The scene fell into the most chaotic and dangerous kind of physical clash. This was what was called a "mass incident", a large scale gathering formed temporarily by many people under certain social conflicts. Such events involved verbal or physical confrontation to express demands, defend interests, or vent anger, and they caused serious harm to social order and stability.
It could even be said that under the influence of Ryuji Hyuga, this was the first time since the founding of Konoha that civilians had ignited a "mass incident". The four members of the Uchiha Clan eighth squad naturally had no idea what a "mass incident" was, nor how destructive it could be in a closed place like Konoha. They only knew that the situation had completely spiraled out of control.
Driven by extreme anger and instinctive danger, Inabi Uchiha, Tiehuo, and Yaowei had already stopped holding back. Their Sharingan spun, and their heightened vision caught every movement that might pose a threat amid the chaos. They blocked incoming punches and kicks and inevitably used Genjutsu to strike back.
However, because they did not dare to use heavy force and only made the villagers fall unconscious, the scene became even more chaotic. "Stop! All of you, stop!" Yashiro Uchiha roared himself hoarse, trying to restrain his clansmen and shout down the furious villagers. His voice was drowned out by curses and the sounds of bodies colliding.
He looked at Inabi Uchiha's twisted face, at the woman still screaming in terror, and at the villagers pouring in from all directions. A chill ran through Yashiro Uchiha as if he had fallen into ice, and the usually steady man stood there stunned, ears ringing and at a loss. Still, things had reached a point where they could not be allowed to continue.
Splash!
A huge ball of water suddenly appeared above the crowd and burst before anyone could react, crashing down over their heads. Shouts and coughing erupted as icy water soaked everyone, jolting those who had been shoving and yelling back to their senses.
Everyone was drenched, hair plastered to their heads and clothes clinging to their bodies. Curses stuck in throats, and fists froze in midair. The entire street fell into a strange silence, broken only by startled breathing and coughing as the crowd's anger was doused by the cold water.
"Enough!"
Two figures used Body Flicker to appear in the center of the crowd, Kakashi Hatake and Tenzo wearing ANBU masks. Kakashi Hatake's left hand firmly grabbed the wrist of Inabi Uchiha that was holding the woman and pushed, pulling her free from his stunned grip.
"Everyone, stop," Tenzo said coldly through the mask, his gaze sweeping over all the soaked people, including the four equally drenched from Uchiha. Their response was swift and efficient, and if not for Kakashi Hatake's sudden abnormal delay, they would have arrived even earlier. The sight of their ANBU attire and the earlier Water Release had an effect, and although the villagers still glared angrily at the four, their bodies gradually stilled as reason returned.
"The two lords from ANBU, you saw it all, right!"
The villagers, awakened by cold water, seemed to find a backbone and pointed at the four from Uchiha and the woman who was crying in shock. They shouted that it was the people from Uchiha who grabbed someone first, that the woman had only spoken a few words before being threatened and forcibly taken away, and that several people had been injured by them. They accused it of violent enforcement and asked whether Uchiha thought itself superior to everyone else.
The crowd's anger was like a volcano temporarily cooled, but the remaining heat was still there. Their words were filled with disgust and hostility, all aimed at the four. "You!" Inabi Uchiha shouted, veins bulging at his temple, but before he could continue, a deep voice reached everyone's ears.
"Inabi, have you caused enough trouble?"
The crowd subconsciously followed the sound and looked over, seeing Fugaku Uchiha walking in with steady steps. His stern face showed little emotion, but deep in his black eyes was a pressure that made the noisy street fall quieter. At his side walked Itachi Uchiha.
The people parted to make way, and Fugaku Uchiha went straight to the center of the conflict. Itachi Uchiha stopped at the edge of the crowd, and at eleven years old, he calmly took in the scene before him.
"Fugaku Uchiha, it was them…" Inabi Uchiha opened his mouth to argue, but under the calm and icy gaze of Fugaku Uchiha, all his words stuck in his throat. Fugaku Uchiha's eyes swept over the disheveled Inabi, Tiehuo, and Yaowei, lingering on their humiliated and uneasy faces before finally settling on Kakashi Hatake.
