The open space before the Uchiha Police Force headquarters suddenly became tense.
Shimura Danzo stood at the front, leaning on his cane.
Behind him stood more than ten members of the Hokage's Personal Guard, all wearing masks with solemn expressions.
Their chakra was faintly connected as one, carrying the unique authority and pressure of the Hokage's personal forces.
Standing opposite them were even more members of the Uchiha Police Force, dressed in clothing bearing the Uchiha fan crest. Although they had not openly assumed attack stances, the silent unity and rising fighting spirit they exuded completely surpassed the other side's presence.
Danzo narrowed his lone eye as he stared at Uchiha Chiya, who slowly walked out through the main entrance of the building.
Following behind him was Orochimaru, whose calm expression even carried a trace of amused curiosity.
"Uchiha Chiya!"
Danzo spoke first.
His deep voice carried an unquestionable tone of command.
He deliberately raised his voice so every nearby Uchiha clansman and every member of his own force could hear clearly.
"Under the orders of the Third Hokage, I have come to take the rogue ninja Orochimaru back for questioning. This is Hokage-sama's command. Hand him over immediately."
He deliberately emphasized Hokage's command and hand him over, attempting to seize the moral and legal high ground.
Chiya stopped on the steps.
His calm gaze swept over Danzo and the guards behind him as though they were merely an insignificant group of people.
Instead of answering Danzo directly, he slightly turned his head toward a nearby Uchiha clansman.
"What do the Police Force regulations say regarding assisting the Hokage's Office in carrying out official duties?"
The Uchiha clansman immediately straightened his back and answered loudly.
"Reporting to Clan Head!"
"The regulations state that if the Hokage's Office requires assistance from the Police Force, they must present an official written document, which must then be verified by the officer on duty before any cooperation is provided."
"If no official document is presented or the proper procedures are not followed, the Police Force has the authority to refuse interference from personnel outside the department in order to ensure the independence and security of police operations."
Only then did Chiya turn his attention back to Danzo.
A faint smile, almost impossible to notice, appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Danzo."
"You heard him."
"Rules are rules."
"If you want to take someone away, that's fine."
"Please present an official transfer order personally signed by the Third Hokage requesting the removal of a specific individual from the Uchiha Police Force."
"Otherwise..."
"I'm afraid I must refuse."
Danzo's expression immediately darkened.
How could he possibly have an official document?
Hiruzen had only given him a verbal order along with temporary authority over the Hokage's Personal Guard.
He had believed that the Hokage's name and his own reputation would be enough to pressure the Uchiha into obediently handing Orochimaru over.
He had never expected Chiya to show him so little respect and immediately use the village regulations against him.
"Uchiha Chiya!"
Anger filled Danzo's voice.
"Are you questioning the Hokage's authority?"
"Orochimaru is an S Rank rogue ninja. This is an extremely important matter."
"Hokage-sama wishes to question him personally."
"This is an exceptional situation."
"How can you become obsessed with mere paperwork?"
"By obstructing this process..."
"Are you trying to protect a rogue ninja?"
"Or do you have some hidden agenda?"
The accusation was extremely severe.
It was almost a direct condemnation.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze.
The expressions of the Uchiha clansmen instantly became ice cold as their hands subconsciously rested upon their weapons.
The members of the Hokage's Personal Guard also felt the pressure sharply increase, causing their bodies to tense.
Chiya suddenly chuckled.
His laughter echoed clearly throughout the silent courtyard and sounded especially harsh.
"Protect him?"
"A hidden agenda?"
He shook his head as though he had just heard something utterly ridiculous.
"Elder Danzo."
"Your skill at throwing false accusations hasn't improved at all over the years."
He took a single step forward.
His gaze landed upon Danzo like a physical force.
An invisible pressure slowly spread outward.
Danzo instinctively took half a step backward, his heart suddenly tightening.
"First."
Chiya raised one finger.
His voice remained calm, yet every word carried tremendous weight.
"Orochimaru returned to Konoha voluntarily."
"He was not captured."
"Countless villagers and ninja witnessed this at the village gate."
"It is not merely the Uchiha's version of events."
"I will personally discuss how to handle him with the Third Hokage."
"But he certainly will not receive the treatment you reserve for ordinary rogue ninja."
"Second."
He raised a second finger.
