"To calm the victims' families, we set compensation at the highest standard," Seiryu explained calmly. "The police force wanted to prevent the situation from escalating."
"This case lasted so long and involved so many people—it caught us all off guard. If we couldn't satisfy the victims, village stability would suffer." Seiryu said, "Every ryo has been accounted for—please review it, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen glanced at the accounts. This book, prepared by professionals Seiryu poached from Gato, gave nothing away.
But Hiruzen knew that compensating the victims alone couldn't have cost this much. Still, since the money was already distributed, there was little he could do.
And with Seiryu's faintly threatening tone, Hiruzen could only nod, "You were thorough, Seiryu."
He signed.
After signing, Hiruzen looked up at Seiryu and, acting casual, asked, "Seiryu, how is the police investigation into the two advisors going?"
"Hokage-sama, according to our investigation, the two former advisors had no connection to Orochimaru's kidnapping plot. However, many of those interrogated in the previous coup attempt pointed to the two advisors as the masterminds. We are still checking whether they had any ties to outside forces."
Hearing this, Hiruzen gave up on trying to save his old teammates.
After a while, Hiruzen said, "Though the two advisors made mistakes, they've served the village for years. The police force should be careful how they handle things."
Seiryu smiled faintly and nodded, so Hiruzen said no more.
After finishing his business, Seiryu left the Hokage office with his men.
He deliberately walked out the main entrance. Along the way, jonin squad members greeted him warmly.
Masked ANBU, though unable to reveal themselves, still nodded respectfully.
Scenes like this made Jiraiya, who'd been watching from the start, sigh inwardly.
Just then, Itachi arrived and ran into Seiryu and the police squad.
The Uchiha with Seiryu turned grim at the sight of Itachi. It wasn't a secret that Itachi had moved out, and after hearing he'd become ANBU Captain without even informing the clan, some elders had even petitioned Seiryu to deal with this traitor. Seiryu had suppressed those voices.
As they passed each other, neither said a word.
"Hey, Itachi." After they passed, Seiryu was the first to speak.
Itachi turned to see Seiryu smiling at him.
"Congratulations," Seiryu said.
"Congratulations?" Itachi frowned.
"Yes, congratulations on becoming ANBU Captain. Elder Fugaku was very pleased. But Itachi, for such a big thing, why didn't you tell the clan? The family only found out last," Seiryu smiled.
With jonin and ANBU watching, Itachi knew he had to draw a clear line—otherwise, if even the ANBU Captain was seen as Seiryu's man, it'd be disastrous.
"Clan Head Seiryu, we use titles while on duty—that's what you taught me," Itachi said formally.
"No need to be so serious, Captain Itachi. I feel like you misunderstand me. We're all village ninja, and clanmates too—can't we just talk things out?" Seiryu replied lightly.
"Clan Head Seiryu, what could we possibly misunderstand?" Itachi said expressionlessly.
"Itachi, I just want to get closer. After all, we share the same blood. If you'd stand with me, you'd be able to serve the village even better, wouldn't you?"
Itachi wanted to answer, but Seiryu leaned in and whispered, "Think it over, Itachi—this is your last chance."
Itachi turned away. Seiryu was still smiling. After a moment's silence, Itachi frowned and said, "I don't understand, Clan Head Seiryu. Aren't all Konoha ninja on the same side?"
"Are they?" Seiryu smiled.
"Sorry, I have work to do. Goodbye." Itachi said and left without looking back.
"Clan head, should we—" Uchiha Yashiro, a police captain, came up, his voice full of killing intent as he watched Itachi leave.
"Let him go. I've given him plenty of chances. Now I can answer to Elder Fugaku and Shisui." Seiryu sneered. He'd expected this reaction, and only stopped Itachi to save face for his loyalists.
This scene quickly spread through both ninja clans and the jonin squads. Itachi's almost open break with his clan finally eased Hiruzen's last doubts. But among ANBU, those who had reservations about Itachi now dropped the pretense and openly resisted his leadership. For the next while, only the Ino-Shika-Cho trio would follow his orders; the others carried them out with minimal effort.
By contrast, Seiryu's grand banquets and obvious cash handouts made ANBU and jonin closer and closer to him. The Seiryu Loyalist faction even surfaced openly, especially among jonin—many civilian and minor-clan ninja openly called themselves members when off duty.
This uncontrollable state left Hiruzen feeling powerless. He was Hokage, but he couldn't control what ninja did after hours, especially when Seiryu's banquets always began with a toast to the Will of Fire.
Hiruzen knew he couldn't wait any longer. Soon, a letter nominating the Fifth Hokage was sent to the Land of Fire's capital. He planned to settle the matter swiftly, naming Jiraiya as the candidate for Fifth Hokage.
…
News that the village would soon elect a new Hokage spread quickly.
"Did you hear? The village is about to choose the Fifth Hokage."
"I know! Apparently, the Third is nominating Jiraiya of the Sannin."
"What's it got to do with us?"
"You never know. They say Jiraiya doesn't get along with the Uchiha clan head. If he becomes Hokage, he'll probably restrict the police force—maybe he'll help those of us who got beat up last time."
"Really?" said a villager who'd been punished during the last lockdown. "Then we have to support Jiraiya!"
Rumors spread, quickly morphing into "Jiraiya is about to become Hokage; the police force's good days are over."
The result was that troublesome villagers, who'd behaved after the last lockdown, started acting up again. The police complaint box filled up once more.
"So the old man isn't even pretending anymore?" Seiryu, in his office, tossed a complaint into the shredder and snickered.
"I was planning to give him some dignity, but if he doesn't want it, I'll help him," Seiryu said. He went to the window, summoned a ninja hawk, sealed a confidential letter to its leg, and sent it flying east.
Afterward, he calmly made tea, glancing at the calendar on his desk.
Konoha Year 56, December 10th.