KONOHA MILITARY POLICE DEPARTMENT
One hour later
By now, ninety-nine percent of the seats had been filled, and along with the new members of the Police Department, a large crowd had gathered outside the headquarters building.
Many prominent ninjas of Konoha—such as Hiashi Hyuga, Inoichi Yamanaka, Chōza Akimichi, Tsume Inuzuka, and Shikaku Nara—were also present.
But, the ninjas and civilians wore slightly strange expressions. Many looked mocking, some amused, and others confused. However, there was one person whose expression was entirely different.
Nara Shikaku
He was reading the contract papers, his face deathly pale.
"Inoichi, Chōza—have any members of your clans joined the Police Department?"
Hearing this, Chōza, who was eating potato chips, shook his head.
"No. My clan is already part of the Konoha Interrogation and Intelligence Department, so we have no need to join the Police Department.
And I feel that this whole thing is fishy."
Seeing and hearing this, Nara Shikaku sighed in relief.
Noticing Shikaku's reaction, Inoichi understood that something was indeed wrong.
"Shikaku, did you find any problem in the contract?"
Hearing Inoichi's question, Shikaku just wanted to say—
Fuck, these Uchiha are indeed evil.
"There is indee—"
"Clan Leader Nara, I didn't expect you to come here."
Just as Shikaku was about to speak, a hand tapped his shoulder and a voice reached his ears.
Shikaku went stiff. He hadn't sensed anyone approaching, yet someone had appeared behind him and touched his shoulder. Slowly, he turned his head.
"Itachi. We just arrived."
"Well, Clan Leader Nara, the last contract has been signed, so I would request you to hand that contract to me."
Hearing this, Shikaku nodded and handed over the contract he had borrowed from Chiriko.
Taking it, Itachi turned around to leave.
"Itachi, are you sure you want to do this?"
Hearing this, Itachi didn't stop. He simply replied in a calm tone,
"They signed it themselves. I didn't force anyone."
Hearing this, Shikaku sighed. Inoichi and Chōza did not ask any further questions.
---
After Itachi handed the last contract paper to Chiriko he looked at everyone present. Now it was his time to give long encouraging speech so that everyone will be motivated for the next three years.
" Hello everyone, and congratulations to all of you who have chosen to join the Konoha Military Police Department.
Since its founding, this department has carried the responsibility of maintaining order, enforcing the law, and protecting the stability of the village from within. It has never been an easy role, but it has always been a necessary one, built on discipline, duty, and loyalty to Konoha.
What makes your decision especially admirable is that you chose to step forward even in times of difficulty. I had previously discussed this matter with my father, and honestly, we did not expect more than five people to join.
Your presence here today has far exceeded those expectations, and it is a true sign of trust in the Konoha Military Police Department. For that, you have my sincere appreciation. "
After hearing Itachi's words, all the ninjas who had joined the Police Department felt a surge of pride—but that pride was mixed with confusion. Why would Itachi think that not even five people would enroll?
Although the reputation of the Konoha Military Police Department was poor within the village, it was undeniably one of the most stable positions in Konoha, offering high pay and long-term security.
The family members of the newly joined shinobi looked at their loved ones with happiness. Yet, deep down, many of them felt an inexplicable unease, as if something was about to go terribly wrong.
"From tomorrow onward, your duties will officially begin," Itachi said calmly. "I hope you will not disappoint the people of Konoha and instead work to make the village a better place.
Finally, as written in the contract, please submit the lump-sum payment to the Police Department by tonight. Failure to do so will result in a penalty."
Many people felt confused about the mention of a lump sum, especially the requirement to pay it by tonight.
However, seeing others clap, they followed along instinctively. Just like that, Itachi received a round of applause.
A few seconds after the clapping stopped, a man raised his hand.
It was Kamikaze.
Seeing his comrade raise his hand, Itachi smiled faintly.
"Sarutobi Kamikaze, if I remember correctly,"
Itachi said. "What is your question?"
Kamikaze felt strangely touched that Itachi remembered his name. It was like a star acknowledging your existence.
"Itachi-sama," Kamikaze said respectfully, "the board states that we will receive our salary on the first day of enrollment. Does that mean we'll receive it tomorrow?"
"Hm?" Itachi tilted his head slightly. "Not tomorrow.
Today."
The ninjas who had enrolled immediately broke into smiles, while those who arrived late looked on with envy. Receiving an entire year's salary at the start of the year was a dream for both ninjas and civilians alike.
"But," Itachi continued calmly, "why would the Police Department give you money?"
The smiles froze.
"You will be paying the money by tonight. That is what I just said."
Kamikaze's expression stiffened.
"Itachi-sama… what do you mean?"
"Did you not read the contract carefully before applying?" Itachi asked flatly. "All salaries are listed as negative values. That means you pay the department.
"Otherwise, why would you think the Police Department—funded by the Uchiha—would give money to you?"
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"I believe everyone here already knows that Hokage-sama has cancelled our financial budget for the next three years,"
Itachi continued.
