I became Hokage in Tokyo

Chapters 263 and 264: Prelude, The Birth of the Second Uchiha!

"Master Kubota, welcome, welcome! Thank you for cooperating with our Metropolitan Police Department. You've come all the way from Fujinomiya City. Please have a seat."

A special guest arrived at a tent at the foot of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture.

"I am Okita from the Fourth Investigation Division, and this is Inspector Uchiha."

The old man dressed as a priest frowned and looked at the two people in the tent. The one who was speaking was a slightly chubby man with a friendly smile, and the other was a handsome middle-aged man with a refined and elegant appearance and clear eyes.

As a religious corporation of Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha, the old priest, who had seen countless people, couldn't help but secretly admire the latter's appearance, which was truly outstanding, almost comparable to his own in his youth.

"Ahem, officers, what business do you have with me?"

The old priest coughed lightly, came back to his senses, and said with a puzzled look.

"Master Kubota, there are some complicated situations at our Metropolitan Police Department that we'd like to verify with you," Inspector Okita began to probe indirectly.

They inquired about the old priest's achievements in managing Asama Shrine—no, about the results of his decades of training at Asama Shrine; whether he had experienced any inexplicable events while serving the mountain deity of Mount Fuji, Hanasakihime; and whether the ancient books and sacred artifacts of Asama Shrine possessed any mystical qualities.

The old priest became increasingly confused as he listened, and vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

Asama Shrine is the name of a shrine dedicated to Konohanasaki-hime. The worship of Mount Fuji is widespread in the Mt. Fuji region, with a total of 1,300 Asama Shrines throughout the country. Asama Taisha is the head shrine of Asama Shrines and the center of the Mount Fuji faith.

The old priest was considered a prominent figure in the Japanese religious community.

Although he was old and his hair was silver, the old priest was in good spirits and had a very good memory.

The police officer's questioning reminded him of something that happened more than a decade ago, probably around 2010 or 2011, when the Metropolitan Police Department had summoned him and some temple and shrine priests and asked them similar questions.

Having snapped out of his reverie, the old priest gave a few perfunctory replies, his expression odd.

"Officer, what exactly are you asking these questions about?"

Inspector Okita paused slightly, glanced at Uchiha Senmon, and seeing that he didn't object, he felt reassured and continued slowly:

"Master Kubota, we hope you can be open and honest and tell us everything you know. There's no point in hiding anything now; the Metropolitan Police Department knows more than you realize. Don't worry, the Metropolitan Police Department will definitely not treat you unfairly."

"Wait, officer, what are you talking about? I don't understand at all."

The old priest wore a look of confusion and bewilderment on his aged face, but his mind was racing.

The Metropolitan Police Department said they understand and have a grasp of the situation. Could it be that Asama Taisha's tax evasion and accounting fraud have been exposed?

Even so, it's not your Metropolitan Police Department's place to interfere.

Moreover, judging from the way your Metropolitan Police Department is acting, it's clear that you haven't yet obtained solid evidence. How can you expect him to confess honestly based on just some vague and bluffing?

I've seen all sorts of storms and waves; how could I possibly be tricked into revealing anything by this greenhorn's few words?

The old priest immediately put on an innocent face and began to complain:

"Officer, even if you are from the Metropolitan Police Department, you cannot slander my innocence out of thin air. I have absolutely not hidden anything from the Metropolitan Police Department."

"Master Kubota, since we invited you up here, we have naturally made thorough preparations."

Inspector Okita casually rested his hands on the table, staring sharply at the old priest with a confident expression.

"It's not too late to confess now, and it's a good deed for the country! Please rest assured, we will absolutely not hold you accountable later."

Seeing Inspector Okita's certainty, the old priest, who had previously insisted that there was absolutely no concealment, changed his expression slightly.

"This... I still don't understand what you're talking about..."

The old priest's tone wasn't as harsh as before. Inspector Okita's face lit up with joy at this, his eyes fixed intently on the old priest's, his tone gradually becoming more forceful, exerting an invisible pressure:

"Lord Kubota, the nation is now at a critical juncture and has run out of patience. If you continue to conceal those secrets, the consequences will be unimaginable."

A flicker of panic crossed the old priest's face, and a bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

What? Has Japan's finances collapsed to this extent yet again? This time, they're even trying to squeeze every last drop out of the shrines' money.

While the amount of tax evaded by Asama Taisha over the years may be an astronomical sum for an individual, it is by no means enough to plug the hole in the national treasury.

