Early the next morning, after Sora left the Uchiha compound, Uchiha Shin quietly began to move.
Even though he had no clear idea what the ANBU were planning, he had already given his word—and once he did, there was no backing out. He would see it through, no matter what.
Truthfully, fully integrating the Military Police Force had always been part of his long-term plans. The only difference now was that everything had been pushed forward ahead of schedule.
At present, only one final division within the Police Force was still resisting. The other two had long since fallen under the complete control of Shin and Uchiha Haru.
This last division, however, was… complicated.
Back when Shin hadn't yet extended his influence into it, he hadn't fully grasped just how tangled things were inside. Now, however, he understood all too well.
Within that division were doves advocating peace, hawks pushing for aggression, and a large number of staunch loyalists to the clan head—those who had always claimed neutrality.
Naturally, such a composition made the division extremely difficult to control.
Even with Uchiha Jin mediating from within—trying to persuade and win over the hawkish faction—progress had been limited.
After all, Jin was officially "dead." He couldn't act freely or openly.
But things can't continue like this. Shin thought to himself as he quickened his pace, heading into a secluded courtyard.
The courtyard looked somewhat desolate at first glance. But upon closer inspection, one could detect numerous Uchiha shinobi hidden in the shadows, silently monitoring the area.
When they saw Shin, however, none of them made a move. He passed through without obstruction, making his way directly into a room within the compound.
"Hmph."
The moment he stepped inside, a cold snort reached his ears.
Shin paid it no mind.
His gaze swept briefly across the room before he continued forward, heading deeper inside.
The source of that disdainful sound was none other than the group of hawk faction elders—men Shin had forcibly captured and detained a year ago.
They had once been his comrades. His friends. Warriors who had fought alongside him.
But the moment he chose a path no one had ever envisioned, those same allies had inevitably become his enemies.
Shin had never wanted things to turn out this way.
Yet he also knew there had never been any real way to avoid it.
Even so, he had never killed them.
Just like he had spared Uchiha Jin, there was no way he would harm these men—whether out of personal ties or because they were all Uchiha.
Pushing open the innermost sliding door, Shin stepped inside.
Within, an elderly man sat calmly, brewing tea.
Steam rose steadily from the teapot, curling into the air in soft wisps. Combined with the chill of the current season, the scene carried an oddly harmonious warmth.
It was already December.
Feather-like snowflakes drifted gently from the sky. Though the accumulation on the ground remained thin, the cold had already spread across the entire shinobi world.
"Shin, what brings you here?" Uchiha Jin looked up from his tea-making and smiled faintly when he saw him.
Though he was a defeated man—effectively under house arrest, officially declared dead—his state of mind remained surprisingly steady.
After all, everything he had done had been for the sake of the Uchiha.
Now, he had come to understand the clan's possible future, and he could clearly see the advantages and risks behind Shin's choices.
On top of that, Shin had spared his life at a critical moment.
Because of this, Jin harbored none of the resentment or hatred that consumed the others.
"I came today because there's something important we need to discuss."
Shin didn't bother with pleasantries. He sat down directly, his voice calm and steady.
"Something is about to happen in Konoha. The ANBU may require us to take a stance… so we need to speed things up."
"Something is about to happen?" Jin's brows furrowed slightly at those words.
For him, that was far from good news.
"Looks like the scope of this incident won't be small… but isn't it a bit too rushed to act now?"
It really was somewhat rushed. Uchiha Shin had indeed changed many of the Military Police Force's internal practices, and the emergence of that so-called "newspaper" in Konoha had further allowed the villagers to witness the changes taking place within the Uchiha clan.
Although Uchiha Jin personally looked down on such methods—believing that the Uchiha were lions, and lions could never truly coexist peacefully with sheep—he had to admit, somewhat helplessly, that there was now a monster above even that "lion," something closer to a tyrannical dragon.
At the same time, he could not deny another truth: the distance between the clan and the villagers had clearly shortened, and the clan itself was genuinely improving.
But clan transformation was one thing, while actual control of the Uchiha was another entirely.
