Year 31
The announcement form the Hokage Office sent shockwaves through Konoha.
[Due to rising crime rates and enemy infiltration, the Konoha Military Police Force will be established under the Uchiha clan's command.
Their duties are :
Stabilize village order, investigate crime scenes, apprehend criminals, identify enemy spies, and sentence offenders after reporting to the Hokage.
The Police Force has the authority to confiscate property for investigations.
The Uchiha clan head would serve as Chief Minister and hold full autonomy over appointments within the force.
However, funding would remain under the Hokage's jurisdiction. In exchange for this heavy responsibility, the Uchiha's designated mission quota would be reduced to one.
Signed:
Senju Tobirama
Ni-daime Hokage]
---
The villagers were stunned.
The Uchiha clan – wielders of the Sharingan – would now patrol the streets, enforce law, and hold sweeping authority. Some felt safer, reassured by the strength of the second most powerful clan. Others felt uneasy, recalling the surveillance and suspicion that followed Madara's attack years ago.
A quiet tension settled over the village. Some civilians began to avoid Uchiha clansmen. Others whispered in alleys and markets, wondering if this was truly a boon for Konoha or rise of tyrants.
***
In the Hyuga compound, Hyuga Hayato, the clan head, sat with Hyuga Hiro, leader of the branch family, and the elders.
Hyuga Hayato and Hiro were the strongest members of Hyuga clan – but while one led, the other served.
"This Police Force… is it exclusive to the Uchiha?" one elder asked.
"What is the Hokage-sama thinking? Giving them such powers and rights!"
"Tobirama-sama even reduced their mission quota!"
The elders grumbled. The Hyuga, with their Main and Branch family system, had long maintained internal discipline through the Caged Bird Seal. Judiciary power was centralized in the Main family. They had never needed a formal police force and had never considered its burdens.
"We should request a role in village governance," one elder suggested. "A branch of infrastructure or administration."
Hayato remained silent. He had been present during the council's deliberations. He didn't know Tobirama's full reasoning – but he trusted the man's instincts. Tobirama would never empower the Uchiha without a deeper motive.
On the other hand Hiro, the branch family head, partially understood the danger. As someone who had lived under the weight of internal control, he knew that power without popularity bred resentment. But he said nothing. His position was not one that allowed dissent or opinion.
"Senju Tobirama is a cunning man," Hayato finally said. "He wouldn't give the Uchiha anything that truly benefits them. Let it go. I'll speak with the Hokage about other responsibilities we can take on."
"""Yes, clan head."""
The meeting ended. And Hiro left quietly, his thought conflicted. He had had lived his life under the Caged Bird Seal. Now he saw a similar seal being placed on the Uchiha; invisible, but no less binding.
***
In a shared hall, Nara Shikasuke, Akimichi Chozuro, and Yamanaka inoten convened.
Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clan formed an alliance for multiple generations and they held a clan head meeting of three clans, instead of individual clan meetings.
"What do you make of this Military Police Force?" Inoten asked.
Shikasuke, his spiky hair tied back, thought for a moment.
"I've heard the Uchiha clan head resisted the Hokage's proposal."
"Resisted?" Chozuro blinked. "Why would they refuse? Isn't this a powerful position?"
Shikasuke nodded slowly.
"Large clans like Senju and Uchiha have had their own internal police. We haven't. For us, the clan heads made judgements. But in a village this size, crime is different – Hashirama-sama's era was an outlier. A judiciary force has power – but it also breeds isolation."
"Isolation?"
"Yes. Investigating villagers. Arresting them. confiscating properties. It all creates distance and fear. The Uchiha will gain authority at the cost of bond and trust. It is an authority that builds walls."
Shikasuke spoke as he stacked shogi pieces.
"And walls, no matter how strong, always separate those within from those without."
"!!!"
"This is a political move," Shikasuke continued. "Tobirama is suppressing the Uchiha's chances of producing a Hokage."
"What should we do?"
Shikasuke raised a brow.
"What can we do? No clan can oppose Tobirama-sama. And this won't harm us. The Uchiha are proud and cold clan. They'll enforce the law impartially. If a ninja commits a crime, they'll act. That's good for maintaining order in Konoha. But bad for them."
The room fell silent.
***
Just as civilians whispered in the streets, the ninja clans held their own councils.
Some were jealous of the Uchiha's rise.
Some were indifferent.
