At this moment, Seiryu also noticed Shikaku's little move. Naturally, he saw right through his intentions, and with a slight smile, he said, "Advisor Nara, do you agree with what I said?"
Having been singled out by Seiryu, Shikaku realized he couldn't stay out of this any longer and had to bite the bullet, replying, "Clan Leader Seiryu's words do make sense."
What else could he say? Could he possibly deny the Will of Fire right in front of the Third Hokage?
Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing. He finished his pipeful of tobacco. Seiryu kept talking about the Will of Fire, leaving him—usually the one championing that ideology—at a loss. The Will of Fire was his political cornerstone, something he had to uphold. If he couldn't, his days as Hokage would be numbered.
If there were no outsiders present, he might have been able to mediate. But under the threat of Kotoamatsukami, he always needed someone else in the room whenever he met with Seiryu.
Finally, after a long silence, Hiruzen put down his pipe and relented, "Then do as it says here. But Seiryu, when enforcing the law, be mindful—after all, these are our villagers."
"Understood," Seiryu nodded, "The Police Force will strictly restrain itself and adhere to the principle of gentle law enforcement."
…
That afternoon, the Police Force posted the new law in every prominent place throughout the village.
Naturally, this sparked much debate. Some villagers became a little more cautious, but most didn't take it seriously.
After all, the last time the Police Force officially issued any law was back when the Second Hokage first established them, and those rules were about trivial matters. In recent years, the Police Force's reputation had only deteriorated. So, most villagers didn't take the new laws seriously and even started including the Police Force in their gossip.
"Now even the Police Force is siding with that killer who hangs out with the fox brat?"
"What's there to be afraid of? We still have the Hokage backing us. I don't believe they'd actually arrest anyone."
…
Time passed day by day. Kakashi, in recent days, finally experienced firsthand what his father had gone through. Every time he went outside, he was met with strange looks from villagers, and some bold troublemakers even came to the Hatake clan's ancestral home to graffiti and dump trash—just like back then.
Naruto, living at his house, was furious about all this, just as Kakashi had once been. Whenever he encountered villagers talking badly about Kakashi, he wanted to rush up and argue, but all he ever got in return were their looks of fear and disgust.
Now, Kakashi understood why his father hadn't reacted back then. When rumors reach a certain scale, any defense seems powerless.
But his giving up attitude only made the hot-headed Naruto more anxious.
However, unlike the White Fang incident, the Police Force took action just three days after enacting the new law.
That morning, Seiryu personally called a meeting with all Police Force personnel.
"Recently, there have been many rumors about former ANBU captain Hatake Kakashi. I'm sure you're all aware," Seiryu said sternly from the podium. "Hatake Kakashi is a hero of the village. In the Kannabi Bridge battle that decided the outcome of the Third Great Ninja War against Iwagakure, he made great contributions. Now, however, he's the target of baseless rumors!"
"Moreover, not only have these rumors not died down after we issued new laws, they've grown even more rampant!" Seiryu slammed the podium. "I now suspect this is no mere rumor. This is the work of foreign forces inciting our villagers, trying to smear the Will of Fire of our great Konoha! Can we, entrusted with such high hopes by the Second Hokage, just sit and do nothing?"
"No!" The room erupted. In recent days, even on patrol, the officers had been accused of colluding. Everyone was seething.
"Since the day we were established under the Second Hokage, the Police Force has always been a staunch supporter of the Will of Fire! Today, I, Uchiha Seiryu, swear on the symbol of Konoha! We will get to the bottom of this and make those who would overthrow the Will of Fire pay the price!"
"Everyone!"
Seiryu shouted, and all the officers snapped to attention.
"Salute the village!"
"Salute!"
All the Police Force members raised their hands in salute, shouting loudly.
"Salute!" Seiryu saluted as well before continuing, "Today, everyone is to put aside all other work. Go out and thoroughly investigate this matter. Everyone involved must be punished according to the law!"
Soon, the nearly 600-strong Police Force fully mobilized—including Uchiha Fugaku, who usually only managed the accounts, but now led an enforcement squad himself.
…
The villagers didn't realize what was happening and were, as usual, gossiping about the fox brat and Kakashi.
But as soon as they started talking, Police Force members seemed to drop from the sky to arrest them and bring them to the station.
In just one morning, the Police Force arrested over 2,000 people. Most were fined and verbally warned after explaining who told them the rumors, but several dozen, whose offenses were worse, were jailed on the spot.
Only then did the villagers realize the Police Force was serious this time.
Very quickly, the officers discovered that all the leads pointed to areas owned by the Mitokado and Utatane clans—clearly, these were the sources of the rumors.