Uchiha Shin was still not the true master of the clan. Even though he had achieved great success within the Military Police Force and absorbed many of Jin's former followers, Uchiha Fugaku had also gathered his own supporters. After all, he was the clan head—he held legitimacy.
And now, after losing one of his eyes, Fugaku had become even more erratic, his methods increasingly forceful.
Moving against him… Shin and his faction might have the strength, but the cost would be far too great.
"Yeah… it is a bit rushed, but I think it should still work."
Uchiha Shin looked at Uchiha Jin seriously.
"This time, I need you to personally take action—not delegate it to someone else."
"I understand. I said I would cooperate with you." Jin gritted his teeth and nodded. "I just hope we can get through this smoothly. After all, this time we're dealing with the clan head, not just us elders."
"The clan head?"
Shin froze slightly at those words, then couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh as he shook his head.
So that was the misunderstanding.
Perhaps he hadn't explained himself clearly enough, or perhaps his own urgency had led Jin to misinterpret his intent.
Setting the matter aside, Shin sat down and lifted a cup of tea, taking a slow sip. The aroma spread warmly across his palate.
"I have no intention of touching Uchiha Fugaku for now," he said quietly after swallowing the tea. "What I want… is only the Military Police Force. A Military Police Force that is completely under my control."
"You mean… letting the department speak in place of the clan head?" Jin seemed to grasp something. "Or rather, in this incident, the department's authority will surpass that of the clan head?"
"Even I'm not entirely sure yet," Shin replied with a slight shake of his head. "But Sora told me that, in the events that are about to unfold, she wants the Military Police Force to take a clear stance."
With that, he fell silent.
Jin, however, sank into deep thought. After a long pause, he looked at Shin again, his expression serious.
"So… what does Sora want you to do? Or rather, what do you plan to do?"
"I told her," Shin said calmly, "that I would give it everything I have to make it happen."
—
Inside a small meeting room of Konoha's ANBU headquarters, Natsuhiko smiled faintly as he looked at Yamanaka Inoichi sitting before him.
Natsuhiko had met Inoichi Yamanaka many times before, but the encounter that left the deepest impression on him was the one where his memories had been inspected.
Back then, Inoichi had used his clan's secret techniques to hypnotize and guide him, trying to extract hidden truths from his mind. The experience had been… unforgettable.
At the time, Natsuhiko had neither the strength nor the status he possessed now. Faced with that kind of pressure, he had no choice but to compromise and yield where necessary.
Even so, he hadn't simply accepted everything passively. He had managed to play Inoichi for a fool—deliberately revealing his own clan identity in a way that served his own purposes.
Of course, looking back, Natsuhiko suspected that this was exactly what Hiruzen Sarutobi had wanted him to do. After all, that had been shortly after Minato Namikaze took office as Hokage.
In order to prevent the Ino–Shika–Cho alliance from fully aligning with Minato, Hiruzen had subtly maneuvered to keep Inoichi in check. For someone like him, that kind of manipulation was hardly difficult.
But time had passed, and the situation had completely reversed.
Now, Natsuhiko stood at the very pinnacle of the ANBU.
And this time, although it was still Inoichi who had come to see him, the underlying dynamic between them had changed entirely.
The information delivered by that insect the previous night had already made it clear—Inoichi wanted to meet him. Thinking about it, Natsuhiko couldn't help but shake his head.
He already knew the likely reason behind the visit.
At the same time, he couldn't help but marvel at Danzō's talent for bringing trouble on himself.
"Inoichi-san, it's been a while."
Natsuhiko greeted him with a faint smile. Regardless of everything, they were still acquaintances.
"I have to admit, I didn't expect you to come looking for me."
"You flatter me, Commander."
Inoichi gave a wry smile, his tone tinged with bitterness.
"I belong to the Intelligence Division and also handle certain ANBU affairs. Strictly speaking, you are my superior."
"Am I?" Natsuhiko repeated, still smiling as he studied him. "I've never really thought of you as my subordinate… nor as someone who belongs to the ANBU."
There was no mockery in his words. Given Inoichi's identity—and the status of the Intelligence Division—his position was far from ordinary.
Yet the way Natsuhiko spoke, combined with the less-than-pleasant history between them, caused Inoichi's expression to darken further.
