Chapter 2: Laws of the Land
"You're making a big mistake Hanzo-san, those Uchiha will get you in trouble and not the kind that even the Hokage can save you from." The young rookie looked at his sergeant, trying to see if he was joking or not.
"Nato-san you sound like my grandfather, another loyalist to the Senju clan. No one even remembers how the whole feud started but I do remember the Uchiha were at the top of the ranks and if our Commander wants to speak with me who knows I might put in praises for you for all the training." The young man joked trying to ease some of the tension he was feeling about the situation.
The senior officer looked at the young fool with pity as he pushed himself off the wall. "Remember this if nothing else, they are also the ones being tyrants toward the same people they swore to serve and protect." His parting words seemed to make Hanzo pause for contemplation.
Hanzo stared after his mentor as he strolled down the southwest wall, 'The uncles have been more on edge even for their usual grumpy old selves.' He pondered as the past month's gossip bubbled up to the surface.
A few weeks ago… [Flashback]
"You know I heard the civilian officers are thinking of forming a union." One of the sworn rookies spoke up as a group of them sat huddled around a table at the bar they frequented.
"I heard that the aunties are planning to shut down shops because they think there will be riots involved." Another added.
Hanzo had been hearing the townspeople gossip as he patrolled the street vendors section of the town. He didn't think the town would go as far to start a civil unrest situation just because the Uchiha clan are using their influence on trying to secure the safety of Konoha, even if they are becoming dictator-like when it comes to enforcing laws.
"You think anyone would be so foolish to actually try to overthrow the police force?"
"Of course not! We protect these people, even if they don't agree with all the laws..."
"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure our great-grandfathers said the same thing before the great war." This caused everyone to go silent as they sipped their sake.
"When's the funeral guys? Damn! We're at a bar, let's forget about work and focus on getting fucked to sleep this weekend!" One of them exclaimed before pouring shots for everyone at the table and raising his glass and taking a shot. Everyone smiled and whooped in agreement including Hanzo who began to scan the bar for his next one-nighter.
[Flashback ends]
Hanzo shook off the feeling that caused his hair to stand up all over his body. Like tiny warning signals that warned him a predator was nearby when he would go hunting.
"Yo, I'm here to relieve you." Hanzo straightened up off the spot he was leaning against on the wall as his best friend Gennai approached him.
"Thanks, man I'm beat." Hanzo mumbled as he fist-bumped Gennai.
"Oh yeah… Lieutenant Akimichi said meet Commander Uchiha at his office before you go home." Gennai placed his hand on the shoulder of Hanzo causing him to meet his concerned eyes.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that…" Hanzo tried to give his best friend an assuring smile but the gut feeling roared back to life.
"You know I may joke a lot, but you can always talk to me if you need…" Gennai assured his friend while giving the shoulder he held a firm squeeze. Hanzo smiled at his friend's words; the reassurance made the bubbling in his stomach reside some.
"I know, but really everything's fine. I'm sure it's just about the request to take the lieutenant exam next month; these rookie paychecks are barely paying the bills on my family's farm." He joked half-heartedly while patting Gennai's hand.
Hanzo arrived at Commander Uchiha's office, the whole time his stomach did not give up on its rumbling of discomfort. The guards nodded to the rookie as they opened the door to invite him in, Hanzo doing a slight bow to each guard as he passed through the thresh hold of the office.
"Welcome Hanzo-san, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Madara spoke causing the young officer to stand at attention and salute, he could smell the young man's fear radiating from him.
Madara chuckled, "At ease officer, we're friends here no need to be so formal." He sat down in his spot behind the pristine, clutter-free desk and motioned for the officer to sit in front of him as he poured sake for them.
The awkward silence seemed to intensify as Hanzo's stomach gurgled in protest as the two raised their glasses and took respective sips.
Madara met the nervous look on the young officer's face, "So, Hanzo-san tell me, how are our senior officers treating you? I see you applied for the lieutenant position and Nato-san is singing your praises on his reports."
This seemed to relax Hanzo a bit, or maybe it was just the sake taking effect. "Yes Uchiha-san, Nato-sensei is great at training and even referred me to apply." Hanzo didn't like the gleam in the commanding officer's eye, so he readily accepted another pour from the man to quell the nerves that bundled in his stomach.
"I understand you had somewhat of a misunderstanding with one of the Senju officers about one of the beautiful maidservants?" Madara questioned causing Hanzo to choke on the sip he was taking.
