Chapter 227 – Beginning
"Clan Head Fugaku, Captain Kei—it's a pleasure to see you both."
In a quiet private room of a small tavern tucked inside Konoha's bustling district, Uchiha Kei and Uchiha Fugaku sat across from Hyūga Hiashi.
The invitation had come faster than Kei expected. Barely had he returned to the Police Force headquarters after leaving the Hokage's office when a messenger arrived from Hiashi himself. More surprising still—Hiashi had requested both Kei and Fugaku.
"Hiashi-dono," Fugaku replied calmly, eyes steady. "Strictly speaking, we were classmates once. But it has been a long time. I wonder, what important matter brings you to summon us here?"
"You don't know?" Hiashi blinked in surprise, studying Fugaku's face before casting a doubtful glance at Kei.
He was genuinely puzzled. Surely Fugaku, as Uchiha clan head and former Police Force Captain, should know the situation? Inviting a Hyūga into the Police Force was hardly a trivial matter. And surely Fugaku wouldn't have relinquished control of the Force so easily. Kei must only be a proxy… wasn't he?
After all, Kei had worked under Minato even before he became Fourth Hokage. Placing Kei as Police Force Captain could easily be read as a bold gesture of loyalty. Hiashi had even admired Fugaku's decisiveness. But now… Fugaku looked honestly unaware. Was his chosen "proxy" less reliable than expected?
"Kei," Fugaku asked, voice edged with suspicion. "Do you know what this is about?"
Of course, he already had a guess—it had to be Hyūga Ayaka. And if Hiashi's sudden attention was because of her… then perhaps their secret laboratory had been compromised. A grim thought.
But he didn't jump to conclusions. Better to ask Kei first. If things truly had gone wrong, then he would have to stand with Kei and act accordingly.
"I know," Kei answered smoothly, not even glancing at Fugaku. He already guessed what the man was thinking. "I invited Ayaka to join the Police Force. And I imagine this decision has put you in a difficult position, Hiashi-dono. Otherwise, you wouldn't have called for both of us."
"So it is about Ayaka…" Fugaku's eyes softened. He gave a small nod, relief slipping into his expression. "If that's all, then there was no need to summon me, Hiashi-dono. Kei is the Captain now. This matter lies with him."
Hiashi fell silent, momentarily thrown off balance. Fugaku's confusion had seemed genuine, not an act. Could it be… that he truly had ceded full control? That Kei, a boy so young, actually wielded the entirety of the Police Force's authority?
"Fugaku-dono, surely you jest," Hiashi said slowly. "This is far too important a matter—"
"It is," Fugaku interrupted with a faint smile, shaking his head. "But I told you already: I am no longer the Captain. Kei is. He may be young, but he is the rightful head of the Police Force. There is nothing more to it."
Hiashi studied the two men, but Fugaku's words were unequivocal. Kei wasn't a figurehead. He wasn't a puppet. He truly commanded one of the Uchiha's greatest pillars of power.
What did this boy do to earn such trust? Hiashi wondered. Fugaku's decisiveness was something he himself could never match.
"…I see. My apologies, Captain Kei. I underestimated you." Hiashi adjusted his tone immediately. He could no longer treat Kei as a mere upstart.
"It's fine," Kei said lightly, shaking his head. "After all, I really am too young."
Of course, he understood Hiashi's subtext perfectly. But being underestimated suited him just fine. The more others thought Fugaku stood in front, the safer and freer Kei was to move behind the curtain.
"Captain Kei," Hiashi pressed on, "why do you wish Ayaka to join the Police Force?"
Kei smiled faintly. "The answer is simple: she's my teammate. And as you know, the Police Force is no longer closed off. We're inviting anyone who meets our standards. Ayaka's Byakugan would be invaluable."
"Yes… I've heard," Hiashi admitted with a nod. He was well aware of Uchiha Jun's recruitment drive, carried out with almost no subtlety. In truth, the publicity worked in Kei's favor—it made it easier to reshape old prejudices.
The Police Force was no longer "Uchiha only." It belonged to Konoha. Anyone qualified could join.
Hiashi could see the advantages. A Police Force with better reputation and broader membership meant greater legitimacy. And Ayaka—though from the branch family—was capable.
"My apologies," Kei sighed, feigning regret. "Our clans' rivalry made my subordinates hesitate to approach you directly. But Ayaka has proven herself. As my teammate, I'd like her to take point. With the Byakugan, she can contribute greatly."
"…That's true," Hiashi admitted.
The offer was tempting. The Police Force still carried a dark reputation, but recent reforms had improved its standing. If this "new Police Force" grew into a respected institution, aligning the Hyūga with it might not be such a poor move.
For most Hyūga, clan rivalry was a matter of pride and indoctrination. But Hiashi stood higher. He knew when to put pragmatism first.
"There's one more thing," Kei added, voice casual but his words sharp as blades. "The Fourth Hokage supports this initiative as well. Of course, for political reasons, all he can do is support quietly."
"…The Fourth supports you?" Hiashi's expression sharpened. After a pause, he nodded slowly. "I understand. If that's the case, then we will cooperate."
Kei smiled thinly. "Good. Since Ayaka is my teammate, I intend to place her in a special unit. Before she officially begins, she'll undergo a month of intensive training. I trust you understand."
"A special unit?" Hiashi raised a brow, but after a moment he inclined his head. "If you value her that highly, Captain Kei, then I'll entrust her to you."
Though Hiashi had no idea what kind of unit Ayaka would be joining, or what sort of training awaited her, the arrangement was too much of a win–win to refuse.
The key detail was Kei's claim—that the Fourth Hokage himself supported this move.
Hiashi didn't bother doubting it. Kei was clever enough to know that lying about something so easy to verify would be suicidal. Everyone in the village knew he had just visited Minato. If he fabricated such a claim and was exposed, the blow to his reputation—and to the Uchiha as a whole—would be devastating.
Instead, Hiashi found himself wondering: What exactly is the Uchiha clan planning?
Opening the Police Force, once their jealously guarded stronghold, to outsiders was no small compromise. It was tantamount to giving up private rights for the sake of village-wide reform. A shocking shift, especially for the notoriously proud Uchiha.
And then there was Minato. What was the Fourth Hokage plotting behind the scenes?
The whole situation smelled strange. Hiashi resolved to prepare carefully for what was clearly coming.
"The likeliest outcome," he mused silently, "is that the Fourth is headed for a direct clash with the Third."
---
A week later, on a crisp morning, Ayaka arrived at the Police Force to report for duty.
Kei, of course, strolled in fashionably late. Escorting her into his office, he found Ayaka studying the surroundings with quiet curiosity. She couldn't help remarking:
"Looks like you really pulled it off."
"More or less," Kei replied with deliberate nonchalance. "I had support from all sides, and your clan head is willing to invest. But you—life in the Hyūga clan can't be too comfortable right now, can it?"
"Nothing unexpected," Ayaka said flatly. "Some call me a heretic, a traitor—those are obvious enough. I don't need to tell you who they are. Others, though, see me as a kind of hero—fellow branch family members who wish they could resist. That's about the shape of it."
Kei gave a wry smile. "At least you have both sides. Me? Everyone who hated me… I've already killed."
He glanced sideways at her, then let his gaze drift lazily to the doorway, where a certain figure wandered in, yawning.
Ayaka followed his eyes, only to roll hers a moment later. "Imai Kenta," she muttered, her distaste plain.
"Enough of that," Kei cut her off, standing. His tone shifted to one of sharp focus. "We've got a busy month ahead. Are you ready?"
"Of course. We start today?" Ayaka asked evenly.
"Yes. Today."