Chapter 11: Address by Title While on Duty

  "Hokage-sama, Uchiha Douhuan is leading a squad from the Police Force toward the Shimura Cn compound."

  "What?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyelid twitched. He couldn't quite tell what Douhuan was pnning.

  "Hokage-sama, let me go. I'll try to stop him."

  Uchiha Itachi stepped out from the shadows, kneeling on one knee.

  Hiruzen stared at him for a long time before sighing deeply. "I'm counting on you, Itachi. The vilge cannot afford internal strife."

  Receiving his orders, Itachi swiftly traversed Konoha's rooftops, reaching the outskirts of the Shimura compound just as Douhuan and his team arrived at a leisurely pace.

  Inside the Shimura compound, everything was draped in mourning white, and the sound of funeral music drifted through the air.

  Standing before the advancing police squad, Itachi's presence was unmistakable despite his mask—everyone in the vilge knew there was only one underage ANBU operative.

  "Itachi, we're here to summon members of the Shimura Cn for questioning. Did the Hokage send you to assist us?" Douhuan asked.

  Seeing his identity exposed, Itachi removed his mask.

  "Douhuan-niisan, go back. The vilge… cannot endure more internal conflict."

  "So, you're here to stop me?" Douhuan's gaze turned sharp. "Is this your will, or the Hokage's?"

  By now, curious vilgers had begun gathering around. With such a public dispy, there were always those eager to spectate. And given that the Shimura compound was situated in a bustling part of the vilge, the crowd grew quickly.

  "Danzo's crimes—desecrating the First Hokage's remains and attacking fellow Konoha shinobi—are already proven. The Shimura Cn was financially involved with him. We are simply here to take them in for questioning. Yet, here you are blocking our way. What exactly are you trying to do?"

  Itachi shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the vilgers' stares.

  "Douhuan-niisan…"

  "Address me by my title while on duty!" Douhuan cut him off. "If this is the Hokage's command, I'll turn around and leave right now."

  Itachi gnced at the gathered vilgers, their necks craning for a better view. Could he really say it was the Hokage's order?

  Yesterday's incident at the vilge gate had already spread throughout Konoha.

  "Cn Leader…" Itachi lowered his head.

  Without another word, Douhuan and his squad walked past him.

  Inside the Shimura compound, word of the commotion quickly spread. The current cn head, Shimura Hiroshi, soon appeared with a group of retainers to block Douhuan's path.

  "Apologies, but the Shimura Cn is not receiving visitors at the moment," Hiroshi stated coldly, dressed in a solemn bck kimono.

  "What unfortunate timing," Douhuan mused. "It seems your cn is holding a funeral?"

  "You Uchiha still have the nerve to come here!" A young Shimura shinobi suddenly lost control, lunging at Douhuan. The police squad tensed, ready to react, but Douhuan gestured for them to stand down.

  The enraged young shinobi was quickly restrained by his own cn members.

  "Forgive the impulsiveness of the younger generation," Hiroshi said stiffly.

  "I understand." Douhuan smiled. "But today, I'm not here as a guest."

  His expression turned serious. "We need Shimura Retsudo, Shimura Arashi, and Shimura Yusuke to come with us for questioning."

  At this, the police squad took a step forward, while the Shimura retainers instinctively prepared to resist.

  "This seems improper," Hiroshi murmured.

  "It's just questioning," Douhuan replied. "We found financial records linking your cn to Root's activities. Personally, I believe in your innocence."

  He produced a heavily burned ledger from a sealing scroll.

  "Cn Head, there's nothing to discuss! The Uchiha are treacherous! Danzo-sama died by their hands—this is revenge!" The restrained young shinobi roared.

  "The Shimura Cn was colluding with Danzo, plotting treason, it seems," Douhuan said icily. His three-tomoe Sharingan spun, shifting into the Mangekyō.

  Hiroshi clenched his fists but, seeing the hypnotic pattern in Douhuan's eyes, forced himself to remain calm.

  "Enough! They will go with you," Hiroshi said through gritted teeth.

  As Danzo's cousin, Hiroshi had personally witnessed the battle between Madara and Hashirama. He knew full well the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan—after all, it had carved out the entire Valley of the End.

  If a battle broke out here, the consequences would be devastating.

  Moreover, Douhuan held the moral high ground. If the Shimura Cn resisted, their guilt would be undeniable.

  "Cooperation makes things so much easier," Douhuan said with a smile, waving for Uchiha Enba to take the suspects into custody.

  "Cn Head!" The younger Shimura shinobi protested, their anger boiling over. They were used to wielding power in Konoha—this humiliation was unbearable.

  "Cn Head Hiroshi, don't make this difficult for me," Douhuan whispered as he passed by.

  Hiroshi twitched but remained silent, finally motioning for his people to stand down.

  The arrests were swift—Shimura Retsudo, Arashi, and Yusuke were all present and promptly shackled.

  Enba saluted Douhuan. "Cn Leader, the detainees are secured."

  "Cn Head Hiroshi, thank you for your cooperation," Douhuan said, now completely at ease. "However, a word of advice—holding a funeral for a traitor at a time like this might not be the wisest decision."