"I apologize Uchiha-san that was merely a rookie mistake. I let my judgment become clouded, but I have understood my mistakes and apologized to both Senju-san and Yua-san. There will be no more of those incidents again I can promise you."
"Hn…" Madara sipped on his sake as the officer before him squirmed due to the lack of emotion on the superior's face.
"Have you had any other trouble with the Senju officers? No need to worry about anything you say leaving this office, I want to make sure my rookies are taken care of and don't have any bullying among the ranks. It's not good for our officers to be at odds with each other at a time like this." Madara watched as the thoughts rolled around the younger man's head, his cheeks sporting a pink hue as the sake took effect. He laughed inwardly at the young man's lack of tolerance.
"Well, those Senju clansmen did make it hard for me and my team after the whole thing…" Hanzo paused as Madara raised an eyebrow at the confession.
"They would make us do their paperwork and basically use the fact they were higher ranks and of course the founding clansmen against the rookies, we thought it would be over after we ranked up, like a hazing thing but they continued to make things hard for my team specifically and even caused us to lose out on pay and threatened with termination if we went above them. I know it doesn't seem too bad considering... but it's already hard enough on a lot of my team to pay bills with the checks we receive and them docking our pay even more just to rub it in our faces all over a girl isn't right Uchiha-san!" Hanzo's voice cracked as his inner distress seemed to bubble over at remembering the hardships the Senju officers put on them.
"Calm down, here take another drink," Madara spoke while pouring the frustrated man before him more sake. "You're not the first to have these complaints Hanzo-san." Madara continued as he watched Hanzo down the glass of sake.
"Lucky for you I've had some of my personal officers investigate these claims and all have come back telling the outrageous behavior of these officers. I've also been watching how you and your team have been handling these attacks and I must say Nato-san has always held the record for making men out of the rookies he mentors."
"So, what is going to happen?" Hanzo questioned, his eyes trying to focus on the man before him.
"I'm going to promote you to lieutenant and your friend too, but I need absolute loyalty to my cause to rid our ranks of these officers of their positions and not cause a scene…" Madara stated causing Hanzo to grow a grin that would rival the Cheshire cat.
"Wouldn't there be pushback? The Senju clansmen aren't just going to roll over."
"Leave that to me, I just need to know that I can count on you for a very important mission Lieutenant Hanzo." Hanzo beamed with pride at the realization that this was not a fever dream, and he would finally be able to go home tonight with his head up high.
"Thank you for your time, Hanzo-san." Madara signaled for the guards to assist Hanzo back to his home so he could begin the next step in his devious plan. He picked up the rotary-style phone and dialed his brother telling him to meet him at the Ochaya which was located on the outskirts of the city.
The manager looked different from her usually stoic face; she seemed almost welcoming to the Uchiha men that entered the establishment.
"Your room is going to be hosted by Hana-san and Yuri-san as requested." She spoke as the attendant led them to their room. Hana, the maiko of the duo eagerly introduced herself to the two well-known Uchiha men; Yuri graciously poured the warmed sake for the men and the two girls began their routine of entertaining.
"I told you Hana-san and Yuri-san would be the highlight of the evening!" A burgundy-haired man named Riko spoke enthusiastically to the woman beside him. She wore her signature geisha makeup and had her hair styled in an intricate updo embellished with golden hair pieces. The black silk, short sleeve kimono was decorated beautifully with golden leaves, and the red nagajuben underneath provided the perfect compliment to her red lips.
"Yes, they are my more popular girls because of their traditional looks, the young faces pull them in every time." The woman seemed to scowl at the latter of her words.
"Oh, don't be so jealous Ichika-sishou, you are the most beautiful of us all." A woman in a simple dark blue kimono spoke as she refilled the glasses of the two in front of her.
"Yeah, but that's not what I'm worried about. These Uchiha men have been causing my younger girls to run off because of their treatment, I never understood the fascination of old men and young girls but that's probably why I inherited this business."
"Oh Haruno-sishou! There is a problem with the guest in room 2, he's wanting to speak with you." A young maiko interrupted the conversation of the three and led the guards that approached toward the commotion.
"I'm going to wrangle that man's neck!" Ichika muttered as the man beside her assisted her with standing up from the pillows they lounged on from her platform overlooking the bar.
"Don't tell me you let that big crybaby man back in…"
Ichika spared an irritated glance at her companion before walking toward the room. As she neared the room, she noticed the door was open and shattered glass lay in the hall causing a strong smell of sake to envelope the area.
"Doto-san, what seems to be the problem?" Ichika asked as she stepped around the broken glass and glanced at her geiko in the corner shielding the maiko from the onslaught of attacks.