It felt as though his worst fear had come true.
This man—this Commander—had not forgotten what happened back then.
In truth, Inoichi had long considered reconciling with Natsuhiko. The problem was that reconciliation required equality, and Natsuhiko's rise had far exceeded anything he could have anticipated.
At first, Natsuhiko had only been a squad captain.
Then, before anyone could react, he had become a division commander.
That alone had already placed him far beyond the reach of ordinary ANBU operatives. Naturally, Inoichi could no longer treat him as he once had.
And just as he was preparing to arrange a proper meeting—
The Nine-Tails incident erupted.
By the time the chaos had settled, Inoichi was stunned to discover that the former division commander had already become the Commander of the ANBU.
It wasn't just him. Even Shikaku Nara had been caught off guard by such a turn of events.
But by then, there was nothing they could do.
They could only guess how many forces and interests were tied to Natsuhiko's rise to power.
If given the choice, they would have preferred to remain neutral, staying out of these dangerous currents altogether.
But under Danzō's relentless maneuvers, they were no longer in a position to do so.
In the original story, Inoichi had made no moves at all. That was because Minato had already died, and Hiruzen had shown no intention of selecting a Fifth Hokage.
Under those circumstances, Inoichi could only endure in silence.
The same had been true for Shibi Aburame, who also dared not overstep his bounds.
But now—
Everything was different.
"Let's set aside the pleasantries, Inoichi-san."
Natsuhiko shook his head lightly, tapping the table with his fingers to pull Inoichi back from his thoughts.
"So, what brings you here today?"
"I came to see you, Commander, because there's something very important I need to discuss."
Inoichi steadied himself, casting aside the clutter in his mind as his expression grew serious.
"It's about Danzō."
Inoichi Yamanaka knew full well that Natsuhiko already understood everything he was about to say. Even so, it had to come from his own mouth.
This wasn't just about conveying information—it was a matter of stance, of resolve. More importantly, it was a form of assurance. The path he had chosen to walk was fraught with danger from every direction, and there was no room for ambiguity.
On top of that, there were still lingering misunderstandings between him and Natsuhiko. Speaking openly was the only way to earn even a sliver of trust.
His delivery wasn't particularly smooth, but it was thorough—painfully so. Every detail was laid bare.
Natsuhiko listened with quiet focus. As the explanation unfolded, he realized that the situation bore a striking resemblance to what had happened with Shibi Aburame.
Danzō really did have an eye for talent. The people he targeted all came from clans with highly specialized abilities—abilities perfectly suited for organizations like Root or the ANBU.
And yet, it was precisely because of his arrogance—his misplaced confidence that he could control everything through sheer force—that he had driven himself into isolation, abandoned by all.
It took Inoichi quite some time to finish his explanation. Even while recounting everything, he subtly alluded to the situation involving Shibi and the others.
Natsuhiko listened in silence. Only after Inoichi had completely finished did he give a small nod.
"What an unfortunate situation," he said calmly. "I didn't expect Lord Danzō to go this far."
"Commander… this time, I'm here to ask for your help."
Inoichi lowered his head slightly, his voice heavy and subdued.
"Just like Clan Head Shibi and the others… right now, you're the only one I can turn to."
"Oh?" Natsuhiko let out a soft chuckle, lightly tapping his fingers against the table as he spoke at an unhurried pace. "And what makes you think I helped Shibi and his people?"
He tilted his head slightly, his tone almost playful.
"Besides, this isn't a trivial matter. Lord Danzō stands behind—"
"I know. We all know."
Inoichi cut him off, his voice still low but now carrying unmistakable resolve.
"We understand exactly how difficult and dangerous this is. But we've already made our decision."
He lifted his head slightly, his gaze firm despite the tension in his expression.
"If you're willing to help us through this crisis, then from this moment on, we will offer our unwavering support—to you, Natsuhiko… and to the Fourth Hokage."
At that point, there was no need to continue.
Both of them understood that everything had already been laid out on the table.
This was Inoichi overturning the board entirely—leaving no room for retreat. He clearly knew that Natsuhiko wouldn't easily reveal his stance, so he had chosen to force the issue, stating everything as plainly as possible.
