Malphegor
patreon
HSU: Ch. 01
🕑 Added 2024-10-29 16:11:39 +0000 UTCKonoha's main district unfolded like a fan, stretching 130 degrees along the eastern mountain range.
"At its heart stood the iconic Hokage Rock, which divided the village into southern, northern, and western sections. The Ninja Academy, hospital, and Hokage's office stood at its base.
In contrast, the Police Department was situated in the lively market street of the southern district, conveniently close to the prison in the southern mountains.
When Naruto was young, he could open his eyes each morning and immediately see the huge faces carved into the Hokage Rock. But for Masashi, his window provided a view of the police department building.
The Hokage Rock? Only its outline could be seen.
---
The warm morning sunlight on his face woke him up. He genuinely enjoyed the warmth and took a moment to appreciate the simple pleasure.
As someone who had been, well... not exactly dragged, but reincarnated twice into this world, he knew to cherish life's small joys. There was no need to get worked up all the time.
In his previous life, he had witnessed the patriarch grow into a legendary shinobi, fighting his best friend until he collapsed from exhaustion.
Later, during the Shinobi World War, Masashi had been thrown into the brutal conflict and had become one of its many casualties.
This time, though, he thought it would end sooner. Yesterday's events made him feel that way. The Hokage had just been replaced, and Namikaze Minato was now in charge.
He had a hunch that this might be his last chance. He didn't know why he'd been given a second, or even a third, life as an Uchiha.
At least the knowledge he'd accumulated in his previous life wasn't lost. He'd awakened his Sharingan at ten, reaching above-average clan standards. He'd even been called a genius at one point. Now, at seventeen, he had firmly reached the level of three-tomoe Sharingan.
While he couldn't compare to prodigies, he wasn't doing too bad either. After all, the Third Great Ninja War had just ended and the shinobi world was still rebuilding.
Dreaming of mastering the mysteries of the universe seemed out of reach, but striving for a higher perspective wasn't unreasonable.
After getting out of bed and taking a quick shower, Masashi tidied up, put on his police force uniform, and left for work.
There was no one at home, both his parents were still around, running a shop.
---
He walked through the clan's territory, the scenery was monotonous. The housing style in the Uchiha district was quite uniform, and even the clothing of the ninja displayed the clan's strong adherence to tradition.
Leaving the clan's land, passing through the commercial district, Masashi arrived at the police department. His gaze first fell on the prominent emblem atop the building.
At the center of the shuriken-shaped emblem was the Uchiha clan's symbol, signifying that the Uchiha and the police force were one and the same. This also represented the extent of the Uchiha's authority in the village.
Just as he was about to step through the door, he noticed one of his fellow officers escorting a suspect out, looking pretty annoyed.
"Masashi, early shift today?" the officer asked, his expression softening.
He nodded. "Yeah, I better get inside. Don't want to be late and lose pay."
The officer chuckled. "You're right. The Police Force pays well, but they're strict about punctuality. Anyway, have a good shift."
"Thanks, you too," Masashi replied, heading inside.
The police force's salary was decent, but the deductions were harsh. Of course, there were plenty of other perks on the job.
The Uchiha in the police force, from top to bottom, weren't shy about making money. They did it openly, but they weren't without principles.
When a crime occurred, no amount of money could protect the offenders. Everyone would be arrested, no exceptions. Those who deserved detainment were detained, and those who deserved prison were imprisoned.
Training and making money aren't shameful pursuits.
In this world, to walk the high road, one needed the bloodline of the Sage of Six Paths. The Uchihas were the purest bloodline still actively working as ninja.
Indra and Asura embodied the power they inherited from the Sage of Six Paths through the extremes of yin and Yang Release techniques.
But that didn't mean Indra was completely devoid of the Sage's physical energy.
All descendants of the Sage had the necessary qualities; the proportions just differed. Focusing on one's strengths was only natural.
The same held true for their descendants.
While the Uchiha were known for Yin Release, they could also have practiced Yang Release, though not with the same efficiency as honing the Sharingan. However, Masashi knew a few tricks that only he could fully appreciate.
If he'd had any doubts before, the battlefield had dispelled them. He was now firmly convinced that this was the right path.
After clocking in at the office, he received his patrol assignment for the day, to patrol a few streets in the west district.
Patrolling this area wasn't considered a desirable job. While it was a doable task for one person, the district was notorious for its maze-like streets and poor sanitation.
It was a rural area with forests, rivers, and lakes scattered all over.
The population there was primarily engaged in agriculture, with small-scale businesses dominating the commercial scene.
Despite being remote and commercially underdeveloped, the social organizations here had grown quite robust
Leaping across rooftops, Masashi gradually approached the west district.
Compared to the orderly south and north sections, the west district was a winding, uneven area. The part connecting it to the south and north formed an upside-down triangle. As it extended into the middle, buildings were sandwiched between large expanses of farmland and forest, densely packed together.
A large lake formed a curve in the center, and beyond this narrow stretch, the area opened up again, connecting with the city walls at the west gate.
When he was within his patrol range, Masashi landed on the street, ready to remain there for three hours. Once his shift was over and a colleague came to relieve him, he could return and log his completed task.
