Chapter 80: What's Up

Recall the Police Department members, issue a mission and ask other ninjas to temporarily fill the posts; such a thing would certainly not have been approved by the previous Third.

He knows the function of the Police Department, yet the circumstances are stronger than any individual.

Now he not only agreed, but also had the ANBU block the information to the three assistants, helping Shisui as much as possible.

Then, not only did he use the ANBU's account to divert the patrol mission's reward as a supplement, he also raised the mission's rank from C to A; although the reward didn't increase, the résumé looks better—A‑level missions are normally only undertaken by Jonin.

As soon as the mission was posted, a swarm of ninjas scrambled for it; setting aside the A‑level résumé, a seven‑day job paying one hundred thousand taels with such low risk is essentially a free grab.

Everyone knows the Police Department's work; you don't even have to leave the Village, it's downright easy.

Therefore the Third deliberately imposed a restriction: only Chunin and above can take this mission.

Yet even so, many ninjas still vied for the mission, including a number of newly‑retired Jonin.

Only some senior Jonin and those from prominent clans understood the catch and wisely ignored the mission.

At the same time, Sima Yi received news from Shisui's side; he immediately summoned Ying Shu and ordered, "In the coming days, you must promptly gather the clan members' statements, focusing on the ordinary villagers."

Furthermore, starting tomorrow, spread the story of Shisui's visit to Duan Zang on New Year's Day and the incident where Xiao Chun was turned away, emphasizing Duan Zang; but do not embellish—just convey it truthfully.

Ying Shu has already done a lot for Sima Yi; just hearing his command he understood much, and immediately replied, "Very well, Master Butler, I will go issue the orders at once!"

Sima Yi nodded; so far Ying Shu's handling of affairs has reassured him.

After Ying Shu left, Sima Yi stared at the intelligence in his hand, pondering for a long time, still unable to discern Fugaku's motives.

A moment later, he shook his head and ignored it; since Shisui has already begun to control the Police Department, their success is one step closer.

Now public sentiment is with them, and another deity backs them; he doesn't believe the other side can still overturn everything!

After a moment's thought, he picked up the scroll on the desk, preparing a final contingency for future needs.

Meanwhile, the Police Department dispatched a large force in separate teams, swiftly moving to Konoha's streets to apprehend criminals.

Hui even voluntarily took the lead into the Village, entering the street he often frequented, and walked straight to the bun shop.

The bun shop owner saw three ninjas in Police Department uniforms approaching with a fierce aura; he first pursed his lips, then was stunned, and when he recognized the leader as that former demon god, his face turned ashen, and he immediately turned to go inside.

"Hmph, stand there!"

Hui let out a cold snort, then shouted lightly, causing the bun shop owner's body to shudder, sweat beading on his forehead as he froze in place.

"Good morning, esteemed gentlemen, may I ask what business you have with me?"

The owner, seeing Hui's unfriendly grin, was instantly frightened and stammered, asking timidly.

Hui, with a mocking smile, said, "Hey, aren't you the bun shop owner? Weren't you so arrogant the other day? Why have you become so timid these past few days?"

The owner, voice trembling, shook his head, "Sir Ninja, you jest. That day I was merely deceived. I still greatly respect the Uchiha, and have no hostile intent."

Hui pursed his lips, glanced at the empty cage, and asked, "Where are the buns?"

"Sir, it's almost noon now; the buns are already sold out."

Hui, hearing that, immediately raised his voice to intimidate, "Huh? No? If there aren't any, I'll arrest you!"

"Yes! Yes, yes, I'll do it right now, please wait a moment!"

The owner, quick‑witted, hurriedly wiped the sweat from his forehead and ran to the back kitchen.

Hui couldn't help but smile at the sight; the two behind him frowned slightly, noting that this person wasn't on the list—such wanton bullying of villagers would tarnish the Uchiha's reputation.

The two were about to speak up when Hui swept his hand and headed toward the pork shop on the other side of the street.