By pushing things this far, he had effectively cut off any easy way for Natsuhiko to deflect.
It was a bold move.
And, admittedly, an interesting one.
"…Impressive," Natsuhiko finally said after a long silence, shaking his head faintly. "Now I'm curious—did Shikaku teach you to deal with me like this?"
"In a way… yes."
Inoichi's voice wavered slightly, as if the weight of what he had just done was finally catching up to him. There was tension in his posture, even a hint of exhaustion, but his determination remained unshaken.
"He told me that when it comes to matters like this, hesitation is the worst possible choice. Once a decision is made, you follow through without doubt."
He took a slow breath before continuing.
"Hesitation would only make you think we lack resolve. Trying to stay vague or noncommittal would leave us trapped, unable to move forward or backward."
"The Fourth Hokage is the rightful leader of the village. The Third is only serving as acting Hokage—but his actions lately…" Inoichi's voice tightened slightly. "They've been deeply disappointing."
"Even if we can't force the Third to step down—or if the Fourth Hokage has his own plans—we can at least make our voices heard."
Natsuhiko listened quietly to every word.
And when Inoichi finally finished, a faint smile spread across his face.
Nara Shikaku…
As expected of the man known as the greatest strategist of his generation.
Natsuhiko was certain of one thing—he had never met Shikaku in person, nor had they ever had any direct contact.
And yet, the man understood him with unsettling clarity.
More precisely, through subtle shifts in the situation, he had pieced things together on his own.
What was most troubling was that those deductions aligned almost perfectly with Natsuhiko's current thoughts—even matching parts of what he was already putting into motion.
To be honest, Natsuhiko was genuinely welcoming of Yamanaka Inoichi's visit. After all, Inoichi's weight in Konoha was anything but light—behind him stood the Nara and Akimichi clans, meaning that one man effectively represented three major factions.
Watching Inoichi's resolute expression, Natsuhiko suddenly stood up.
He walked slowly toward the exit, and as he passed by Inoichi, he lightly patted his shoulder.
"The reporting time is about up. I believe you still have other duties to attend to, Inoichi-san. However, regarding this matter, I would like you to submit a formal written report to me. No problem with that, right?"
"Of course! No problem at all!"
Hearing Natsuhiko's words, Inoichi finally let out a subtle sigh of relief, because at that moment he had already understood the answer.
"Good. Then I want it on my desk before five this afternoon. Can you manage that?"
"Yes, absolutely!"
—
Early morning, as the rising sun hung high in the sky, the streets of Konoha had already begun to bustle with activity.
In particular, the newspaper stands scattered across the village were surrounded by dense crowds. Ever since the newspaper was introduced, it had essentially become a necessity in the daily lives of Konoha's citizens—and even those of the Land of Fire.
Through that small sheet of paper, everyone could learn about events unfolding across the entire shinobi world.
For the average person, this was more than enough to satisfy their need for information and curiosity. And truthfully, the Land of Fire was prosperous enough that even ordinary civilians had some disposable income. Otherwise, they would not even be able to afford hiring ninja for various tasks.
On top of that, Natsuhiko had never intended to make a profit from the newspaper in the first place. The price he set was so low that almost anyone not struggling to survive could afford it.
The only problem with such low pricing, however, was simple—there were far too many people buying it every morning.
Even though Natsuhiko had already set up numerous newsstands across the village, it still wasn't enough to fully meet demand.
"Crap, crap… I overslept. I hope I don't miss it."
Early in the morning, Mikawa Kento rushed desperately toward a newspaper stand. He was an ordinary Chūnin of Konoha, usually teaming up with others to complete missions, or taking on simple solo tasks like clearing weeds when no squad was available.
He was well aware that his potential as a ninja had basically reached its limit, but he was still quite satisfied with his life. Though uneventful and lacking in growth, it was peaceful—and after having seen the brutality of the battlefield firsthand, he valued that peace deeply.
So he genuinely cherished the days he could spend quietly with the people he cared about, and every morning he looked forward to reading the newspaper to understand what was happening in the shinobi world.