"Even if he were a rogue ninja, under Article Three of Clause Seven within Konoha's Wartime Emergency Regulations, the individual who captures the target has priority in conducting the initial interrogation and extracting intelligence in order to ensure both security and timeliness."
"The Uchiha Police Force is fully authorized to handle him first."
"If the Hokage's Office wishes to intervene, it must still follow proper procedures."
"Not arrive at our door demanding someone without authorization."
"Elder Danzo."
"Have you forgotten the rules?"
"Or do you believe your own orders stand above the regulations jointly established by the village?"
Every sentence was logical and fully supported.
Not only did he completely destroy the righteous image Danzo had attempted to create, he instead placed the label of ignoring the rules and abusing authority directly onto Danzo himself.
Danzo found himself completely speechless.
His face alternated between green and white.
He had never expected Chiya to possess such sharp words or such thorough knowledge of the village's regulations.
Even more unexpectedly...
Chiya's overwhelming presence completely suppressed him.
At that moment...
Orochimaru, who had quietly remained behind Chiya all this time, suddenly let out a low laugh filled with obvious mockery.
"Hehe... Danzo..."
His golden snake eyes swept across Danzo.
His tongue instinctively slid across his lips as his tone became lighthearted yet full of contempt.
"After all these years..."
"Are these still the only tricks you know?"
"You still hope to achieve your goals through authority and empty slogans."
"How disappointing."
He shook his head as though looking upon a ridiculous clown.
"Instead of wasting your time here, why not go back and think about how to make an actual contribution to the village?"
"After all..."
"Not everyone is obsessed with power and schemes the way you are."
Orochimaru's words were like the sharpest kunai.
They pierced straight through Danzo's final shred of dignity.
To be publicly ridiculed by someone who had once been both his ally and his greatest concern...
Someone who had now become a so called prisoner...
Danzo felt blood rush straight to his head.
His lone eye instantly filled with bloodshot veins as humiliation and fury overwhelmed him.
"Orochimaru!"
"You've gone too far!"
Danzo roared as his cane slammed heavily against the ground.
"You're nothing more than a rogue ninja!"
"What right do you have to speak here?"
"Guards!"
"Seize this madman!"
Hearing the order, the members of the Hokage's Personal Guard hesitated.
Although they knew the situation was extremely troublesome, they had been ordered to obey Danzo temporarily.
With no other choice, they steeled themselves and prepared to advance.
"I'd like to see who dares."
Chiya's voice was not loud.
Yet it pierced every ear like an icicle, carrying unquestionable authority and icy killing intent.
He made no movement whatsoever.
He merely cast a cold glance toward the guards preparing to step forward.
Just that single look froze those battle hardened guards in place as though invisible ice had imprisoned them.
Cold sweat slid down their foreheads.
None of them doubted that taking even one more step would invite a devastating attack.
The Uchiha clansmen all stepped forward together.
Their Sharingan opened simultaneously.
The crimson eyes gleamed dangerously beneath the sunlight as they locked onto every member of the Hokage's Personal Guard.
The situation instantly spiraled out of control.
Conflict could erupt at any second.
Danzo looked at the completely uncontrollable situation.
He looked into Chiya's calm yet unfathomably deep eyes.
He looked at the undisguised ridicule upon Orochimaru's face.
Then he noticed the questioning gazes coming from the surrounding Uchiha.
Even some of the guards he had brought with him now seemed to be watching him like some kind of joke.
He felt as though every shred of dignity he had accumulated throughout his life had been torn apart and trampled beneath everyone's feet.
Extreme rage and humiliation devoured his reason.
He knew he could no longer take Orochimaru away today.
But he absolutely could not leave in disgrace.
He had to do something.
Even if it meant causing trouble for the Uchiha simply to recover a little of his pride.
Just as a ruthless light flashed through Danzo's lone eye and he prepared to recklessly issue his orders, even if it meant triggering an armed conflict...
Chiya, who had been silently observing everything, suddenly had an almost imperceptible glimmer flash through his eyes.
Kotoamatsukami.
Silent.
Invisible.
The strongest Genjutsu.
Driven by Chiya's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, whose ocular power far surpassed Shisui's after fusing with Indra's power, it directly invaded Shimura Danzo's completely defenseless spiritual world.
Danzo's body trembled almost imperceptibly.