"This bitch said I was fat! I want her ass to be thrown out!" the Akimichi clansmen drunkenly yelled as he threw the tray of food at the women huddled in the corner.
"Akimichi-san…" the voice of Madara seemed to sober up the drunken men in the room, Ichika turned to face him.
"Uchiha-san no need to intervene, I have everything under control. Please go back to your room and enjoy your evening." Ichika instructed Madara who only gave her a glance and continued to enter the room, the guards looking to Ichika for instruction.
"I am aware Akimichi-san is one of your captains, but please let me handle this. I will be happy to let you take over once he is escorted from the property." She spoke with authority as she motioned for the two guards to grab the drunken man from the table.
Madara stepped aside and allowed them to do as they were told, he gave the fat drunken man a pat on the shoulder and whispered in his ear causing the man to go pale.
"Make sure his car is waiting out front." Ichika ordered the woman in the dark blue kimono, she nodded and bowed out of the room.
"Well, I believe that is the end of our stay, I do apologize wholeheartedly Haruno-san." Another Akimikchi clansman apologized as he rose from his spot at the table that had food and sake covering it.
"I will take care of the damages, place it on my tab. I am more than embarrassed that one of my men would act this way in your fine establishment." Madara said as he approached Ichika. He took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it as he bowed, Ichika fought back the urge to shiver and show the disgust the Uchiha managed to elicit from her.
"Thank you Uchiha-san I appreciate your kindness on your officer's behalf. You will receive an invoice along with your monthly charges." Ichika replied while folding her hands together and bowing toward the Uchiha commander.
"Riko-san please escort Uchiha-san back to his room and meet me in the office." Ichika instructed her partner as she helped the scared women around the glass and debris that littered the floor.
Riko nodded in acknowledgment instructing Madara to follow him around the glass and food back across the hall where his room was located.
"She is still sore toward me for the incident?" Madara asked Riko as he waited for the man to slide the rice paper screen door open.
"Yuki-chan was her favorite girl Uchiha-san, she was never the same after that night."
"Hn…" he replied as he entered the room and sat back at his seat; Hana pouring him more sake.
"I hate them all, a bunch of pompous bastards!" Ichika exclaimed as she slammed her hand on her desk causing papers to go tumbling to the floor.
"Ichika-sishou please calm down, you know you are prone to headaches if you let your temper get the best of you."
"Yua-chan, I know but that man irks my very soul." Ichika responded to the woman in the dark blue kimono.
Ichika huffed and laid her head on the desk as Yua poured her some warm tea. "I could almost drink if it weren't for this predicament." Ichika grumbled as she touched her belly, the small pouch seemed to grow bigger each day and so did her hormonal rages.
"Well, when you deliver our child, I'll have the biggest bottle of your favorite wine waiting for you." Riko promised as he came up behind his pregnant wife and massaged her shoulders. Ichika happily groaned from the affections and leaned into his warm embrace.
"Don't tease me Riko-kun." Ichika pouted as he stopped massaging her shoulders and kissed the nape of her neck where the white makeup did not cover.
Riko stood back up and picked up the book that held their customers' information, ignoring the way his wife pouted at the sudden removal of his warmth from her back. "You're so mean to me Riko-kun."
"Well how about we let Yua-san close tonight and I take you home and give your sweet body a massage you'll never forget."
"That's how we ended up like this in the first place." Ichika deadpanned.
"It doesn't hurt to get started on the second Haruno heir." Riko joked as he wiggled his eyebrows at Ichika who only snorted and threw a paper ball at him.
"Haruno-sishou the ladies have returned from their mission." Yua announced as she stepped aside letting three women with their faces covered in simple black masks, only their eyes showing.
"Hello ladies, another successful mission I assume?" Ichika asked as they removed their masks and bowed.
"Yes Ichika-chan, the target has been eliminated and the package secured." The woman with two buns secured in red ribbons spoke as she placed a sealed envelope on the desk.
"No witnesses?"
"Do we ever leave a trace?" the woman with the pale blond hair in a high ponytail joked, her bright blue eyes shined with mischief as she brushed strands of hair that escaped from in front of her face.
"I don't know Yuka-chan, you're barely were able to hold that big bastard still long enough for us with that mind control technique of yours…" the third woman joked as she dodged the blond's playful swat at her arm.
"I swear you two are troublesome…" the woman with the buns muttered.
