Chapter 106: The Reason for the Obstruction
Faced with Sakurai Hideaki's blatant threat, the physiognomist's heart first tightened, but then he recalled the arrangements made by those important figures before leaving the Fire Capital, and couldn't help thinking:
[These people look like ninjas based on their attire. They probably wouldn't dare do anything to me inside the village. But if I fail to accomplish the task assigned by the nobles in the Fire Capital, I'll be in deep trouble.]
Thus, the physiognomist took a deep breath and said, "I see no need for that. Please leave."
It could only be said that this physiognomist hadn't been in Konoha Village long enough. If he had inquired even slightly about the Security Department's reputation, he wouldn't have had such thoughts.
Sure enough, after being refused, Sakurai Hideaki flew into a rage, stepping forward directly and grabbing the other man's collar.
"Damn it! Take another good look for me! How dare you say his physiognomy is bad?"
Sakurai Hideaki's sudden outburst terrified the physiognomist, who quickly stammered, "Face reading is face reading, don't hit people!"
"Men! Take him away!" Sakurai Hideaki snorted coldly. The Security Department members behind him stepped forward, gripping the physiognomist's arms from both sides, and dragged him out of the shop amidst his terrified cries.
Sakurai Hideaki, meanwhile, carefully put away the photo of Uchiha Douhuan from the table, storing it properly before getting up to follow.
Similar scenes unfolded in various corners of the village. This group of clergy members who had come from the Fire Capital were all arrested by the Security Department and thrown into the new prison by the Naka River in less than an hour.
Inside a small interrogation room, this group of clergy members from the Fire Capital all sat huddled against the wall, trembling. Among them were priests, shrine maidens, and various other roles identifiable by their attire. If someone unaware of the situation walked in, they might assume it was the site of some theological exchange seminar.
The interrogation room door opened, and Uchiha Zaito walked in, followed by Sakurai Hideaki and Fujiwara Youki.
Seeing these figures, the hearts of the charlatans sank violently.
Uchiha Zaito swaggered over and sat on the interrogation room table, giving the other two a meaningful look.
Seeing this, Sakurai Hideaki once again approached the physiognomist he had brought back, holding the photo.
"Take another good look for me. This lord's physiognomy, can he become Hokage?"
Perhaps holding onto the fluke belief that ninjas couldn't harm ordinary people, or perhaps because he truly was a battle-hardened warrior of superstition, the physiognomist looked up at the photo, gritted his teeth, and said, "I've looked many times. Still no good."
"Courting death!" Sakurai Hideaki delivered a forceful slap that sent the physiognomist sprawling to the ground, followed by a barrage of punches and kicks.
The scene in the interrogation room instantly descended into chaos, filled with piercing screams and cries.
...
Before long, the group of clergy members were all kneeling obediently by the wall.
At this point, Sakurai Hideaki again approached the man with the photo: "Now then, what do you say?"
"I... I've looked very carefully. This lord can definitely become Hokage." After receiving a beating, this old charlatan finally understood the principle that 'power confers legitimacy' and answered honestly.
"You fellow, how come you say different things every other day? Is your face reading accurate or not?" Sakurai Hideaki lightly patted the man's cheek and asked.
The physiognomist, trembling with fear and terrified of receiving another round of the "Naka River Osteopathy Treatment," hurriedly added, "This one's physiognomy is that of a dragon among men! Destined to be superior from birth!"
Hearing this, Sakurai Hideaki finally nodded with satisfaction, then turned to a nearby shrine maiden.
"Hey, what do you think?"
This shrine maiden was already shaking uncontrollably. Being singled out by Sakurai Hideaki, she stared at the photo for a couple of seconds and quickly said, "This one's physiognomy is truly like a god descended to earth! He can definitely become Hokage."
"Really?"
"Of course, I swear upon the deity I worship," the shrine maiden hurriedly assured.
Sakurai Hideaki and Fujiwara Youki questioned several others one by one, receiving satisfactory answers from all.
Only then did Uchiha Zaito, who had been sitting on the table the whole time, speak up: "Very good. Read faces properly from now on, understand?"
"Understood..."
"Okay..."
"Got it..."
The crowd hurriedly responded.
"Why so quiet, haven't you eaten? Did you hear me or not?" Fujiwara Youki roared at them.
"Yes! We understand!" the numerous charlatans quickly replied loudly.
...
After that day, the rumors within the village changed. Under the watchful eye of the Security Department, this group of physiognomists began promoting the idea that Uchiha Douhuan was the most suitable candidate for the Fifth Hokage. Simultaneously, the Security Department also released the news that Uchiha Douhuan was about to take office as the Fifth Hokage.
However, the troublesome villagers discussed this matter vigorously.
"Have you heard? The Security Department Captain is going to be Hokage."
"Really?"
"My neighbor Mrs. Hanyu's cousin's second uncle is a Chuunin in the village. The news he told me should be true, right?"
