"Clan Head, should we…"
"No need."
Hyuga Hiashi shook his head.
He looked into the distance.
"Hizashi, pass down the order. No one is to leave their homes tonight. Without an order from the village, no one is to participate in tonight's battle at will."
"Yes!"
Although Hyuga Hizashi only vaguely guessed the intention, he still went to carry it out quickly.
After his younger brother left, Hyuga Yuka finally came out.
"What's wrong? What was that presence before?"
Hyuga Hizashi answered.
"It should be the Nine-Tails."
Then, he looked at Yuka.
"Go back to sleep. I'll wait a little longer."
"This, aren't you going to the rescue?"
Hyuga Hiashi shook his head.
"No need. We just need to wait for Konoha's orders."
If an order came from the Konoha Anbu requiring the Hyuga clan's participation, he would naturally mobilize the entire clan. But for now, waiting was enough!
The same situation was happening in many clans. For example—Akimichi Choza. He was already fully armed and ready to charge out with his men, but after leaving his house, he saw that neither the Yamanaka nor the Nara clan had made a move. Out of trust for his brothers, he turned to his clansmen.
"How about we go home and wait for orders?"
A few seconds later, a figure landed in front of them. Nara Shikaku.
He glanced at them.
"No need for such a big fuss. Let everyone sleep. Kyohiko and Minato can solve it."
"That's true."
Thinking of Ryoho Kyohiko and Namikaze Minato's strength, Akimichi Choza couldn't help but feel a sense of ease.
Those two's strength… even if it was a Tailed Beast, he felt they could handle it. What's more, the current Anbu was no pushover. Nearly eighty percent of the elites from various families and the top commoners in Konoha were in the Anbu. Things like the Flying Thunder God Formation and barrier jutsu were emerging one after another. If the village wanted to find them, they would have sent someone over long ago.
Akimichi Choza shouted.
"Go back, go back! Sleep!"
A group of sturdy men holding weapons pondered for a moment, then followed the command and walked towards their homes.
Before long, a figure appeared. Seeing Shikaku and Choza, the person was stunned for a moment, then said.
"Shikaku-sama, Choza-sama, the captain's meaning is that everyone can go to sleep. The matter has been resolved."
"Alright."
Nara Shikaku nodded, but he was not surprised—he was still wearing his home clothes, not even his Jonin vest. If it weren't for Choza and his men making such a big commotion, he would have been too lazy to come out.
"However, the three of you, please go to the Jonin Standby Station tomorrow to hold a meeting about tonight's operation."
"Alright."
Nara Shikaku's cheek twitched. He was a bit surprised by this, but still nodded lightly in agreement.
It seems—something did happen on the Uchiha's side. I hope the scale wasn't that big.
Nara Shikaku pondered for a moment, then looked at Choza.
"Let's go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow."
"Alright."
🦊🍜🍥⛩️🪵🌊
Ryoho Kyohiko sent Uchiha Shisui back to the Uchiha clan. Shisui still hoped that on a night like this, he could return to his family and be with his clansmen. He figured—Shisui was probably worried that Fugaku would do something foolish again. For the sake of the Uchiha, the young Shisui had really worried himself sick.
This was also because Shisui had met Kyohiko. Under Kyohiko's cultivation, his disposition and thinking had improved to a certain extent. Otherwise, at this juncture, Shisui might not have thought so much.
And now, Ryoho Kyohiko had to go and report tonight's situation to Tsunade, as well as the matter of Minato encountering Obito, and discuss the content of tomorrow's meeting in detail. The Uchiha and the Police Force. These two matters were simple. The key was the third item—letting the Uchiha enter the decision-making level.
It didn't need to be changed too much. The current few departments in Konoha, like the captain of the Police Force, their power was actually not very small. It was just that in the past, the Police Force had always been in a rather awkward state, resulting in their captain not having enough say in the village. After the reorganization… the captain's right to speak could naturally be enhanced.
Although there had been some communication before, before the full meeting, he and Tsunade still had to reach a consensus to avoid being defeated one by one due to internal strife.
And outside, the ninjas who had gone out from the Anbu had already been notified one by one. Many families and commoners should have received the message to "calm down," and that Tailed Beast chakra had also disappeared quickly, allowing them to go home and sleep peacefully.
In addition—
[Under your arrangement and design, a relatively serious internal strife occurred in the Uchiha, and the overall strength of the clan declined, but the clan as a whole has shifted towards Konoha, with a clear change in attitude.]
[Reward: Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence (Master)]
Deep Forest Emergence. The biggest difference from Advent of a World of Trees was that it would grow huge flowers, and the pollen could be released to make people faint. But according to the absorbed memories, as long as one reached the Master level, they could achieve an effect similar to that of Senju Hashirama, knocking others out.
What's the next level up? Are there any flaws or things I haven't considered? Ryoho Kyohiko fell into deep thought. Perhaps Senju Hashirama hadn't developed its effect to the strongest. It could be further expanded and developed to make it even stronger! The difference should be in the "pollen." Only it was the "variable."
🦊🍜🍥⛩️🪵🌊
The next day.
