Chapter 80. Already had a plan

In Konoha Village, despite the Uchiha maintaining their silence, a subtle communication was happening among them.

When the shop owners closed their businesses, they would discreetly wink at the customers, signaling toward the Root nearby.

Given the notorious reputation of the Roots, the villagers quickly jumped to conclusions.

Were these Roots seeking revenge on the Uchiha, intentionally sabotaging their businesses? Speculation spread like wildfire, painting the Root members as villains out to harm the Uchiha.

As tensions rose, Hizashi was summoned to the Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage was visibly upset and addressed him sternly, "I don't care about any deals your Hyuga clan has with Danzo. In short, Uchiha's shops must be reopened within three days."

Originally, Hiashi disagreed with the elder of the Hyuga clan interfering with the police force.

However, his impressions of the higher-ups were already strained, especially after the incident with Kumogakure.

Regardless, the eldest elder of the clan, known for his stubbornness, firmly believed that there was no benefit in going against the Hokage.

Moreover, Danzo had promised Hyuga the position of honorary elder upon completing the matter.

Besides, it was simply a matter of transferring members within the village.

To everyone's surprise, the Uchiha seemed to have a well-thought-out plan.

Whenever Roots approached, the shop owners swiftly closed their businesses, refusing to engage in any further trade.

With the support of the Third Hokage, he quickly consulted with the elders.

The Third Hokage is relieved that the situation is being handled, and reflected on the fact that while he had trusted certain powers to Danzo, he had not made those public.

The villagers remained unaware that he had tacitly approved of Danzo and the Hyuga clan's actions.

Faced with the Uchiha's unexpected reaction, the Third Hokage contemplated the long-term implications of the situation.

...

Hizashi swiftly conveyed the Third Hokage's instructions, but the clan elder was still fixated on the honorary elder position, making it impossible to simply dismiss the matter.

Thus, he reluctantly recalled Hizashi to resume his duties while he assumed the role of an assistant, delicately phrased as such.

Each time, Hizashi harbored resentment towards these individuals, primarily focused on their ruthless practices.

However, he recognized the delicate balance between maintaining harmony within the clan and addressing external matters.

As the root security team was reassigned to different streets, all the Uchiha shops on Eighth Street simultaneously reopened.

"Ah, the skewers!"

"The stinky tofu is back!"

"I've been craving those hot and sour noodles!"

"My favorite!"

The villagers rejoiced as their favorite Uchiha-owned shops welcomed them once again.

The closure of these establishments had left them appetite-deprived and sad for a whole week, resulting in weight loss for many due to the lack of satisfying meals.

With the reopening of the stores, a surge of customers flooded in, eagerly placing frantic orders.

The Uchiha clan members found themselves nearly paralyzed from exhaustion, only to witness the villagers relishing their meals both inside and outside the walls.

The fear of the shops closing again haunted both the Uchiha owners and the villagers, but to their relief, the shops continued to operate smoothly the next day.

However, this temporary peace was short-lived, as, on the fourth day, a sudden closure of all stores surprised and disappointed the eager diners.

Seeking an explanation, they found the Uchiha bosses, who shared a wry smile as they clarified the situation.

"During the past few days, the patrols were conducted by members of our Uchiha and the Hyuga clan. However, today, it's the root security team, and we can't risk opening the stores."

"The roots..."

The boss paused, allowing the significance of the unspoken words to sink in.

"Once the root security team rotates out, our stores will reopen. Thank you all for your understanding."

With that, the Uchiha boss walked through the crowd and left.

Many people were talking and the news swiftly reached Danzo, who reacted with frustration, shattering the teacup in his hand.

The Uchiha clan's unexpected defensive measures caught him off guard.

He had been contemplating how to exploit the situation with the root members patrolling the street.

Danzo's initial plan was to seize an opportunity to tamper with the Uchiha's food, creating incidents that would provide grounds for closing their shops under the pretext of safety.

This, in turn, would allow him to bring them in for interrogation.

