Sarutobi Hiruzen, recalling Uchiha Chiyu's methods—especially his nephew Sarutobi Jirō's death—felt nothing but deep-seated hatred.
Even more troubling was the likelihood that many villagers and shinobi might now see Chiyu differently, perhaps even positively—because, after all, that foolish father and son duo (Nichio and Jirō) had attracted almost universal outrage.
Even though Chiyu's methods were extreme, those victims and bystanders might applaud him for doing what needed to be done.
The future consequences of this incident gave Hiruzen a severe headache. Still, what he told Shisui was:
"Shisui, I can understand why some people might be grateful to him.
"Yes, Chiyu probably did them a favor by ridding them of calamities and punishing evildoers. However…
"If everyone acted like him—able to kill whomever they wish without a formal trial, justifying their actions solely by their personal notion of 'justice'—what would become of this village? This world?
"Today, a gambler might be sentenced to die for gambling his life away. Tomorrow, must a petty thief who steals chickens or dogs also die?
"Today, someone who kills an innocent person is deserving of death. But what if tomorrow an actual innocent is wrongly accused and declared guilty—should they die too?
"Don't admire the 'justice' of a single individual.
"Don't look up to lone wolves who do whatever they like.
"Instead, respect those who pursue justice through just and proper means…"
Shisui mulled this over.
"I understand now, Lord Hokage… I guess I really am too naïve; it was easy for me to be swayed by Uchiha Chiyu's rhetoric. Thank you, Lord Hokage, for helping me see reason and clearing away my doubts."
Hiruzen smiled warmly.
"I'm glad you understand.
"You and Itachi both are good kids, and the best candidates for resolving the tensions between the village and the Uchiha clan. Which is why…"
He paused, then continued.
"I'd like to ask you something."
Shisui bowed his head. "Please, Lord Hokage, give me your orders."
"I want you to do whatever you can to dampen the growing warlike sentiment within the Uchiha."
Shisui's heart gave a jolt. It was the first time the Hokage had spelled it out this plainly—evidently a sign that Hiruzen's trust in him was deepening. Shisui felt a sense of heavy responsibility, yet also a strange pride.
"Rest assured, Lord Hokage. I'll do everything in my power!"
"Good, that puts me at ease."
Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke, letting it expand through the office. The stale odor of decay grew even thicker.
…
"Captain Chiyu," came Uchiha Aoki's voice during patrol, "if one day Yamakaze and I messed up, would you just kill us without hesitation too?"
"Yes," Chiyu answered coldly.
Aoki and Yamakaze exchanged wry smiles.
"You really are merciless…"
"Is there nothing in your heart except for justice?"
"There is something else."
"And that is?"
"The power required to carry out justice."
"…"
"What about comrades? Friends? Clan members?"
Like a hawk soaring over Konoha, Chiyu's keen gaze swept across the village. In his eyes, all evil and darkness appeared like rotting flesh—a target to be hunted, a resource to feed on.
"It doesn't matter what the rest of the clan thinks. Above all, we're members of the Police Force, sworn to uphold the law. We're only Uchiha secondarily. If you go around talking about the Uchiha all day long, then in your heart you've already planted the seed of favoritism."
The two subordinates considered his words.
"Captain's got a point, but we're still human. We can't exactly discard our attachment to the clan entirely…"
"And that's why this ninja world needs me."
"You're like a cold, unfeeling law enforcement machine, Captain…"
"Then what do we count as, in your eyes?"
Suddenly, Chiyu stopped walking, prompting Aoki and Yamakaze to halt as well.
"What's wrong, Captain?"
Chiyu glanced back at them.
"Rather than calling you subordinates or little brothers, I'd prefer to regard you as… inheritors of my will, my ideals. Though maybe that's just wishful thinking. The soil you grew up in is different—your ingrained beliefs run deep. Even so, if I can influence you to understand me a bit more, that might spark a little hope."
Aoki nodded. "I understand you're trying to uphold justice, Captain. But wouldn't you say your methods are too extreme?"
"Of course they're extreme. You need to overcompensate to correct a crooked path. Otherwise, you'll never see hope."
After a moment's silence, Yamakaze spoke. "I get it, Captain Chiyu. I'm willing to follow in your footsteps to build a new world purged of evil, all in the name of justice!"
Aoki agreed. "Me too!"
Chiyu nodded. Though he appeared solitary in his extremism, there were those who supported him. And just like him, once they awakened to the cause, they gained a passionate strength. In Chiyu's view, that little spark was like the flames that could one day sweep everything clean.
…
"Patriarch, we've collected Master Jirō's remains. Should we… set a date for burial?"
Sarutobi Nichio cast a glance at the corpse on the table, covered with a thin white sheet. Though the head had been reattached to the body, a dark red line still showed through, staining the cloth.
He clenched his fists hard.
"No… don't bury him yet. Before that, I want that Uchiha Chiyu bastard to go to the grave with my Jirō!"
Everyone in the Sarutobi clan gasped.
"Patriarch, that… The Hokage specifically warned us not to act rashly. If we rush into this, we might spark an all-out conflict. The Uchiha are basically a powder keg, ready to blow if provoked. The consequences—"
"Think again!" Nichio roared in fury. "Just because the Hokage stripped me of my Patriarch title, you think you can lecture me?"
"S-sorry, sir. We didn't mean to—"
"When have we Sarutobi ever tolerated such a blatant affront from outsiders?! Do you seriously expect us to just let an Uchiha get away with killing one of our own?! Yes, Jirō may have been in the wrong. But who gave Uchiha Chiyu the right to kill him on the spot, without trial, without the Hokage's judgment?
"Today he publicly executes Jirō. Tomorrow, the Uchiha clan could be riding roughshod over us. Are we supposed to roll over and take it?"
His words instantly ignited fury in many of the Sarutobi present.
"The Patriarch is right!"
"We've got to teach the Uchiha clan a lesson!"
"That's right. They must hand over that killer, or else we'll show them who the top family in Konoha really is!"
Righteous indignation flared on all sides. Though Nichio was no longer "officially" the Patriarch, his accumulated influence, loyal followers, and personal authority were all still formidable.
Now he assembled a group of thirty or so fervent Sarutobi loyalists and marched off toward the Uchiha compound in force. Nichio gripped his sword, playing over in his mind again and again the scene of his blade slicing into Uchiha Chiyu's neck.
"Jirō, just wait a little longer…
"Soon, Uchiha Chiyu will join you in the Pure Land!"