"So that's how it is…"
The Fourth Elder and the others finally understood.
So that's how they planned to solve the funding issue.
With that clarified, they had no further objections and quickly pledged their full support for Uchiha Chiri's reform plan.
Soon after, the Uchiha Clan began to act.
Clan Academy: Put under the charge of the Second and Fourth Elders.
Police Force: Restructured by the Third Elder.
Key changes:
Elite Police Unit: A new division selected from Uchiha elites, to undergo advanced training and internal drills.
Squad One: Assigned to oversee and judge high-profile or serious cases.
Squad Two: Tasked with managing the detention center and prison operations.
Squad Three: Set to handle minor civil disputes, and most notably—opened for public recruitment.
Just two days later, the Uchiha Police Headquarters had completed its internal restructuring.
A massive bulletin board was erected outside, displaying clear notices:
Explanation of reforms.
Recruitment posters.
Job descriptions.
And most importantly—compensation packages.
The pay was very decent.
No life-risking missions.
Just patrol duties and mediating village disputes.
A steady salary.
Safe.
Stable.
Reliable.
What's not to love?
To further amplify the announcement, Chiri had the Third Elder post the same notice outside the Hokage Tower.
It didn't take long before the buzz began.
Throughout the Village:
Civilian shinobi and members of minor clans quickly took notice:
"Reforming the Police Force? Opening up recruitment? No way. Isn't that the Uchiha's private army?"
"I heard patrol numbers dropped recently. Maybe they're short on manpower?"
"Honestly, it's about time. The village has expanded so much, but the police squad size hasn't changed."
"Heh! You guys keep chatting, I'm going to sign up. Jobs like this don't come every day!"
"Wait for me! I want in too!"
"You're all really going? But it's the Uchiha we're talking about—they're not the friendliest bunch…"
"You don't know what you're talking about. Sure, they're cold on the outside, but Uchiha are solid teammates and top-tier fighters. I've been on missions with them. Trust me!"
As time passed, more and more civilian and minor clan ninjas rushed toward Police HQ.
Even branch families from mid-size clans began showing interest.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office:
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk. With him were Koharu, Homura, and—unexpectedly—Danzo.
He let out a long sigh of smoke.
"Well, well… the Uchiha really shook things up this time…"
On the surface, this was good news.
Uchiha was opening up to the village.
Letting outsiders into the Police Force meant the possibility of planting informants.
A perfect chance to keep tabs on their movements.
But the flip side?
This action had undermined the very mechanism Tobirama had designed to keep the Uchiha isolated.
"Whoever proposed this inside the clan clearly saw through the Second's plan…" Hiruzen muttered.
"They've removed the poisoned bait and left only the benefits."
"And if the rumors are true—about Chiri fully recovering—then this is all her doing."
His fingers tapped the desk.
There had been reports from their spies in the clan confirming her resurgence.
She hadn't bothered to keep it secret. In fact, she wanted them to know.
"Hiruzen!" Koharu snapped.
"Are you still smoking? This is serious—like ants on a hot pan! Stop them before they ruin Tobirama-sensei's strategy!"
"Exactly," Homura added.
"If we let this continue, they'll start gaining favor in the village. Their bid for the Hokage seat will be inevitable!"
Hiruzen exhaled deeply.
"Even as Hokage, I can't interfere with their internal management of the Police Force. That's their assigned duty."
"And more than that—this is a public play. A political 'sun move.' They're not hiding anything."
"The recruitment signs are already up on our own public board outside the tower."
"If I shut it down, I'd be going against the will of the people."
He couldn't afford to lose civilian support.
Just then, the door burst open.
Danzo Shimura stormed in, his expression dark as ever.
"Hiruzen is right," he said, stepping into the room.
"This isn't something we can block—and we shouldn't."
"In fact, we should participate. Use this opening to insert our own people."
"Once we're inside, we can start chipping away at the core—take the Police Force from within."
"They've always held on tight. But now, they've cracked the door open themselves."
"Even if we can't seize full control right away—we will eventually."
His tone carried conviction.
A snake slithering into a nest.
If the Uchiha thought they could control what they started, they were sorely mistaken.
Koharu and Homura were shocked.
"Danzo, you agree with this?" they asked in unison.
But the longer they considered it, the more sense it made.
This wasn't a defeat.
This was an opportunity.
And they weren't going to waste it.