Chapter 11. Hyuga Guards

As Natsuki anticipated, the police situation in Konoha became increasingly challenging.

Despite the absence of major conflicts, minor frictions were on the rise, with no one to address them effectively. Thanks to the third generation's order, the ANBU kept a close watch, preventing potential chaos.

While the security team received no further complaints, villagers continued to inquire about when the Uchiha manpower would return.

With the Uchiha clan currently lacking the personnel to address these concerns, merchants, and residents had no choice but to bring the issue to the attention of the Hokage.

Despite the flow of information in the world of Naruto is not easily accessible to everyone, the tightly-knit community in Konoha facilitated the spread of information. Many people shared their grievances, leading to a multitude of opinions reaching the third Hokage.

Facing mounting pressure, the third generation pushed the Hyuga to expedite their takeover. Responding to the urgency, they managed to accelerate their deployment by two days. On the sixth day, the security team members from various locations were finally in place.

However, the Hyuga team's configuration was slightly smaller compared to the Uchiha clan. Nonetheless, their inclusion of members with Byakugan for observation and Gentle Fist for chakra sealing made them valuable additions to the police team.

As expected, with Hyuga clan members taking charge, the public security environment witnessed an immediate improvement.

Hizashi assumed the role of overseeing the police force, consisting entirely of members from the Hyuga clan. Having learned from the Uchiha's experience, Hizashi emphasized gentle law enforcement to prevent any grievances from the villagers.

The Hyuga branch family, despite its noble lineage, exhibited an approachable demeanor. Adorned with the caged bird seal on their foreheads, they were known for their frontline efforts.

Residents soon realized that the clan was easy to communicate with, and most disputes were resolved through gentle admonishment. The villagers praised the Hyuga clan for their reliability and approachability.

"The Hyuga Clan is truly dependable."

"They're much more approachable than the Uchiha."

"In my opinion, they should have been in charge of the police force a long time ago."

...

Walking through the streets of Konoha, Natsuki and Itachi engaged in conversation. Itachi had recently resigned from his ANBU position under the third Hokage.

Natsuki was keen on establishing closer ties with him, recognizing his potential for great power in the future. Itachi, in turn, admired his strategic mind. Both of them were interested in observing how the villagers would react to the gradual withdrawal of the Uchiha from the police force.

"Itachi, what do you believe our clan needs?" Natsuki inquired while scanning the vibrant streets of Konoha. The village, despite its classification as a mere village, boasted a surprisingly extensive scale.

From the bustling streets, Natsuki deduced that the permanent population numbered at least in the hundreds of thousands. This revelation shed light on the Uchiha's historical obsession with seizing power.

However, the reality was sobering. The future changes in the ninja world couldn't be shaped solely by the hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens. Without formidable combat power, Konoha remained vulnerable despite its external strength.

The high-pressure policies of the Hokage had bred a deep-seated mistrust among them towards the Uchiha. Even the position of advisor elder had been withheld from the Uchiha, exacerbating the resentment.

In the past, the more the Hokage clung to power, the tighter the Uchiha tightened their guard. During the Kyuubi, orders from the top had explicitly barred the Uchiha from participating in the battle.

In the midst of this, the Uchiha found themselves subject to suspicion from the villagers, further fueling the internal struggle. The true orchestrator behind this mistrust remained uncertain—whether it was Danzo or the third Hokage.

Deep in contemplation, Itachi offered his insights, addressing Natsuki as "senpai." He delved into the root of the issue: "Identity. How many Jonin do Uchiha possess compared to the total in Konoha?"

Konoha boasted a total of around two hundred registered Jonin. While a Jonin typically led three to five teams, or even more in times of war, the role of a Jonin Uchiha in the guard force amounted to that of a mere squad leader. With over thirty such Jonin captains in the guard team, their influence was limited.

"We Uchiha have a surplus of Jonin compared to other ninja clans, but they're predominantly concentrated in the Guard Corps," Itachi explained. "As long as Uchiha remains in the police force, acknowledgment becomes an elusive prospect. They find themselves ensnared in the mundanity of trivial tasks every day."

Natsuki dismissed the need for external validation, asserting, "Uchiha possess inherent strength; why should we seek validation from others?" Itachi acknowledged this perspective with a thoughtful nod.

Itachi considered the situation and inquired about the performance of the Hyuga family. Natsuki appreciated the change in Itachi's address to "senpai," a title that felt more fitting.

Observing the Hyuga clan member's team handling a dispute, Natsuki noted with a subtle smile, "Are there few complaints? The job of the police force is not that easy."

As they watched, the conflict escalated, and the voices of those involved grew louder. "Who are you to interfere with my business? My wife is from the Yamanaka clan."

"So what about the Yamanaka clan? My surname is Shimura; do you understand? I am a clan member of the elder Shimura Danzo..."

The two Hyuga clan members found themselves caught in the middle. They were not treated as human beings, neither here nor there.

"Sir, it's evident that you were the one at fault initially, and the others were merely defending themselves," Hyuga Aikawa explained patiently.

Despite the provocation, Hizashi had instructed not to make arrests unless the situation was exceptionally severe.

"You're just a member of the Hyuga branch, a housekeeper, and you still dare to interfere in my affairs here."

The man, fueled by alcohol, threw punches and kicks at him, who restrained himself from retaliating physically. However, the words he uttered were deeply hurtful.

Aikawa's expression shifted abruptly. This was an insult, especially for the branch family, touching upon a sensitive taboo.

With a swift movement, he brought his fingers together, tapping the drunkard's acupuncture points. The man crumpled to the ground, his face smearing the dirt, blood streaming from his nose. Despite his condition, he cried out, "You are violently enforcing the law! I will file a complaint against you!"

Facing the accusatory gazes of the villagers, Aikawa's complexion turned ashen. Swiftly, he gathered his teammates and removed the drunken man from the scene.

Observing this unfold, Itachi couldn't help but find the scene familiar. He had witnessed similar incidents involving Shisui, who consistently chose to apologize and reconcile.

Unfortunately, this approach often garnered dissatisfaction from some clan members. The majority of the merchants present were associated with prominent families.

In each conflict, these influential individuals would emerge, wielding their threats. Uchiha, as a result, found themselves caught in the middle, struggling to assert their humanity.

The only recourse was to seek reconciliation, but many Uchiha were passionate and, if provoked, would take direct action.

Now that these responsibilities had shifted to the Hyuga, it seemed they faced similar challenges, making them realize that the situation wasn't as easy as it appeared.

Itachi held an even greater admiration for Natsuki, recognizing the complexities of managing such matters.

Natsuki smiled, acknowledging Itachi's understanding. Many Uchiha had encountered these situations, but the clan had never been accustomed to appeasing others.

Driven by a sense of pride, Uchiha executed the law impartially, detaining those who warranted it.

This approach has become ingrained in Uchiha over the years. It was also part of Tobirama's second-generation plan. By enforcing the law impartially, Uchiha inevitably offended various ninja clans. And if they offended these clans, winning the Hokage's trust became an uphill battle.

Thus, the path to becoming Hokage remained elusive for Uchiha. Despite Fugaku's significant contributions in the Third Ninja War, attaining the position of Hokage, let alone becoming an elder seemed out of reach.