"Clan Head… that was quite the war of words."
Uchiha Yakumo spoke with a mix of amusement and admiration.
Beside him, Tekka and Inahoshi nodded silently in agreement.
Yet, Uchiha Fugaku shook his head.
"Do you truly believe the Hokage came here just for Yoru?"
"Huh? Wasn't that the reason?"
"Yoru was merely the pretext."
"No… he came to test the Uchiha clan's stance as a whole."
The hotheaded Uchiha Tekka cut in, "What do you mean, Clan Head?"
Fugaku replied coolly, "It's simple. If we cowered and handed Yoru over without resistance, what would the Hokage think? And if we defied him outright—like just now—what then?"
"One shows weakness. The other, strength."
Yakumo murmured, "So… you chose strength."
"I didn't choose. There was no choice."
Fugaku sighed deeply. "I could never actually surrender Yoru to Sarutobi Hiruzen…"
Silence fell over the group.
Inahoshi sighed. "Let's hope Yoru understands your intentions, Clan Head."
Fugaku smirked.
"You think he hasn't already predicted this outcome?"
"Don't let that icy exterior fool you."
"That man… he's likely calculated every move—mine and Hiruzen's."
The others exchanged uneasy glances.
They knew Yoru was formidable, but to the Clan Head… was he truly that terrifying?
...
[Chakra +3. Current Chakra: 650.]
"Hm?"
"Three points overnight…"
"My chakra refinement has improved."
Uchiha Yoru gave a satisfied nod.
An average jōnin's chakra reserve hovered around 500. His was already exceptional—though still laughable compared to the chakra monsters of the world.
Chakra and ocular power were his priorities.
The five elemental ninjutsu? Secondary. Even his kenjutsu surpassed them.
He preferred the clean efficiency of a blade.
Ninjutsu… always felt flashy but hollow.
Yoru rose, washed, ate a spare breakfast, and donned his Konoha Military Police uniform with machinelike precision.
He knew what was coming.
Hiruzen might even confront Fugaku directly.
But the Clan Head would never surrender him. Doing so would betray the entire Uchiha.
Yoru wasn't ignorant of the political climate—he understood it too well.
Many Uchiha urged caution, bending to Konoha's will to avoid conflict.
A fatal mistake.
If the outcome was inevitable, every move was wrong.
So why not err his way—unapologetically?
"Those two didn't report this morning."
"Fugaku's orders… keeping me out of sight."
Yoru shook his head. The gesture was futile.
He strode through Konoha's streets. Villagers and shinobi alike recoiled, clearing his path.
Then—chaos.
"Thief! Stop him!"
A man brandished a knife, barreling through the crowd. No one dared intervene.
Except for the lone figure blocking his escape.
"Military Police? Move!"
The thief lunged.
CRACK.
CRACK.
"AAAAAGH!"
The man collapsed, legs twisted grotesquely, bones shattered. His screams echoed.
Ding!
[You swiftly broke the thief's legs, curing his kleptomania. Good deed! +10 Virtue Points.]
Yoru ignored the wails, tossing the stolen purse back to its owner.
"Th-thank you, Yoru-sama…"
The man paled, swallowing hard as he eyed the writhing thief.
Yoru dragged the culprit by the collar, leaving a trail of whispers in his wake.
At the prison gates, two Uchiha guards barely blinked.
"Captain Yoru, this one's…?"
"Garbage. Lock him up for three months."
"Hai!"
As he walked away, Yoru called over his shoulder:
"Next time, it won't be your legs."
The thief whimpered, "Y-yes! Never again!"
The guards exchanged a glance—equal parts respect and dread.
...
By noon, Yoru circled back toward Uchiha territory, stopping at Teuchi's for lunch.
Then—
He froze.
A crushing chakra presence blocked his path.
Uchiha-level. This potency…
Only one man.
"Uchiha…"
"Shisui."
A figure emerged—younger than Yoru, flanked by two elder Uchiha jōnin who bowed to him.
Of course.
Uchiha Shisui: the clan's undisputed strongest.
Pity, though…
"Yoru. We meet again."
They'd crossed paths before. But Shisui's idealism clashed with Yoru's ruthlessness. No camaraderie existed.
"I'm on duty. No time for chatter."
Yoru moved to leave.
The elder jōnin snarled, "Arrogant brat!"
"You dare disrespect Shisui-sama?!"
Blades flashed.
Yoru paused, eyes locked on Shisui.
"This your call?"
Shisui's face darkened. "Sekkin, Shiden—stand down!"
Grudgingly, the two sheathed their swords.
"Yoru. I just want to talk."
"You?" Yoru's voice sharpened. "Or the Hokage?"
Shisui's frown deepened.