After concluding that these rumors most likely originated from the Utatane and Mitokado clans, the civilian-born ninja in the Police Force were nervous—those were two of the largest clans in the village aside from Uchiha and Hyuga. They didn't know what to do.
But the Uchiha captains quickly stiffened their resolve.
"What's with all this hesitation? Don't forget, when you put on this uniform, you represent the Police Force! Behind you stands the Uchiha clan!" Uchiha Inaho finished his pep talk, then led the way, baton in hand.
The civilian ninja were moved to tears. The Uchiha really led from the front.
So, they followed with batons, too.
Arriving at the clan business districts, the officers wasted no words, sealing off the entire street and, based on confessions, called out people by name.
"What do you think you're doing? This is Utatane property!" a member of the Utatane clan managing the business protested as clan members were arrested.
But as soon as he said that, Inaho locked onto him. "Name?"
At that moment, a merchant—identified by more than 20 people as a key suspect, who had resisted arrest and already been hit by batons twice—cowered and, dodging more blows, cried, "Officer, please, don't hit me anymore! It was him! He told us to do it!"
Hearing this, Inaho gripped his baton tighter and shouted angrily, "Ah, just who I was looking for! And you dare step up yourself!"
He dashed forward and knocked the man down with one blow. The man wasn't strong to begin with, or he wouldn't have been sent to manage the business. Inaho, who was of jonin strength but, due to clan rules, held only a chunin rank, easily subdued him—two whacks, and his eyes looked a lot clearer.
"The Police Force issues a law and you don't even rein it in? You think we're made of mud?" Inaho said as he struck.
"Captain, careful—gentle law enforcement, gentle law enforcement," a civilian ninja reminded him.
"True." Inaho forced a smile with his Sharingan—gentle law enforcement was the clan leader's policy. But that didn't stop him from landing another blow.
The Mitokado business side wasn't much different. Their manager was smarter and tried to blend in with the crowd, but the Police Force's #00004 police dog, Retsumaru, sniffed him out and bit him on the butt.
Once the arrests were over, Seiryu imprisoned all suspects and ordered a thorough investigation to root out any foreign forces behind the scenes.
…
Meanwhile, the two advisors were drinking tea in their family's tea room.
"With this offensive, Kakashi should finally understand his place," Koharu Utatane said, downing her tea and looking at Homura with a smile.
"If he's smart, he'll stay away from the Jinchuriki," Homura replied, also smiling with satisfaction.
"That inherently evil Uchiha brat dares meddle and even issue some law—what's the point?" Koharu scoffed at the mention of the Uchihas.
"In this village, only laws approved by Hiruzen and us count!" Homura agreed. "This also proves Kakashi is completely unreliable now."
"Kakashi's already mixed up with that evil Uchiha brat—wasn't it obvious?" Koharu snorted.
"Still, we need to be careful. In a few days, we should tone down the rumors. If Kakashi ends up like his useless father and kills himself, we'll have trouble explaining to Hiruzen."
"Hmph, Hiruzen's getting more and more hesitant as he ages. He didn't even dare pursue Danzo's death at that Uchiha brat's hands. As the Second's disciples, we must keep watch and guard against the inherently evil Uchiha," Koharu said.
Just then, the tea room door flew open and a Utatane ninja burst in.
"Bad news, Advisors!"
"Don't be so flustered," Koharu scolded.
"The Police Force—they've sealed off our business street and arrested over 400 people, many of them outer clan members!"
"What?" The advisors jumped up. Koharu slammed the table. "How dare they!"
"The Uchiha are truly evil," Homura's face darkened. "They even dare act against civilians."
"What should we do?" Koharu asked.
Homura thought for a moment. "Gather all civilians who rely on our clans' businesses, get some clanless ninja, and take them to the Police Force to protest—demand they release everyone. I don't believe they'd dare act with everyone watching! As for us, we'll go to Hiruzen directly. This time, the Uchiha must pay!"
…
The Police Force jail was brightly lit. There were so many detainees that even the interrogation rooms were full, and a temporary area had to be set up in the jail itself. Every officer was working overtime on interrogations.
In the temporary office, Seiryu, Fugaku, four veteran Uchiha jonin, and new squad captains Shikai Aburame and Kaze Inuzuka, reviewed the incoming interrogation reports.
"With so many people, how long will these interrogations take?" Kaze muttered, staring at the mountain of files.
"We might not even get anything useful," Uchiha Tobishima said.
"Earlier, the Third promised us two ANBU interrogators, but they haven't arrived. Our own methods are too unprofessional. We need to bring this up with the Third again," Seiryu said.