The police force took the three Shimura cn elders and two other cnsmen they had just captured and returned along the same route they came.

  The five arrested Shimura cn members were all high-ranking figures; otherwise, they wouldn’t have been responsible for liaising with Danzo. However, under Makoto’s special arrangement, the escort team deliberately passed through the most prosperous commercial district of the vilge.

  Soon, news that Makoto had personally led the capture of several Shimura cn members spread throughout Konoha.

  Upon returning to the police force headquarters, Makoto immediately ordered the captured individuals to be interrogated. The security team’s most skilled members, upon hearing that their targets were Shimura cn members, were visibly excited. It seemed that the night would be long and unforgiving for the detainees.

  Makoto, however, had no illusions about extracting confessions. The Shimura cn, especially those closely aligned with Danzo, were known for their unwavering loyalty. Even if faced with death, they would not betray him.

  But Makoto wasn’t seeking their confessions—his goal was to make an example. The chicken had been sughtered; now, it was time to confront the monkey.

  ...

  Makoto remained in his office until evening. When the time was right, he changed his clothes and left, walking alone through the vilge.

  By then, the bustling commercial district had begun to quiet down. Shops were closing, and the flow of people had significantly lessened.

  At the entrance of the Yamanaka flower shop, a little blonde girl was huffing and puffing as she moved flower pots inside. Though she still had some baby fat on her face, it was clear that she would grow into a beauty. For now, she was simply adorable.

  Makoto approached the flower shop, and the girl, noticing him, turned and spoke sweetly, "Big brother, we’re closed."

  "It seems I’m te," Makoto said with a gentle smile. "But, young boss, could you make an exception? I’d like to buy some flowers to commemorate my people."

  Upon having a closer look at his face, the girl’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Sure! If it’s for commemoration, how about cornflowers? They symbolize remembrance. I’ll get some fresh ones from the refrigerator."

  "Then I’ll leave it to you," Makoto nodded.

  At that moment, a tall man stepped out of the shop.

  "Ino, go inside. I’ll take care of our guest," Yamanaka Inoichi said as he emerged.

  "Eh?" Ino hesitated, gncing between her father and Makoto before reluctantly obeying and heading upstairs.

  Once she was gone, Inoichi turned his gaze to Makoto. "Uchiha Cn Leader, what brings you to our humble shop so te at night? Surely not just for a few bouquets of flowers?"

  "Of course, you’ve heard about the Sharingan that was recovered from Danzo st night," Makoto replied. "Though identifying their original owners is difficult, the cn must still hold a proper funeral."

  "My condolences," Inoichi said sincerely. He retrieved a few bunches of cornflowers from the refrigerator, carefully wrapping them before handing them over. "These flowers represent the Yamanaka cn’s respect for the Uchiha heroes."

  "Thank you for your generosity," Makoto said as he accepted them.

  Then, with a casual tone, he added, "That little girl—she’s your daughter, isn’t she? She’s adorable. I hear she’s quite fond of Fugaku’s second son."

  Inoichi’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he maintained his composure. "It’s just childish py."

  "Childhood sweethearts—a beautiful concept," Makoto mused. "Why not solidify our two cns' friendship with an arranged marriage? What do you think, Inoichi-dono?"

  "The children are too young," Inoichi declined without hesitation. "Perhaps we can revisit the idea when they’re older."

  Makoto chuckled, unfazed by the rejection. The Ino-Shika-Chō cns had always been staunch supporters of the Hokage faction; it was only natural that they would be wary of entangling themselves with the Uchiha’s affairs.

  "That’s fair," he conceded with a nod. Then, with a thoughtful tone, he added, "The Yamanaka cn is known for its wisdom and insight. Inoichi-dono, it must be quite the challenge leading such a distinguished cn."

  Inoichi smiled politely. "Every cn has its responsibilities. We do our best to uphold tradition while adapting to the vilge’s needs. The Uchiha, despite the hardships they’ve faced, have always been a pilr of strength. That is admirable."

  "Strength and wisdom must go hand in hand," Makoto replied. "But even the best cns are not without their difficulties."

  Inoichi’s expression didn’t change, but his gaze sharpened slightly. "What are you implying?"

  "We captured a die-hard Root operative today—a Yamanaka cn member," Makoto said. "This puts me in a difficult position. We both serve under the Hokage, and any rift between our cns would be unfortunate."

  "Was it Fū?" Inoichi’s expression remained neutral, but his eyes flickered. "That man abandoned the cn’s honor when he joined Root. Do what you must, Makoto-dono. If necessary, I will clean up the mess myself."

  Makoto nodded slightly. "So he has forsaken his roots… No wonder he’s willing to make false accusations."

  "Accusations?" Inoichi frowned.

  "Yes. He cimed that during his time in Root, he funneled up to 140 million ryō to the Yamanaka cn," Makoto said, watching Inoichi closely. "Naturally, I don’t doubt the integrity of the Yamanaka cn. But upon reviewing Root’s financial records, we did find over 100 million ryō in unaccounted funds. To avoid unnecessary specution, I’d appreciate it if you could visit the police force headquarters at your convenience. After all, such a rge discrepancy is difficult to expin to the Hokage."

  Inoichi’s expression remained unreadable, but after a moment, he nodded. "I understand. I will come by tomorrow."

  Makoto smiled and lifted the bouquet slightly. "Then I won’t keep you from your family any longer. On behalf of the fallen Uchiha, once again, I thank you for your generosity."

  With that, he turned and walked into the night, the scent of cornflowers lingering in the cool evening air.