Uchiha Patriarch !

Sōgen sat in his office on the second floor of the Konoha Police Force, a thick stack of reports piled up in front of him. He had been away from the department for months, and during that time, Uchiha Ranzan had been managing everything, wielding the power of the department head in his absence.

However, after months apart, Uchiha Ranzan appeared much thinner than Sōgen remembered. 

It was clear that being in charge hadn't been an entirely pleasant experience for Ranzan. The dark circles under his eyes silently revealed how long he had gone without proper rest. Yet despite the fatigue, he still looked energetic, standing tall like a finely honed blade, his unyielding strength evident in his posture.

"Ranzan, it seems entrusting the Police Force to you was the right choice. You've done a great job," Sōgen said as he skimmed through the reports. The documents were well-organized, and it didn't take much effort to understand the department's state in his absence.

Summing it all up, things could be described with one word: **stable**.

During Ranzan's time acting as head, he hadn't made any grand moves but had kept things steady, maintaining the department according to the guidelines Sōgen had left before departing. Everything had run smoothly without any visible flaws.

"Honestly, instead of just thanking me, I'd rather you give me a couple of days off. If not, send me to the frontlines! It's been almost a month since I last held a sword. From dawn till dusk, I'm holding a pen, even when I eat or go to the bathroom!" Ranzan said, clearly exhausted, his tone filled with barely concealed frustration. "At this rate, I'll probably forget how to fight when I get back to battlefield!"

Despite his calm demeanor, Ranzan was still an Uchiha.

Uchihas were known for their love of battle. Even those with a calm temperament, like Uchiha Shisui, sometimes felt the itch to test their skills in combat. Many in the clan preferred the thrill of dancing on the edge of danger, rather than sitting peacefully in an office.

"By the way... what was Elder Fugaku doing here at the Police Force two months ago?" Sōgen shifted the topic. The Uchiha clan had plenty of capable fighters, and while some of the elders may have aged, people like Chisa, Futaba, Akitaro, and Hokuto were still around, and they could hold their own in battle.

On the other hand, people like Ranzan, who could help with the tedious administrative tasks, were far fewer.

If Ranzan were to leave, where would Sōgen find someone else to help with the Police Force's complex workload?

Ranzan sighed, realizing that he was still stuck in the office. "Looks like I'll be staying in the office a while longer. When will this end?" he muttered, perking up slightly as he continued. "As for Elder Fugaku, he came to check if the department was running smoothly. He didn't stay long, just offered help if needed and left. Luckily, I haven't had to ask him for any help. I managed to keep things in order on my own."

"And do you think Elder Fugaku had any particular intentions?" Sōgen asked.

"I doubt it. He doesn't seem like an ambitious person," Ranzan replied.

"Then we won't worry about him. Let Fugaku handle the clan's elder matters in peace. Police Force doesn't need his involvement," Sōgen said, dismissing the thought. He didn't seem too concerned, assuming that Fugaku genuinely wanted to help. Either way, Fugaku had retired and should remain so.

Uchiha clan didn't need another unpredictable Mangekyō Sharingan wielder lurking in the shadows.

"Chief, I'm just maintaining the status quo. I'm doing my best, but don't count on me for any major reforms. The Judicial Division is still a shell of its former self, and the freed-up office space has turned into a storage room," Ranzan lamented.

"No rush. I promised the Judicial Division to Shisui. He's not here right now, so we'll wait until he returns and let him handle that. As for reforming the Police Force, there's no need to rush. I've got plans, and all I need you to do is keep things running smoothly for now."

Reform was necessary.

Sōgen knew that to change the villagers' perception of the Uchiha, and to wash away the clan's tainted reputation, they needed to reform the Police Force. However, unforeseen challenges like Obito bringing in the Mist Village and, later, the Cloud Village rising up, had delayed his plans. Now wasn't the right time for major changes.

"I'll do my best," Ranzan sighed, accepting his fate.

"Ranzan, if you really can't stand it, start training some of the younger clan members to take over. In a few years, you could be free," Sōgen suggested, trying to encourage his right-hand man. After all, even a workhorse needs a carrot from time to time.

"Years?" Ranzan looked stunned.

He glared at Sōgen, his eyes silently questioning how "a few months" had turned into "a few years."

"Well... you know what they say, the more capable you are, the more you get to do! Haha!" Sōgen laughed awkwardly.

He had slipped up, and now he had to smooth things over. "And besides, it's not a set timeline. If things go well, you could be free in just a year or so. Right?"

"But it could also take two or three years. If that happens, am I supposed to keep doing this forever?" Ranzan replied, his voice perfectly calm, but his words cutting through Sōgen's excuses.

"Well..."

Sōgen hesitated, then fell silent.

Alright.

Truth be told, he hadn't planned on letting Ranzan leave the Police Force anytime soon. In Sōgen's view, Ranzan was far more valuable in office than on battlefield. However, if Ranzan really wasn't willing to stay in this role long-term, Sōgen knew he'd have to find and train a replacement.

After all, Ranzan was a trusted companion, not someone to be worked into the ground.

