Promotion
The commotion in the Uchiha courtyard roused Uchiha Fugaku from sleep. He closed his eyes, focused, and listened. A grim report filtered in through hurried whispers: another Konoha Elder had been found dead in his residence.
Two Uchiha Clan members on night patrol were also killed—throats slit cleanly and without struggle.
Footsteps echoed and faded as clan members scrambled around the compound, trying to secure the area and restore order.
Fugaku's mind turned cold. The assassination of Konoha's Elders during such a politically sensitive period, with the Land of Rain becoming a growing concern, was no coincidence. It was clear to him—this chaos was part of a larger plan. The high command of Konoha was using the mounting external threat to consolidate internal control. And with each Elder's death, the council's collective influence dwindled.
He also understood the dangerous implication: the weakening of the Elder Council would accelerate the marginalization of the Uchiha. The clan's autonomy within the Military Police was already eroding.
If things continued this way, the Uchiha Clan would stand exposed—scapegoats once again.
He dressed swiftly and made his way to the gathering hall in the heart of the Uchiha compound. Two black body bags lay open on the stone floor. The pallor of death washed over the faces of the slain Uchiha.
Fugaku immediately recognized one of them—Uchiha Senmu, a mid-ranked member of the Police Force who had awakened a two-tomoe Sharingan. His abilities weren't exceptional, but his loyalty was.
Konoha officials stood nearby, tight-lipped, their expressions unreadable. The families of the fallen wept nearby.
Two children caught Fugaku's eye—the sons of one of the dead. One boy looked about seven, the other five. Both clung to their mother, their sobs wracking their tiny frames. Fugaku paused. He could sense a latent chakra disturbance around them—flickers of potential. Under emotional stress, the Sharingan might awaken.
"Fugaku," his father, Uchiha Tenjo, called as he approached. "We're heading to the Intelligence Division. They're holding Elder Yamamoto's body. Come with me."
Fugaku nodded silently.
Inside one of the morgues in Konoha's Intelligence Division, a headless corpse lay on a slab, shrouded in a white cloth. Several Uchiha peeled it back, examining the clean slice across the neck. Whoever had killed the Elder was a professional.
"No signs of a struggle," one said. "Likely someone he trusted."
Uchiha Tenjo pulled Fugaku aside.
"What do you make of this?"
Fugaku frowned. "The head's missing. It's likely Elder Yamamoto recognized the killer. Whoever did this wanted to prevent any post-mortem memory analysis. Same pattern as Elder Yamada's case. Could be the same operative."
Tenjo's jaw tightened. "Two Elders gone… It's clear they'll stop at nothing. I wonder how many more they'll eliminate before they're done."
Fugaku shook his head. "Probably no more. The damage is done. Another Elder's death would only destabilize the village further and backfire politically. They've achieved their aim—fear and silence."
Tenjo gave a grave nod. "At noon, I'll report this to Hokage-sama. We'll officially attribute the killings to infiltrators from the Wind, Rain, or Earth Countries. But inside the clan, we must act cautiously. We've become pawns in this game."
"We should expand patrol coverage," Fugaku advised. "If we can project the image that the assassinations have ceased because of the Uchiha, we might restore some of the clan's standing."
"Agreed. We'll double night shifts and increase our patrol presence outside key civilian districts."
Over the next seven days, peace returned to Konoha—no new assassinations, no public unrest. A rumor spread that the Uchiha Clan had mobilized its forces around the village. For once, the Military Police weren't being blamed; they were being praised.
Konoha's civilians whispered cautiously about spies from the Hidden Rain, perhaps Hanzo's agents, or sleeper cells from Iwagakure. Any suspicion directed at the Uchiha vanished under layers of speculation and careful narrative control from the village's intelligence operatives.
Watching the manipulation unfold, Fugaku felt a grim sense of déjà vu. Years later, he knew, Hatake Sakumo—the White Fang of Konoha—would also fall victim to public pressure orchestrated by the very same forces.
Still, the fallout of the Elder assassinations brought a small silver lining: the Police Force's reputation improved. Fugaku used the brief lull to focus on genjutsu, the only shinobi art he could sharpen meaningfully in such a short time. Sharingan-based illusions were not only powerful—they were often his best defense in unpredictable combat.
That evening, in Tenjo's study, father and son sat in dim candlelight.
"The situation in the Land of Rain is escalating," Tenjo said, sliding a mission file across the desk. "The Third Shinobi World War could erupt any day now. Tomorrow, you are to report to Hokage-sama. Your promotion to Jōnin has been approved."
Fugaku nodded. He had expected this. The real question was—under whose command would he serve?
"You may be deployed to the front lines," Tenjo continued. "Many formidable enemies are gathering—Shinobi from Iwa, Suna, and Rain. Don't be reckless. Even the strongest can fall in war."
"I'll be cautious," Fugaku replied.
---
The next morning, Fugaku arrived at the Hokage's Office. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat alone, pipe in hand, the scent of tobacco thick in the air.
"Uchiha Fugaku, reporting in."
"You did well on your recent assignment," Sarutobi said. "With the verification of intelligence from Sunagakure, I hereby grant you promotion to Jōnin."
Fugaku bowed. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Sarutobi's tone darkened. "Two of our village Elders are dead. The perpetrators appear to be from enemy territory—likely Rain, Wind, or Earth. Konoha's image has suffered. We must remind the world of our strength."
He handed Fugaku a mission scroll, marked with the S-rank seal.
"A Vanguard Unit has been formed. You are to join under the command of Hatake Sakumo."
Fugaku's eyes briefly widened. He had expected to be placed under one of the Sannin—perhaps Orochimaru, known to take promising Uchiha under his command. But the White Fang… he was legendary, powerful, and infamous for his unorthodox decisions.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
As he stepped out of the office, Fugaku opened the scroll. The rendezvous was scheduled for the next morning, in a forest clearing just outside the North Gate of Konoha. At the bottom of the scroll was Sarutobi Hiruzen's personal signature and wax seal—proof of official sanction.
Fugaku tightened his grip on the scroll. War was at Konoha's doorstep. And now, he would be at the tip of its spear.