The next day.
It was still dark when Aozora got up early to prepare breakfast for Shisui.
After seeing Shisui off, Aozora began his morning workout like always.
I've told Shisui everything I know. If he still ends up dead out there, there's nothing else I can do.
Around ten in the morning, while Aozora was studying basic sealing techniques from a scroll, he suddenly heard a knock on the door.
Opening it to see Kyudai standing there, Aozora asked, "Does the clan head need me? Let me change into something more formal."
Kyudai replied, "Clan head summons you directly. Just come as you are; no need for battle gear."
Nodding, Aozora locked his doors and windows before walking together with Kyudai toward the clan head's estate.
When they arrived at the clan head's residence, Aozora noticed many clan members gathered around the courtyard.
Though the weather was cold, their tempers burned hot.
"The Police Force belongs to us Uchiha! Why recruit those contemptible commoners?"
"Those commoners have stolen our positions!"
"Whoever came up with that ridiculous idea—there should never be any non-Uchiha ninja in the Police Force at all!"
"Why increase recruitment for the Police Force without considering our own clan members first?"
"..."
Aozora listened to some of these complaints briefly before following Kyudai inside the clan head's home.
Stepping through the entrance, Aozora saw Fugaku seeing off several elderly-looking clan members from the living room.
Fugaku said to the leader of the group, "Uncle Tekiya, I will carefully consider your opinions and provide a response soon."
Tekiya Uchiha stroked his white beard thoughtfully, saying earnestly, "Fugaku! Don't forget who you are! Remember, first and foremost—you're an Uchiha!"
Fugaku nodded respectfully while escorting everyone out, then turned to glance at Aozora and Kyudai before heading back toward his study.
Once seated, Mikoto served tea before quietly closing the study door behind her.
Fugaku took a sip of tea and asked, "Aozora, Kyudai—you both witnessed what just happened. What do you think?"
"Reforming the Police Force benefits the future development of the Uchiha clan overall. We shouldn't stop progress simply because some clan members object."
Kyudai added with mild complaint, "Why can't the elders understand the chief's good intentions?"
Ever since becoming Fugaku's assistant, Kyudai had been reading intelligence reports daily and participating in major decisions about the Police Force and the clan. His horizons had grown much wider.
He strongly supported Aozora's previous speech at the meeting: if the Uchiha wanted growth, they must begin recruiting civilian ninja!
Fugaku gave no clear reaction but instead turned his gaze toward Aozora.
Aozora calmly replied, "Elder Tekiya's approach is quite understandable human behavior."
As if betrayed, Kyudai blurted out, "Aozora! You were the one who originally proposed Police Force reform!"
"I assumed you would criticize the elders for their narrow-mindedness and lack of vision!" Fugaku added, surprised.
"They must each have their own reasoning."
Shaking his head slightly, Aozora continued seriously, "Our roles are different now. While we can encourage clan members to sacrifice for the family's benefit, we cannot demand such sacrifices from them."
Fugaku pondered Aozora's words momentarily before nodding in agreement. "I'm glad you think this way."
Kyudai exclaimed excitedly, "Chief, by no means can we abandon the reform!"
Fugaku picked up his teacup, blew gently, and said, "Have a sip of tea."
Aozora and Kyudai followed his advice and took a tentative sip of the hot tea on the table.
The tea was bitter at first, but left a faint fragrance after going down the throat.
Though unfamiliar with the ritual of tea, Kyudai found that the slow sipping helped him calm down.
He reflected on Fugaku's and Aozora's behavior earlier, recognizing he had acted too hastily—neither had ever said they wanted to stop the reform.
Seeing Kyudai grow calm, Fugaku gave a slight nod.
Aozora and Kyudai were both his assistants, yet compared to Aozora, Kyudai, despite being older, seemed more naive.
But this very naivety gave Fugaku a sense of joy in mentoring and shaping him.
Each small step Kyudai took forward brought Fugaku a sense of deep satisfaction.
"The Police Force reform must go on—but we can't turn a deaf ear to what the clan expects either."
After setting this tone, Fugaku asked, "What strategies do you two have in mind?"
Kyudai lowered his head in thought, while Aozora sat still with a calm smile.
After a long pause, Kyudai slowly shook his head. He wasn't someone quick-witted.
