Uchiha Fugaku moved quickly. No one knew exactly what methods he used, but he somehow managed to win over the previously hawkish Third Elder, Uchiha Hokabi. Together with the Great Elder Uchiha Amano and Fourth Elder Uchiha Yatsushiro—who had always supported him—Fugaku passed the resolution to reform the Military Police with overwhelming support.
It wasn't surprising that the Uchiha clan had united behind Fugaku. Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato had always maintained a relatively mild attitude toward the Uchiha. This had made many of the younger clan members willing to draw closer to the new Hokage.
And standing behind that Hokage was a monster named Matsushita Taiichi.
Anyone in the clan who had been on the battlefield knew exactly how terrifying Taiichi was. Either they had personally been saved by him, or they had witnessed him toy with a Tailed Beast and cut down jonin like they were livestock. That firsthand experience of awe and fear left them with no courage to oppose him.
Three days after Taiichi's visit, Uchiha Shisui arrived at the Hokage's office carrying the clan's decision.
Minato looked at the ten-year-old boy standing before him and felt a wave of emotion.
The Uchiha truly were a blessed clan. Previously there had been Uchiha Yohei, a genius who had awakened the Mangekyo. Now there was another—only ten years old, already possessing three-tomoe Sharingan and a reputation as "Shisui of the Body Flicker."
This kind of strength was exactly what Konoha would need in the future.
To be honest, the pressure on Minato's shoulders was immense. Competing against his peers didn't scare him. Fighting against the older generation even excited him. But now there were also those from beyond this world watching hungrily. It felt like a constant test of his limits. All he could do was give everything he had to develop Konoha as best as possible.
"Shisui, did Clan Head Fugaku send you with an answer?"
Minato wore his signature warm smile—the same one he had always had, even after becoming Hokage.
"Hokage-sama, the clan head instructed me to follow your arrangements. The clan has also made preparations and is ready to receive whoever you send to discuss the reorganization of the Military Police."
Shisui tried to keep his expression calm, but the growing brightness in his eyes betrayed the excitement surging inside him.
Unlike the current Itachi—who, no matter how mature he acted, was still only five years old—Shisui had already experienced the full Third Shinobi World War and earned a name for himself on the battlefield.
Early in the war, as a member of the Uchiha, he had clearly felt the exclusion coming from the village's upper echelons. It wasn't overt, but it was present in countless small ways that left him frustrated and powerless to push back.
Fortunately, that situation had mysteriously disappeared midway through the war. Still, the experience had stayed with him.
The radical voices within the clan, combined with what he had personally endured, had filled Shisui with worry. But back then he had been too young and powerless to do anything about it. Without a three-tomoe Sharingan or jonin-level strength, all he could do was watch quietly from the sidelines.
His only option had been to train harder and faster, hoping to one day earn his own voice.
Now, everything had changed. With the Fourth Hokage in power, the village's policy toward the Uchiha had undergone a fundamental shift.
And Uchiha Shisui was now part of that change. Being able to personally participate in this transformation filled him with excitement.
"Being able to convince the entire clan to make a decision so quickly shows me how determined Clan Head Fugaku is. Don't worry—I won't let him or the Uchiha down."
Minato stood up and walked over to Shisui, placing a friendly hand on his shoulder.
"As for you… Taiichi recommended you for ANBU. He said you're someone who loves the village and has a broad perspective. I trust him, so I trust you too. Don't let me down."
Minato spoke with genuine weight, making it clear why he had chosen Shisui.
Only now did Shisui realize that he had earned this opportunity because that man had taken notice of him.
"For the village, I will give everything I have."
Shisui bowed deeply, swearing his resolve.
Another afternoon arrived. The sun hung high and brilliant in the sky, the air thick with heat.
The school bell had just rung, and children poured out of the Ninja Academy like birds released from a cage.
Matsushita Taiichi was walking out of the teaching building with his lesson plans tucked under his arm when he spotted two long-unseen figures standing beneath the large tree at the school gate.
"Taiichi!"
"Captain!"
Familiar voices called out with excitement. Taiichi stopped mid-step and looked over. A bright smile instantly spread across his face.
"Yohei! Saori!"
Standing under the tree were Uchiha Yohei and Furukawa Saori, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. Both wore standard dark green combat uniforms, looking travel-worn and tired, yet their eyes were bright with the joy of reunion.
Yohei's signature spiky short hair seemed even stiffer than before, while Saori looked more dashing and capable than ever.
"When did you two get back?" Taiichi quickly walked over and gave Yohei a firm pat on the shoulder before turning to Saori with genuine concern. "The northern front… it's finally over?"
"We just got back. Haven't even gone home yet!" Yohei grinned broadly, his smile bright in a way that was rare for an Uchiha.
"The war ended months ago, but we were kept on the border for deterrence. We only received the official recall order today. We passed by the school and figured we'd try our luck to see if you were around. And here you are!"
Saori nodded with a smile, her eyes seeming deeper than Taiichi remembered. "The village has changed a lot, especially the Ninja Academy. I heard the curriculum was reformed? You had a big hand in that, Captain."
Her gaze landed on the lesson plans in Taiichi's hands.
