Uchiha's personal opinion

"In these turbulent times, our clan may perish..."

While forcing a smile and communicating with the Uchiha Jonin in the work group, the Hyuga clan leader felt a mix of emotions as he watched the branch clan members being directed around the bush with obvious enjoyment.

It would be hard for anyone to feel bad if the branch family ninjas were to become estranged from him, the head of the main family.

The Hyuga clan head had considered resistance or reforming the family traditions, but the thought of the branch family ninjas serving in the shogunate gave him a headache, so he could only secretly strengthen his control over his clansmen.

The reason why branch family ninjas were transferred to the intelligence department was out of necessity. The main Hyuga family only had a few members, and after removing the elders from the council, the main family simply didn't have the manpower to control the huge intelligence department, so they had no choice but to use members of the branch family.

As for the branch families... it seems they no longer have any intention of competing with the Uchiha clan; their only thought is to perform well so they can be noticed by the police or the Ministry of Internal Affairs and be recruited.

"Sir, there are a total of seventy-nine suspected ninjas. The list is here..."

A branch family ninja stepped forward to report.

The Hyuga clan chief glanced at it casually, noticing that the surnames did not include Hyuga, Inuzuka, Aburame, or other ninja clans, and then handed it to the Uchiha Jonin in the work group.

"Transfer them to the police department for arrest and prosecution!"

The Uchiha Jonin in the task force glanced at the list and confirmed that the names on it matched his hints. Moreover, the chain of evidence was quite complete and seemed plausible at first glance. He then summoned a police ninja and instructed him to send the list to the police headquarters for arrest.

Immediately afterwards, the Uchiha Jonin pulled out another document in a different tactic and handed it directly to the Hyuga clan head without saying a word.

"This……"

The Hyuga clan leader reluctantly opened the package, only to find it contained information about Konoha ninja personnel who had just been identified and were preparing to make arrests…

He roughly calculated that there were more than 1,200 people this time... including not only ninjas, but also many ordinary people who were listed as "public opinion promoters".

"Your Excellency, could you please have these people help out a bit more? Could you ask the Hyuga brothers to work overtime and supplement some more data..."

The Uchiha Jonin spoke in a very humble tone, but his words were chilling: "Of course, if you feel it is necessary, you can cross out fifty names from this list."

"...What exactly are you planning to do?"

After a moment of silence, the Hyuga clan leader asked in a low voice.

But he wasn't idle either. He casually crossed out the names of about ten people and then handed them over to his branch family ninjas to fabricate various chains of evidence.

Since the Uchiha clan had given him face by offering to provide a list of fifty people, he couldn't simply refuse, or he'd be seen as harboring resentment; nor could he actually cross out all fifty names, or he'd be accused of intentionally protecting someone. So, casually crossing out ten or so names was just right.

"Lord Deguang said that this time, the correction must be thorough."

The Uchiha Jonin said very politely, "Of course, as everyone knows, the Hyuga clan is the most loyal clan among the Konoha ninja, so they will absolutely not be involved."

The Hyuga clan leader closed his eyes and stopped speaking.

He seemed to sense that a patch of blood was beginning to spread within the darkness before him.

And he was an accomplice in stirring up this bloody storm...

……

Uchiha Tokumitsu has always been portrayed as arrogant and shrewd in Konoha, which is quite different from the stereotypical image of Uchiha ninjas who are quick to anger.

However, just when everyone thought that Uchiha Tokumitsu would resolve the House of Representatives crisis through political means, the purge storm launched by the three Konoha departments surprised everyone.

"In a single day, the police and internal affairs departments took away more than a thousand people..."

Inside Orochimaru's residence, Orochimaru and Jiraiya sat facing each other, their expressions unusually complex.

The list shows that this purge launched by Uchiha Tokumitsu was not only aimed at suppressing the "ninja village faction" led by Mimura Yoru, but also extended to all potential opponents.

"The Hyuga clan is actually colluding with those brats from the Uchiha clan..."

Jiraiya said through gritted teeth.

Although the various arrest operations have not yet involved several of the former Third Hokage's students, Orochimaru and Jiraiya have had many subordinates taken away on suspicion of "potential treason."

The two were powerless to do anything about it.

Resisting is suicide.

Uchiha Tokumitsu not only recalled a portion of the Uchiha ninja army, but also brought the Three-Tails Jinchuriki back to the village. With the Uchiha clan's absolute military advantage and the deterrent effect of the tailed beast weapons, no one dared to make any rash moves.

If they don't resist, the police and internal affairs ninjas who openly break down doors and arrest people in broad daylight have already caused widespread panic throughout Konoha.

In such circumstances, no one knows whether they have made a mistake, let alone whether they have been implicated.

"Mr. Sakumo has not yet made a statement..."