"Ino-shika-cho, one of the greatest and deadliest kunoichi groups ever formed. I still can't believe you three agreed to help me, especially with your clans riding your backs to bear heirs all the time. I can't thank you all enough!" Ichika showed her appreciation, tears forming in her bright green eyes.
Yua handed the three women their envelopes full of cash and offered them some refreshments as they got comfortable around the desk of the emotional woman.
"Awww Ichika-chan! Don't cry! You're our best friend in the whole world, of course, we'd want to help rid our city of these perverted bastards." Yuka replied as she soothingly rubbed circles on her childhood friend's back.
"Plus, we couldn't leave our sister behind. Once Noriko-chan told us about her sister and how the police were just lazy as hell in finding one of our own, we couldn't stand aside!" Mai stated, her thick thighs bumping into the table as she shifted to hand a tissue Yua provided for Ichika.
"Can you believe those old bastards in the Nara elders told me I couldn't look for my own sister? Said I was to stay home and wait for her return and take care of my wifely duties." Noriko seethed.
"I knew there was nothing our pig-headed husbands would do because they were so involved in their competitions…" Mai added; the famous Akimichi clan markings on her cheeks seemed to stand out even more with her reddening face.
"And too scared to stand up to those pompous assholes who run the police!" Yuka finished.
The room grew silent as the group sipped on the warm teas Yua provided. Riko cleared his throat, "Well the important thing is we found Miko-chan and other missing girls in the biggest sex trafficking sting Konoha has ever seen."
"You are right honey, I'm just thankful none of the girls were seriously hurt, it will take years of therapy for them to recover from the mental anguish it all caused but now they are home safe, and I am able to afford professional services for the girls." Ichika stated as she pulled the three women in for awkward hugs around the desk they sat around.
"Yeah, but those Uchiha scum were the ones to take all the glory and then had the nerve to tell the press we were just some rogue vigilantes when the girls told them about us." Yuka added as she bit into a tart filled with cream and berries.
"Remember though we didn't do this for fame Yuka-chan…" Noriko said as she added cream to her second cup of tea.
Mai rolled her eyes as she finished a tart before adding, "Yeah if our husbands and elders found out we would probably be stoned for treason or some ridiculous bullshit."
"The stupid law that those assholes passed in office is what's ridiculous, they banned Kunoichi from being among the ranks of the Hokage's ninja force! We were the ones fighting alongside their pathetic asses and even risking our lives as medic-nin to save their asses. These men wouldn't have lasted a day without us!"
"Guess what the stupid reasoning was…" Everyone stopped and stared at Noriko expectantly. "A woman's job is to be a mother and proper role model for our future children."
Everyone rolled their eyes in unison at the remembrance of the newspaper article that made headlines that day, causing the women in the city to be on edge ever since. Madara stood before the clans and announced that women and girls were not allowed to practice the ninja arts except on the basis of self-defense. The punishment for breaking this law… Death.
"I do apologize for interrupting your memory lane moment, but I promised my wife a relaxing evening and I'm sure your husbands are probably looking for you all as well." Riko said causing the four women to roll their eyes again and raise from their seats.
"Ok, you two love birds have a wonderful night and Riko-kun don't be too rough with her." Yuka winked at the now-blushing Ichika and the three women disappeared out of the room in puffs of smoke.
Riko pulled his wife into a gentle hug and kissed her forehead, "I worry you take on too much." he said as he lifted her chin to meet his gaze.
"You're being over dramatic again; I sometimes wonder whose hormones are worse." Ichika joked.
"I'm serious my love, I don't want you to stress yourself out with this mess that is going on, especially with our child still needing some time to develop. You know Ami-sensei said you need to rest and not stress over these matters, that's why you have Yua and me. She is a lot more capable than you give her credit for."
Ichika stared into her husband's eyes; they reminded her of the crystal blue pools she first met him beside during the cherry blossom festival when they were teens. "You know I love you darling and I'd never overwork myself that's why this month I'm taking a vacation and letting Yua take over." She said causing the man to grin and twirl her around.
"Well let the new manager know the good news and let's get home, I'm starving, and Oba-san is making dumplings tonight!" Riko exclaimed as he rang the buzzer on the call system to alert Yua.
A/N: Hello readers! Thanks for the views and reviews! I appreciate it! I do appreciate constructive criticism so please read, follow, and review! I'm building this story slowly so I can pace myself with the reveals so bear with me one more chapter and I promise Sakura, Itachi, and Sasuke will make their appearances! You just gotta get a little history lesson first. I will post warnings of any MA themes before the chapter begins so please pay attention just in case you have any triggers.