"It was all for the village," Taiichi replied with a smile. Noticing the curious looks they were drawing, he added, "This isn't the best place to talk. Let's find somewhere quiet. How about the open area behind the Hokage Rock?"
"Perfect!" Yohei responded immediately, a competitive glint flashing in his eyes. "It's been forever since I've stretched my muscles. I want to see if the White Reaper has gotten rusty!"
Saori nodded as well. "Sounds good."
The three of them walked side by side toward the back of the village.
Along the way, Taiichi's steps paused for the briefest moment. Not far from them, another "Taiichi" who had just finished some task dispersed into smoke with a soft poof.
The scene was clearly witnessed by both Yohei and Saori.
Yohei's grin froze for a second before turning into a complicated sigh. "Hey, hey, Taiichi… just how many shadow clones do you have running around out there? We can even bump into one that needs to be dismissed on the way? This workload is ridiculous."
Saori's eyes also flickered with emotion. Her usually cool voice carried a trace of heartache. "Captain, you're pushing yourself too hard. If you keep this up, your body will break down."
She remembered all the incredible achievements she had heard about Taiichi while up north. That kind of strength didn't come without reason.
Taiichi rubbed his brow, feeling the slight fatigue and flood of information from the dispersed clone. He gave a helpless smile.
"No choice. Tsunade-sensei has completely checked out as director. Hospital work, academy work, plus a mountain of proposals… The capable carry the load, I guess. Don't worry, I know my limits."
He spoke lightly, but deep down he was already plotting various ways to dump work onto others. His two former teammates, who knew him very well, simply exchanged knowing smiles.
Behind the Hokage Rock was a wide open area. In the distance were mountains covered in colorful autumn foliage. From here they could look down over the entire village of Konoha, peaceful and serene.
"This spot works," Taiichi said, stopping and turning to face his two old friends. The gentleness in his eyes faded, replaced by the sharp focus of a powerhouse and a hint of excitement. "It's been a long time since we fought side by side. Though this time… it's a fight."
"Haha, I've been waiting for this!" Yohei laughed loudly. The three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes instantly appeared and began spinning as powerful chakra erupted from his body. "Let's see how long we can last against you now!"
Saori didn't speak. She simply dropped into a fighting stance, fine blue arcs of electricity beginning to dance across her body with soft crackling sounds.
No more words were needed. The battle exploded in the next instant.
"Body Flicker!"
Saori's figure merged with a genuine bolt of lightning. The ground beneath her feet shattered from the stimulation of Lightning Release chakra. She became a blue-white streak of light almost too fast for the eye to follow, closing the distance at a speed far beyond what Taiichi had expected.
The air itself screamed as it was torn apart.
"Physical activation? That Body Flicker is fast!"
Taiichi's pupils narrowed as he inwardly praised Saori's growth. Acting on pure combat instinct, he exploded chakra beneath his feet and retreated rapidly while forming hand seals.
Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall.
Boom!
A thick earthen wall shot up from the ground just in time to block Saori's lightning-wreathed thrust. The spot where the wall was struck instantly blackened and cracked.
But Saori's attack had only been a feint.
The moment Taiichi's attention was drawn, a terrifying pressure erupted from behind and to the side.
"Susanoo!"
Deep purple chakra—solid like roaring flames—exploded outward and instantly formed a massive half-body giant clad in thick, ancient-looking armor. It was the third stage of Susanoo: the Tengu Armor form.
No buildup. Straight into the third stage. This was how much Yohei had improved.
"Take this, Taiichi!" Yohei shouted. Susanoo's enormous chakra blade came crashing down with mountain-splitting force, tearing through the air toward Taiichi, who had just dodged Saori's attack.
The wind pressure alone sent nearby trees thrashing wildly.
"Perfect timing!" Taiichi's eyes lit with battle lust. He neither dodged nor retreated. Chakra rapidly gathered in his hands, forming a massive chakra blade. At the final moment, he drew and slashed upward.
BOOM!
The two blades collided.
In that instant, the earth shook violently. A blinding light erupted like a small sun, turning the entire mountainside a stark white. The shockwave expanded outward in a ring, uprooting every tree within a hundred meters and reducing fallen leaves to dust. A deafening roar split the air like thunder.
What followed was a continuous series of clashes, punctuated by flashes of Lightning Release.
At Konoha Hospital, Tsunade—who had been staring miserably at her mountain of paperwork while trying to sneak off to the izakaya—suddenly froze and looked toward the Hokage Rock in surprise.
"That chakra fluctuation… Taiichi? What is that kid doing now?"
Inside the Hokage Tower, Minato—who had been discussing Military Police reform details with Hiruzen—also stopped writing. Sensing the familiar, massive chakra signatures of Taiichi and Yohei clashing violently, a helpless yet fond smile appeared on his face.
"Those two… looks like they've been apart too long and got itchy hands."
In the Uchiha compound, Fugaku—who had been briefing Shisui about ANBU matters—felt the distinct fluctuation of Susanoo followed by that terrifying collision. A rare, relaxed smile appeared on his usually stern face.