"Still, there are way too many people buying it every day…"
He muttered under his breath, though he also understood there was nothing that could be done about it.
Because everyone wanted the first-hand information that came with the morning edition. No one wanted to be the one left out when others were discussing the news—no one wanted to sit there clueless while everyone else spoke as if it were common knowledge.
Finally squeezing into the crowd, Kento fought through sheer effort and managed to snatch a copy. In his eyes, buying the morning paper had become almost like a battle in itself—far more difficult than it had any right to be.
"Still, at least I managed to get a copy."
Mikawa Kento let out a small sigh of relief. As he made his way toward the Mission Hall, he casually flipped open the newspaper in his hands, intending to skim through it while walking.
But only a few steps in, he froze.
The moment he turned to the front page, a bold headline struck him like a blow—
THE GHOSTS OF KONOHA!
No matter how he looked at it, this wasn't something trivial.
As for what was really going on inside Konoha, Kento couldn't say for certain. Perhaps it was simply because of his rank—he didn't have access to the kind of information that revealed the village's darker layers.
But even so, the chance to glimpse secrets that were usually out of reach was enough to make his blood stir with excitement.
"The ghosts of Konoha… what could that even mean?"
He swallowed hard and began reading more carefully. Yet the further he went, the colder his body seemed to grow.
Everyone knew about the ANBU—that much was common knowledge among shinobi.
But what the article revealed was something else entirely.
Hidden within Konoha was another force… one that stood on equal footing with the ANBU.
The newspaper never explicitly named them, nor did it describe their operations in detail. It left many things unsaid.
And yet, through accounts attributed to various clan heads, it painted a chilling picture—stories of entire families being forced into submission, of clan members being taken away, of relentless and unprecedented oppression.
The descriptions weren't lengthy. Perhaps the subject was too sensitive, which was why the details were deliberately restrained. Even the identities of the clans involved were left vague.
But that only made it more terrifying.
There were many such testimonies listed—each tied to specific times and locations. No matter how one looked at it, this didn't feel fabricated.
More importantly… no one would dare fabricate something like this.
The consequences would be unimaginable.
"Konoha… could something this horrifying really exist here?"
Kento swallowed again. His curiosity had been thoroughly satisfied—but along with it came a deep, creeping sense of dread.
If even the great clans had been reduced to such a state, then what about ordinary shinobi like him?
The article offered no clear answer, but one thing was easy to imagine—
Whoever commanded this force clearly didn't see people like them as human at all.
"How could someone like this exist in Konoha…?"
Kento couldn't wrap his head around it.
And he wasn't alone. Countless civilian shinobi reading the same paper found themselves just as confused and disturbed by its contents.
But there were others who understood immediately.
The jonin of Konoha.
The heads of the great clans.
Jonin represented the pinnacle of a shinobi's advancement. Those who reached that level possessed not only exceptional strength, but also sharp minds.
And at their level, they were naturally exposed to truths that ordinary people would never know.
For instance… the existence of that shadowy force.
Most of them had at least heard whispers of it.
And now, with everything laid bare in such a raw and brutal manner, shock gave way to silence—and beneath that silence, a simmering anger.
There had always been incidents in Konoha—mysterious disappearances, entire families vanishing overnight.
Sometimes, the ANBU would claim responsibility.
But other times… there was no explanation at all.
Those cases would simply become cold files, unsolved mysteries that faded quietly into obscurity. It was… unsettling, to say the least.
Even more troubling was how these incidents were never widely discussed. They never stirred public outrage. Even if someone sensed that something was wrong, their doubts would ultimately sink without a trace, never to be pursued again.
And those who disappeared—there was never any evidence to suggest they had committed any wrongdoing.
The ANBU, for all their ruthlessness, still operated under a certain structure. No matter how harsh their methods, there was always a reason given—even if it came indirectly, through word passed down from the Hokage.
But this…
This was entirely different.
"Could it be… this mysterious force is behind it all?"
At that moment, countless merchants fell into an uneasy silence. Among those who had died were jonin—some of them even friends and long-time associates.
As for the clan heads, their reactions were far more intense.