However, the Uchiha clan proved to be remarkably resilient.

As soon as the root members started their patrols, all Uchiha shops collectively shut down.

The Uchiha demonstrated a resolute stance, choosing not to conduct business at all rather than compromising.

They weren't afraid of upsetting customers, and although some customers were initially frustrated, the Uchiha clan had prepared various coupons, offering free food to pacify them.

This gesture aimed to convey the Uchiha's helplessness in the situation.

As time passed, customers developed a tacit understanding, and a police patrol list mysteriously circulated somewhere in the village.

As long as it's a day when the roots are patrolling, customers won't go because they won't get anything to eat. 

Every day the root members patrolled, the entire street resembled a ghost town with no customers in sight.

It seemed as if the shops had permanently closed down.

Even the search to locate a Uchiha, let alone obtaining the secret recipe, appeared to be an elusive skill.

Danzo found himself bewildered by the situation.

Closing a shop that generated significant daily revenue without any complaints from the boss seemed counterintuitive.

Each time a shop shut down, an entire day's worth of customer traffic was lost, leading to a decline in interest.

Customers, frustrated by the unpredictable closures, gradually shifted their preferences elsewhere.

This continuous cycle posed challenges, not only in maintaining a steady customer base but also in managing perishable ingredients.

The risk of food ingredients going bad threatened large with each passing day, contributing to significant losses.

Danzo remained oblivious to Natsuki's foresight and collaboration with Fugaku from the beginning.

The Uchiha had a well-thought-out plan to counter any temptations associated with Danzo's roots.

Their strategy was clear: immediate and unwavering response to any provocation related to Danzo's Roots.

The Uchiha, aware of the potential dangers, refused to succumb to the gradual encroachment of Danzo's influence.

It was an aggressive approach to prevent being trapped like a frog in warm water, unable to escape in the end.

They ensured that even if customers left without getting their meals, they would receive generous coupons.

These weren't mere discounts; instead, they were free passes to enjoy a full meal.

The Uchiha, despite the excessive ingredient purchases, planned to bring everything back to the clan and distribute it among the families, all free of charge.

To address any financial burden on the restaurant owners, the clan promised to compensate for all expenses.

If a restaurant closed for a day, the Uchiha clan committed to compensating the store owner based on the average daily turnover of the month.

While some bosses expressed wishes for the root members to remain stationed on their street permanently, allowing them to receive direct payments without opening their stores, the majority of Uchiha individuals were genuinely grateful to the clan.

The clan not only provided them with financial support but also ensured their protection.

Originally, these shops were established by Natsuki to support the Uchiha community.

Now, with the enhanced business operations, everyone was experiencing a substantial increase in income.

Natsuki foresaw the various challenges that might arise and communicated them to the Uchiha community from the outset.

The key instruction was to maintain the reputation of the Uchiha, emphasizing that a positive reputation would naturally be remembered by the villagers.

To ease the impact of the closures, the clan decided to bear all financial losses incurred during this period.

This commitment was a crucial factor in preserving the unique appeal of [Summer Food].

Despite the occasional closures, people continued to be drawn to the distinctive flavors.

Most people channeled their frustration about not having delicious food towards the root members.

Ordinary villagers, for the most part, refrained from causing any tangible harm; their expressions of discontent were limited to disapproving looks.

However, when it came to individuals with ninja abilities or certain means, the dynamics shifted.

There were instances when Roots faced various accidents, slipping on some fruits while walking on the road, or encountering unexpected accidents during routine activities.

Although they have suspicions, they don't have concrete evidence.

Much like finding worms in fruits, incidents occurred mysteriously, with no clear proof of wrongdoing.

In a village as diverse and populated as Konoha, with its array of hidden secret techniques, orchestrating embarrassment or trouble was a straightforward task for those with such skills.

Faced with these challenges, the root members adopted a cautious approach.

They limited their patrols to work hours, swiftly disappearing after their shifts to avoid potential repercussions.