The Seventh Elder closed the book, his eyes filled with shock.
"This kind of book… has never existed in Konoha."
Yun nodded calmly. "Merely possessing power only leads to destruction. The knowledge required for governance, what's written in that book, is only the bare minimum."
"But for the Uchiha, it's already more than enough. Even if they kill off all opposition, all they'll gain is a place called 'Konoha' that's just a renamed Uchiha clan compound."
He tapped his temple. "To become Hokage, you need to think."
The Seventh Elder carefully held the book. "You're absolutely right. Reading more is beneficial."
Itachi looked at Yun. "How did you manage this? To see so far ahead?"
Yun thought for a moment and replied,
"Always dwelling on life and death helps no one. When identifying problems, you also need to observe, observe through the lens of a clan, a village, even the world."
"When your perspective broadens, you start realizing that the problems you once obsessed over aren't that significant. People are creatures of desire, power, wealth, strength, fame… or even emotion."
He turned to Itachi. "You're a genius, but only in terms of ninja talent. When it comes to people… you don't understand them yet."
After his words fell, everyone except Yun sank into deep thought.
'People?'
'Desire?'
After a long silence, the Sevent Elder asked, "What about that clansman from Root earlier? How should we handle him?"
Yun pondered. "After Danzo died, the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal should have disappeared. But it seems Root has now fallen under the control of someone else in the upper ranks of Konoha."
The Sevent Elder asked, "Do we need to eliminate him? The ones who joined Root no longer share the Uchiha's ideology."
This suggestion made Shisui frown, but Yun waved his hand dismissively.
"Make it look like an accident. Someone from Root who watched his own people be persecuted without lifting a finger. There's no point keeping that kind of person around."
"As for the current Konoha leadership, whether it's the Third or his advisors, given the strength of the Uchiha now, they won't dare act out."
The Seventh Elder nodded. Shisui also understood Yun's hidden meaning: the "persecuted clansman" wasn't the Uchiha as a whole, but Uchiha Hika, a man who had longed for death, all for the sake of his clan and the village.
"Sigh…"
"Let's follow Yun's suggestion. From now on, we'll proceed gradually. The next issue is restructuring the police force."
Shisui drew the meeting to a close. He was now no longer the Fourth Hokage's personal Anbu; he was the Uchiha clan leader, and a very busy one at that.
After the meeting, the Seventh Elder left with the thick book. Yun and Itachi also got ready to leave.
"Are we really abandoning the police force?" came Shisui's voice from behind.
Yun turned his head.
"The vast autonomy the Uchiha once had allowed them to arm themselves without oversight. But do we still want a coup?"
"Stick to the plan. Starting tomorrow, try testing the attitudes of the other clans. Use the role of sub-squad captain, or even deputy captain of the police force, as bait."
"Actually… even the captain's role is fine. See who's willing to get their hands dirty."
....
Three Months Later – Konoha Commercial Street
Bang!
A man came rolling out of a building with a curtain labeled "Gambling", and just as he stood up, someone inside kicked him back down.
"Bastard! If you don't pay up in three days, you're dead meat!"
The man was a bruised and bloated merchant. Still defiant, he shouted,
"You cheated me out of my money, then lured me into your loan scam. Why the hell should I repay you?!"
"I won't! I'll report you to the police force! I want my money back!"
One of the casino's men sneered. "You lost fair and square. Got proof we cheated? If so, point them out. We'll go with you to the police force."
At that moment, three ninjas in flak jackets arrived. The merchant ran over and grabbed one of their legs.
"Please, help! They scammed me and beat me!"
The casino workers cursed their luck at the bad timing.
"Respected officers, I'm the manager here."
He tried to shake hands, but the officer's expression suddenly shifted after touching something off.
In the end, the fat merchant was taken away on suspicion of being a spy from another village.
"How's it going?" Yun asked.
Shisui replied, "After Danzo's death, the Fourth and his advisors partially restored police force funding. But…"
Yun smiled.
"But with years of corrupt precedent, the civilian ninja just recruited into the police are following the same old Uchiha patterns."
Shisui nodded with a wry smile.
"Exactly as you predicted. Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans kept their search units. The Ino–Shika–Chō trio, plus Sarutobi and Shimura clans, all outright refused any police force involvement."
"Only a bunch of barely-promoted Chunin civilians, scared of dying on missions, eagerly joined."
"But… they're not very effective."
Yun replied,
"They see it as a cushy job, low work, good pay, and close to home. And strong ninjas don't want anything to do with the police."
"But for these guys, it's like a dream job, strutting around, no real danger, and abusing their power. The rights they once envied now make them just as corrupt."
Shisui added,
"Even deputy positions couldn't tempt the major clans. This really is a poisoned chalice."
Yun asked, "Do you think clans like Hyuga or Sarutobi are planning rebellion?"
Shisui blinked. "No, they don't have the strength for that either."
Yun continued, "Then what do they want so much autonomy for? Do they think being armed is enough? Not everyone has a Susanoo."
"Forget trying to pull them in. Their clan heads aren't fools. Let the Uchiha give it up, and have the Hokage assign people from all clans instead."
Shisui nodded slowly.
As for the fat merchant who got dragged off, Shisui wasn't too worried. The Uchiha in the police had been downsized significantly, and the ones in charge were still trustworthy.
