The next morning, the Fourth Uchiha Patrol Division gathered at the training grounds. Uchiha Ankoku adjusted the defense zones of each squad, linking together the sub-sectors led by Uchiha Kairen, Uchiha Honō, and Uchiha Retsu. Between their territories lay a bustling commercial street.
Once deployment was complete, each squad assembled before its captain. The three men issued orders for what they called "Operation Cleansing."
The goal of this mission was simple: within their sectors, anyone suspected of being a spy, a troublemaker, or an agitator would face iron-fisted justice.
Their task was to restore order—rooting out every "rat" and "roach," arresting them, or driving them out of their districts.
The operation began at once. Three emergency-response units were also formed, led respectively by Uchiha Kairen, Uchiha Retsu, and Uchiha Honō.
Kairen remained at the center, overseeing coordination. Within his zone, Uchiha Kaze led a full sweep, while Uchiha Cha conducted standard patrols with the remaining men.
For a time, the three sectors were shrouded in tension—so much so that even the most notorious local thugs began fleeing to adjacent districts. A few who weren't sharp enough to read the situation were immediately captured and detained.
Listening to his subordinates' reports, Kairen mused silently,
I've already stirred the hornet's nest—let's hope my bait works as planned.
He had deliberately leaked information that they were searching for a spy hiding within these three sectors, supposedly carrying crucial intelligence.
That "spy" was none other than Uchiha Gorou, the master of disguise and genjutsu—who was, at that very moment, pretending to be an ordinary villager being questioned by a Uchiha patrol.
Seeing that the situation across the area had developed as expected, Kairen decided it was time to move to Honō's sector—everything was already set in motion.
He made a subtle hand signal to Gorou, the cue to begin the second phase of Operation Cleansing—"Lure the Snake from Its Den."
Catching the signal, Uchiha Gorou's eyes flashed.
Damn it, all this just to test me? Making me the bait, talking about 'the Will of Fire' and sacrifice for the village... To hell with that. I'm Uchiha—what damn Will of Fire?
When this is over, I'm quitting this squad and finding another posting.
He darted into a narrow alley. The patrol spotted the "suspicious man" at once and shouted for pursuit. As they chased, Gorou detonated several explosive tags—conveniently destroying shops belonging to the Sarutobi, Mito, and Shimura families.
Everyone instantly believed that the man fleeing was indeed the spy they were hunting.
Even the real enemy spies thought the same—this was their chance to engage, and perhaps capture a lead.
The chase continued, driving the chaos straight into Honō's defense sector. Soon, nearly the entire force from all three sectors had converged there, leaving only minimal patrols behind.
Before long, the streets were swarming with Uchiha.
The townsfolk, realizing something serious was happening, hurried home—being stopped and questioned along the way.
Gorou found himself cornered when suddenly, a voice whispered,
"Quick, in here!"
It came from a tea shop. He remembered the owner—a charming widow with a child.
He glanced at her uncertainly.
She smiled faintly.
"Do you really have a choice? If you stay out there, you'll never get out alive."
Grinding his teeth, Gorou stepped inside. The air was thick with the fragrance of tea. The woman led him to a large chest and motioned for him to hide inside. He lifted the lid and climbed in.
Moments later, footsteps echoed from outside—growing closer. Suddenly, the bottom of the chest gave way, as if pulled open from beneath. Gorou felt himself falling, landing on solid ground.
He found himself in a dim underground chamber. Before him stood three strangers. A cold kunai pressed against his neck, and behind him, a young boy—perhaps eight or nine years old—glared with startling ferocity. It was the widow's son.
One of the men spoke coldly:
"Leave the intel behind, and we'll give you a quick death. Better that than being captured by Konoha—you know what happens then."
Gorou tried to send a signal, but the boy immediately slashed a shallow line across his throat.
"Don't move. I'm just a kid, but I've got shaky hands—move again, and you'll die for real."
Suppressing his fury, Gorou said evenly,
"The moment I got the intel, I knew I wouldn't live long enough to enjoy it.
You think I'd keep it on me? Tell me who you're with. I'll give you the intel, then you let me go."
One of them chuckled.
"Heh, we're from Iwagakure. Don't look so surprised. You think anyone else could build a soundproof chamber like this under Konoha's nose? Now—where's the intel?"
Gorou hesitated briefly before answering,
"It's hidden on the commercial street—third shop on the left, the liquor seller's place. I stashed it under one of his decorative sake jars. That's all. Now can I go?"
The man sneered.
"Go? After hiding it under a sake jar? Sounds like you've had one too many yourself. You'd better make your peace."
Gorou grinned.
"Then at least let me die with a bang. Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
A blazing torrent of fire roared upward through the trapdoor, setting the tea shop ablaze.
Patrolling Uchiha outside immediately spotted the fire and sent up signal flares—the capture operation had begun.
The three emergency squads closed in at once.
Uchiha Kairen charged to the front.
"Earth Release: Moving Earth Core!"
The ground beneath the shop rippled and rose. This jutsu could shape the terrain at will—used properly, it could even dig trenches or raise entire structures.
The building shot upward.
Then Uchiha Honō arrived and slammed his palm into the earth—
"Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm!"
The chakra surge shattered the lifted ground, splitting the structure open from above and below.
Working together, they tore the shop apart—exposing the hidden chamber beneath.
Gorou dashed out from the debris toward his allies.
Uchiha Retsu unleashed, "Lighting Release: Ground Current!"
The lightning arced through the ruins, and soon, every lightning-user nearby followed suit, electrifying the area.
When the dust settled, Kairen signaled to search the site.
The "widow" had attempted to attack the patrol during the confusion and was killed on the spot.
Inside, they found three adult enemies—two still breathing—and the corpse of a child, his chest pierced clean through.
"Haha! Take them all!" Uchiha Retsu exclaimed excitedly. "This mission's a success!"
Uchiha Gorou exhaled shakily from the sidelines.
Damn, that was too close. Kairen's missions are getting insane. I need to get transferred before this guy gets me killed.
Kairen grabbed him by the shoulder and shouted with a grin,
"Ha! Why didn't you run? Let's see where you'll run next time!"
Gorou opened his mouth to protest—The mission's over, why would I run?—but before he could finish, Uchiha Honō knocked him out cold with a sharp tap.
And so, the victorious squad marched in triumph, leaving the district behind—heading straight for the Konoha Police Force Headquarters.