And some quietly celebrated what they saw as the Uchiha's slow descent into isolation.
***
Hokage Office
"Sensei, isn't granting the Uchiha clan total autonomy over the Military Police Force a little to much?"
Shimura Danzo broke the silence, his voice edged with concern.
Koharu and Homura quickly joined in.
"Yes, Sensei. Didn't you always say the Uchiha are prone to falling into darkness?"
"I agree with Danzo and Koharu. Their clan head – Uchiha Madara – defected and caused Hashirama-sama's death!"
"DANZO! KOHARU! HOMURA!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen snapped, his voice sharp.
"Don't judge the entire Uchiha clan based on one man's actions! Look at Kagami! The Uchiha are part of Konoha – they're our friends and allies!"
Tobirama raised his hand, silencing the room.
He glanced at Uchiha Kagami and Akimichi Torifu, seated quietly with an unreadable expression.
"I have indeed said the Uchiha are more susceptible to falling into darkness," Tobirama began. "But giving them control of the Military Police Force is a way to tie their pride and purpose to the village. It's better to keep them occupied with duty than idle with doubt."
He continued in calm but firm voice.
"Their Sharingan and combat prowess are ideal for effeciently maintaining order. They are perfect for restraining shinobi who lost control within Konoha. And more importantly to preserve their reputation and honor, they will actively prevent another defection."
"…"
The room fell silent.
Then Kagami spoke.
"Do not worry, Sensei. I can assure you – there won't be another defector or another Uchiha Madara rising form our clan."
Everyone turned toward him. Kagami spoke of Madara simply as a traitor – but many in the room saw Madara as something more: a fallen hero, a symbol of Uchiha power, a ninja Shura, a natural disaster. They didn't just want to prevent another Uchiha from defecting, but also want to prevent the rise of another Ninja Shura, an uncontrollable individual.
Tobirama understood Kagami's intent. He didn't correct or challenge his meaning. He simply nodded back and turned towards the window.
Outside, the village bustled with life. And just a few blocks away, the Uchiha compound stood tall. And beside it, the Police Headquarters – its construction nearing completion. The stone walls rose higher each day, a monument to order. Yet to those who looked closely, they resembled not a fortress, but a prison.
A new chapter was beginning for Konoha.
***
Subsequently, to ease the growing tension within the village, Senju Tobirama made a public announcement introducing his six disciples as the official Hokage Guard Unit. The names were familiar to many, but now they were elevated as symbols of Konoha's strength and future.
Sarutobi Hiruzen
Mitokado Homura
Utatane Koharu
Shimura Danzo
Akimichi Torifu
Uchiha Kagami
Tobirama began assigning them high-profile missions, announcing their past and present contributions and achievements to the public and Their reputations soared.
***
"Did you hear? Hiruzen-sama captured another Iwa spies last week!"
"I heard he fought a jonin squad and beat them all!"
"Uchiha Kagami led a squad and repelled Kirigakure jonin from the Land of Hot Springs!"
"Did you see Danzo-sama? He's so handsome!"
"Koharu-sama is my idol!"
The streets buzzed with admiration.
Then–
"Hey, quiet down. It's the Uchiha Patrol Squad."
A hush fell.
"Hmm? What's wrong? We haven't done anything wrong."
"Don't you remember? Their previous clan head – Uchiha Madara – went rogue and attacked the village. Who knows what they're planning."
"Get away, you rascal! You're sowing discord! I'll report you if you keep talking like that!"
"AH! I was just being cautious! I didn't say they'd rebel!"
The crowd turned away. Most villagers didn't see the Uchiha as a threat anymore. But a few still harbored doubt.
"Anyway… who do you think will be the next Hokage?"
"Hokage? Isn't Tobirama-sama doing fine?"
"I heard the six Hokage Guards are the candidates for the next one!"
"What?!"
"I think Hiruzen-sama would be great. He's cheerful, passionate, and loves the village."
"I think Kagami-sama is better! He's stronger. He'll protect us best."
"I don't know… I just hope Tobirama-sama stays Hokage for a long time."
"Hey, we're not saying he should step down! We're talking about the far future!"
The topic of succession was always sensitive. No one truly believed it was time to choose a Third Hokage yet. But such gossips were always the center of interest and entertainment for the common folks.
And in the shadows of admiration and doubt, the future of Konoha quietly began to take shape.