"That brat Yohei… looks like he didn't slack off up north either. Sparring with Taiichi is good for him."
On the mountainside clearing, smoke and dust slowly settled.
When the light and haze finally cleared, the scene at the center of the battlefield was revealed.
Taiichi stood at the edge of a massive circular crater. His clothes were somewhat torn, but his breathing remained steady and deep.
Across from him, Yohei's Susanoo still stood, but its enormous chakra blade had vanished and the armor was covered in spiderweb cracks, its glow significantly dimmed.
Yohei stood inside the Susanoo, breathing slightly heavily. The spinning of his Mangekyo Sharingan was gradually slowing. His face wore a thoroughly satisfied grin.
Saori stood not far away, one hand on her knee as she caught her breath. The lightning around her body had faded, but the fighting spirit and excitement in her eyes remained undiminished.
She hadn't been able to participate directly in the core of that earth-shaking exchange, but even the aftershocks had put enormous pressure on her—and made her blood boil.
"That felt great! Taiichi, you're still as monstrously strong as ever!"
Yohei dispelled his Susanoo and punched Taiichi hard in the shoulder, his tone filled with nothing but admiration.
"Your Susanoo's third stage is already very stable. The power is impressive."
Taiichi gave genuine praise before turning to Saori. "Saori, your Lightning Release combined with taijutsu really surprised me. I almost got caught."
Saori steadied her breathing and smiled. "Up north, facing those Kumogakure guys, you have to push your taijutsu hard or you're dead. Your reaction speed is still as fast as ever, Taiichi."
The three of them looked at each other and smiled. The slight awkwardness of long separation had completely vanished in that exhilarating battle, leaving only the deep bond and mutual recognition between comrades.
They walked to a relatively clean large rock at the edge of the clearing and sat down, gazing at Konoha bathed in golden sunset light below.
"So," Taiichi asked Yohei with a smile, "why the sudden recall? The front line was willing to let you go?"
Yohei scratched his spiky hair and grinned. "Heh, I have you and the Fourth Hokage's wise decision to thank for that! The Military Police reform, you know. Clan Head Fugaku personally requested my transfer.
He said someone with my cheerful personality, willingness to help, and good communication skills"—he imitated Fugaku's serious tone—"is exactly the kind of 'living advertisement' the new Military Police needs. Told me to get my ass back here and stop wasting my talent up north."
His tone was light. Clearly, he was satisfied with the appointment.
Saori added from the side, "Yohei was very popular on the northern border. Both our comrades and the civilian merchant caravans we occasionally interacted with spoke highly of him. Clan Head Fugaku must have seen his value in improving the Uchiha's image."
Taiichi nodded. This aligned perfectly with the direction of the Military Police reform.
"This is a good thing. The Military Police needs to integrate with the village, and someone with your personality and abilities is perfect for that, Yohei. What about you, Saori? Any plans?"
Saori shook her head. "Nothing concrete yet. Since I just got back from the north, I'll probably have some time to rest."
Taiichi's eyes lit up. He immediately said, "That's perfect! Saori, come help me!"
"Hm?" Both Saori and Yohei looked at him.
Taiichi put on a "bitter and resentful" expression and began his dramatic complaint. "You have no idea how unreasonable Tsunade-sensei has become!
She doesn't want to do the work herself, so she dumps everything on me and calls it 'training'!
Meanwhile she's either drinking at the izakaya or gambling all day. Even with all my shadow clones, I'm barely keeping up!
Saori, you're meticulous and serious. You'd be perfect to help me share some of the administrative workload!"
Watching Taiichi make such a rare "pitiful" face, Saori couldn't help but burst out laughing. Even Yohei laughed loudly.
"Only our White Reaper could make that kind of expression. Tsunade-sama is truly… something else."
Saori chuckled, then nodded readily. "Alright. If the captain orders it, how could I refuse? I need some rest anyway, and idling around would just make me restless. I'm happy to help."
"Great! I'm saved!" Taiichi let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, earning another round of laughter from the two.
The remaining sunlight stretched their three shadows long across the ground.
They sat on the rock, talking about everything that had happened during their separation—the snow and interesting stories from the northern front, the changes in the village, and their hopes for the future.
Time passed quietly in pleasant conversation. The evening glow shifted from gold-red to deep purple. Night slowly fell, and the lights of Konoha lit up one by one like stars scattered across the earth.
Only when the moon had climbed above the treetops and its cool light covered the mountainside did the three finally stand up, still reluctant to part.
"It's time to go home," Saori said, smoothing down her wind-tousled hair.
"Yeah. If we don't head back soon, our families will start worrying," Yohei said, stretching with a loud crack of his joints.
"Today was really great," Taiichi said, looking at his two dear friends with warm eyes. "Welcome back, Yohei. Saori."
"Mm. We're back!" Yohei and Saori answered together, the same warmth on their faces.
The three said their goodbyes and walked off in different directions under the moonlight, disappearing into the warm glow of Konoha's countless lights.
The Hokage Rock stood silently, as if guarding the deep bond forged through war and now growing even stronger—while also watching over the village that was quietly gathering strength amid change, preparing to face unknown challenges ahead.