The moonlight fell like water across the quiet streets.
Chiya carried the already sleeping Kushina on his back, his steps steady as he passed through the village entrance.
The red-haired girl's cheek rested against his back. Her breathing was even. She was clearly exhausted beyond her limit.
The moment he entered the village, he spotted Tsunade standing by a streetlamp with her arms crossed.
She was watching carefully, waiting for him.
A few members of the Uchiha Military Police Force stood in the distance as well.
"Tsunade, it is so late. Why did you come out?"
Chiya said in a low voice.
Tsunade did not reply. She simply stepped forward and gently took Kushina from his back.
The girl unconsciously furrowed her brow in her sleep, but quickly settled down in Tsunade's arms.
"Is she alright?"
Tsunade asked with concern, her gaze sweeping over the rope marks on Kushina's wrists. She placed a hand over them, and green chakra began to glow as she gave the wounds a quick treatment.
"She pushed herself past her limit and had a scare, but nothing serious."
Chiya answered briefly.
Tsunade nodded. Seeing the wounds close up, she stopped the jutsu.
"I will take her back now. And, tonight, I will not be coming over to your place."
Tsunade murmured quietly near Chiya's ear.
Chiya nodded and smiled at her.
"Sure. Rest early. Good night."
"Good night."
Tsunade finished speaking and turned, walking in the direction of the Senju Clan. Her figure quickly faded into the night.
The members of the Military Police Force stepped forward quickly.
"Clan Head!"
"During the time I was away, were there any other children reported missing from families in the village?"
The captain of the patrol unit stepped forward to report.
"Clan Head, everything is normal. There have been no reports of missing children for now!"
Chiya let out a quiet breath of relief.
"Continue the patrols. Starting today, the Military Police Force is to arrange 24-hour patrols.
Our Uchiha Clan suffered very few casualties in this recent war, and many clans feel some level of resentment toward us because of that.
The Military Police Force exists to maintain the safety of the village. If cases like these missing children keep happening and spreading fear among the people, the Uchiha will truly have no way to hold our heads up in Konoha going forward."
What Chiya said was actually putting it gently. When he said there were few casualties, the truth was that the Uchiha had not taken part in the fighting at all.
Only Chiya himself had participated, and that was under a special assignment directly arranged by the Third Hokage. It barely counted.
"Yes, sir!"
Hearing those measured words, the Uchiha captain's eyes filled with quiet resolve.
He had clearly taken it to heart.
"Also, when dividing up patrol zones among personnel, make the distribution fair. Try to involve everyone. Spread the work evenly."
"Yes, sir!"
"Alright, everyone get back to your posts. You there, stay behind."
With those words, all the other Military Police Force members dispersed, leaving only the squad captain behind.
The squad captain who had been kept back had no idea what Chiya wanted. He stood to the side and waited silently for orders.
Chiya said nothing.
He occasionally glanced up at the moon, as if waiting for something.
Then, suddenly.
A black shadow dropped down without a sound. An ANBU ninja wearing a mask appeared before him and spoke in a low voice.
"Clan Head Chiya. The Hokage requests your presence."
The corner of Chiya's mouth rose in a barely noticeable way. He had seen this coming.
He turned his head and gave an order to the police captain beside him.
"Go to Military Police Force headquarters and bring me all the documents on my desk."
The captain accepted the order and left. Chiya followed the ANBU toward the Hokage Building.
By the time he arrived, the Uchiha officer carrying the documents had come running up just in time.
"Clan Head! Here are the documents!"
Chiya nodded, took them, and gave the man a wave.
"Go on, get back to your duties."
Chiya said this and walked inside.
He pushed open the door to the Hokage's office.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was standing at the window. The smoke from his pipe drifted around him, making his expression look somewhat hazy.
Hearing footsteps, he turned around and looked at Chiya with deep, searching eyes.
"Sit."
Hiruzen pointed to the chair across from him.
Chiya did not stand on ceremony. He walked straight over and sat down.
He set the documents that had just been brought to him on the desk.
"I heard about the matter with Kushina."
Hiruzen's gaze passed over the documents without stopping there. He looked at Chiya with a serious expression.
He got straight to the point.
"Did you bring her back?"
"Yes. Lady Tsunade has already taken her home."
Chiya's tone was calm.
"I never expected Kumogakure to retaliate this quickly. And on top of that, they were able to move Kushina out of Konoha with such precision. This matter is truly not simple."
Chiya also had not expected Hiruzen to use the word retaliate. He was silent for a moment, then spoke.
"This group must have been embedded inside Konoha for some time already. Otherwise they could not have taken Kushina away so quietly and without a trace."
He paused briefly.
"There are certain places Kushina goes where the Military Police Force's protection does not reach properly, and today most of our attention was occupied with investigating the missing children inside the village."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly. His pipe turned slowly between his fingers.
He understood what Chiya meant.
Uzumaki Kushina's daily routine was very regular. As for where she lived, it was right at the center of Konoha's entire barrier seal. A place like that would not normally require the Military Police Force to patrol inside it.
He did not reply immediately. He watched Chiya in silence, as if weighing the deeper meaning behind his words.
The room was quiet for a moment, with only the faint hissing of the pipe.
At last, Hiruzen let out a long breath of smoke and spoke slowly.
"The matter of the missing children, leave it with your Military Police Force to investigate."
Chiya understood clearly.
He was only being asked to look into the missing children. As for the Kumogakure spies, that was not the Military Police Force's assignment.
Chiya nodded. He was not surprised by this arrangement.
"Also..."
The Third's gaze fell on the documents sitting on the desk.
"What is this?"
"The Uchiha's recent reform plans."
Chiya's tone was flat, but carried an unmistakable firmness.
"The Military Police Force cannot be limited to patrolling inside the village. Uchiha members who meet the requirements should all be taking part in regular mission assignments. When there is a war, they must also serve as combat strength to protect Konoha."
The Third was quiet for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
He picked up the documents and flipped through them. A flicker of approval crossed his eyes.
"A good idea."
Chiya showed no sign of pleasure at the praise. He simply continued.
"There is also an approval document for expanding the training grounds. It requires the Hokage's signature."
Hiruzen took the document, looked it over, then picked up his brush and signed his name without hesitation.
"I look forward to the Uchiha's changes."
He passed the document back, and his tone carried an uncommon warmth.
Chiya took it back, rose to his feet, and gave a slight nod.
"I will not disappoint you."
He turned and left. The door to the office closed quietly behind him.
Hiruzen watched his departing figure. Behind the drifting smoke, his gaze was deep and impossible to read.
He reached into a drawer and pulled out a scroll. On it was an ANBU report showing that Uchiha Yamauma had been in contact with Kumogakure spies.
Uchiha Yamauma was the name of the Uchiha Great Elder.
'The Uchiha Clan is not at peace within its own walls.
I wonder how he will handle this.'