Whether they had already been affected, had chosen to remain silent until now, or had yet to encounter such trouble themselves, every single one of them was filled with outrage. None of them could tolerate something like this happening within Konoha.
More importantly, they had almost immediately figured out who was behind it.
That realization only deepened their anger—while at the same time sending a chill down their spines.
Because they all knew exactly who stood behind that man.
And they also knew, all too clearly, what would happen if things continued down this path.
For a brief moment, the entire atmosphere in Konoha turned eerily tense.
Then, when more than a dozen clan heads suddenly gathered beneath the Hokage Building, everyone understood—
This had escalated into something far beyond control.
...
"DAMN IT!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his fist onto the desk, his face dark with fury as he stared at the newspaper in his hands.
He had never imagined things would spiral to this extent.
Danzō… had crossed a line that should never be crossed.
He had openly violated the unspoken rules of the shinobi world, targeting clan shinobi without restraint.
Worse still, Hiruzen himself had been so preoccupied with dealing with Natsuhiko that he hadn't noticed any of it.
Even though the newspaper didn't explicitly name which clans had been "visited" by Danzō, Hiruzen could make a fairly accurate guess.
And when a shinobi reported that dozens of clan heads had already gathered outside the Hokage Building—including representatives from the Inuzuka, Aburame, and Yamanaka clans—he knew the situation had become truly disastrous.
"Hiruzen!"
At that moment, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado burst through the door, their expressions grim.
"What is going on?" Koharu demanded sharply. "What's with that newspaper? And those people outside—what are they doing here?"
"What's going on?" Hiruzen shot back, his temper finally snapping as he rose to his feet. "Why don't you go ask Shimura Danzō what he's been up to? Ask him what kind of 'good deeds' he's been doing!"
He was furious—truly furious.
So much so that he had shouted Danzō's name outright without any restraint.
This incident had grown far too large—so large that even Hiruzen found it incredibly difficult to handle.
Large enough that he could already feel the cracks forming within the village itself.
He had trusted Danzō.
And yet that man's actions had proven not only reckless, but outright insane.
"Enough arguing. We need to act immediately."
Homura spoke up at once, his tone urgent.
"We should have the ANBU confiscate all copies of the newspaper before this spreads further. Otherwise, we'll—"
"Otherwise what?" Hiruzen cut him off coldly. "Arrest Natsuhiko? Cut off the ANBU's funding? Don't be ridiculous. If you try that, he'll turn around and arrest you instead!"
"…He's right."
Koharu frowned deeply, her expression tense.
"Forcing him to withdraw the newspapers now would be the same as admitting guilt. Even if we can't fully contain this anymore, we still need to minimize the impact as much as possible."
Suppress the noise.
That was the only thing they could do now.
Yet even as she said those words, Koharu fell silent.
Because deep down, she knew—
It might already be too late.
How to suppress it—this was clearly the most urgent issue at hand.
And yet, to their growing frustration, they realized they had no effective way to do so.
With the newspaper already in circulation, control over public opinion was firmly in the hands of that young man from the Senju clan—Natsuhiko.
They had already begun producing their own copies in an attempt to counteract the spread, but no matter how hard they tried, they simply couldn't replicate the reach or influence that Natsuhiko had achieved.
If they wanted to quiet the uproar, there were only two viable options left:
Meet with Natsuhiko.
Or meet with the clan heads.
But approaching Natsuhiko was the last thing they wanted to do. They knew all too well that someone like him would never yield easily.
"…We'll meet him."
At last, Hiruzen spoke, his expression dark and resolute.
"This matter must be handled properly. If we fail, the village itself will be in danger."
"Hiruzen…" Homura hesitated, his brows knitting together. "If you go to meet him, then what about Danzō—"
"Enough!"
Hiruzen cut him off sharply, his voice carrying an authority that brooked no argument.
In that moment, the full weight of his reputation as the "God of Shinobi" revealed itself.
"There is nothing—nothing—that takes precedence over the safety of the village. Not for you. Not for me."
He spoke each word with unwavering firmness.
Then, slowly, he closed his eyes before continuing in a quieter, colder tone—
"This matter will be resolved."
"And some people… some actions…"
"…will have to pay the price."
...
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