If they're really short of money, why don't they just keep raising the consumption tax?

And then there's the Korean cult, which has been making the most noise in recent years. It's ten times more adept at accumulating wealth than Asama Taisha. Why should these old-established local Shinto cults have to bleed money from them?

Isn't this bullying honest people?!

"What you are doing is blasphemy against the gods! Aren't you afraid that Sakura-hime Konohana will be angered and send down divine retribution, causing Mount Fuji to erupt?"

The old priest was both anxious and angry. In his panic, he spoke recklessly and resorted to the charlatan's signature trick: threatening and intimidating people by invoking the gods.

"Ha, the fox's tail has finally been revealed. Master Kubota, you really do know the secrets about the gods hidden in Mount Fuji!!"

Upon hearing this, Inspector Okita was not afraid at all; on the contrary, he became even more excited and slammed his fist on the table.

This display of force startled the old priest.

This time, he really couldn't understand why the police officer was so excited; the word "god" seemed to inexplicably hit his sweet spot.

"Wait, wait a minute..." The old priest opened his mouth, as if to say something.

"Master Kubota, pretending to be crazy won't work. Our Metropolitan Police Department discovered the secret of the supernatural fifteen years ago. Since April of this year, supernatural incidents have been occurring frequently, and we now have even more clues! At this point, even if you want to hide it, it's useless."

Inspector Okita's gaze sharpened instantly.

"What?! Extraordinary?!"

The old priest's eyes widened in disbelief. What nonsense was this police officer spouting? Was he out of his mind?!

"This must be Officer Uchiha, right? What's the deal with your colleague? I genuinely have no idea what he's talking about!"

Seeing Inspector Okita so agitated, the old priest began to feel uneasy and quickly looked for help from Senmon Uchiha on the other side.

Uchiha Senmon, who had been silently observing the changes in the old priest's facial muscles and micro-expressions from the beginning, also sensed that something was amiss.

Although the old priest had felt somewhat guilty at one point, his current look of confusion and fear did not seem fake.

"Looks like you won't admit it until you see the coffin. Fine, then let me show you the truth the Metropolitan Police Department has uncovered!"

Seeing that the old priest had let slip his secret and was still trying to hold on, Inspector Okita decided to press his advantage and use the video footage of the supernatural incidents in the Metropolitan Police Department's possession to break him down in one fell swoop.

"Okita Police Department, please calm down..."

Before Uchiha Senmon could stop him, Inspector Okita took out his iPad, pulled up the internal files of the Fourth Investigation Division, and handed them to the old priest.

"These are all records from the Metropolitan Police Department regarding supernatural beings. Whether it's the monsters and evil spirits that appeared after 1990, or the supernatural battle that destroyed Sapporo the day before yesterday, the video footage is all there!"

"This...this is all real...how is this possible?"

The old priest, completely bewildered, took the iPad from Inspector Okita, opened one video after another, and saw all sorts of incredible, extraordinary magic. His pupils dilated violently, and his body trembled.

Does it really exist? Extraordinary power!

This godlike power, capable of turning the world upside down with a flick of the wrist and causing the heavens and earth to tremble with every move, actually exists on the earth!

Could it be that the Konohana Sakuya-hime enshrined at Asama Shrine truly exists in this world?

Why is it that, as a veteran priest with fifty or sixty years of experience, I have never heard a divine oracle or gained extraordinary power?

Could it be that she was abandoned by Konohana Sakuya-hime because she was corrupted by money and lacked faith?

"What have I been doing all my life? Wasting my time and squandering my most precious opportunities for a few measly coins!"

Why did I only realize the truth of the world when I was old and frail? The gods were right beside me, and supernatural power was within my reach, yet I only cared about chasing worldly wealth and power. Even buying the box and returning the pearl doesn't describe even a tenth of my foolishness.

Even if she wanted to repent to Konohana Sakuya-hime, there was no time left, and she might even be punished after death.

Oh, heavens, how cruel you are to me!

Overwhelmed with grief and anger, the old priest's face turned black, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood before collapsing to the ground unconscious.

Inspector Okita was stunned, and Senmon Uchiha was also taken aback.

After finally getting the old priest to the hospital and cleaning up the mess, Inspector Okita couldn't help but feel disheartened.

"It seems he really knows nothing. This is the second time I've made a blunder. The last time was when I mistook the fat guy who believed that Minamoto no Yorimitsu was an ancestor for a superhuman and took him to the Metropolitan Police Department."

