Chapter 52 Arresting People
Uchiha Touhuan noticed Nara Shikaku's subtle movements and was fully aware of his intentions. He smiled slightly and said, "Nara-suke, do you think what I said is right?"
Having been called out by Uchiha Touhuan, Nara Shikaku understood that he could no longer remain uninvolved and could only grit his teeth and say, "Clan Chief Touhuan's words do make sense."
What else could he say? Could he deny the Will of fire in front of the Third Hokage?
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent until he finished his pipe. Uchiha Touhuan's constant mention of the Will of fire had actually put him, someone who always spoke of it, at a loss. The Will of fire was, after all, his foundation, something he had to maintain. If he couldn't even maintain the Will of fire, then his time as the Third Hokage would be very short.
If no one else were present, he could have negotiated a bit, but under the intimidation of Kotoamatsukami, every face-to-face conversation with Uchiha Touhuan required the presence of another person.
After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe and compromised: "Then let's do it this way. However, Touhuan, you still need to be careful when enforcing the law, after all, these are villagers."
"Understood." Uchiha Touhuan nodded. "Regarding this, the Security Department will strictly restrain itself and adhere to the principle of smiling law enforcement."
That afternoon, the Security Department posted notices about the new law in every prominent place in the village.
This naturally caused much controversy; some villagers toned it down slightly, but most still didn't take it seriously.
After all, the last time the Security Department officially issued legal provisions was during the Second Hokage's era when the Security Department was first established. The content was about trivial matters. In addition, the Security Department's reputation in the village had been getting worse and worse in recent years. Therefore, most villagers did not take the legal provisions issued by the Security Department seriously. Instead, they even added the Security Department to the rumors.
"Even the Security Department has started to support that murderous maniac who was with that little fox demon?"
"Hmph, what are we afraid of? We still have the Hokage to back us up. I don't believe they would really dare to arrest anyone."
...
As time went by, Kakashi finally understood what his father's situation was like back then. Every time he went out, he was stared at by the villagers with strange eyes. At the same time, some bolder villagers even dared to graffiti and litter in front of the Hatake family's ancestral house, just like the situation back then.
Naruto, who lived in his house, was just as furious as he had been years before. He wanted to confront the villagers who spoke ill of Kakashi whenever he encountered them, but each time he was met with glares of avoidance.
Kakashi now understood why his father hadn't reacted to the rumors back then; he realized that once such rumors gained traction, any attempt to defend oneself was futile.
However, his seemingly passive approach naturally worried the impatient Naruto.
But unlike the White Fang incident, the Security Department took action on the third day after the law was enacted.
That morning, Uchiha Touhuan personally convened a meeting of all Security Department members.
"Recently, many rumors have circulated in the village regarding former Anbu Captain Kakashi Hatake, as I'm sure everyone is aware," Uchiha Touhuan said solemnly from the podium. "Kakashi Hatake is a hero of the village, having rendered outstanding service in the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, which determined the outcome of the Third Shinobi World War against Iwagakure. Yet now, he is being attacked by rumors, the content of which is utterly baseless!"
"Furthermore, after we issued the relevant regulations, these rumors not only failed to disappear but have intensified!" Uchiha Touhuan slammed his hand on the podium. "I now suspect that this is no longer just simple rumors! It's foreign forces inciting the villagers, attempting to tarnish the great Will of fire of Konoha! Can we, on whom the Second Hokage has placed such high hopes, sit idly by in this situation?"
"No!" The crowd below was also indignant. For the past few days, during their daily patrols, some unruly villagers had made accusations that their security force was colluding with a serial killer, infuriating everyone.
"Our security force, since its establishment under the Second Hokage's orders, has been a staunch supporter of the Will of fire! Today, I, Uchiha Touhuan, on behalf of the security force, swear under the emblem of Konoha! Our security force will investigate this matter thoroughly and make those who intend to overthrow the Will of fire through conspiracy pay the price!"
"Attention!"
Uchiha Touhuan shouted, and all the security force members in the meeting room instantly stood at attention.
"Salute the village emblem!"
"Loyalty!" The entire security force raised their hands in salute and shouted loudly.
"Loyalty!" Uchiha Touhuan saluted in return before continuing, "Everyone, put aside your current tasks and go out to thoroughly investigate this matter. Everyone involved must receive the punishment they deserve according to the law." Soon
, nearly 600 members of the Security Department were mobilized. Even Captain-General Uchiha Fugaku, who had recently only been managing the department's accounts, was included, personally leading an enforcement team out.
The villagers, unaware of what was happening, were gossiping as usual.
However, the moment they began discussing the fox demon and the serial killer, members of the Security Department would appear out of nowhere to arrest them and take them back to the Security Station.
In just one morning, the Security Department arrested over 2,000 people. While most were released after being questioned about who had told them, receiving fines and verbal warnings, a few dozen with more serious offenses were immediately imprisoned in the Security Department's jail.
Only then did the villagers of Konoha realize that the Security Department was serious this time.
Soon, the members of the Security Department also discovered that all the clues they had gathered pointed to the area where the properties owned by the Mitomon and Utatane families were located—that was the source of these rumors.
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(End of Chapter)