"I am sorry for causing trouble for our colleagues in ANBU," Fugaku Uchiha said after exhaling. "Thank you for coming to stop the disorder." Without waiting for Kakashi Hatake to respond, he slowly turned to face the villagers who were still simmering with anger.
Under everyone's gaze, the head of the Uchiha Clan and captain of the Konoha Police Force slowly bent his straight back. "I sincerely apologize," Fugaku Uchiha said with his head lowered, his voice clear. "The duty of the Konoha Police Force is to protect villagers and maintain order, not to create confrontation and fear."
"No matter the reason for today's events, forcibly taking villagers and causing physical conflict are serious violations of police regulations." He stated that this was his failure as captain of the Konoha Police Force to properly discipline and guide his subordinates. He apologized on behalf of the Konoha Police Force and the Uchiha Clan to everyone who had been frightened or wrongly accused, especially the woman involved.
After speaking, Fugaku Uchiha straightened, his face still calm. He said that all clansmen involved would be punished under the highest disciplinary rules, and that the Konoha Police Force would send people to apologize in person and verify compensation for any losses.
Before he could finish, a foul smelling egg flew from somewhere in the crowd and smashed into Fugaku Uchiha's shoulder, staining his clothes and splashing onto his cheek. An angry voice immediately shouted that no one believed in punishment or cared about compensation. They said they only wanted to do business normally and stay far away from Uchiha.
Under the mask, Kakashi Hatake's face twitched. This time, even he felt a headache coming on.
The surroundings seemed to fall into a deathlike silence. Only the sound of water dripping onto the ground could still be heard clearly. No one spoke, as if even breathing had slowed.
Fugaku Uchiha's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but he did not look at the filth on his shoulder or the scraps on his cheek. He did not even raise a hand to wipe them away. He stood there as if nothing had happened.
"You bastards!"
Anger surged again across the faces of Inabi Uchiha and the other two, but Fugaku Uchiha suddenly raised his left arm and blocked them. He stopped their bodies as they tried to rush forward once more.
"Apologize."
The two words sounded as if they were forced out through clenched teeth, carrying a chilling restraint of anger. The impulsive three shuddered as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over them.
Humiliation and unwillingness churned in their chests, almost tearing their reason apart. Yet Fugaku Uchiha lifted his hand and pressed them down, forcing all three to bow deeply toward the people in front of them.
The villagers who had been shouting in rage moments ago were left at a loss. Seeing the high ranking clan head of Uchiha bow twice in such a solemn and humble manner left them momentarily speechless.
Others also fell silent, exchanging looks with one another. Much of the anger in their chests faded, though traces of resentment and dissatisfaction were still clear on their faces.
"Get back."
Fugaku Uchiha released the arm holding the three back and spoke coldly.
The faces of the three burned with shame as they clenched their teeth hard enough to crack. They swallowed the rage that could have ignited the air and forced it back into their stomachs.
Under countless complex gazes, they stiffly and slowly withdrew their hands from their sword hilts. Without looking back, they turned and left.
Only after they were gone did Fugaku Uchiha straighten his back. He could clearly feel the looks cast at him, no longer filled with respect but mixed with resentment, disgust, and long suppressed contempt.
Light reflected in those eyes, revealing only a cold barrier. Yet Fugaku Uchiha could do nothing about it.
He turned again to Kakashi Hatake and gave a slight nod, maintaining the last shred of dignity. "My apologies."
Without another word, he walked straight through the crowd and left the street with Itachi Uchiha under the many watching eyes.
At a distant alley entrance, Ryuji Hyuga's gaze flickered. He thought to himself that the clan head of Uchiha Clan was indeed a clever man, though it was a pity.
He was far too naive.
Whether it was bringing a three or four year old Itachi Uchiha to the battlefield to kill, hoping to teach Itachi about the cruelty of the Ninja World but instead shaping extreme ideas. Or later wavering between Konoha and the clan, indecisive to the point of pushing Itachi into Danzo Shimura's hands and letting Danzo Shimura fill him with the twisted notion of bearing darkness.
All of it proved Fugaku Uchiha's naivety.