The ruthlessness, anger, humiliation, calculation...
Every complicated emotion inside his lone eye disappeared as though erased by an invisible hand.
In their place appeared unprecedented confusion.
Then...
It rapidly transformed into deep, absolute, almost fanatical reverence and loyalty.
His mind.
His will.
His lifelong obsession.
All of it was completely overwritten and rewritten within a hundredth of a second.
The core desire to protect Konoha remained.
But the method of achieving it...
And the person to whom that loyalty belonged...
Had undergone a complete and fundamental transformation.
Every trace of hostility toward the Uchiha.
Every desire for power.
Every dark scheme.
At that very moment...
All of it was replaced by loyalty toward the man standing before him.
Toward...
Uchiha Chiya.
Absolute loyalty.
Without the slightest doubt.
Chiya's will had become his highest mission.
Chiya's existence had become the absolute guarantee of Konoha's future.
Everything happened far too quickly.
To everyone else, Danzo had merely frozen for a brief moment, as though overcome by anger or suddenly remembering something.
The next instant...
Every trace of rage and hostility vanished from Shimura Danzo's face.
He slowly and respectfully bowed deeply toward Chiya.
His voice became more respectful and obedient than ever before.
"My deepest apologies, Clan Head Chiya."
"I acted recklessly."
"I failed to follow proper procedures and nearly caused a serious mistake."
"Everything you do naturally carries profound meaning and careful consideration."
"It was I who was shortsighted and narrow minded."
"There is no better arrangement than allowing you to supervise Orochimaru."
"As for Hokage-sama..."
"I will personally explain the situation."
"There will be no further objections."
He raised his head.
His lone eye was filled with sincere apology and absolute trust.
"Please continue your important work."
"If there is anything I can assist you with..."
"Please do not hesitate to command me. Danzo will spare no effort."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Everyone stared blankly at the unbelievable scene before them.
None of them could believe what they had just witnessed.
The same Elder Danzo who had been aggressively demanding Orochimaru only moments ago had suddenly become...
So respectful.
So humble.
He had even referred to himself as I in an extremely humble and respectful manner before Uchiha Chiya.
The speed and completeness of the transformation left everyone speechless.
Behind their masks, the members of the Hokage's Personal Guard wore expressions of complete confusion and shock.
The Uchiha clansmen also stared at one another in bewilderment.
No one understood what had just happened.
Only Orochimaru's golden snake eyes flickered thoughtfully.
He glanced at the calm and expressionless Chiya standing beside him before a deeper, more amused smile appeared upon his lips.
He knew Danzo had experienced something moments ago.
But wisely...
He asked nothing.
Looking at Danzo, who remained bowed before him, Chiya felt thoroughly satisfied with Kotoamatsukami's effects.
He spoke calmly.
"Danzo."
"It's good that you understand."
"I hope you'll remember the importance of following the rules."
"You may stand."
"Yes!"
"I will remember your teachings!"
Only then did Danzo straighten up.
His respectful attitude remained unchanged, as though the furious and aggressive man from moments earlier had never existed.
"Take your men and return."
"Simply report the truth to the Third Hokage."
Chiya casually waved his hand.
"Yes!"
Danzo bowed once again.
Then he immediately turned toward the still stunned members of the Hokage's Personal Guard.
"What are you all standing around for?"
"Withdraw!"
"Do not interfere with the Uchiha's official duties!"
With that, he took the lead, leaning on his cane as he left the courtyard before the Uchiha Police Force headquarters.
His steps even carried a faint trace of lightness.
The members of the Hokage's Personal Guard finally snapped back to reality.
Although their minds were filled with confusion and disbelief, they could only hurriedly follow Danzo and leave in embarrassment.
A fierce conflict that might have erupted moments earlier disappeared in the most bizarre and unexpected way imaginable.
Only the Uchiha clansmen remained where they stood, exchanging bewildered glances while feeling even greater awe toward the unfathomable strength of their Clan Head.
Chiya turned toward Orochimaru.
"A small interruption."
"Pay it no mind."
"Let's continue our previous discussion."
"About the specific details of that barrier technique..."
It was as though nothing had happened.
Only Shimura Danzo's completely rewritten will flowed beneath Konoha's balance of power like a hidden current.
Waiting for the day it would stir up waves that perhaps no one could ever foresee.
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