The pork shop owner was lounging behind, and ignored the three's arrival.

Hui glanced at him, then produced the capture list and asked, "Are you Yemoto Rou Song?"

Yemoto Rou Song wore an indifferent expression; facing the three Police Department ninjas he showed no fear and calmly asked, "It's me, what do you want?" Hui raised an eyebrow, then waved his hand, "Take him down!"

The two behind instantly pressed Yemoto Rou Song to the ground upon hearing the order, then bound him.

A teenage helper in the shop, seeing the Police Department men act, immediately drew a knife and lunged at Hui.

"Let go of my father!"

"So there's a ninja after all, kid, are you sure you want to fight me?"

Hui glanced, sensed the opponent's chakra, swiped the blade away, and seeing the foe about to form a seal, smiled and asked,

"Rou Rong, you must not—stop at once!"

Yemoto Rou Song, lying on the ground, quickly regained his senses; seeing his son still about to attack the Police Department men, he scolded him.

In the absence of the ANBU, the Police Department is the legitimate authority, representing Konoha's supreme will.

Against the Police Department one may curse, argue, or lie on the ground and act shamelessly, yet few dare to resist with force.

Hearing his father's scolding, Rou Rong finally reacted, quickly ceased, lowered his head, and stood aside.

The sudden turn of events left the surrounding crowd a bit disoriented, but once they identified the aggressor they swarmed; in an instant, both inside and outside the pork shop were packed with onlookers from the Village.

"The Police Department, what exactly are you doing? I'm a Konoha villager, I haven't done anything wrong; on what grounds are you arresting me? I'll report you to the Hokage; you abuse your clan to bully the weak!"

Although pressed to the ground, Yemoto Rou Song remained full of vigor, and as more villagers gathered he struggled and shouted.

Another instance of the Police Department abusing its power.

The matter seemed instantly classified; as the crowd prepared to discuss, Hui suddenly shouted loudly, "Yemoto Rou Song, taking advantage of the heavy snowfall on New Year's, when trade routes are blocked, you hoarded goods, inflated prices, disrupted the market, making Konoha villagers' lives increasingly hard!"

"Now verified, suspected of a foreign nation's sabotage of Konoha's livelihood; you are hereby seized into the Police Department's prison for severe interrogation! The shop is to be sealed immediately, and all involved parties taken!"

The accusation of market disruption and foreign sabotage made Yemoto Rou Song's face change instantly; he had never done that and was about to deny it.

However, as soon as Hui finished speaking, he glanced at the two, who understood; one of them, as Yemoto Rou Song opened his mouth, immediately knocked his jaw off.

"You're talking nonsense, this is a frame‑up."

Seeing his father's mouth being blocked, Rou Rong immediately spoke, but before he could finish, another person acted and instantly subdued him.

Then he turned to the other workers in the shop, coldly commanding, "Sit properly, or don't blame me for using force!"

The other helpers were ordinary folk; they dared not resist the Police Department ninjas, and bowed their heads to squat together.

Only then did the onlookers realize; someone, with a puzzled expression, asked the person beside them, "Did that Police Department guy just say that the recent price hikes are all because the pork shop owner is inflating prices?"

"He said that, and even more! This damned one is a foreign saboteur, specifically here to harm us, damn it!"

"Bastard, I told you his shop's goods were definitely short‑weighted; turns out he's a treacherous scoundrel from an enemy nation trying to swindle our money. Damn bastard!"

"No wonder wine prices have been so high lately; I've been forced to quit drinking. It's all your fault, you scoundrel! Throw him into prison, kill him!"

"I said why I keep losing at gambling lately; that gambling den's owner must be in the same gang—kill them!"

"Kill him!"

"Everyone, calm down. He may have accomplices; we need to take him back for interrogation."

A sudden outcry rose; the three's faces changed, and Hui hurried forward to intervene so the villagers wouldn't get too worked up.

The other two grabbed the wild meat floss and the workers inside the pork shop and fled immediately.

(End of chapter)