But finding someone to replace Ranzan wouldn't be easy.

At that moment, Ranzan sighed and said, "I hope we can find some clever and obedient juniors in clan. Speaking of which, do you have anyone in mind? Any promising candidates?"

"Ranzan, you sly dog," Sōgen laughed.

He'd been outmaneuvered!

"Chief, or rather, Clan Head—do you have any juniors in mind who could take over my job?" Ranzan asked.

"There's definitely someone," Sōgen replied slowly. He had already done his homework on the clan's families. He knew who had how many children, their ages, even whether they had pets. Since becoming clan head, he had access to the latest clan census data, which was conveniently stored in his home office.

From the beginning, Ranzan had been one of Sōgen's most trusted comrades.

Ranzan likely already knew the answer to his own question, having helped Sōgen gather much of that information himself. The reason he was asking now was to hear Sōgen's opinion.

"There's an interesting junior... Uchiha Itachi. Ranzan, do you know him?"

"Uchiha Itachi? Elder Fugaku's eldest son?" Ranzan frowned, thinking. Of course, he knew of Itachi. The boy was hailed as a genius, said to be on par with Sōgen and Shisui. Despite being only ten years old, Itachi had already reached the rank of Chūnin—an extraordinary feat, especially considering it wasn't wartime when promotions were often accelerated.

A ten-year-old Chūnin,

Itachi's talent had already broken convention.

However, since Itachi was Fugaku's son, and given age gap, Ranzan hadn't had much direct contact with him. He was more familiar with Fugaku's younger son, Sasuke, who often hung around the Police Force with Naruto and Touka.

"Yes, Fugaku's eldest son. They say he's a rare genius in the clan. Though he's only ten, he has wisdom of an adult. If we bring him in, you might be able to retire sooner than you think, Ranzan!" Sōgen teased.

"...Chief, you're not joking, right?" Ranzan asked uncertainly.

"Fugaku is Fugaku. There's no need to judge his son based on him. We're all Uchiha. If we can't unite among ourselves, then talk of restoring clan's former glory is just empty words," Sōgen said calmly.

His words were undeniably correct—everyone knew that unity was essential. Yet internal conflict was inevitable, whether in families, organizations, or nations. Disputes would never truly disappear.

Ranzan hesitated.

He wasn't convinced bringing Itachi into Police Force was a good idea, but it seemed like Sōgen had his reasons. After some thought, Ranzan decided to hold back his objections. After all, even if Itachi joined, it would take time to evaluate him before giving him any real responsibility.

It wouldn't hurt to wait and see.

"...If I remember correctly, Uchiha Itachi is currently a freelance ninja, right? He's not registered with police force nor has he joined any other village departments..." Sougen muttered to himself, memories of Uchiha Itachi flowing through his mind.

The ninja of Konoha Village can generally be divided into two categories:

Those who get a salary and those who don't.

The salaried ones are employed in departments like administration, police, medical, and the ANBU. They have specific duties and jobs, basically what you'd think of as civil servants. The unsalaried ones are the type of ninja that the general public imagines—ninja with no specific positions or attachments to any department. The village doesn't pay them a regular salary; they earn their living by completing missions for rewards. The former group is fixed in number and limited, while the latter makes up the majority of Konoha's ninja population.

For example, in the original history, Kakashi was a salaried ninja when he was in the ANBU. After leaving, he became part of the second category.

Currently, Uchiha Itachi falls into the second category.

If history follows its course, Itachi would soon join the ANBU, but the future of Konoha has already been radically altered by Sougen. There's no more Hiruzen Sarutobi or Danzo Shimura, and while the Uchiha clan's reputation is still poor, they have avoided the disastrous option of a coup.

In this new future, what path will Uchiha Itachi choose?

Sougen couldn't ignore his consideration of this younger clan member—a man ruthless enough to massacre his own family and murder his parents, even though they weren't abusive monsters. Uchiha Fugaku was strict, and Uchiha Mikoto was kind. Itachi grew up in a family many would envy for its near perfection.

And yet, despite growing up in such a family, he still brought down his blade.

At the time, he was only 13 years old!

"What a headache!"

Sougen was torn about how to handle Uchiha Itachi. He considered killing him to get rid of the problem once and for all, but convicting and punishing Itachi for crimes he had yet to commit—and might never have the chance to commit—bothered him a little. Well, okay, let's be real!

That's nonsense.

Sougen, who had fought to survive and had blood on his hands, wasn't going to be softhearted for Uchiha Itachi.

The reason he abandoned the idea of killing Itachi was simple—it would be a waste.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi and Obito Uchiha could both use Itachi, then, as head of Uchiha clan, Sougen naturally had authority to command him. To waste such useful pawn would be a shame. Plus, Itachi's Susanoo wielded two incredibly powerful spiritual weapons: Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror.

By comparison, Sougen Susanoo was poorly equipped.

Just a standard katana, with no special weapons at all.

If possible, Sougen wanted to upgrade his Susanoo's equipment too. Just like how he now wielded Flame Fan, maybe his Susanoo could also be outfitted with more powerful tools.

"Anyway, Ranzan, make sure to bring that kid over."

