Konoha Commercial Street — "Tenten's Tenten Tenten Ninja Tools Shop."
Ever since half the store's inventory had mysteriously vanished a month ago, resulting in losses worth thirty million ryo, Tenten's parents had been in constant contact with the Konoha Military Police.
"This is the current status of the investigation. Unfortunately… this is all we have," said Uchiha Yashiro, handing over the final report.
Yashiro—short brown hair, squinting eyes, wearing a jonin vest—stood there with two other Uchiha officers.
Tenten's parents weren't ninja themselves, but their family was well-known for crafting high-quality ninja tools.
This theft was no small matter.
Thirty million ryo worth of equipment was enough to sustain a small-scale war during wartime.
Even Asuma Sarutobi—an elite jonin and former member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja—had only been worth thirty-five million ryo on the black market.
By comparison, this case was easily the largest theft in Konoha's history.
The police force had treated it seriously, forming a special task unit led by Yashiro himself with several chunin assistants.
Yet even after a full month of meticulous investigation—
They had found nothing.
No suspects.
No evidence.
Not even a single useful clue.
The report Yashiro handed over was little more than a record of investigative steps taken—without any conclusion at all.
Tenten's parents stared at the documents with reddened, swollen eyes.
"That's it…? Just this?" her mother asked in disbelief.
No suspect caught. No criminal identified.
Which meant—
They would have to bear the loss themselves.
Yashiro shook his head regretfully.
"For now, this is as far as we can go. If any new leads come up, please contact the police department immediately. Likewise, if we uncover anything, we will inform you right away."
Thirty million ryo was a devastating sum.
Even for Tenten's family—who had their own manufacturing base outside the village—this loss was crippling.
Their Konoha shop had held the largest stockpile of goods.
Now it was nearly wiped out in one night.
"Mommy…"
Four-year-old Tenten clutched her mother's skirt, confused and anxious as her parents wept together.
She didn't understand why they were trembling over a few pieces of paper.
But the empty shelves told the real story.
Where kunai and shuriken once hung proudly, there were now only dusty hooks.
Yashiro silently signaled to his subordinates, and the three Uchiha officers quietly exited the shop.
Outside on the street, one of the chunin spoke up.
"Captain Yashiro… that thief was far too clever. Ending the case like this—won't it be hard to explain to the Chief?"
Yashiro was only a division captain. The "Chief" referred to the overall head of the Military Police—Uchiha Fugaku.
"It's not closed," Yashiro replied with a troubled expression. "We just… have nowhere left to look."
They had investigated for a month and hadn't even found a viable suspect.
A few questionable individuals had been detained and interrogated—but all were released for lack of evidence.
Despite their reputation for arrogance, the Uchiha didn't stoop to framing innocent people.
"There is one possible suspect," Yashiro admitted quietly. "But…"
He recalled a conversation with Chief Fugaku.
On the night of the theft, a mysterious ninja had attacked the Hyuga clan compound, beaten both clan heads, and dumped the body of the Cloud Village envoy in an attempt to frame them.
Later, that same mysterious figure had assaulted Kumogakure itself—forcing an abrupt ceasefire between Kumo and Konoha.
Even if the Uchiha were excluded from high-level decision-making, Fugaku had ways of knowing what happened behind closed doors.
"Forget it. I'll report directly to the Chief," Yashiro sighed.
As they walked through the streets, villagers shrank away nervously at the sight of the Military Police.
Merchants in particular looked uneasy.
Thanks to Danzo's behind-the-scenes rumors and the Third Hokage's convenient silence, the Uchiha police force had become deeply unpopular.
Maintaining public order was a thankless job to begin with.
No matter what they did, someone would complain.
Second Hokage Tobirama Senju had placed the police force under Uchiha control partly out of trust in Uchiha Kagami—
But also as a subtle way to distance the Uchiha from ordinary villagers.
Back at the Konoha Military Police Headquarters—
Yashiro dismissed his subordinates and went straight to the Chief's office.
Knock knock knock.
"Enter."
The door creaked open.
"Chief," Yashiro greeted respectfully, placing the report on Fugaku's desk.
"The Tenten Ninja Tools Shop case… we've hit a dead end. We can't find the culprit. Or rather…"
His brows furrowed deeply.
"Good work," Fugaku replied calmly, not blaming him.
"Since we have no other suspects, list 'Shura' as the primary suspect and submit a report to the Hokage."
"But Chief…" Yashiro hesitated. "Someone at that level—why would they steal ninja tools?"
Even if the tools were worth thirty million ryo, a ninja of that caliber could easily acquire money by other means.
And only one shop had been robbed. Other tool stores remained untouched.
The stolen items were mostly basic weapons—kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, and sealing scrolls.
The most valuable items had been about a dozen sealing scrolls worth around ten million ryo.
"Who knows?" Fugaku muttered, just as confused.
As the two discussed how to present the case and formally declare "Shura" as Konoha's most wanted thief—
Another knock came at the door.
"Chief!"
One of the chunin who had gone to Tenten's shop burst in.
He delivered unbelievable news.
"The shop owner just filed a new report! They found a box in their basement—filled with thirty million ryo in cash!"
"WHAT!?"
Fugaku shot up from his chair.
Even Yashiro's normally squinted eyes flew wide open.
A ninja capable of moving through Konoha undetected…
Stealing everything—
And then returning the exact amount in cash without anyone noticing.
That man called "Shura"…
Had he come to Konoha again?!
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