intentions and went all out to protect Qianyu—what would he think then?"
"In his eyes, we'd be either weak… or stubborn."
Yashiro nodded slowly. "So, Clan Head chose to appear stubborn…"
"It wasn't my choice," Fugaku sighed. "I had no choice at all."
"I can't truly hand Qianyu over to Sarutobi…"
The room fell silent.
Uchiha Inabi sighed softly. "Let's just hope Qianyu can understand the Clan Head's good intentions…"
Fugaku smiled faintly.
"You really think he couldn't foresee this outcome?"
"Sometimes, you're all fooled by his cold, extreme exterior…"
"That man has probably already calculated every move Sarutobi and I would make."
The others exchanged uneasy glances.
Qianyu was terrifying enough—but to think that, in the Clan Head's eyes, he was this terrifying…
…
[Chakra increased by +3. Current chakra: 650.]
"Hm?"
"Three points of chakra in one night…"
"Looks like my chakra refinement technique has improved quite a bit."
Uchiha Qianyu nodded in satisfaction.
Normally, an average jōnin's chakra reserves hovered around two hundred points.
His own chakra level was already far above that.
Of course, this was only in relative terms—he still couldn't compare to those chakra monsters.
Chakra, combined with ocular power.
These were the true priorities for Qianyu.
As for the so-called Five Nature Transformations?
They weren't that important.
In fact, his swordsmanship surpassed his ninjutsu.
He preferred the feeling of killing with a blade.
Ninjutsu…
Always felt flashy but insubstantial.
Qianyu rose briskly, washed up, prepared a simple breakfast, and after eating, put on the police force uniform with mechanical precision.
He knew very well what was coming.
Sarutobi might even personally demand an explanation from Fugaku.
But Fugaku wouldn't hand him over.
Doing so would be tantamount to placing the entire Uchiha clan over an open fire.
Qianyu wasn't ignorant of the situation—
He understood it too well.
Many cautious Uchiha believed that in times like these, they had to tread carefully, avoid mistakes, and show maximum restraint and humility toward Konoha's upper echelon.
A colossal mistake.
If the ending was unavoidable, then everything you did would be wrong anyway.
Since that was the case—
Why not make your "mistake" swift and decisive, in your own way?
"The two guys didn't come to report to me this morning…"
"So that's the Clan Head's intention…"
"Trying to keep me at home, out of the limelight?"
Qianyu shook his head.
He understood Fugaku's approach—but also knew it was meaningless.
He strode down Konoha's streets.
Whether villagers or shinobi, everyone who saw him instinctively stepped aside, fear written all over their faces.
Qianyu frowned slightly.
Ahead, the street suddenly erupted into chaos.
It looked like someone was chasing and fighting.
"Stop him! Someone stole something!"
"Hurry—block him!"
But the fleeing thief brandished a knife wildly. The crowd panicked and scattered, instinctively opening a path.
No one dared step forward.
Everyone retreated to the sides of the street.
Except at the very end—
Where a lone man stood like a mountain, blocking the way.
"Police Force?!"
"Out of my way!"
The thief was startled, but still charged forward with the knife.
Crack!
Crack!
"AAAAAAH!"
Two sharp sounds rang out, followed by a heart-rending scream.
The thief collapsed to the ground with a thud. Both legs were bent at grotesque angles, the bones completely shattered. He rolled on the ground in agony, screams echoing through the street.
Ding!
[You promptly broke the thief's legs, successfully eliminating his criminal intent. Good deed. Merit points +10!]
Qianyu ignored the screaming man, calmly picked up a money pouch from his hand, and tossed it back to the victim.
"Th-thank you… Captain Qianyu…"
The victim knew Qianyu had helped him, yet still turned pale at the sight of the thief writhing on the ground like a slaughtered pig, swallowing nervously in fear.
Qianyu grabbed the thief by the collar and dragged him along the ground.
Only after Qianyu disappeared from sight did the surrounding villagers finally breathe out, breaking into heated discussion—opinions sharply divided.
Qianyu dragged the thief to Konoha's prison gate.
The two Uchiha guards on duty weren't surprised at all when they saw him.
"Captain Qianyu, this guy is…?"
"A thief."
Bang!
He casually tossed the now-limp thief onto the ground.
"Lock him up for three months."
"Yes, Captain!"
Qianyu turned and left without looking back.
"When you're released—if I ever see you stealing again, it won't just be your legs."
The thief trembled violently, nodding frantically even as his strength failed him.
"Y-yes… I'll never dare again!"
Watching Qianyu's departing back, the two guards exchanged bitter smiles—equal parts awe and fear.
…
Near noon, Qianyu's patrol route gradually brought him back toward the Uchiha clan district.
He was just about to grab a few fried pancakes from an Uchiha-run shop to fill his stomach—
When his steps suddenly stopped.
A powerful, unmistakable chakra blocked his path.
And it undoubtedly belonged to the Uchiha clan.
Among the clan, someone with such chakra and ocular power—
There was only one.
"Uchiha…"
"Shisui?"
As the words fell, a young man—several years younger than Qianyu—appeared.
Behind him stood two veteran Uchiha jōnin, already in their thirties or forties, yet treating Shisui with utmost respect.
Naturally so.
Uchiha Shisui was acknowledged as the strongest Uchiha of this generation.
Unfortunately…
"Uchiha Qianyu. We meet again."
They had met before, but Shisui—upright and gentle by nature—had nothing in common with the ruthless, extreme Qianyu.
There was no real relationship between them.
"I'm on duty. I don't have time for small talk."
Qianyu said this and stepped past him, about to leave.
Shisui's brow furrowed.
The two senior jōnin behind him finally snapped.
"What an arrogant bastard!"
"You dare show such disrespect to Lord Shisui?!"
In an instant, both drew their swords, icy blades pointed straight at Qianyu.
Qianyu halted, not even sparing them a glance. His gaze remained fixed on Shisui.
"Is this what you want?"
Shisui's expression changed sharply.
"Akagane, Shiden—stop!"
The two men flushed red with frustration, glaring at Qianyu but daring not disobey. Slowly, they sheathed their swords.
"Qianyu," Shisui said, "I just want to talk."
"You want to talk…"
"Or is it the Hokage who wants to talk?"
Qianyu cut straight through to the point.
Shisui's brows tightened instantly.