Chapter 54: Forced Confrontation
"Report!" At that moment, Uchiha Inoka knocked on the office door and walked in.
"A large group of villagers has gathered at the entrance of the Police Department. They're blocking the gate and demanding the release of detainees," Inoka reported.
"What?" Uchiha Tetsuyu, one of the older and more hot-headed Jonin of the Uchiha clan, immediately slammed his hand on the table. "How dare they! Do they think the Police Department is just for show?"
"Tetsuyu-taichou, calm down," Uchiha Douhuan said calmly before turning back to Inoka. "What's the current situation?"
"Zaitou has already taken two squads to maintain order at the entrance," Inoka replied.
"Good job. Have them keep the situation stable for now. I'll head over shortly. Tell Zaitou to avoid using force unless absolutely necessary."
After Inoka left, Douhuan turned to the other captains in the office.
"You guys stay here and keep reviewing the interrogation records. Fugaku-taichou and I will head to the gate to assess the situation."
"Understood!" The six captains nodded in unison.
As Douhuan and Fugaku made their way to the entrance, they were stopped midway by Uchiha Shisui.
"Taichou, Vice Taichou," Shisui greeted with a respectful bow.
"Shisui, if it's not important, step aside. Can't you see we're in a hurry?" Fugaku scolded, clearly frustrated with the situation.
"Please, let me go talk to the villagers," Shisui pleaded. "If the situation escalates, it will be impossible to control."
"This is not your responsibility," Fugaku snapped.
But Douhuan raised his hand, smiling. "It's fine, Fugaku-taichou. Let Shisui handle it."
"Why?" Fugaku asked, clearly puzzled.
"Shisui has experience working directly under the Hokage's ANBU, so his appearance might be seen as somewhat representing the Hokage's will. Plus, I trust Shisui to handle the situation without resorting to violence," Douhuan explained, patting Shisui on the shoulder.
"I'm counting on you, Shisui."
"Understood," Shisui said, grateful for Douhuan's trust. He hurried toward the entrance while Douhuan and Fugaku returned to the office.
---
Once they were back, Fugaku immediately voiced his concern.
"Are you sure Shisui can handle this? He has no experience dealing with these kinds of villagers."
"I understand your concern, Fugaku-taichou," Douhuan said, smiling. "But since Shisui has returned to the Police Department, he needs to learn how to deal with the public sooner or later."
Douhuan then pulled out a thick file from the cabinet and spread it out on the table.
"Also, everyone's been working overtime recently, so issue two months' worth of wages as bonuses. For the civilian ninjas, let them choose one suitable technique from the clan's ninjutsu library."
"Two months' wages? Isn't that a bit excessive?" Fugaku hesitated, recalling the massive 1.5 billion ryo sum Douhuan had previously acquired. "Even with that money, we can't afford to be reckless."
Douhuan chuckled. "Those who follow us only want to have enough to live on, but I intend to stuff their bellies full! Money isn't an issue—I got it once, I can get it again."
After a moment of consideration, Fugaku nodded. "Very well."
---
A mob of around 2,000 villagers had gathered at the Police Department entrance, shouting in unison.
"Release them! Release them!"
In front of the gates, Uchiha Zaitou and his 60-man team had formed a human wall, holding batons and maintaining a tight perimeter. The atmosphere was tense, with both sides seemingly one step away from a clash.
Shisui rushed to the front line, stepping past the barrier to address the crowd.
"Everyone, please calm down. Disperse and go home. Gathering like this only makes things worse," he said, his tone earnest and sincere.
"Your Police Department dares to arrest people without reason! We won't leave unless you release them!"
"Yeah! Release them! Release them!" The chanting grew louder, and Shisui's attempts at reasoning were quickly drowned out.
"Please understand. We only brought them in for questioning..." Shisui tried to explain, but his words were cut short by a rotten cabbage hitting his head.
"Don't listen to him! They're just trying to cover up for that murderous maniac and oppress us helpless civilians!"
"Yeah! Damn the Police Department! Release them!"
Suddenly, a hail of rotten eggs and vegetables flew at Shisui. With his reflexes, he could have easily dodged them, but he stood still, stunned by the intensity of hatred and disdain directed at him.
Seeing Shisui standing frozen, Zaitou immediately rushed over and pulled him back behind the barricade.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Don't just stand there!" Zaitou snapped.
Though agitated, the villagers didn't dare cross the police cordon, knowing full well that physically attacking the Police Department would have severe consequences.
Zaitou turned to one of his subordinates, Sakurai Shuumei, and ordered,
"Go inform Vice Captain Douhuan about what's happening here."
---
In the temporary office, Uchiha Douhuan listened to Shuumei's report with a grim expression, his face shadowed in thought.
The atmosphere in the office was heavy, and none of the captains dared to speak up.
After a long silence, Douhuan clenched his fists and spoke in a cold, determined voice.
"The Police Department is the elite defense force of the village. Shisui is one of our top Jonin. The fact that these villagers are not even afraid of ninja means they're no longer just civilians—they're rioters."
"They're mobsters!" Douhuan roared, smashing his fist into the air.
"We need to hit back with full force! Assemble everyone—except for essential interrogation personnel, all other Police Department members are to gather in the meeting room immediately!"
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