Chapter 93: A Leaf Village Without the Uchiha

The Village Hidden in the Leaves.

The moon still hung in the sky, but the sun had already peeked over the horizon, bringing with it a brilliant dawn.

Another busy day was beginning.

Early in the morning, the Third Hokage, now in his sixties, arrived at the Hokage's office, puffing on his large pipe.

Entering his office and settling into his chair, he immediately summoned two ANBU agents, codenamed Hawk and Vermilion.

"How are things with the Uchiha?" he asked first, referring to the Uchiha clan.

After all, those guys were a constant source of worry.

Hawk promptly reported: "The Uchiha's gym has been moved to the Police Force building, which is currently under renovation. The Uchiha have been training in the practice field and haven't left their clan area. We haven't detected any abnormalities so far."

"Good," the Third Hokage nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.

He had previously promised Dan to reduce surveillance on the Uchiha clan. It seemed that this decision was correct, freeing up a significant number of ANBU agents.

After considering this, he ordered Hawk:

"From now on, leave only one surveillance post and two ANBU teams to monitor the Uchiha on a rotating basis."

"Yes, sir," Hawk acknowledged, then hurriedly left.

Next, the Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe, leaned back in his chair, and asked Vermilion, who was waiting nearby: "How's the new Police Force doing? Everything going smoothly?"

"Reporting to the Hokage, the Hyuga clan has taken over the Police Force and they're doing an excellent job. With the combined efforts of the Hyuga and other clan ninjas, the backlog of cases has been effectively handled, and order in the village has been restored. The level of public safety has greatly improved."

Vermilion reported this good news to the Third Hokage.

Hearing this, the Third Hokage couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, nodding:

"It seems the Hyuga are doing well. With the new Police Force on track, the village will only get better."

He then stood up and walked over to the large floor-to-ceiling window.

From here, he could see most of the Leaf Village.

The morning sun was rising, casting a warm glow over the village. The streets were bustling with people, exuding a vibrant, lively atmosphere.

Seeing this, the Third Hokage couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Things were finally getting better.

In the past few years.

The Leaf Village had faced the most brutal Third Great Ninja War in its history, fighting against the other four major ninja villages alone. After paying a heavy price, they had finally emerged victorious.

Then came the Nine-Tails' attack, which took the lives of the Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki.

Despite the Leaf Village's deep-rooted strength accumulated over many years, the continuous turmoil had depleted their resources and manpower.

Therefore.

When the Third Hokage resumed his position, he adopted a strategy of laying low.

During this period, facing the biggest external threat, the Cloud Village, he chose to bear the humiliation, preventing the Leaf Village from plunging into another war.

Facing the biggest internal threat - the Uchiha clan.

He handled it perfectly, marginalizing the clan without causing a rift, and regained control over the Police Force.

Now, having resolved these internal and external threats.

The next concern for him, as an old man, was the next generation of the Leaf Village.

After each Great Ninja War, there would be a baby boom.

In a few years, the new generation of the Leaf

Village would grow and become the pillars of the village's future.

By then, the strength of the Leaf Village would return to its peak, no longer fearing any enemy or challenge.

With this in mind.

The Third Hokage decided to first visit Naruto, who had been under strict ANBU protection since he was targeted by suspicious ninjas from other villages.

After visiting Naruto, he planned to inspect the Ninja Academy and give a speech to the students as the principal.

If he found any promising students who were straying off the right path, such as those who publicly beat up Chunin teachers, he would pull them back from the brink and guide them with the Will of Fire.

After all.

The Third Hokage didn't want to see another Uchiha Dan in the village.

Having planned out his day.

The Hokage immediately got busy, starting another day of service to the Leaf Village.

In the village.

Construction was underway in the Hyuga clan area, located on the west side of Ichiraku Street, near the Leaf River.

In just two days.

With the help of ANBU Wood Release user Tenzo, a prison had been built here to house over two hundred criminals transferred from the Uchiha.

In addition, a grand Police Force building was also under construction, expected to be completed in as little as half a month.

During this time, hundreds of Police Force staff worked in a temporary building.

Just a moment ago.

The new Police Force emblem had been hung on the front of the building, attracting the attention of passersby.

It was a large yellow shuriken, with the red emblem of the Hyuga clan in the center, a magatama with its tail pointing upwards, like a burning flame.

Of course, some people privately said that the Hyuga's emblem looked a bit like... a pile of poop.

But it didn't matter.

Regardless, the emblem of the Police Force was a symbol of power, enough to make every member of the Hyuga clan proud.

The building entrance was bustling with people coming and going.

Among them were members of the Hyuga clan, ninjas from other clans, patrol officers, interviewees, and civilian staff.

It was quite busy.

At this time.

On the rooftop of this building.

As the new captain of the Police Force, Hyuga Hizashi chose not to stay in his office, but to come to the rooftop.

