Shisui signed his name on the resignation letter with a complex mix of emotions, then handed it to Kakashi, who was wearing a mask.
Of course, leaving the Anbu wasn't something one could just decide on their own.
The full name of the Anbu was the "Assassination Tactics Special Force."
During the Second Hokage's reign, it was a notorious assassination unit in the ninja world. Back then, there was no leaving the Anbu; the only way out was to die in battle, and even in death, members would remain nameless, without recognition on any memorial.
However, that fearsome assassination unit is now part of history.
Today, under the Third Hokage's leadership, the Anbu has grown more than tenfold compared to the past, yet it has lost much of its original purity. The rules have loosened, and what was once impossible—leaving the Anbu—has now become feasible. In pursuit of support from various clans, the Third Hokage had, on several occasions, allowed clan members who regretted joining or couldn't adapt to leave.
"My resignation probably won't be approved so easily."
Shisui, watching Kakashi's figure fade into the distance, expressed his concerns.
"You don't need to worry about that. As clan leader, that's my problem to handle. As for you, Shisui… I've got a task for you. I need your help in establishing a new department within the police force," Uchiha Sougen replied, shifting the conversation.
When it came to political scheming, Sougen knew his limits—it wasn't his strong suit.
Fortunately, he understood one principle:
A good strategist doesn't use their weakness to attack strength; instead, they leverage their own strengths to overcome others' weaknesses.
Sougen wasn't skilled in playing mind games. His strength lay in his sword, in his ability to kill, not in outsmarting others. In fact, the Uchiha clan as a whole was notoriously bad at political maneuvering. Very few among them were skilled in it, and their so-called geniuses had been misled by the foolish "Will of Fire," ultimately leading to their own downfall at the hands of their own people.
Force—this was the Uchiha clan's true strength.
Rather than wasting time in scheming against the old guard, it would be better to openly display their readiness for battle and their ability to be a real threat. Peace is achieved through strength, not by begging for it on your knees.
"A new department?"
Shisui was utterly confused by the sudden shift in the conversation.
By this time, the clan members on the rooftop had already dispersed. After dismissing Kakashi, Sougen continued the unfinished speech, briefly announcing a few things. He officially placed his own allies into key positions within the police force.
For example, Uchiha Lanshan and Uchiha Qiutailang were both inserted into the patrol squads led by Uchiha Minei and Uchiha Hachidai, serving as their deputies.
Uchiha Chun, who was even prettier than most girls his age, was assigned to the finance department. He had the most meticulous mind among the group, surpassing even the girls, Uchiha Chisao and Uchiha Shuangye.
As for Uchiha Chisao, Uchiha Shuangye, and Uchiha Beidou... they were all shoved into the secretariat to serve as Sougen's personal assistants.
These three were known for causing trouble whenever they weren't in combat.
To avoid spending every day cleaning up after them, Sougen decided it was best to keep them close and supervise them directly.
Once his friends were temporarily settled, Sougen announced the end of the impromptu meeting. The remaining clan members returned to their duties, and Uchiha Lanshan and the others immediately began to adapt to their new roles.
Even former clan leader Uchiha Fugaku quietly left the police department.
This place no longer belonged to him.
In the end, only Sougen, Shisui, and Sougen's three new secretaries remained on the rooftop. The reason for staying was to resolve Shisui's employment issue. Now that Shisui had submitted his resignation, he needed a new job.
A job that would make Shisui feel more valuable than staying in the Anbu.
To be honest, there weren't many roles in the police department that could meet Shisui's needs. The department didn't have many open positions to offer. Even the placements of Uchiha Lanshan and the others had been forced by Sougen, causing the patrol squads to exceed their capacity.
But Sougen had other plans.
And that was—
To establish a new department.
"A new department? Sougen, what are you planning?" Shisui asked, frowning in confusion. He couldn't keep up with his friend's imaginative thinking.
Sougen walked to the edge of the rooftop, resting his elbows on the railing, and gazed out at the village bathed in moonlight. "Shisui, do you know? Since the Second Hokage established the police department and entrusted it to the Uchiha clan, in the past few decades, the village's administrative and education departments have undergone several reforms. Even the youngest department, the medical division, has continually evolved. But the police department… has remained the same."
"So, I plan to reform this clunky, chaotic police department, and create a modernized force that can keep up with the times."
"In simple terms, I want to expand the police department's authority."
Hearing this, Shisui frowned deeply. He thought Sougen's idea was completely unrealistic. Even he knew that the village would never allow the police department to grow stronger. Otherwise, it wouldn't have stayed unchanged for decades.
"I know this sounds like a pipe dream," Sougen continued before Shisui could object. "But… it's not entirely hopeless. Shisui, have you ever learned about the original authority granted to the police department by the Second Hokage?"
Shisui shook his head in confusion.
So did Uchiha Chisao and the other two, who were also listening intently.
"The original document is complicated, so I'll summarize it. The police department is responsible for maintaining internal security and stability in the village. It has the authority to draft village laws, arrest criminals, guard those in custody, and mobilize forces during times of war… That's the gist of it."
The official document signed by the Second Hokage was still stored in the police department's archives. Sougen was the first person in twenty years to review it, and fortunately, the archives had been well-maintained, preserving these old documents.
Shisui was still confused, unsure of what Sougen was getting at.
It wasn't just him; Uchiha Chisao and the others were equally perplexed, looking completely bewildered.
(End of chapter)