Thanks to Yun's book, even some Uchiha had started thinking more critically. That alone was a small victory.
Still, even if the facts were clear, the merchant would never get his money back. The debt? Probably written off in silence.
Swoosh!
A figure suddenly appeared behind Yun and Shisui.
"Shisui-senpai, Uchiha Yun, the Hokage wants to see you."
Yun turned his head slightly, Mangekyō Sharingan activated.
"Next time, don't appear behind me. I can't promise you'll be so lucky again."
Shisui patted his shoulder. "Relax. It's an old Anbu habit. I'll tell them to be more careful."
Yun deactivated his eye and exhaled. That was a bit too quick of a reaction.
The masked Anbu, now drenched in cold sweat, nodded and vanished instantly.
'That dark chakra... it almost made me draw my blade.'
'Is this the true power of the Uchiha's Sharingan?'
'And Yun… he's just a kid!? Even compared to Kakashi-senpai, this talent is insane…'
....
Hokage's Office
Minato looked up from his paperwork and smiled.
"Captain Shisui. Yun's here too? Just wait a sec, I'm halfway through this file."
Shisui nodded. "Please just call me Shisui. I'm not used to the title."
Minato chuckled and resumed working. Yun smiled lightly.
Three months had passed. The once-divided Uchiha were now united by a shift in ideology. Was Minato beginning to grow wary of their strength?
'Captain Shisui?'
'A half-finished file?'
'Was he testing Shisui's loyalty? Then next… he'll test mine.'
Soon, Minato set the document aside and smiled at Yun.
"The Uchiha reform has gone well lately, thanks to both of you."
Shisui scratched his head. "Since no other clans wanted to join the police force…"
Minato nodded.
"I'll handle that. The police duties shouldn't rest solely on the Uchiha anymore. We'll revise its authority."
Yun smiled. "It's rare for us to get a break from the academy. Shisui, Itachi, and I were going to get some barbecue. Would you like to come?"
Minato glanced at his mountain of paperwork. "Shikaku's on leave today, so I don't think I'll be free."
"Actually, I had Anbu call you for something else."
He looked at Yun.
"Now that Shisui is clan head, he can't stay in Anbu. I need someone to fill that gap. Yun, you're the same age Kakashi was when he became a Chunin. Are you really still suited for ninja school?"
'Uh oh.'
Yun froze. 'So this is where it was going?'
He'd been slacking off for three years, and wanted to slack three more!
"What's your intention, Lord Hokage?"
Minato smiled.
"Kakashi left Anbu, and his direct unit was managed by Shisui and Ka. Now that Shisui's gone, I want to promote you early to Chunin."
Yun raised an eyebrow. "Can promotions happen like that? And becoming Chunin doesn't mean I'm in Anbu, right?"
Minato replied,
"You'll go through emergency promotion; there'll be an assessment. But I doubt that's a problem for someone with Mangekyō."
"Besides, a Chunin with a Kekkei Genkai like the Sharingan can be directly promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin."
'So in other words, I don't have a choice. No more slacking, huh?'
Yun sighed. He was comfortable, rich, and carefree. He wanted to team up with Izumi after graduation, but now that seemed impossible.
"I feel I'm still lacking… maybe I should study at the academy a few more years?"
Minato raised an eyebrow. "Study more? Or play more? Itachi graduated two years ago. How long do you want to keep playing?"
Shisui smirked. "Yun isn't like Itachi. Whether in ninja techniques or understanding people, he's got nothing left to learn at the academy."
'Oof.'
Cornered, Yun could only nod. Staying would indeed be a waste of Mangekyō's power.
Minato couldn't allow high-level talent to be idle, especially with Root gone and limited Anbu personnel.
...
Barbecue Restaurant
"So you're graduating early too?" Itachi asked, surprised. "I thought you'd stay all six years."
Shisui chuckled.
"Six years at school, then Genin for life, goofing off in the village? That's probably Yun's dream life."
Yun scoffed.
"Why risk your life on missions when your clones can make money? Let me be lazy in peace!"
"Anyway, at least I got to slack off for two years. Unlike Itachi here, who spent two years cleaning latrines."
Itachi flushed.
"That only happened twice! Most of our missions were things like catching cats or chasing boars."
Yun raised an eyebrow. "And you're proud of that?"
Itachi shrugged. "We've been doing C-rank missions outside the village for over a year now. It's not Anbu-level, but it's fulfilling."
Yun noticed a glint in his eyes. "Wait… you're in love?"
"Huh?!"
Itachi turned beet red. Yun pounced, shaking him violently.
"WHO IS IT?! I canceled your cat summoning. How did you still get close to her?!"
"Cough, cough, cough…"
Itachi couldn't breathe. Shisui quickly clarified.
"It's not the cat. He likes a teammate, a girl named Shinoko."
'Shinoko?'
Yun finally let go. "It's not Izumi?"
Itachi exhaled. "I've always seen Izumi as a sister. I only gave her the ninja cat because she liked it."
Yun still looked doubtful, but finally said,
"Well… as long as it's not Izumi, I support you."
Then he turned to Shisui. "Isn't nine a bit young for romance?"
Shisui waved it off. "It's not real dating, just puppy love. Relax."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu