After three strikes, the villagers who had sheltered the fleeing rioters immediately regretted their decision from just minutes ago.
"Officer! Stop! Please stop! I have nothing to do with this!"
"You have nothing to do with this? Then why are these rioters hiding in your house?"
The Konoha Military Police Force member responded without hesitation, striking the villager's waist with his baton. "I think you're one of them! Take him away!"
While the chaos unfolded, Naruto was at Ramen Ichiraku, buying ramen for himself and picking up a portion for Kakashi. However, just as he stepped out with his takeout box, he was met with the sight of what looked like an all-out street brawl.
"What... What the heck is happening here?"
The scene before him left Naruto completely dumbfounded.
Even though he recognized the person being beaten to the ground and was receiving six hits per second, as someone who often insulted him in the past, his kind heart made him want to speak up on the person's behalf.
But before he could say anything, his collar was yanked up.
After turning around, he found himself face to face with a Uchiha team leader and his blood-red Sharingan staring him down.
"Where did this kid come from? Haven't you heard the village is under lockdown?"
Toyen Uchiha's actions immediately put the Anbu, responsible for protecting Naruto, on high alert, and they quickly revealed themselves.
Before they could even speak, Toyen tossed Naruto to them and said: "You guys showed up at the right time. Get this kid out of here and make sure he stays home. No loitering outside!"
"Understood."
The masked Anbu nodded, taking Naruto from Toyen's hands. After all, Naruto was a Jinchuriki.
When Toyen had grabbed Naruto earlier, they had been scared out of their wits.
While the full-scale street brawl continued in the village, Kuragami Uchiha, Fugaku Uchiha, and sixth division leader Shihei Aburame, who had been assigned to stay at the Konoha Military Police Force, were sitting all in Fugaku's office, leisurely brewing tea.
"Kuragami, aren't you going to go out and check the situation?" Fugaku asked in confusion.
After issuing his orders, Kuragami had simply pulled him aside for tea.
"I can't go out yet."
Kuragami chuckled. "Otherwise, the third Hokage really won't be able to sit still."
"Come, come, drink some tea!"
Kuragami personally served them.
"I've often heard in the Konoha Military Police Force that Kuragami-sama is a master of tea-making. I didn't expect to get the chance to taste it today."
Shihei Aburame smiled as he took the cup.
Meanwhile, back in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already been informed of the street chaos.
"You see, Hiruzen?!"
Koharu Utatane, who had come to complain, immediately spoke up after hearing the Anbu's report.
"The Uchiha are actually attacking villagers! This is outright rebellion! Hiruzen, you can't hesitate anymore!"
Listening to his old comrade's nagging, Hiruzen felt a surge of irritation. He waved a weary hand before turning to the new Anbu Captain.
"Where is Kuragami Uchiha right now?"
"Hokage-sama, he is still at the Konoha Military Police Force and has not taken any action."
"Is that so?"
Hiruzen nodded. "That's good."
He let out a sigh of relief. It seemed Kuragami had no intention of openly rebelling. Otherwise, as the strongest member of the Uchiha clan, he wouldn't remain idle while the entire Konoha Military Police Force was deployed.
"Kani, go and invite Kuragami Uchiha to the Hokage building." Hiruzen sighed before instructing Anbu, who was Kakashi's replacement.
"Understood." Kani nodded and left.
"Hiruzen! You really can't hesitate anymore! The Uchiha's rebellion is clear as day!" Homura Mitokado added.
Hiruzen ignored them and simply lit his pipe.
"Hiruzen! You'll regret this!"
Homura stomped his foot in frustration, but Hiruzen didn't even bother reminding them that he was the Hokage.
These two old fools had spent years nagging him, which he could tolerate, but they had gone behind his back and pulled off something this reckless?
Even Danzo, when doing things in secret, would at least inform him in advance. Yet these two had acted without saying a word.
When Hiruzen heard the rumors about Kakashi in the village, he was so furious that he nearly picked up his sword to deal with them himself.
Hiruzen's original plan had been to have Kakashi adopt Naruto, which would have ensured Kakashi's loyalty. But thanks to these two idiots, Kakashi was now completely pushed toward the Uchiha.
To make matters worse, not only had they gone ahead with their plan, but they had done it so sloppily that the Konoha Military Police Force now had a legitimate excuse to act. Legally speaking, Hiruzen had no grounds to intervene.
After dealing with the Uchiha for years, Hiruzen knew that Kuragami was different from the previous clan head. He wasn't an idiot who could be easily deceived.
After a long silence, Hiruzen finally sighed and said: "Deploy the Anbu to slightly control the situation. Then summon the clan heads of the Ino–Shika–Cho clans and send Jonin squads for support."
"Understood."
Another Anbu in the office took the order and left.
Soon, an Anbu messenger arrived at the Anbu base, gathering all the stationed Anbu and sending them into the streets.
However, as the Anbu stepped onto the streets and prepared to take action, they were met with the sight of a Konoha Military Police Force member chasing down three rioters with batons in hand.
"What's going on here?"
One of the Anbu stepped forward, slightly blocking the officer's path to stop the aggressive beating.
The three fleeing civilians, seeing this, immediately scrambled behind the Anbu for protection.
"The Konoha Military Police Force is carrying out an operation to arrest those spreading rumors against Konoha hero Kakashi Hatake and those who violently resisted police authority. Are you Anbu planning to shelter these criminals?"
Despite being just a Genin, the Konoha Military Police Force officer remained fearless as he confronted the elite Anbu.
"So that's the situation? My mistake."
The Anbu nodded in understanding, then stepped aside. Before leaving, he added: "Just don't take it too far. No unnecessary deaths."
Under the disbelieving eyes of the hiding villagers, the Anbu leaped over the wall and disappeared.
This scene repeated itself throughout the village. Most of the Anbu, after asking a few questions and understanding the Konoha Military Police Force's purpose, chose to stand by and do nothing.
Most of what they did was remind the officers not to go overboard or cause any deaths.