In the Hokage's Tower, at the Jonin Standby Station. Some Jonin waiting for missions were waiting here, but soon they saw the clan heads of one ninja family after another walk in from outside. These ninja families were all prominent clans of Konoha. Even—Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi were among them!
This? Everyone looked at each other, and then those few people quietly left the Jonin Standby Station. Compared to the big shots inside, they seemed out of place.
Inside the room, the clan heads looked at each other. Most of them felt—the Uchiha are probably finished!
But Nara Shikaku observed his surroundings, a thoughtful look on his face. This situation… isn't quite right! If it were to punish the Uchiha, or to directly dismember the Uchiha family, there was no need for such a big fanfare, gathering almost all of Konoha's powerful clan heads—the only two who hadn't arrived yet were the head of the Sarutobi clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the head of the Shimura clan, Shimura Kazuma.
Although Shimura Danzo had died, and not very gracefully, the Shimura family had long since cut ties with Danzo, and the Shimura clan was also a great clan in Konoha. Recently, they had just faded from view, keeping a low profile to avoid Ryoho Kyohiko's retaliation. The Third Hokage would definitely come. In other words, almost all of Konoha's well-known great clans were about to arrive. This didn't look like a trial for the Uchiha.
Just then, a middle-aged man slowly entered the room. He was Shimura Kazuma.
Shikaku was a little surprised, then looked outside and pondered for a moment.
"I'll go to the Hokage-sama's side and ask when the meeting will start… Heh, a group of us, occupying the Jonins' standby room, forcing them all out."
"Alright."
"Thank you for your trouble."
Everyone nodded repeatedly.
Shikaku's status in the Jonin ranks and among the Konoha higher-ups was quite high. It was best for him to go and speak. But before Shikaku could get up, the door was pushed open instantly.
Tsunade waved her robe, her grave face holding a trace of a smile.
"Thank you all for coming. Well then, let's go to the next room for the meeting."
The next moment, her figure disappeared. It was just a shadow clone.
🦊🍜🍥⛩️🪵🌊
In the meeting room, the three advisors had already arrived. Also here were Tsunade and Ryoho Kyohiko.
"Tsunade, you all are too reckless, this kind of thing…"
"Old man, I am the Hokage now!"
Tsunade tapped her fingers on the table. She stood up, waved her robe, full of spirit.
"As one of the Sannin, I have experienced enough. I have sufficient judgment and decision-making awareness. The more people who know about this kind of thing… the greater the possibility of a leak!"
Tsunade looked at the three of them.
"Can you guarantee that you can avoid that guy's prying?"
Mitokado Homura answered honestly.
"To be honest, I can't."
Utatane Koharu glared at her comrade.
Mitokado Homura shook his head.
"Koharu, we are thinking for Konoha's sake, not arguing about who is right and who is wrong out of pique. One is one, and two is two."
Tsunade laughed.
"Haha, you are indeed the senior I respect the most!"
Ryoho Kyohiko was speechless on the side. Big Sis, that's not the point… However, in that scene just now, Tsunade was indeed heroic and valiant. He had originally planned to "join the battle," but seeing that Tsunade had already opened fire on her own, he suppressed the thought in his heart.
Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed lightly.
"Well then, what is the result now?"
"We'll talk about that later. What I want to talk about is the matter of the Police Force, and… bringing the captain of the Police Force back into the core circle of power."
"I object!"
Utatane Koharu slammed the table with a "bang."
Tsunade looked at her, her gaze calm, yet carrying an extremely strong pressure. At this moment… she was the Fourth Hokage!
Tsunade straightened up.
"Advisor Koharu, the Police Force is an important organization of Konoha. It should not be used as a tool of suppression as it was in the past. I know that your generation grew up under the oppression of Madara, so you have a very wary mentality towards the Uchiha…"
"But now, even Madara can only linger in a corner, using unspeakable means to seize allies as much as possible. Even if he is still alive, so what?"
"The Uchiha didn't leave back then, and they won't leave now or in the future!"
Her voice was high-pitched.
"This is my decision as the Fourth Hokage!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression froze. Utatane Koharu was also stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer.
A few seconds later, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled.
"In that case, let's do as you think."
"Hiruzen…"
"Sit down."
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand.
Utatane Koharu sat down unwillingly.
A moment later, from outside, one by one, figures filed in. The clan heads of the various families had entered. First were Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi, followed by the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Aburame Shibi… One by one, figures came in. Finally, a middle-aged man slowly entered the room and closed the door behind him. He was Shimura Kazuma, the head of the Shimura clan.
"Everyone has arrived."
"Then let's begin. First, let Kyohiko explain the situation last night…"
Tsunade pointed at Ryoho Kyohiko.
Kyohiko stood up and briefly explained the situation last night, omitting some details concerning the Tailed Beast. After finishing his report, he sat down.
Tsunade said.
"Regarding the rogue-nin, they will be dealt with according to the village rules. Does anyone have any objections?"
"None."
Everyone shook their heads. Including Fugaku.