Seeing that Orochimaru remained silent, Jiraiya muttered to himself, "Could it be that the two of them teamed up to do this again?"

"By the way, will what we said when we went to visit him together that night be used against us?"

Immediately, Jiraiya's expression changed again.

"...Try to go to the women's bathhouse less often these days!"

Orochimaru finally spoke, "Otherwise, if you get caught, no one can get you out!"

"Hey, hey, hey! I'm talking about the mess those bastards in the police department are making!"

Jiraiya immediately retorted indignantly, "Besides! That's art! Art, you know!"

"...Do you think those people in the police department consider your actions art or a crime?"

Orochimaru snorted coldly, "Besides, Mr. Sakumo..."

Suddenly, a knocking sound came from the back door of Orochimaru's mansion, interrupting his words.

"...They're from the police department."

Orochimaru focused his senses for a moment and then said this.

"They're not here to arrest me, are they?!"

Jiraiya's expression immediately changed.

"...I don't know, I'll go check first."

Orochimaru stood up with a serious expression, preparing to go out and guard the door, and casually put a scroll on the table into his sleeve.

"Hello, may I ask if this is Ethan's Jonin residence... Oh, it's Orochimaru, the Jonin."

A somewhat unfamiliar Uchiha ninja said with some surprise.

“Ethan’s residence is next door. This is my back door, so there’s no house number.”

Orochimaru loosened his grip on the scroll in his sleeve and pointed to the door next door.

"Okay, thank you for your support of the police department's work, Jonin Orochimaru. I wish you a pleasant life... Please forgive me if I have bothered you."

The Uchiha ninja glanced at the family division map in his hand and spoke politely.

Then, with a wave of his hand, the police ninjas surrounded the house next door, and the leader of the Uchiha ninjas stepped forward again and politely began to knock on the door.

"call……"

Orochimaru returned to the room with a normal expression, and Jiraiya, who had been listening intently to the sounds outside, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"You'd better stay here obediently for the next few days, otherwise even Tsunade won't be able to save you if something happens..."

Orochimaru put the scroll from his sleeve back on the table and lowered his head to drink a cup of tea.

His back also felt slightly damp.

……

After getting off work, the Hyuga clan leader walked home somewhat absentmindedly.

After the police department began a large-scale crackdown on dissidents in Konoha, the streets of Konoha became visibly desolate.

Especially the shops controlled by various ninja clans, although they were still open for business, were deserted. Pedestrians avoided them like the plague, and even the staff sitting inside the shops looked fearful, glancing left and right as if afraid that a group of police ninjas would suddenly take them away.

"Hello, do you work for the Police Department or the Internal Affairs Department?"

The Hyuga clan leader suddenly overheard a conversation taking place in front of a fruit stand not far away.

"No."

"Okay, do any of your family members or immediate family members work in the police force or the Ministry of the Interior?"

No.

Do you have any friends who work in the police department or the Ministry of the Interior?

No, not at all.

"Okay, the fruit I just bought wasn't enough. Please refund me immediately, or I'll report you to the police!"

Upon hearing this, the Hyuga clan leader couldn't help but chuckle.

The two people who were just talking glanced to the side and saw that it was a ninja from the Hyuga clan. Their expressions changed drastically, and they fell silent as if terrified.

Upon seeing this, the Hyuga clan leader shook his head and quickened his pace to leave.

The entire village of Konoha was in such a state of panic!

……

On the third day of the curfew and the purge, the horror within Konoha reached its peak after the police department officially announced the execution of a conservative Uchiha ninja who "attempted to overthrow the village."

They even killed their own people, let alone outsiders like them!

Chapter 288 The Great Purge

Starting with the execution of the conservative Uchiha ninjas following the implementation of the 1/10 kill order, Uchiha Tokumitsu officially launched the Great Purge in Konoha.

With the blood of his clansmen on his hands, Uchiha Tokumitsu showed no mercy and immediately ordered a "simplified approval" process for those arrested.

In an instant, bloodshed permeated Konoha. More than 300 people were sentenced to death in the first batch alone, including two of Mimura Yozaki's old subordinates.

Three hundred or so people isn't a lot on the battlefield, but this time it's in a village.

Moreover, they were all from the same village, many of whom were related to them, especially those arrested by the police and the Ministry of the Interior, numbering over 1,300...

This time, Sakumo Hatake could no longer sit still, and even Orochimaru was terrified.

This is openly wielding a butcher's knife in the middle of the village...

Uchiha Tokumitsu's ruthlessness, which led him to abandon all pretense of civility, immediately shocked Konoha. Hatake Sakumo wanted to personally come to plead for mercy, but the Uchiha ninjas stationed at the clan's territory refused to visit him.

Hatake Sakumo was taken aback; this was the first time Uchiha Tokumitsu had refused to see him.

This also shows that Uchiha Tokumitsu is no longer willing to compromise this time.