Konoha.
The village's internal security structure was vast, but tightly compartmentalized.
Under the Hokage's authority were five major divisions: ANBU, Root, Intelligence, Medical, and Barrier Operations. Alongside them stood the Uchiha Police Force. Together, they formed what shinobi informally called Konoha's six pillars.
Ordinary ninja had no law enforcement authority. Even jōnin acted only under orders, unless dealing with spies or internal threats.
ANBU handled classified missions.Root took care of what could never be acknowledged.
The head of Root was Shimura Danzō. No further explanation was needed.
The Intelligence Division oversaw information gathering, interrogation, and code analysis. Its current director was Yamanaka Inoichi.
The Medical Division, founded by Tsunade, remained the strongest of its kind in the shinobi world, even in her absence.
The Barrier Division was quiet and rarely discussed. Its work was defensive, but the responsibility it carried was enormous.
And then there was the sixth pillar.
The Uchiha Police Force.
Established during the Second Hokage's era, it effectively formalized the Uchiha clan's authority within the village. The department held independent enforcement power and could act without prior approval from the Hokage.
From the outside, the Police Headquarters appeared clean and orderly.
Inside, the atmosphere was heavy.
It housed interrogation teams, intelligence units, logistics, armories. A complete system within a system.
Yoru couldn't help but think that it bordered on autonomy.
"This is the file you asked for," Shisui said quietly, placing a document on the desk.
At fourteen, Shisui was already a jōnin. With his fully awakened Sharingan, his standing within the Police Force was high.
Yoru reviewed the file carefully. Only after confirming every detail did he set it aside and exhale.
When he looked up, he noticed Shisui's expression.
"You're fourteen this year," Yoru said suddenly.
Shisui blinked, caught off guard. "Yes."
Yoru shook his head lightly.
"Your ability rivals Kakashi's. No one doubts that. But you're still young." His voice softened. "Being exposed to this kind of work too early… it changes people."
Guilt flickered across Shisui's face.
Yoru was only a year older, yet he carried far more weight. He stood between the Uchiha and the Hokage faction. He walked through shadows Shisui had only just begun to see.
Shisui straightened.
"I won't disappoint you."
Yoru smiled faintly. "That's not what this is about. We're doing this for the clan. And for Konoha."
He slid the file forward.
Shisui opened it.
The name at the top made his fingers tighten.
Umino Ki.
Below it, under family status, was a single surviving relative: a nephew.Umino Iruka. Academy student. Orphaned during the Nine-Tails incident.
Shisui's breath caught.
"This man… what did he do?" he asked quietly.
The file described nothing extraordinary. A mid-level chunin. No special lineage. No influence. His parents and siblings had all died on the same night, leaving only a child behind.
Yoru closed his eyes for a moment.
When he opened them, the two tomoe of his Sharingan turned slowly.
"Shisui," he said firmly, "a shinobi's duty is to complete the mission. Nothing more."
Shisui let out a bitter breath.
"So it's another Root operation."
The room grew silent.
Finally, Yoru spoke again.
"This man was detained by the Police Force three days ago. Handle it cleanly."
Shisui's jaw clenched.
"His shop will be transferred to Sarutobi Hiromasa," Yoru continued evenly. "Limit what remains for Iruka. Too much inheritance would only paint a target on his back."
Shisui understood.
This wasn't mercy. It was damage control.
He had done this before.
And every time, it weighed heavier.
"How long," Shisui asked, unable to stop himself, "are we going to keep doing this?"
Since returning to Konoha less than three months ago, he had already participated in too many missions that could never be spoken of.
"Do you know how people talk about the Uchiha lately?" he continued, voice low.
Orochimaru had been sidelined, but Root still functioned. The work that couldn't be traced back to the Hokage now flowed through those tied to Orochimaru's faction.
The Uchiha and the Hyūga bore the brunt of it.
And among them, Yoru's group took the largest share.
These weren't battles. They were erasures.
They stripped away certainty. They bent principles.
Shisui felt something inside him fracture, just a little more.
Yoru didn't answer immediately.
He only looked at the file on the desk.
The silence was answer enough.