Chapter 53: Arrests (Part 2)
After the investigation revealed that the rumors were likely spread with the support of the Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado families, many of the civilian-born ninja within the Police Department grew anxious. These were some of the largest clans in the village besides the Uchiha and Hyuga, and getting involved with them made the civilian ninjas uneasy.
However, the Uchiha captains quickly bolstered their morale.
"What are you so scared of? Have you forgotten that when you wear this uniform, you represent the Police Department? Behind you stands the Uchiha clan!" Uchiha Inoka sternly lectured his squad before grabbing his police baton and leading the charge.
The civilian ninjas, moved by the captain's unwavering dedication, followed him with batons in hand, their spirits reignited.
---
Upon arriving at the commercial district controlled by the Koharu and Homura families, the Police Department sealed off the entire street. They began calling out names based on the confessions gathered during the preliminary investigation.
"What are you doing? This is Utatane family property!" shouted a clan member responsible for managing the business, clearly agitated as he watched the shops being sealed and people getting arrested.
However, as soon as he stepped forward, Uchiha Inoka fixed his gaze on him, his Sharingan spinning menacingly.
"Name?" Inoka demanded.
Just then, a merchant—already battered from resisting arrest and having taken several baton strikes—pointed at the clan member and shouted desperately, "Officer, don't hit me anymore! It was him! He's the one who told us to do it!"
Hearing this, Inoka's grip on his baton tightened, and he barked, "Oh? Just the guy I was looking for! How brave of you to show yourself!"
In an instant, Inoka used Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of the clan member, landing a single powerful blow that knocked him to the ground. The man wasn't particularly strong—just a mid-level operative sent to manage the business. Against Inoka, a Jonin who couldn't advance because of the clan's strict rules about the Sharingan, he was no match at all. A few more baton strikes later, he was thoroughly subdued.
"Damn it, the Police Department passed a law, and you still act like we're made of clay?!" Inoka muttered as he delivered another strike.
"Captain, remember—smiling enforcement," a civilian ninja from behind reminded him cautiously.
"Right, right," Inoka replied, forcing a twisted smile as he continued to beat the suspect.
---
Meanwhile, at the Mitokado clan's properties, the situation was much the same. Unlike the reckless Utatane member, the head of the Mitokado business operations was smarter and tried to blend into the crowd to slip away. Fortunately, the Police Department's K9 unit, led by Uchiha Zaitou, was on the scene. The police dog Retsumaru caught the scent and pounced on the man, biting him right on the butt.
After rounding up the suspects, Uchiha Douhuan ordered all of them to be detained in the Police Department's detention center and instructed his subordinates to interrogate them thoroughly to uncover any foreign influence behind the incident.
---
Meanwhile, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were sitting leisurely in their clan's tearoom, sipping tea.
"With this wave of pressure, Kakashi should have realized his situation by now," Koharu smirked, taking a sip of her tea.
"If he's smart, he'll know to stay away from the Jinchuriki," Homura replied with a satisfied smile.
"Hmph. That wicked Uchiha brat dares to interfere by passing some bogus law? As if it would make a difference!" Koharu scoffed.
"In this village, only laws that we and Hiruzen approve are truly valid," Homura agreed. "Besides, it's clear that Kakashi can no longer be trusted."
"Kakashi's already hanging around with that evil Uchiha brat. That should have been obvious from the start," Koharu said with a cold snort.
"But we should be cautious. Let's control the public sentiment in a few days. If Kakashi ends up committing suicide like his father, Hiruzen will be hard to deal with," Homura warned.
"Hiruzen's getting soft in his old age. He didn't even pursue the Uchiha brat after Danzo's death. As Second Hokage's disciples, it's our duty to keep the village safe from those born evil," Koharu said firmly.
Just then, a clan ninja rushed in, panicked and out of breath.
"Advisors! Bad news!"
Koharu scowled at the man's flustered demeanor. "What's all this fuss? Compose yourself!"
The ninja swallowed hard and reported, "The Police Department has sealed off our clan's commercial district and arrested over 400 people, including many of our branch members!"
"What?!" Koharu slammed the table in rage. "How dare they?!"
"The Uchiha clan truly is wicked," Homura muttered, his face darkening. "They've even dared to take civilians by force."
"What should we do now?" Koharu asked.
Homura thought for a moment. "Gather all the civilians who rely on our clan businesses to make a living. Find a few unregistered clan ninjas to lead them, and go to the Police Department to protest. We'll force them to release the prisoners. I refuse to believe they'll make a move in front of so many people. As for us, we'll go directly to Hiruzen and demand the Uchiha be held accountable!"
---
The Police Department's jail was brightly lit as officers worked around the clock to process the unusually large number of detainees. The interrogation rooms were so packed that they had to set up temporary questioning areas in the holding cells. Nearly the entire department was mobilized to handle the situation, leaving only the most basic patrol duties covered.
In the temporary office inside the detention center, Uchiha Douhuan, Uchiha Fugaku, and four senior Uchiha Jonin, as well as newly appointed captains Aburame Shihai and Inuzuka Kaze, were reviewing interrogation reports.
"Man, with so many people, how long will this take?" Inuzuka Kaze grumbled, eyeing the stack of reports piling up like a mountain.
"Don't get your hopes up. Most of these guys probably don't know anything useful," Uchiha Feijima remarked.
"Seriously, the Third Hokage promised to send us a few ANBU interrogation specialists a while back. Still no sign of them. We really need to improve our interrogation techniques. I'll have to bring this up with the Hokage again later," Douhuan said with a hint of irritation.
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