During this time, his job was simply to ensure his presence was visible, signaling to the residents that the police were maintaining order.
Even Konoha, as the largest autonomous city-state and free-trade zone in the Land of Fire, was not immune to the darker sides of society. Yet, at its core, it remained a military base, and its governance was straightforward.
Meanwhile, he decided to start his patrol with a bowl of ramen at the newly open shop. Nice flavors. Not bad.
As an hour flew by, Masashi got a bit bored and decided to treat himself to an ice pop. People bustled around him, going about their daily business.
The atmosphere around him was full of vitality, positive and wholesome. Occasionally, a suspicious glance flickered, only to disappear quickly into a dark alley.
But during the day in Konoha, there had been no darkness. If there had been any, the police would have snuffed it out.
After the second hour passed, Masashi bought a candied fruit stick. He appeared to be quite relaxed, and, truthfully, he was.
The patrol wasn't focused on ordinary citizens, after all.
After finishing the last fruit on the stick, he wiped his mouth and continued wandering the streets.
---
Masashi heard shouting up ahead as he patrolled the street. He jogged over to find two men yelling at each other.
"You ripped me off!" the first guy spat.
The second guy sneered. "Not my fault if you're too dumb"
"Whoa, break it up. What's the problem?" Masashi cut in, stepping between them.
The first guy pointed a finger at the other. "This guy sold me a fake antique! I paid a fortune for it, and it's worthless!"
Masashi turned to the second guy. "Is that true?"
The guy shrugged, looking pretty smug. "I never said it was real. He just assumed that."
Masashi sighed. "Scamming customers is illegal, no matter how you slice it. We're gonna have to settle this down at the station."
The seller's smirk vanished. He backed up, hands raised. "Hey, c'mon, no need to get the police involved."
Masashi shook his head. "No way. The law is the law."
He reached out to grab the guy's arm, but he bolted. He shoved past a couple of gawkers and tore down the sidewalk.
Masashi shook his head as the seller vanished around a corner. "Civilians," he muttered. "Always think they can outrun a shinobi." What should I eat tonight?
He blinked, then yawned. He shook off the daydream and jogged after the fleeing con man, more annoyed at the interrupted thoughts than the chase itself.
The guy zigzagged through the busy street, bowling over shoppers and tourists. Masashi burst after him, leaping over a fruit cart and sliding under a passing wagon. He closed the gap in seconds.
The guy looked over his shoulder, scared. He ducked into an alley and knocked some garbage cans down behind him.
Masashi skidded to a halt at the alley entrance. Hmm... that new ramen shop might be open late.
A half-eaten bowl of ramen tumbled from one of the trash cans, noodles spilling across the alley. The sight snapped him back to reality. He grimaced, thinking of the waste and his growling stomach.
"First, catch the perp," he muttered to himself. "Then, food."
He ran after the suspect. Even as he gained ground, part of his brain wandered to what he'd cook for dinner the next day.
As they approached a dead-end alley, the guy spun around. His hand dove into his jacket, pulling out a hidden knife. Desperation fueled his movements as he attacked Masashi.
Masashi's body reacted on instinct. He twisted sideways, the knife barely missed his ribs. The suspect stumbled, thrown off balance by the missed strike.
He reacted fast, catching the man's wrist. He used the momentum against attacker and shoved him into the alley wall. The thug gasped as he hit the bricks, his knife falling from his grip.
"Uchiha scum!" the man swore, struggling to break free. He swung a wild punch with his free hand.
Masashi grabbed the punch and smacked the guy's face. The man staggered backward, hand on his stinging cheek.
"The hell?!" he sputtered, glaring at Masashi. "You can't just slap me! That's police brutality!"
Masashi looked at him innocently. "Oh, I wasn't slapping you. There was this huge fly buzzing around your head. I was just trying to get it."
"Liar!" the man snarled. "There's no fly! You're just abusing your power!"
Masashi shrugged, still pinning the man to the wall. "I swear, it was right there. Nasty thing, too. Probably attracted to all that energy you're giving off."
With his free hand, Masashi produced a crushed fly, its legs sticking out at awkward angles.
The suspect's jaw dropped. "You... but... how...?"
"See?" Masashi grinned. "Told you it was a big one. Must've been a real nuisance, buzzing around your head like that."
The suspect thrashed against his iron grip. "Damn Uchihas!" he snarled. "You think you're above the law? With your fancy eyes and your Police Force badge. You're nothing but a bunch of power-hungry thugs!"
Masashi twisted the man's arm further behind his back, forcing him to his knees. The move was precise, painful but not damaging.
As the genjutsu faded unnoticed, he smiled. Sometimes I love these little tricks. Wonder if someone would buy a frog next time?
"You're under arrest. Fraud and assaulting an officer," he said, clicking the handcuffs shut. "And watch your mouth. It'll only get you in deeper trouble."
As they walked to the station, the man ranted ceaselessly. "You Uchihas think you own this village, but you're just a bunch of arrogant jerks! One day, someone will put you in your place!"
Masashi tuned it out, his mind drifting back to food. His silence earned a confused look from the captive.
At the station, he quickly handed off the suspect and filed his report. The rest of his shift passed quietly. When his shift ended, he left a shadow clone behind for the shift change and quickly returned to base.
