Chapter 80: It

"Konoha is spreading rumors! Defamation!"

Oonoki roared in fury, so enraged he nearly used Dust Release to reduce the intelligence report to atomic particles.

If this tactic had been used in the paper shredding industry, the Hidden Stone Village would have been among the top five hundred ninja world enterprises long ago.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and continued reading the intelligence in his hands.

"The Extraordinary Side Hustle of Oonoki!", "Why Is the Hidden Stone Village Hiring Akatsuki to Seize the Tailed Beasts?", "Exclusive Revelation! The Untold Story Between the Tsuchikage and the Akatsuki..."

Oonoki’s blood pressure instantly surged past the threshold; he roared out the window: "Hato!"

Soon, the office door was opened from outside.

A large, muscular man strode in quickly.

This man was the son of the Third Tsuchikage Oonoki and the father of the Fourth Tsuchikage Kurotsuchi.

The future Fifth Hokage’s father-in-law.

Hidden Stone Village Jonin, Hato!

Hato, seeing Oonoki’s furious expression, felt his heart tighten.

"Father, what’s happened?"

Hato asked anxiously.

Oonoki floated up to eye level with his son and delivered a headbutt that rang like metal clashing.

"Address me by my title while on duty!"

Hato immediately bowed his head and muttered dejectedly: "Yes, Third Tsuchikage-sama."

"What’s happened?"

Oonoki snorted coldly, eyes blazing with anger.

"They’ve already come knocking at our front gate, and Itachi’re asking what’s happened?"

"Full village mobilization. Prepare to stop Konoha’s invasion of the Land of Rain."

Upon hearing this, Hato froze, his face filled with shock.

"Are we going to war again?"

Oonoki struck his head hard again and cursed:

"Itachi brat, what are Itachi blabbering for? Go deliver the orders!"

Hato had no choice but to reply quickly: "Yes, Third Tsuchikage-sama."

Oonoki was displeased again: "Itachi little brat, can’t Itachi even call me 'Father'?"

Hato took another Dust Release correction punch and muttered dejectedly: "Alright, Father."

Konoha Village.

Rojie had just returned from the Hidden Rain Village and hadn’t even warmed his seat on the recliner when an urgent intelligence report was placed before him.

He looked at the document in his hands, his expression gradually turning grim.

Then Rojie stared directly at the man standing in front of him, punished for standing at attention: Nara Kaju.

"What did Itachi say?"

"The Hidden Stone Village not only refuses to seek peace, but has chosen to declare war on us?"

His tone was filled with disbelief, as if he were stating something perfectly reasonable.

Nara Shikamaru stood there, listening to Rojie’s words, feeling his temples throb.

Internally, he grumbled:

Listen to this—what kind of nonsense is this? Is this even human speech?

Yet, as the Hokage’s aide, he knew the first rule he must obey:

Whatever the Hokage says is always right.

If the Hokage is wrong, pretend Itachi didn’t hear it.

This was the survival strategy he’d learned after years of navigating Konoha’s power center.

Seeing Nara Shikamaru remain silent, Rojie’s brow instantly furrowed.

This Hokage aide was utterly incompetent—he wasn’t even joining in to curse the Hidden Stone Village.

He must check whether this man still possessed the Will of Fire.

Thinking this, Rojie slammed his fist on the desk.

"It’s getting cold. It’s time to make the Hidden Stone Village disappear."

"Issue my order: full village mobilization. Deliver a formal declaration of war to the Hidden Stone Village."

"He wants war? Then let him have war!"

Rojie’s voice was firm, radiating undeniable authority.

"Have Yamato keep an eye on things—don’t lose the Hidden Rain Village we just took."

"Also, order the Hidden Sand Village to mobilize."

"Their signed indenture isn’t worthless paper."

Nara Shikamaru nodded quickly, jotting down each of Rojie’s orders.

Just as he turned to leave the office to deliver the commands,

Rojie spoke again: "Where is Jiraiya? Bring him here."

Nara Shikamaru turned slightly: "After returning to the village, Jiraiya-sama has been at the Nanakawa Grand Hotel, drinking sake with courtesans."

"So he’s there."

Rojie rubbed his chin, a flicker of thought in his eyes.

"No need to summon him."

"It’s been a while since I inspected the Nanakawa Grand Hotel."

"I’ll go myself."

Saying this, he stood up, donned his Hokage hat, and left the office.

Meanwhile, at the Konoha Police Department beside the Nanakawa Grand Hotel.

Uchiha Sasuke, a newly promoted Chunin of the Konoha Police Department, had been living quite comfortably lately.

At first, when Rojie had dumped him into the newly formed Konoha Police Department, he had resisted and been deeply dissatisfied.

After all, compared to the Fifth Hokage, a man who could single-handedly suppress Tailed Beasts, what was the Konoha Police Department?

It was utterly insignificant.

Moreover, from his colleagues in the department, he’d heard that the Chief, Karamu Sōun, was nothing but a drunkard and a fool who rose through connections.

It was said that before the man with the Mangekyo Sharingan, Karamu Sōun hadn’t even blocked a single strike before collapsing.

How could a proud man like Sasuke endure this?

How could Uchiha Sasuke serve under such vermin?

But reality quickly taught him a lesson.

As days passed in the Konoha Police Department, Sasuke’s views underwent a complete transformation.

Now, Sasuke was fully under the "True Aroma" effect.

The Konoha Police Department was paradise!

Resolving disputes boosted reputation, learning ninjutsu improved skills, and occasionally he could use his Sharingan to help Konoha’s elderly ladies find lost cats and dogs, receiving baskets of gifts in return.

Moreover, his superior, Captain Sarutobi, possessed exceptional mastery over Fire Release techniques and treated him with great care.

Under Captain Sarutobi, Sasuke had learned more ninjutsu in just a few days than he had in a month under Kakashi.

Yet Sasuke always felt that some of the Fire Release techniques his captain taught him felt familiar, subtly echoing Uchiha family styles.

Once, Sasuke couldn’t help but ask Captain Sarutobi for confirmation.

"Captain, I feel like the Fire Release techniques Itachi’re teaching me resemble those of the Uchiha clan."

The moment he said this, Captain Sarutobi became furious.

"What nonsense!"

"There’s no such thing as Uchiha-style Fire Release—this is the authentic Konoha Fire Release!"

"Don’t talk such absurdities to me."

Though still doubtful, Sasuke was satisfied—he was learning advanced Fire Release techniques.

Moreover, through his own efforts (and connections at the top), he was successfully promoted to full status and passed the Police Department’s internal review.

After all, with the Hokage’s direct orders, who would dare block the last Uchiha heir?

Sasuke was soon promoted to Chunin and given three subordinates, becoming the youngest Chunin in the entire department.

Every day, leading his team on patrol, he felt his life was complete.

If he kept working for a few more years, gained enough seniority, Sasuke could be promoted to Captain.

Perhaps one day, he could become the man at the pinnacle of Police Department power—the Chief of the Konoha Police Department!

Deep in Sasuke’s memory, that was the very position his father had held!

Now, he seemed to be marching steadily toward that goal.

But the news from the Anbu a few days ago made this cold-faced, stoic man struggle to keep his lips from twitching like an AK-47.

(End of Chapter)