Inspector Okita was originally a member of the surveillance team of Type B-02. After the evil spirit was exorcised by the Onimusha, he was finally freed from prison.

When good things happen, people are in high spirits. In less than a month, Inspector Okita, who used to look as emaciated as a terminally ill patient, gained 20 pounds.

But at this moment, Inspector Okita looked worried.

"He even leaked the Metropolitan Police Department's files to outsiders; he might get punished by Section Chief Akagi."

"Don't worry so much. There are already rumors that the time to reveal the truth to the public is on the agenda. Your mistake this time is not a serious problem."

Uchiha Senmon smiled gently and patted Inspector Okita on the shoulder.

"Besides, I was right next to you, but I couldn't stop you. In a way, I also bear some responsibility. I'll go with you to plead with Section Chief Akagi."

"Thank you so much, Inspector Uchiha! I'm so grateful I don't know how to repay you!"

Inspector Okita clasped his hands together, tears streaming down his face.

"It's nothing. We're all colleagues in the Fourth Investigation Division, so we should help each other out."

Uchiha Senmon smiled, but deep in his eyes was exhaustion.

Section Chief Akagi has been tasked with searching Mount Fuji for over a week, but apart from the dozens of suicide victims' bodies found in the Aokigahara Forest, he has found nothing.

They found absolutely no clues about Penglai or the elixir of immortality.

Uchiha Senmon was somewhat anxious. Not only was the search making no progress, but Section Chief Akagi had also privately hinted to him that the Metropolitan Police Department might merge the Fourth Investigation Division and the Fifth Public Security Division.

I heard that the search of the Wakasa Bay waters, which was handled by the Fifth Public Security Section, also failed to find any trace of mermaids or Penglai.

The Fourth Investigation Division and the Fifth Public Security Division are currently on equal footing.

Whoever can seize the initiative and produce results first will definitely be in a favorable position in the subsequent merger.

"Even the shrine's chief priest is completely unaware of matters of the supernatural. Could it be that, as the expert group has concluded, Japan's tradition of the supernatural has been severed?"

Uchiha Senmon frowned and pondered, "Or is my deduction wrong, and Hourai doesn't actually refer to Mount Fuji?"

"And Mr. Tosu, how are you doing in Yokosuka Port?"

After negotiations, Hideo Tosu surrendered to the Metropolitan Police Department and was naturally transferred to Yokosuka Port for a "medical examination" and "protection".

As for the subsequent arrangements, it's not something a small police inspector from the Uchiha Sage Sect can comment on.

However, at Tosu Hideo's request, the Uchiha Senmon have already collected Moribe's remains.

Masamichi Moribe was transferred to one of the best hospitals in Tokyo for treatment and is now out of danger.

However, he is still in a near-vegetative state, unconscious. Although Uchiha Senmon applied for Dr. Satomi to treat him, the response after reporting through various levels is that it is still under review.

The Uchiha Senmon did their utmost to accomplish the three things that the Tosu hero had requested.

"Where should the investigation proceed next?"

To be honest, Uchiha Senmon's mind is also in a mess right now. So many things have happened recently, and there are one worrying thing after another. Even a workaholic like him feels overwhelmed.

Just then, the Uchiha Senmon's private phone rang.

Uchiha Senmon picked up his phone and frowned; it was an unfamiliar number.

But only close friends and family knew this private number. He hesitated for a moment before picking it up to answer.

"Uncle Uchiha?"

"Tsukimi! Are you alright?!"

Uchiha Senmon's face showed a mixture of surprise and joy. After the battle in Sapporo, the Metropolitan Police Department had been searching for Tsukimi Inaba's whereabouts, but to no avail. They even suspected that she had been caught up in the battle of the superhumans and her body had been lost.

He had always felt remorseful about the orphan of his former colleague, but when he heard that Tsukimi Inaba was calling, he was immediately relieved.

However, what Inaba said next caused Senmon Uchiha's expression to shift between light and dark.

"Section Chief Akagi is a spy? That's impossible, I don't believe it!"

Tsukimi Inaba didn't say much. After apologizing, she hung up the phone and didn't respond no matter how many times Uchiha Senmon called back.

A few minutes later, an encrypted document was sent to Uchiha Senmon's personal email address.

When the Uchiha Sage Gate opened, his initial hesitant expression gradually turned into shock, confusion, and pain, eventually merging into a blank, chaotic look.

"Inspector Okita, you'll be in charge of the Mount Fuji operation for now. I have to go back to Tokyo!"

(End of this chapter)