"Those guys from the Security Department are already so unreasonable now. If their captain becomes Hokage, wouldn't things get even worse? No way, I absolutely don't agree with this!"
"What use is your disagreement? You're not even a ninja!"
"Worst case, we all go petition at the Hokage Building! I heard that this Security Department Captain was the one who ordered the curfew and beatings last time."
"What, that happened too?"
"No, we must stop them!"
"But... the Security Department really does beat people up!"
"Hmph, I refuse to believe it! If all of us villagers unite, would their Security Department dare to lay hands on all of us?"
"That's right! We can't let the Security Department act so arrogantly anymore!"
...
Setting aside the villagers' discussions, Kakashi, who had gone to the Fire Capital to investigate, sent back a secret letter via Pakkun two days later.
It turned out that these officials and nobles who opposed Uchiha Douhuan becoming Hokage were all closely connected to the Utatane and Mitokado ninja clans. These two clans used to send them a total of several hundred million Ryo annually in exchange for certain conveniences on the official front.
However, after the two clans were dealt with by Uchiha Douhuan, this funding chain was naturally broken. Now that Uchiha Douhuan wanted to become Hokage, these individuals naturally jumped out to obstruct him.
"Interesting." Uchiha Douhuan sneered as he burned the secret letter Kakashi had sent back. Then he looked at Pakkun, who was currently devouring the Security Department's K-9 unit rations in the office, and asked, "Slow down, no one's going to steal it from you."
"Your Security Department's rations are really too good. I'm tempted to bring my seven brothers here to become police dogs," Pakkun said while eating.
"Come if you want." Uchiha Douhuan chuckled. "After I become Hokage, Brother Fu will be transferred elsewhere, and his Inkumaru will go with him. I'll reserve the K-9 Unit Chief position for you then."
"It's a deal then!" Pakkun said. "By the way, is there anything you want me to relay back to Kakashi?"
"Just go back and tell Kakashi to handle it as he sees fit. Whatever is acquired, use the same distribution ratio as last time," Uchiha Douhuan said.
"I understand." Pakkun nodded, finished the food in his bowl, and then trotted happily out of Uchiha Douhuan's office.
...
That night, Kakashi led a team to kidnap the officials and nobles who had petitioned against Uchiha Douhuan becoming the Fifth Hokage, along with their families, and brought them all to a cave on the outskirts of the Fire Capital.
Although the guards of these nobles and officials were quite skilled among samurai, they were still no match for the elite Uchiha members Kakashi brought.
A bonfire burned in the cave. Kakashi unhurriedly added firewood to it.
Soon, the first one brought over, the Land of Fire's Minister of Construction, Kikuchi Tomoyasu, slowly regained consciousness.
However, he quickly realized his current situation seemed rather unfavorable. His hands and feet were bound, rendering him immobile, and some of his colleagues nearby were in the same predicament.
"Who are you? How dare you kidnap officials of the Land of Fire! Aren't you afraid the ninjas of the Hidden Leaf Village will flatten your mountain stronghold?" Kikuchi Tomoyasu questioned Kakashi's back.
"Ninjas of the Hidden Leaf Village?" Kakashi turned around, looking at the man with a half-smile.
When Kikuchi Tomoyasu saw the headband on Kakashi's forehead, his pupils instantly constricted.
"Who are you? A rogue ninja from Konoha?" Kikuchi Tomoyasu asked.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Hatake Kakashi, Captain of the Konoha Hidden Village Security Department's Naka River Special Detachment," Kakashi said, taking out a kunai and scraping its edge with his finger to test its sharpness.
"A ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village?" Kikuchi Tomoyasu stared at Kakashi in disbelief. After a moment, he exclaimed, "Do you lowly ninjas even know what you're doing? Attacking us, are you trying to defect from the village?"
"It seems our Minister of Construction hasn't grasped his current situation yet. Inahi, help our Minister clear his head," Kakashi finished speaking. Uchiha Inahi, who was guarding outside the cave, walked in and revealed his Sharingan.
"Sharingan? You are from the Uchiha clan?" Kikuchi Tomoyasu cried out in horror. However, the next moment, under the influence of the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique activated by the Sharingan, he saw the thing he feared most in his life.
Soon, the others in the cave also gradually regained consciousness. Kakashi, adhering to the principle of treating everyone equally, had Uchiha Inahi deliver a Narakumi no Jutsu to each one as they woke up.
Screams immediately filled the cave one after another. Kakashi nodded with satisfaction at the sight and said to Uchiha Inahi, "Well done, Inahi."
"Hehe, you praise me too much, Lord Kakashi," Uchiha Inahi chuckled.
"Don't say that. You're much more reliable in this aspect than your clan head. Last time I went out with him, he, a genius of the Uchiha clan, actually needed me to use genjutsu," Kakashi chuckled.
Uchiha Inahi's mouth twitched. The fact that their clan head had failed every genjutsu course in the clan since childhood wasn't exactly a secret within the clan, but while Kakashi could say it, he didn't dare to chime in.
(End of Chapter)
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