"The Uchiha do not have sufficient funds to support the department alone. That is why most Uchiha members resigned.
"Father then proposed that villagers burning with the Will of Fire could take these positions and work for the village without being corrupted by filthy money.
"However, maintenance and operational costs still remain. Every year, hundreds of millions are spent on utilities and administration. Since the Uchiha cannot bear this burden alone, father suggested that the recruits contribute financially to Konoha police department instead.
"That is why I believed fewer than five people would apply."
Itachi paused.
"But now I understand. I was viewing people through my own tinted glasses."
By now, Kamikaze felt as though the sky was collapsing.
He had applied for a position with a fifteen-million salary. He didn't even possess one-tenth of that amount in savings. Worse, he had personally persuaded dozens of Sarutobi clan members to join.
Even if he hadn't forced them, for those seeking someone to blame, he was the perfect target.
"This… this is fraud!" Kamikaze shouted.
"You can't just add a negative sign and claim we have to pay! This should have been stated clearly!"
His outburst triggered panic. Others began shouting accusations of fraud as well.
"Silence," Itachi said coldly.
"Did you read the contract you signed?"
His gaze swept over the crowd.
"The negative salary is stated thirteen times—using symbols, explicit wording, and twice in bold clarification.
"Page 3, Clause 7, Sub-clause iii
Page 11, Paragraph 2
Page 19, Condition iv
Page 26, Payment Condition viii
Page 28 .... "
Kamikaze's face went pale, as though death itself were standing before him. Panic and rage spread through the recruits—panic because they didn't know what to do, and rage because they felt deceived.
Especially those who had joined the Administration & Liaison Department. Earlier, they believed they had outsmarted the Uchiha. Now they realized the truth.
They were the ones being played.
"You—You can't do this!" someone shouted. "I don't have that much money! I want to cancel the contract! Yes—I want to cancel it!"
Itachi nodded expressionlessly.
"Who else wishes to cancel their contract?"
Twenty-eight people raised their hands, shouting angrily. Others hesitated.
Not because they wanted to be cheated—but because they had begun to think.
They understood now that they had been played like clowns. But they also understood something else.
The Uchiha would never be foolish enough to let meat slip from their mouths.
There had to be measures in place.
Itachi smiled faintly as he handed out the cancellation documents.
"Sign here"
Believing they were escaping disaster, the twenty-eight hurriedly signed.
They sneered inwardly at those who remained, thinking them cowards unwilling to resist injustice. As for the Uchiha's dirty tricks—there were hundreds of witnesses present.
Surely the Uchiha wouldn't dare offend so many clans and civilian ninjas.
…Right?
Chiriko collected the cancellation forms one by one. When the last paper reached his hands, he finally smiled.
It was a sinister smile.
The moment they saw it, a chill ran through everyone nearby.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen—who was currently issuing orders in the Hokage's office for the ANBU to mobilize and surround the Uchiha district—felt his expression darken when he saw Chiriko's smile reflected in the crystal ball.
For the first time, he realized that the situation might spiral far beyond his control.
---
"Everyone who has cancelled their contract and submitted a cancellation form," Itachi announced calmly, "must deposit the cancellation penalty by tonight. Failure to do so will result in serious consequences."
A ninja who had cancelled his contract swallowed nervously and raised his hand.
"There's… a penalty for cancelling?" he asked
"Why didn't you say that earlier? How much is it?"
Itachi looked at him as if he were examining an insect.
"It is clearly written on the bulletin board," he said coldly, "and also mentioned three separate times in the contract. I can understand that you were foolish enough not to read what you were signing or giving your consent to—but are you also blind?
"Or did you fail to read a document that doesn't even exceed a hundred words?"
"What exactly are you smoking?"
The ninja's face turned ashen.
"As for the penalty," Itachi continued casually,
"it's very simple. Three times the total salary."
He glanced at the document in his hand.
"Let's see… You applied for the Administration & Liaison Department, junior official position.
Your listed salary is fifteen million ryō per year. Over three years, that amounts to forty-five million ryō."
Itachi raised his head.
"Three times that is one hundred and thirty-five million ryō."
The surrounding crowd went completely silent.
"You must pay the penalty by tonight," Itachi concluded pleasantly.
"Good luck"
The ninja didn't react much. His eyes slowly closed, and the next moment his body went limp, collapsing to the ground.
"Unconscious?" Itachi asked, his tone unchanged.
He glanced briefly at the fallen man before turning to Chiriko.
"Chiriko, take him to a medical ninja and cover the medical expenses," Itachi said calmly.
"Don't let anyone say that the Uchiha clan doesn't know how to treat its guests."
Chiriko bowed his head slightly.
"Yes, Itachi-sama"
After responding, Chiriko lifted the unconscious ninja onto his shoulder and began walking toward the headquarters building.
As he moved, he spoke in a low voice—yet every person present heard his words clearly.
"As expected of Itachi-sama… so considerate, so righteous. No one could ever doubt his devotion to Konoha."
At those words, the lips of every ninja present twitched.
---