Fugaku didn't seem disappointed; instead, he turned his gaze toward Aozora.
Aozora nodded and said, "Chief, take it easy. I've got something..."
Fugaku continued for him, "Three strategies?"
Aozora shook his head. "This time, not three—only two. Strictly speaking, they're two steps under one strategy."
Fugaku's eyes lit up. "Please explain in detail."
Aozora raised his index finger. "First, when recruiting commoner ninja into the Police Force, we should also recruit clan ninja."
Kyudai frowned. "The Police Force's quota is already limited. After accepting commoner ninja, we might even need to eliminate some clan members. How can we possibly recruit more clan ninja?"
After hearing Kyudai's words, instead of frowning, Aozora smiled brightly.
"That's exactly better!"
Under Kyudai's puzzled gaze, Aozora explained, "Those old officers who get eliminated would likely blame the commoner ninja afterward, increasing the hostility between our clan and the village.
Now, once all new recruits are in, we let everyone compete—those capable remain, the weak get eliminated.
In fair competition, by the pride of the Uchiha clan, those who fail may feel resentful inside, but they will have no face to protest openly. Meanwhile, these newly recruited clan ninja can also absorb part of that resentment."
Kyudai asked, "If both newcomers and veterans compete together, or if Uchiha and non-Uchiha fight side by side, wouldn't that be unfair? What if all non-Uchiha candidates get eliminated?"
Facing straightforward Kyudai, Aozora replied helplessly, "We're the judges here! Even without altering results directly, we can design the rules. For example, we could incorporate villagers' satisfaction into the evaluation criteria."
Fugaku gave a nod of approval. "That indeed could solve the immediate issue, but this resentment won't truly disappear."
Aozora also nodded. "That was only the first step."
Then, Aozora asked, "Chief, do you still remember that night?"
"I naturally remember it," Fugaku recalled nostalgically.
Kyudai wore a bewildered look as he watched Fugaku and Aozora. Why did the chief and Aozora seem to have their own little secret, even though they were both assistants?
Aozora continued, "Ultimately, this issue traces back to the same problem—the Police Force itself isn't too inefficient; it's just too narrow in scope to hold the vast ambitions of the Uchiha."
After a pause, Aozora said, "Clan Head, do you recall the strategy known as 'a cunning rabbit has three dens'?"
Beside him, Kyudai was bursting with curiosity. The conversation between Fugaku and Aozora left him utterly baffled.
Aozora glanced at Kyudai, silently asking whether he should be informed.
Fugaku thought for a moment, then gave a slight nod.
Initially, they had kept things from Kyudai for two reasons: first, Kyudai had just taken office and wasn't fully trusted yet; second, at that time the Uchiha were in a precarious position, and Kyoto was a contingency plan prepared specifically for them — the fewer who knew, the better.
Now, with the surrounding situation shifting, the Uchiha's position within Konoha had greatly improved, and intelligence about Kyoto was no longer as critical as before.
Aozora briefly explained the "cunning rabbit with three dens" strategy to Kyudai, though deliberately omitting any mention of Natsuki.
Kyudai nodded in realization and asked, "So you're saying that the Second Elder has been going to Kyoto recently?"
"That's correct. The Second Elder has already established a sake bar in Kyoto and gathered significant intelligence."
Fugaku gave a measured nod and asked, "Aozora, what exactly did you have in mind?"
Aozora first shared his perspective on the overall situation in Konoha: "Since Danzo's defection, Konoha's balance of power has shifted from one dominant faction among many strong rivals to a chaotic struggle among multiple competing forces — the Hokage's faction, Uchiha, Hyuga, Ino–Shika–Cho alliance, commoners, neutral clans, and others. Their strengths vary, but none stands out as absolutely dominant.
At this stage, any faction that appears too powerful or ambitious risks drawing suspicion and hostility — especially the Uchiha.
Our clan's public image isn't particularly favorable. If we show off our strength too much, it could easily lead other clans to unite against us."
After finishing his analysis, Aozora intentionally paused, giving Fugaku and Kyudai time to process his words.
Then he continued, "Therefore, I believe our actions in Konoha shouldn't be too bold right now. We should simply maintain a strong presence, gradually improve our image, and actively build new alliances.
What we should do is channel our surplus strength outward, beyond Konoha's walls, and establish a second stronghold for the Uchiha."
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