Chapter 40: The Aburame Clan is in Shock
The next day, when Inuzuka Kaze led seven clansmen and twenty ninja dogs to the Police Force headquarters, he was immediately stunned by the sight before him.
The usually cold and uninviting Police Force building was now festively decorated. At the entrance, a large red banner hung above the main sign, bearing the bold words:
"Konoha Police Force Special Police Dog Donation and Inuzuka Clan Special Police Dog Breeding Base Inauguration Ceremony"
Standing beneath the banner were Uchiha Douhuan and Uchiha Fugaku, both wearing formal attire, along with dozens of off-duty Police Force members standing upright and disciplined.
This grand setup left Inuzuka kaze completely bewildered. He had just planned to bring a few well-trained dogs and some promising young clan members, and perhaps secure himself a formal position within the Police Force. But the scale of this welcome ceremony made him glance down at his plain tactical vest, suddenly feeling underdressed.
The other Inuzuka clansmen felt the same, realizing their ordinary Konoha standard ninja uniforms seemed almost out of place.
At this moment, Douhuan and Fugaku, having spotted them, approached with a welcoming smile.
"Kaze, we've been waiting for you all for quite some time," Douhuan greeted warmly, shaking hands with Inuzuka kaze. He then proceeded to greet and shake hands with each of the Inuzuka members. "Welcome to the Police Force family."
After the handshakes and greetings, Douhuan turned to Uchiha Inoka and instructed, "Take our new colleagues to change into their uniforms."
"Yes!" Uchiha Inoka responded and guided the Inuzuka members and their dogs inside the building.
Not long after, the Inuzuka members returned, now dressed in brand-new Police Force uniforms. Inuzuka Kaze wore a special police captain's vest, while the twenty ninja dogs were also fully outfitted with armor and gear.
Inoka led the group to stand under the banner, where Douhuan was already waiting. He personally pinned official badges on each Inuzuka clan member and fitted the police dogs with their special number tags. Inuzuka kaze's partner, Kuro(Kuromaru), received the prestigious 00001 number tag.
"I hereby represent the entire Police Force to officially welcome the Inuzuka clan members and police dogs into our ranks!" Douhuan announced loudly.
With the cameras rolling, the image of Douhuan and Inuzuka Kaze shaking hands was permanently recorded.
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The news of this ceremony at the Police Force headquarters spread rapidly throughout the village, reaching the Hokage's office and the various major clans.
Among them, the Aburame Clan was particularly distressed. As one of the two clans that received Douhuan's invitation the previous night, unlike the Inuzuka Clan, which quickly decided to align itself with the Uchiha, the Aburame Clan had been stuck in a state of fear and indecision.
After all, not long ago, the Police Force had delivered the corpse of Aburame Ryoma to their clan gates. Receiving a personal invitation from Douhuan shortly afterward felt more like a threat than an olive branch.
Strictly speaking, the Aburame Clan was also a victim in this scenario. Aburame Ryoma had been forcibly recruited into Root by Danzo at a young age through near-coercive means, and since then, he had little to no contact with the clan.
However, Ryoma's actions in service to Danzo—carrying out dirty deeds using the Aburame Clan's secret techniques—had inevitably offended many people. Unlike Yamanaka Fuu, who operated more covertly, the Aburame Clan's bug-based techniques were far too conspicuous. Many clans that had suffered at Danzo's hands couldn't openly retaliate against him, so they naturally harbored grudges against the Aburame Clan.
As a result, the Aburame Clan had long been living cautiously, keeping a low profile.
Now, with Danzo dead, slain by Douhuan in a clear-cut manner, the Aburame Clan's unease grew. The Shimura Clan, which had flourished under Danzo's leadership and expanded into a formidable power comparable to the great clans, had been brought to its knees by Douhuan. Their leader had been taken to the Police Force, and his fate remained uncertain.
The final blow came when the Police Force delivered Ryoma's corpse to the Aburame Clan. The distinctive blackened, bloodless stab wound on his heart made it clear that the fatal strike came from Douhuan's blade—Jirai, the legendary Bloodless Blade that even the Mist Village feared. This suggested that Ryoma had likely attempted to assassinate Douhuan and paid the ultimate price.
In this situation, the Aburame Clan felt entirely helpless. Even though they were technically a major clan within Konoha, they had been powerless against Danzo's demands—how could they possibly stand against the even more formidable Uchiha?
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Back at Home
After finishing the welcoming ceremony, Douhuan returned to the Police Force office and stayed until the end of his shift.
Upon arriving home, he found Sasuke already there, enjoying snacks prepared by Keiko.
"Teacher, you're back!" Sasuke said cheerfully, running over to greet him.
"Yo, Sasuke! You're early today!" Douhuan smiled, clearly enjoying the positive change in Sasuke's demeanor.
Over the past few days, the teacher-student relationship between them had grown closer. Sasuke was exceptionally diligent, memorizing and understanding the teachings Douhuan gave him with remarkable speed. Douhuan was pleased to see how Sasuke's mindset and focus had been steadily developing.
After the meal, they began today's lesson in the study.
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When Douhuan finished explaining the final phrase, "Do not impose on others what you do not desire yourself," Sasuke finally completed the introductory booklet that Douhuan had compiled from The Three Character Classic, The Thousand Character Classic, and The Analects.
"Alright, Sasuke, that's all for today," Douhuan said, closing the book.
"Yes, Teacher," Sasuke nodded obediently. "What will we study tomorrow?"
Douhuan smiled, "Tomorrow? You don't have to come for a while. I have some things to take care of."
"Huh?" Sasuke was visibly disappointed. "Okay…"
Seeing Sasuke's downcast expression, Douhuan patted his head gently. "Don't be upset. I'll give you an assignment: use what you've learned so far to observe the world around you. When you start feeling that the teachings I gave you can't fully explain the reality you see, come back to me. That's when I'll teach you something new."
Sasuke's eyes brightened, and he nodded seriously, eager to continue growing under his teacher's guidance.
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