"Sorry. Uchiha pride doesn't allow me to do that!"
Those proud words, that utterly dismissive tone—
the civilians saw it with their own eyes.
And when they thought about it…
Yeah!
That actually made sense!
The Uchiha were proud to the bone.
How could they possibly lower themselves to bully regular people like us?
It just didn't add up…
Some people still weren't reassured. They suspected Yashiro was putting on a show for them.
But as the days went by, they kept seeing Uchiha members—excitedly reciting ordinances at the top of their lungs while arrogantly hauling criminals away.
Sure, their style and attitude weren't exactly likable.
But they were really doing the work…
It was the same logic as "protection fees."
Street vendors pay to keep things stable.
As long as you actually do your job, people genuinely remember the favor.
Civilians have their own scale in their hearts.
And even when someone dug up old "debts" from the past, the Uchiha usually reacted with pure scorn.
Some even waved a hand impatiently.
"I already told you—Uchiha pride doesn't allow me to do that!
"You want me to abandon my pride?
"You might as well ask for my life!"
Across from him, the "civilian" Yashiro had come to question—someone he'd disguised himself as using Henge no Jutsu (Transformation Technique)—turned red and apologized on the spot.
"Then… you're saying none of that stuff from before was done by you Uchiha?"
The clan member immediately got heated.
"Then who did it?! Say the name! I'll go back to the clan compound right now and request clan punishment!
"Stealing things from commoners without honor?
"Throwing away Uchiha pride like trash?!
"Who was it?! Say it!
"I'll be the first one to beat him to death!!"
That fury wasn't something you could fake.
A lot of civilians saw it and scratched their heads.
Weird.
If it wasn't the Uchiha… then who was it?
The Third Hokage practically saw an opening fall into his lap. Chuckling, he released the "news" to the village.
He'd already promised Itachi and Shisui.
It was easy enough to do it on the side.
Root!
It was all Root!
When Danzo heard, his face went green with rage.
You bastard, Hiruzen!
So you're playing dirty with me, huh?!
Good thing I was one step ahead and shoved Root to the fringe.
Otherwise I really would've ended up saddled with that black pot.
Ichiraku Ramen.
Teuchi rubbed his chin, watching three young Uchiha escort three customers they'd just questioned out of his shop.
For a moment, it really felt like the Uchiha were dependable.
He hurried over, grinning, and invited them warmly.
"Sir, thank you so much for your help. How about I make you a bowl of ramen on the house?"
The young man's face turned green.
Damn it!
Last time, who knows what idiot started that rumor—that some Uchiha had abandoned their pride and just taken commoners' things for free.
And now you're trying to treat me to free food and drink?
"No.
"Do you think the Uchiha can just eat your ramen for free?
"If you eat, you pay.
"Remember that.
"If anyone eats without paying in the future, report it straight to the Uchiha!"
Neck stiff, the young man delivered the lecture with rigid seriousness.
Even though he'd just been scolded, Teuchi felt weirdly satisfied inside.
Hah!
The Uchiha really do follow the rules.
With their kind of pride, they really couldn't have done all that stuff people used to say they did.
Bullying men and women, petty theft, squeezing small shops, eating and drinking for free—
none of that fit their "pride philosophy" at all…
And Hokage-sama said it himself.
It was all Root.
Root was something everyone in Konoha hated, so it made a lot more sense that they'd do those things.
Teuchi nodded.
He decided the Uchiha were good people.
They must've been slandered before.
With Uchiha pride like that, doing those kinds of things would probably feel worse than being killed.
It changed.
The wind in Konoha changed.
The "Uchiha" label shifted—from "bullies" to something else:
A little stiff. A little abrasive. A little sharp-tongued.
But proud enough that they don't bully civilians.
And they really do the work. They really show up.
They follow Police Force rules more strictly than anyone.
Rumor has it—
if you don't follow the rules, you get clan punishment.
One day, Teuchi asked out of curiosity what Uchiha "clan punishment" even meant.
After that, his face went pale as a sheet.
From that day on, the entire village knew what Uchiha clan punishment was.
As for who spread it—don't worry about it.
The point was that Konoha's civilians knew.
Because of that, people like Teuchi believed even more that the Uchiha weren't bad.
Their clan punishment was right there. Go try them if you don't believe it.
The Uchiha were just a bit stubborn, a bit hardheaded, a bit proud, a bit sharp-tongued.
Calling people "commoners," tossing "lowly" around like punctuation.
But they really had your back. Even when facing Konoha's nobles, they didn't fear imprisonment.
They just went in swinging.
And while swinging, they'd recite Police Force ordinances—
so civilians could hear clearly that they were doing the right thing.
Most importantly—
after public order got cleaned up, people like Teuchi could earn a few more coins.
With the Uchiha, how much could they make?
Without the Uchiha, how much could they make?
Civilians knew the answer.
Once it touched their own interests, they started speaking up for the Uchiha.
"Hokage-sama!
"Root has gone too far!
"They smeared the Uchiha!
"And smearing the Uchiha means cutting into our earnings!"
Hearing so many civilians cry injustice, the vein at Danzo's temple throbbed.
Good.
Very good…
Hiruzen.
You really did this beautifully…
Using my people's heads to pad your subordinates' reputation.
Sure, he'd exiled Root, but everyone still knew Root had once been attached to Danzo's power.
So how were people supposed to look at him as "Vice Hokage" now?
Unworthy of the seat?
Not fit to sit at the same table as the Third?
Thinking of it, Danzo's teeth ground with an audible grrk.
For that deputy position, he'd even started copying the Third's style.
He'd even given up plenty of things.
And Hiruzen still bullied him like this!
Fine.
You want to stain my reputation?
Then I want to see what you look like in your subordinates' eyes—
when I'm not wiping your ass behind the scenes.
When the time comes, you and I will be two peas in a pod.
Don't pretend you're any prettier than me.
Unlike Danzo's fury, the Third Hokage was laughing so hard he slapped the table.
Washing the Uchiha's reputation wasn't important.
Making Danzo run around like his hair was on fire?
That was important.
Fight me?
The Third Hokage stood with his hands behind his back, his face wrinkling with glee.
Do you even have the strength for it?
(End of Chapter)
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