From here, he could overlook the entire Leaf Village.

Byakugan, activate!

With a hand seal, Hizashi's eyes turned pale blue, with black markings appearing in his pupils. At the same time, large veins bulged around his eyes.

Using these eyes, he observed the movements of the people on the nearby streets from a high vantage point.

Everyone knew that the Leaf Village had two major dojutsu clans, the Uchiha and the Hyuga, with the Sharingan and Byakugan respectively.

Among them.

The Sharingan not only enhanced physical abilities and granted the user powerful dynamic vision, but it could also cast genjutsu, making it ideal for combat and interrogation. It was born for battle.

In contrast, the Byakugan was more suited for surveillance and reconnaissance.

The Byakugan's telescopic ability, which used chakra to amplify the eyes' capabilities, could clearly see all objects within a kilometer.

On top of this, combined with the Byakugan's ability to see through objects, it could easily detect abnormal chakra, thus identifying suspicious individuals hidden in crowds.

Furthermore.

The Byakugan also had a 360° field of vision, which made it impossible for criminal activities to go unnoticed when Hyuga Police Force members patrolled the streets.

The Third Hokage's statement that the Hyuga were better suited for the Police Force than the Uchiha was not a casual remark, but one based on evidence and reason.

Moreover.

Although the Hyuga clan's population was smaller than the Uchiha's, every Hyuga was born with the Byakugan, without the need to awaken it like the Sharingan.

Therefore, in terms of numbers, the Hyuga ninjas were not at a significant disadvantage compared to the Uchiha.

In the past two days.

Hyuga Hizashi had surveyed the entire Leaf Village and eventually set up ten posts at various high points in the village. Two Hyuga members were assigned to each post, rotating to monitor the village with their Byakugan.

In this way, a vast surveillance network was formed, covering the entire village.

Hyuga Hizashi was ambitious.

He had devised a grand and detailed plan to make the Police Force a golden signboard for the Hyuga, showing all villagers that the Hyuga could do much better than the Uchiha.

Speaking of the Uchiha.

The clan had deliberately sabotaged their work a few days ago, thinking that the village couldn't function without them. However, in the blink of an eye, the newly established Police Force had restored order in the village.

How did those proud, arrogant, and self-centered guys feel now?

Thinking about this.

Hizashi turned his gaze towards the Uchiha clan area.

He saw that the streets there were deserted, with only a few scattered pedestrians walking around. It was a picture of desolation.

He couldn't help but sneer in his heart.

The Uchiha's marginalization and current state were entirely self-inflicted and deserved no sympathy.

On the contrary, it was satisfying.

Not only the Hyuga, but almost every villager believed that a Leaf Village without the Uchiha was the true Leaf Village that everyone wanted.

A peaceful and beautiful village.

Hyuga Hizashi withdrew his gaze, no longer caring about the Uchiha clan as he used to.

From now on.

Let the Uchiha clan hide in the dark corners, watching as the Hyuga clan shines brightly, becoming the number one clan in the Leaf Village!

...

In the vast primitive forest in the northern part of the Land of Fire.

A ninja squad of about a hundred people was marching north along a rarely used route.

Looking down from mid-air, the squad moved as fast as the wind, maintaining a "Y" formation without any noise.

Such strict discipline and strong execution.

Even the five major ninja villages would find it hard to form such an elite squad.

Because this was the Uchiha, the number one clan in the ninja world.

From midnight last night to now, almost twelve hours.

The Uchiha had traveled hundreds of miles non-stop until noon, when they finally stopped to rest and regroup in the forest.

The clan members quietly replenished their soldier pills and water, then closed their eyes to rest and recover their strength.

"Izumi, can you keep going?" Itachi came over to Izumi, offering her his water bottle.

Although Izumihad activated her three-tomoe Sharingan, she wasn't adept at using her dojutsu and had only recently become a Genin, lacking many ninja experiences.

If it weren't for Itachi taking care of Izumi on the road, teaching her how to travel in the most chakra-efficient way, the young girl would probably have collapsed from exhaustion by now.

Facing Itachi's concern, Izumi blushed, but bravely met his eyes, clenched her fists, and replied:

"I'm fine!"

Seeing Izumi's determination, Itachi looked worried.

He thought for a moment, then seriously warned Izumi:

"We're going to attack Uchiha Madara's hideout this time, and it might be more dangerous than we think. When the fight starts, you need to prioritize your own safety, because I might not be able to protect you."

"Okay," Izumi nodded, feeling warm inside. Her previous tension and fatigue seemed to lessen.

Shisui watched the young couple with a smile, not interrupting their moment.

He turned his head, casting his gaze towards the "Doctor Dan" who was resting on the grass.

Whoosh. Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan quietly activated, looking at the figure's back, his eyes filled with deep surprise and confusion.