Aburame Shigeo's decision to resign as the commander of the Konoha Police Force wasn't made on a whim or out of desperation but after careful consideration.
Given the current situation, the likelihood of Sunagakure collaborating with Orochimaru was extremely high, and the "Konoha Crush Plan" had become almost inevitable.
Under such circumstances, a calculated "avoidance strategy" was essential.
The only thing that slightly disappointed Shigeo was that Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't let him resign entirely; instead, he was suspended for reflection.
"Although I didn't achieve my full goal, suspension isn't bad. At least I can avoid the massive pitfall of the 'Konoha Crush Plan.'"
Thinking of this, a cold smile crept onto his face.
"A bunch of fools, obsessed with power and profit. When Orochimaru really attacks Konoha, I'll make sure your reputations are utterly destroyed!"
With his mind made up, Shigeo quickly headed to the police force headquarters and informed Kazama Arashi of the situation.
That same afternoon, the police force issued an announcement:
> **[The Konoha Police Headquarters violated protocol by unauthorized redeployment of external police units back to Konoha, severely disrupting order and causing a negative impact. Aburame Shigeo, as commander, bears primary responsibility and will be indefinitely suspended for reflection. Deputy Commander Kazama Arashi will temporarily assume his duties, and the external police units will return to their original posts.]**
The announcement sent shockwaves through the police force, though the villagers' response was lukewarm.
To most of Konoha's citizens, this was merely an internal matter within the police force, unrelated to their daily lives. What truly captivated their attention was the official tournament of the Chūnin Exams, which was just a month away.
After the preliminary rounds, the list of matchups was announced:
- Uzumaki Naruto vs. Hyūga Neji
- Uchiha Sasuke vs. Gaara
- Aburame Shino vs. Kankurō
- Nara Shikamaru vs. Temari
The upcoming tournament became the talk of the village, with betting houses even setting up odds for the matches.
Among the contestants, Naruto had the highest odds, with a staggering 10-to-1 payout.
This was hardly surprising, considering Naruto's "dazzling" performance during the preliminaries. He was thoroughly beaten by Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru for almost the entire fight. Were it not for an accidental fart that overwhelmed Kiba's sharp sense of smell, Naruto wouldn't have made it to the main event.
In contrast, Neji, hailing from the prestigious Hyūga clan and known as a genius ninja, had dominated his opponents effortlessly throughout the exams.
The stark contrast made the winner clear to most. Even with the 10-to-1 odds, no one bet on Naruto.
All the wagers poured onto Neji.
Faced with this seemingly unwinnable bet, the bookkeepers were already prepared. They planned to turn themselves in to the Konoha Police Force after the tournament rather than go bankrupt.
But what they didn't expect was the arrival of a "big spender" just before the event.
"Three million ryō on Uzumaki Naruto to win the first match!"
The bettor, shrouded in a black cloak, tossed the money onto the counter, grabbed the receipt, and left without hesitation.
Similar scenes unfolded in Konoha and nearby towns. At every major betting house, cloaked individuals placed bets ranging from 100,000 to 10 million ryō—all on Naruto to win.
The bookkeepers suddenly found hope. With such massive bets, even if Neji won, the 10-to-1 odds meant they'd still profit.
The possibility of Naruto winning never crossed their minds.
Just as they never anticipated Aburame Shigeo's sudden mistake and suspension, which had been their best news in ages.
With Shigeo out, the police force eased off on cracking down on gambling, leaving the bookies to operate freely.
The bookkeepers saw this as their golden opportunity. They were convinced that leveraging the Chūnin Exams would lead them to massive success.
But little did they know, their "bright future" was nothing more than an illusion.
---
"Arashi, these are the receipts and locations of the betting houses."
Shigeo handed a stack of tickets to Kazama Arashi, giving him instructions.
"After the first match ends tomorrow, send people to collect the winnings from the betting houses. If they refuse to pay, shut them down and recover my money."
"Uh…"
Looking at the stack of receipts, Arashi couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
"Sir, isn't this… excessive? Why bet everything on Naruto? Even if he's your godson, what if he loses?"
"That's why you're here."
Shigeo grinned and patted Arashi's shoulder.
"If I lose the bet, just send people to raid the betting houses and take the money back. The outcome is the same—advantage stays with us."
"Uh…"
Arashi was speechless but reluctantly agreed.
"Understood. Is there anything else, sir?"
"Yes, one more thing."
Shigeo nodded, his expression turning serious.
"Tomorrow, I want all police force members, including the civilian corps, spread throughout the village. If the village is attacked, the civilian corps will guide civilians and children to shelters, while the police force engages the enemy."
"The village will be attacked?" Arashi's expression grew tense. "Understood. Who are the enemies?"
Trusting Shigeo completely, Arashi asked for details to better prepare.
"Sound and Sand. Orochimaru has allied with Sunagakure, so tomorrow, all Sound and Sand ninjas entering Konoha are enemies. But this must remain confidential for now."
"I understand!" Arashi nodded. "I'll ensure our people are ready. What about you, sir?"
"I'll be watching the matches!"
Adjusting his sunglasses with a smirk, Shigeo added, "It's Naruto's big day. As his father, I can't miss it. Besides, if I'm not there, some people might get… too comfortable."
*(Chapter End)*