Three days had passed since the graduation exams, and Masaki had spent that time resting and recovering. He took a moment to retrieve his new forehead protector, a symbol of his status as a full-fledged ninja.

“Baa-san, I’m heading out!” he called out as he prepared to leave.

Today, he was scheduled to meet Shisui and officially report for duty. After securing the forehead protector proudly on his head, he waved goodbye to Ayame and stepped outside. The spring air was warm, and the sunlight was soft, filling him with a sense of optimism. He could feel it—the first steps toward his future.

At the village crossroads, he spotted Shisui waiting and called out to him. “Shisui!”

Shisui turned and smiled. “Masaki,” he greeted, joining him. The two of them began walking together toward the guard training grounds, located on the eastern side of the Uchiha district.

The walk wasn’t rushed. The two figures made their way through the district, basking in the gentle morning light that bathed the Uchiha land. The journey took nearly half an hour—not so much due to the distance, but because they moved at a leisurely pace, taking in the quiet beauty of the surroundings.

In the distance, Masaki saw the guard’s residence, a modest two-story building with open space on three sides and a forest at the back. Despite its age, the building had a sturdy, lasting quality about it. Not far away, the Uchiha Police Force headquarters, also a two-story structure, stood in contrast—sleek and more imposing.

Before they could get much closer, two figures appeared in front of them almost out of nowhere. Masaki recognized them immediately—Setsuna Uchiha and Rinka Uchiha.

“You’re early!” Setsuna remarked with an approving smile. Rinka, standing beside him, was quiet but gave them a warm, welcoming look. Masaki nodded respectfully.

“Follow me. You’ll meet the captain first,” Setsuna instructed.

Masaki and Shisui exchanged a quick glance, then fell into step behind them. As they approached the office on the second floor of the building, Setsuna knocked and announced their arrival. “Captain, Masaki and Shisui are here.”

Inside, a figure sat at a desk, focused on a stack of documents. It was none other than Fugaku Uchiha, the patriarch of the Uchiha clan and the captain of the Uchiha police force. Masaki recognized him immediately, as he had crossed paths with Fugaku before—on New Year’s Day, in fact. Shisui, who had also worked with Fugaku during past missions, greeted him with a respectful nod.

Fugaku set down the papers and looked up. His gaze first landed on Shisui, and a faint smile appeared on his face. “Shisui, good to see you,” he said.

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Turning his attention to Masaki, his expression softened slightly. “And you must be Masaki?”

“Yes, Captain!” Masaki replied, bowing slightly.

Fugaku smiled, the warmth in his eyes more apparent now. “Here, just call me ‘Captain.’ From now on, you’re part of the police force.”

Masaki nodded, feeling a proud flicker in his chest. To be welcomed into the force by the clan head himself was an honor he hadn’t fully anticipated, but it felt significant.

“Welcome to the team, both of you,” Fugaku continued, his tone steady and reassuring. “I hope you’ll find meaning in your work here.”

“It’s an honor to serve the clan,” Masaki said sincerely, his voice full of emotion.

“Good,” Fugaku responded. “Setsuna, show them around and get them familiar with the place. You and Rinka will guide them for the next few days.”

With that, Fugaku returned to his paperwork, and Masaki and Shisui followed Setsuna and Rinka out of the office. As they walked, Setsuna turned to them, explaining the structure of the force. “The special unit, including the captain, has only seventeen members right now. That includes the two of you.”

Masaki raised an eyebrow. “Seventeen? I expected more, considering the Uchiha are one of the strongest clans in Konoha.”

Setsuna nodded, as though he’d anticipated the question. “Each member of the special force is carefully selected. We focus on strength and skill, not numbers. We’re an elite group.” He paused briefly. “Also, a larger force would draw too much attention.”

Masaki understood, and Shisui nodded along, though he couldn’t help but wonder who might be watching them so closely. “Except for Rinka and me,” Setsuna continued, “the rest of the team members are around your age, just a few years older. Let’s go introduce you to them.”

Setsuna led them to a training field on the side of the building. A handful of children, all about ten years old, were practicing their drills. As they spotted Setsuna, the group immediately gathered around Masaki and Shisui.

“Alright, everyone, stop for a moment!” Setsuna called out, clapping his hands. The children stopped and turned to face the newcomers. Setsuna gestured toward them. “Masaki and Shisui are joining us. Give them a warm welcome.”

Masaki smiled and introduced himself before Setsuna could speak further. “Hello, everyone. I’m Masaki Uchiha. I look forward to working with you all!”

The kids looked him over with curiosity. He was younger than most of them, but the only other person to join the guard at such a young age had been Shisui, whose talent had already earned him the respect of the group. “In the future, Masaki and Shisui will be official members of the Special Force,” Setsuna announced. “I hope you’ll all support each other and get along well.”

Masaki looked around at the eager faces, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. These would be his comrades—together, they represented the future of the Uchiha clan. The introductions were brief, and soon the other trainees returned to their exercises, content to get to know him better through training.

Once they were alone, Setsuna turned to Masaki and Shisui. His voice shifted to a more serious tone. “You both have the right mindset, but remember, this responsibility is not to be taken lightly. Work hard, become stronger. It’s for the future of the clan.”

Masaki’s face hardened with determination, and Shisui stood tall beside him. “I won’t let the clan’s efforts go to waste,” Masaki said firmly. He had made his choice, and there was no turning back.

“Good. Keep that in mind,” Setsuna replied, his voice firm but encouraging.