After much thought, Sougen had made up his mind.

Rather than leaving Itachi to his own devices and later deciding to kill him, it would be better to send him to the police department, where he could be kept under close watch. If Itachi showed any signs of rebellion, Sougen would immediately deal with him.

"And if he doesn't want to come?"

"Then summon him in the name of clan leader."

Uchiha clan leader's title wasn't just for show; he had clear authority over his clansmen in terms of rewards and punishment.

"Got it! I understand."

Uchiha Ranzan nodded.

"Alright, that's enough for today. We'll discuss the rest tomorrow."

Sougen glanced out the window.

The orange glow of the setting sun cast a bright hue on the office floor as the last light of day slipped away. He could see the smoke rising from the village, signaling that it was about time to clock out.

Konoha Village, northeastern corner, the Uchiha clan grounds.

In a training field surrounded by dense forest, under the fading light of the setting sun, two brothers were sparring. The five-year-old Uchiha Sasuke attacked relentlessly with his kunai, but his moves were so basic that Itachi didn't even need to activate his Sharingan to see all the flaws in his little brother's stance.

"Sasuke, your arm swings too wide when you rush in… lower your center of gravity a bit. It's important to stay balanced…"

As Itachi blocked and countered, he patiently pointed out Sasuke's mistakes.

The younger brother listened intently, carefully memorizing everything his brother said and gradually correcting his movements. Such practice had already become part of his daily routine. Every day, after school and before dinner, he'd train with his brother at this field.

"Sasuke, you can take a break now."

Itachi glanced up at the sky through the dense leaves above, noticing how it was getting dark. His movements sped up, and in an instant, he disarmed Sasuke of his kunai. Placing a gentle hand on Sasuke's head, he said softly, "Time to head home. Mom should have dinner ready by now."

"Huh? Already? The sun hasn't even set yet!" Sasuke protested, reluctant to stop training with his brother.

"If we're late, Father might not let us come here to practice anymore," Itachi explained as he started gathering their things.

"…Fine!"

Remembering his father's stern demeanor, Sasuke gave in.

Even though his father now had more time to teach him, Sasuke still preferred training with his brother.

The two brothers packed up and left the training field, heading home. When they opened the sliding door and stepped inside, they were immediately greeted by Uchiha Fugaku, who stood in the hallway with his arms tucked into his sleeves, wearing his usual house kimono. The former clan head frowned as he looked at his two sons, who had just returned home, and snapped,

"You're late!"

"It's one thing for Sasuke to be irresponsible, but Itachi, you should know better than to fool around all day outside. This is unacceptable."

The harsh tone made Sasuke lower his head nervously, clutching the edge of his brother's clothes.

"Father, I plan to take a mission this weekend. Could you train Sasuke while I'm away?" Itachi responded calmly, unfazed by his father's scolding. This wasn't the first time he'd been reprimanded, and he knew how to handle it.

Sure enough, after hearing Itachi's response, Fugaku still kept his stern expression, but said nothing more. He turned and headed toward the dining room. Itachi gave his little brother a reassuring smile, and the two went to change their shoes. From the kitchen, Uchiha Mikoto, who had overheard the commotion at the door, popped her head out, smiling as she urged the brothers to wash up.

Dinner was sukiyaki.

The four of them sat around the table.

Strictly speaking, there were actually five, as Mikoto's slightly rounded belly carried a new life.

"When I went shopping today, I heard the clan leader has returned," Mikoto said as she placed a slice of beef into Sasuke's bowl, while also chatting with her husband.

"Yes, he's back."

"Isn't there going to be some sort of event or ceremony for his return?"

"There was supposed to be, but the clan leader sent a letter ahead, asking us not to make a fuss over some… formalities. After some discussion, we decided to cancel it. The war in north isn't over yet, so it's likely he'll head back there soon."

Fugaku picked up a piece of tofu, cooling it down as he spoke. By the time he finished, the tofu was ready to eat.

"Will he have to go north again? That sounds tough!" Mikoto commented.

"Those who can, do more," Fugaku replied before turning to his eldest son. "Itachi, do you want to go north? When you were younger, I took you to see the battlefield, but back then you were too young. If you really want to understand what war is, this could be a good opportunity to see it firsthand."

Itachi was caught off guard for a moment.

He hadn't expected his father to ask such a question.

"Fugaku, what are you saying? Itachi's only ten!" Mikoto's face darkened.

Like most mothers, Mikoto didn't want to see her child go to battlefield, especially now that she was pregnant. At this moment, she really didn't want to hear any bad news, even though she knew very well that being a ninja was a dangerous, high-risk profession.

"Itachi, think about it carefully. It's a rare opportunity."

Fugaku ignored his wife and looked seriously at his son.

For a ninja, witnessing the horrors of war wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Itachi had always been unusually sharp for his age, and although he didn't seem to have developed any arrogance, Fugaku still believed that experiencing the battlefield would be beneficial for him. As for whether there would be danger…

Being a ninja was already dangerous, and many died

"I'll think about it."

Itachi Uchiha lowered his head and whispered back.

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