Konoha's Eighth Street—this stretch of road was almost entirely lined with small shops run by the Uchiha clan.
Many Uchiha without ninja talent made their living here through business.
Starting from last week, the number of Uchiha patrolling the Eighth Street had tripled.
Plenty of Uchiha members walked patrols back and forth, and whenever there was a disturbance, they would quickly appear on the scene.
Over the past few days, all the shopkeepers noticed that business on Eighth Street was doing much better than usual.
The foot traffic was far higher than normal—especially today.
Crowds were flooding into the Eighth Street, leaving many shop owners overwhelmed.
After asking around, they realized why: the patrol members in Streets One through Four had been completely changed out. They were no longer from the Hyūga clan. The new replacements were cold-blooded and ruthless.
No matter the reason, if a conflict broke out, arrests were made immediately.
Their methods were brutal—beatings so heavy that broken arms and legs were common.
The residents of Streets One through Four lived in terror, so many civilians simply went to Streets Five through Eight for their daily necessities instead.
Since Streets Five through Seven were under the Hyūga, and Street Eight was handled by the Uchiha, business there flourished.
Today, Uchiha Yōju received an order from the clan's deputy leader: all suspended Uchiha were to stroll around their old patrol areas.
Although the order was puzzling, the previously suspended Uchiha, who had been stuck at home in the compound, welcomed the chance to relieve their boredom and gladly went out.
What none of them expected was that the very shopkeepers who once looked at them like flies now greeted them with warmth—almost like seeing family.
Those who once spat at them or crossed the street to avoid them now came forward eagerly to strike up conversations.
When Yōju walked past the Shimizu Tavern, its owner enthusiastically waved him down. "Captain Yōju! Have you returned to patrol duty?"
Yōju was confused, but explained patiently, "I've already been suspended. I won't be serving in the Guard anymore. I'm just out for a stroll."
The tavern owner grabbed his hand. "No way, you can't quit! The Uchiha were always the best at running the Guard!"
Yōju didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He'd dealt with this tavern owner plenty in the past—the man had always been arrogant, quick to file complaints, saying the Uchiha Guard were just freeloaders.
Now he was suddenly praising them as the best?
"Let go, really… I've already been suspended. Too many complaints were filed against me, and the deputy leader barred me from Guard duty."
"I'll withdraw my complaints! I'll withdraw them! Just have the Uchiha return to patrol, please!"
Yōju had to use a substitution jutsu to escape the man's grip, slipping away in embarrassment.
But strangely, he felt much lighter inside. All the resentment he'd carried seemed to vanish.
Similar scenes played out across the former Uchiha patrol districts.
Shopkeepers who once resented the Uchiha now welcomed them warmly, only to be bitterly disappointed when they learned the Uchiha weren't returning to patrol duty.
They pleaded for them to come back.
If not for their agility, many Uchiha would have been stuck in the streets, unable to escape.
These were the hawkish members of the clan, once harsh in their duties and notorious for making enemies.
But now, they were being begged to return.
For the first time in a long while, a ray of light shone into their hearts, dispelling the bitterness and gloom.
"So people do need us, after all. Only now that we're gone do they realize our worth."
Some were even tempted to petition the clan head for reinstatement.
After all, the Guard Captain was Uchiha Fugaku—whether they could return to duty was ultimately his decision.
And indeed, after returning, several suspended Uchiha did go to see him.
Their words made Fugaku wonder if he had fallen into a genjutsu.
He neither agreed nor refused, telling them to remain on leave.
Instead, he summoned Natsuki, Shisui, and Itachi.
Lately, Natsuki had been training nonstop at the practice grounds, with Itachi as his sparring partner.
Shisui, recovering from his injuries, was also focused on rehabilitation.
The three arrived together.
"Sit," Fugaku gestured, nodding to Natsuki and Itachi before asking Shisui, "How's your recovery?"
"Thank you for your concern, Clan Head. I've nearly recovered and am undergoing rehabilitation."
Shisui, ever disciplined, sat upright even after just recovering, answering seriously.
"Natsuki, was it your idea to send those members out?" Fugaku asked.
Natsuki chuckled. "So, they've stopped making trouble?"
Fugaku nodded. "Your tactic worked. Once, they were met everywhere with cold stares. Now, they're being dragged around by shopkeepers who beg them to return."
Natsuki turned to Shisui and Itachi. "Through these past days, what have you noticed?"
Both had been closely monitoring the suspended Uchiha, fearing they might stir up trouble. Yet what unfolded surprised them both.
Itachi said, "Senpai highlighted the Uchiha's irreplaceable role."
Shisui added, "Senpai, I think… it shows that the Uchiha are needed."
Natsuki nodded. At least these two weren't completely clueless.
After all, they were only in their early teens—in his past life, they would have been middle schoolers.
At that age, the mind was still malleable. Without proper guidance, even geniuses could be led astray.
"People have a bad habit of taking what's around them for granted. No matter how much we Uchiha do, it's ignored.
But losing something, or comparing it, makes people realize its value.
We've run the Guard longer and better than anyone else. No one can replace us.
Yet the schemers in the village think we're out to seize everything. They've tried every method to suppress us.
So we withdraw strategically, removing the sense of threat. When the villagers realize their fears were baseless, they'll finally recall our worth."
The three listened in silence.
These were basic truths, yet truths they hadn't grasped. In this cruel world, children were sent to battlefields before they were ten. How much real education could they have received?
Geniuses here were defined by combat power—but in other aspects, they were naïve.
Some were easily deceived by Danzō.
Others brainwashed by the Third Hokage's "Will of Fire."
Fugaku then asked, "Some Uchiha now wish to return to the Guard. Natsuki, what do you think?"
Natsuki rolled his eyes. "I don't think much of it."
Shisui hesitated. "But… many villagers are desperate for us to return."
Only Itachi sat quietly, knowing Natsuki would explain.
Natsuki smacked Shisui's head, ruffling his hair into a mess. "Shisui, have you already forgotten how your eye was gouged out?
People are forgetful. If the Uchiha go back now, it'll just repeat history.
Sure, the civilians will cheer at first. But in time, it'll all go back to how it was.
Unless the root of the problem is solved, nothing you say will matter."
Fugaku watched Natsuki speak with ease, realizing just how simple-minded he himself had been. Protecting the clan was truly difficult.
Thankfully, there was Natsuki.
Itachi asked hesitantly, "Senpai, what exactly is the 'root' of the problem?"
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