Chapter 42

At this hour, Konoha Street was devoid of any activity. The once bustling area now had scarce lights, while the other parts were shrouded in darkness as most people had already fallen asleep.

Silhouettes started appearing one after another in different blocks of Konoha, and it seemed as if the Scarlet Sharingan ruled the village at night.

The Uchiha clan had intensified their night patrols, not only deterring potential spies from engaging in covert activities but also making the hidden conspiracies within Konoha more discreet.

It was crucial to avoid any encounters with the patrolling Uchiha clan members, as they might discover surface-level secrets during their secret missions, thereby jeopardizing the plans of certain individuals.

"Fugaku, where is the nearest restroom?" Fugaku asked, "I need to use it."

Taking advantage of their proximity to the target's residence, Fugaku used this as an opportunity to temporarily separate from Noboku's sight and execute his plan.

Simultaneously, he activated his Sharingan and carefully surveyed his surroundings, ensuring that his actions remained concealed from his fellow clan members. Such clandestine activities were best kept to oneself.

For the time being, there was no one nearby, providing the perfect opportunity to proceed. However, encountering a patrolling Uchiha clan member would force them to abandon their plans for the night.

Observing that Fugaku's use of Sharingan didn't raise any suspicion, Noboku reassured him. It was normal for Police Guards to assess the situation using their Sharingan as part of their duty to maintain law and order.

"There's a corner not far ahead," Noboku pointed out without hesitation, "If you don't want to go there, just find a secluded spot. Many Police Guards members used to do the same during patrols."

Fugaku paused for a moment, wearing a serious expression. "We shouldn't encourage the unsightly practice of relieving ourselves anywhere. Just wait a moment, I'll be back soon."

With that, Fugaku performed the Body Flicker Jutsu, disappearing from his original location and reappearing at a distant street corner. He vanished from Noboku's sight for less than a minute before returning, now accompanied by an inconspicuous stray cat from the corner.

The cat nonchalantly settled itself at the corner, inconspicuous until Fugaku and Noboku disappeared. Once they were out of sight, the cat emerged from its hiding place and entered the target's home.

Listening carefully, faint breathing sounds emanated from different bedrooms. The cat passed by several bedroom windows to confirm the location of the target room.

In an instant, a burst of white smoke engulfed the cat, transforming it back into Fugaku. It was a Shadow Clone that Fugaku had created and left behind.

Stealthily approaching the soundly sleeping target, Fugaku extended two fingers and gently lifted the person's eyelids, while his Sharingan had been preparing for this moment.

Through Sharingan, blurred images were projected into the target's mind, but these images wouldn't manifest immediately. Only when the target laid eyes on a sculpture of the First Hokage would they unintentionally recall the early generation's style of pacifying the ninja world and the power of Wood Release.

The Sharingan image wouldn't directly appear in their mind; instead, all memories associated with Wood Release would resurface from their childhood recollections.

Letting out a quiet breath, Fugaku knew that using this kind of hypnotic-like Genjutsu against a civilian wasn't particularly difficult. The real challenge lay in leaving no traces or vulnerabilities.

Fugaku never underestimated anyone. Once rumors of Wood Release reached the ears of high-ranking officials, both Root and ANBU would thoroughly investigate the source of these rumors, eventually tracing it back to the target.

He locked the bedroom door again, allowing the Shadow Clone to dissipate into a white mist. Fugaku, who had rejoined Noboku, experienced a brief moment of frozen expression upon the clone's disappearance before returning to his usual demeanor.

Beyond the 34th area was the second area, divided by the Police Guards. Though it wasn't situated on the outskirts of Konoha, the number of residents was already dwindling. In the distance, a forest and an open space indicated the presence of a training ground.

As soon as they touched the ground, black shadows with red dots appeared one after another not far away. Fugaku could discern that these were Uchiha clan members responsible for the patrol, the red dots representing their Sharingan.

In Noboku's eyes, the two-tomoe Sharingan manifested, and she swiftly made a series of gestures. The Uchiha clan members disappeared from their surroundings.

Only one team of shinobi continued moving toward their direction but eventually halted nearby.

"Noboku, weren't you supposed to wait at headquarters? Why are you out patrolling?" A three-tomoe clan member emerged and glanced at Fugaku, who stood next to Noboku. "Fugaku, didn't expect you to join the Police Guards so quickly. I thought Lord Patriarch would assign you here after the Land of Rain war ended."

"Blue, it's been a while," Fugaku nodded in acknowledgment.

The person before them was Uchiha Ao, in charge of the district that night. Fugaku and Ao weren't particularly close, but they shared the bond of being part of the Uchiha clan.

"Noboku, I was instructed to inform Fugaku about the specifics of the Police Guards," Noboku said, "Saki Captain wanted me to brief him."

Qing nodded and replied, "As Uchiha clan members, it's essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the Police Guards, regardless of whether one joins the organization. Since I'm more familiar with Noboku, I won't need to introduce myself."

This was the second time Fugaku heard that Uchiha clan members should understand the Police Guards. The significance of the Police Guards continued to elevate in Fugaku's mind.

People sought fortune and avoided calamity. As the department responsible for internal security in Konoha, the Police Guards offered a safer and more stable environment compared to the conventional shinobi forces. It was no wonder the Uchiha clan relied on them. After all, nobody wished to live in a perpetual state of war and conflict.

Fugaku looked at Ao and said, "I appreciate your help. I don't have a thorough understanding of Konoha's layout, so I'm taking this opportunity to learn more."

"You're welcome. You can continue with your patrol," Qing said to the surrounding Uchiha clan members. "I'll accompany Fugaku to provide him with an overview of this district."

The three silhouettes leaped onto a taller building, and Ao began, "The First District is relatively peaceful within Konoha. There's a training ground ahead, and to the left lies the Hyūga Clan's family estate, another influential clan in Konoha. Their land is just as vast as our Uchiha Clan's."

Fugaku nodded in understanding. Since the retirement of Senju and Uchiha Madara's departure, both clans, from their respective leaders to their members, had maintained a competitive relationship, vying to become Konoha's foremost powerhouse.

Fugaku comprehended the motivations driving the two factions. Whether it was Sharingan or Byakugan, once awakened, these visual abilities conferred significant advantages from Genin to Jōnin, making them pillars of Konoha.

Born with their respective ocular bloodline limits, both clans naturally desired to surpass one another. While Sharingan could evolve from the three-tomoe stage to the Rinnegan through Mangekyō and eternal Mangekyō, Byakugan had no such intermediate stage and directly advanced to the Tenseigan.

Under normal circumstances, Uchiha should have maintained an advantage over the Hyūga clan. However, since the Uchiha Madara era, no Uchiha had awakened Mangekyō Sharingan, resulting in a more intense competition between the two groups.

Regarding the successive awakening of four Mangekyō Sharingan users, Fugaku had kept this information concealed until his death. Shisui's demise had occurred prematurely, while Itachi had eradicated the Uchiha clan. With Sasuke's return to Konoha, the Uchiha clan ceased to exist, allowing the Hyūga clan to claim the position of Konoha's premier clan.

Fugaku couldn't help but lament the Uchiha clan's tragic fate. However, this time, things would be different. He would alter the course of the Uchiha clan's destiny.