In fact, when he heard this sentence, he was relieved in his heart. Everyone punishing the rogue-nin according to the village rules was a manifestation of treating everyone equally. No one would have any objections. On the contrary, it meant that the targeted suppression of the Uchiha in the past was over. Besides, according to the village's regulations, rebellion was classified by nature. Different levels and degrees of harm would be given different punishments. Someone like Uchiha Shinji would definitely die. But some other people might still be able to live, but… imprisonment was certain. This was already a very good result.
Fugaku sat there quietly, his face calm and composed.
Shikaku understood in his heart. So it is! Konoha not only doesn't want to target the Uchiha, but also wants to re-accept them. Gathering the clan heads of the various families was probably for better cooperation, to let the various families not have any suspicions—Konoha can even accept the Uchiha, what do you have to be afraid of?
A slight smile touched Ryoho Kyohiko's lips. To deal with the outside, first pacify the inside. The Uchiha was one, and another was to integrate all the families, so that their strength could be used in one direction. Then, Konoha's credibility and the various families' confidence in Konoha were very important. Tsunade naturally understood this point.
So.
"Second, those who participated in the rebellion are not allowed to remain in the Police Force and will be under Konoha's supervision in the short term. Any objections?"
Tsunade looked at Fugaku.
Fugaku shook his head.
"No objections."
Tsunade's tone was serious, her aura pressing.
"Third, considering the current lack of strength in the Uchiha, I propose to transfer some ninjas who are good at management, communication, and reconnaissance into the Police Force. Fugaku, what is your opinion?"
Upon hearing this, Fugaku was silent for a moment. The Police Force… although he had expected it, when it really came to this step, he was still a little reluctant in his heart. After all, this was a right won by the Uchiha's predecessors.
He closed his eyes.
"No objections."
On the side, Sarutobi Hiruzen was first astonished, then thoughtful. If viewed from the perspective of a single Uchiha and letting the Uchiha return to the center of power, both of these matters were quite risky. But combined, they were operable. Weaken the Uchiha's control over the Police Force. Enhance the other party's right to speak in the village. And it could make the Police Force truly operate well. Killing three birds with one stone! No! There's one more thing, commerce!
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly thought that Kyohiko had reached a reconciliation with the noble group represented by Yoshi Enji, and had entered into a new cooperation, and had also resumed trade with Sunagakure. Then Konoha's trade would also become frequent. With many factors intertwined, the reorganization and optimization of the Police Force was imperative! By that calculation… he looked at Kyohiko, a trace of shock in his eyes. If that's the case, Kyohiko had already made Konoha's next move in his heart long ago. The next step, the ninja mercenary plan!
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and calculated carefully. He found that Kyohiko's various ideas were interconnected and not isolated individuals. In comparison, it was he who seemed to have a narrow vision. Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that he had vaguely grasped some of Kyohiko's concepts. His heart fell into a deep thought, not even paying attention to the voices outside.
Tsunade looked at Fugaku and continued to talk about the planning of the Police Force.
"Well then, next, the captain of the Police Force will still be held by the Uchiha clan, elected by the Uchiha clan. The sub-captains below will be partly appointed and partly elected."
"The captain of the Police Force needs to participate in Konoha's major meeting decisions. Captain Fugaku, please pay attention to attending meetings in the future."
At this moment, the meeting room was extremely quiet. The faces of all the clan heads showed shock. The Uchiha are returning to the high-level circle!
Nara Shikaku's gaze at Tsunade showed a slight change. He naturally knew that such a plan must have been proposed by Kyohiko behind the scenes, but Tsunade also needed to approve it. And she was obviously not a person who doted on her juniors to the point of not knowing what was important. The Uchiha's internal strife, the losses were huge, yet they are really returning to the center of power!
Fugaku's lips trembled, his emotions turbulent. He had thought that Kyohiko would not make things difficult for the Uchiha, but he had not expected that the other party could actually fight for such an exchange of interests. He was a little at a loss. A few seconds later, Fugaku took a deep breath.
"Yes! Hokage-sama!"
"Finally, I want to say one thing—"
Tsunade swept her gaze around, her eyes as sharp as an arrow. "With the current evidence, it is enough to show that Uchiha Madara used some means to deceive the Shodai-sama back then. He is still alive."
Madara?
The meeting room was quiet and shocked. Most of them already knew the inside story, but before it was just a guess. Now Tsunade had completely confirmed it. Madara is still alive!
Tsunade's fist hammered the table, her tone full of confidence.
"The various chaos of the Uchiha and Konoha are all related to Madara. But he dares not show himself, which is enough to show that he is already old. Well then… let him come! As long as he dares to come, we can keep him in Konoha!"
"Yes!"
A chorus of shouts rang out in the meeting room.
Everyone's faces were filled with excitement and exhilaration—their generation had almost come all the way under the suppression of the Sannin. Now… the familiar Tsunade was back! Confident, firm, and fearless of any enemy!
Tsunade picked up the proposal on the table.
"Well then, today's meeting is dismissed. The specific ninjas to be transferred to the Police Force, the improvement and optimization of the Police Force, will be discussed uniformly with Clan Head Fugaku and relevant personnel at that time."
"For a while after this, we will have many meetings. I hope you will not get tired of them."
"We won't!"