Uchiha Makoto smiled.
The Uchiha elders also smiled—Makoto, what a good man!
The air in the room was suddenly filled with a happy atmosphere.
Subsequently...
The Uchiha elders stopped beating around the bush and began to talk to Uchiha Makoto about the recent situation of the Uchiha clan in the village.
The situation described by the elders was about the same as what Uchiha Makoto had privately inquired about.
The Uchiha clan's situation in Konoha was neither good nor bad... Although Senju Tobirama was always on guard against the Uchiha clan, he had not deprived them of the decent treatment they deserved.
After all, Senju Tobirama did not want the Uchiha clan to run to Uchiha Makoto's side... If the Uchiha clan, as one of the founding families of Konoha, ran away, he could forget about becoming Hokage... Even Senju Hashirama would have to comfort Senju Tobirama with his iron fist of love.
But...
Senju Tobirama was very cunning.
In the core power of the village, the Uchiha clan could never get a hand in.
This was a big headache for the Uchiha clan elders.
After all, if the Uchiha clan wanted to compete with Senju Tobirama in the future, they couldn't let him always control the core power of the village... Now, Senju Tobirama was working in the Hokage's office every day. When the elders went to see him for discussions, their momentum was already halved!
Uchiha Makoto drank his tea while asking a few questions he was concerned about. Listening to the Uchiha elders' complaints, he had already made a decision in his heart.
Although Uchiha Makoto did not want the Uchiha clan to be too strong in Konoha...
But according to Uchiha Makoto's plan, the Uchiha clan should at least be able to fight Senju Tobirama to a 3-7 split in a high-level decision-making meeting in Konoha. If he himself stepped in to create momentum for the Uchiha clan, they could barely reach a 4-6 split, or even a 5-5 split.
But the Uchiha clan's current status and right to speak in Konoha were too... they completely lacked the power and right to speak that a second-in-command of Konoha should have.
Up to now, the Uchiha clan had no allies in Konoha to support each other.
This was very ridiculous.
He had clearly reminded them... but they still managed to get the family into this state in Konoha.
Uchiha Makoto didn't know what these elders who controlled the family's power had been doing for the past few years!
This was already the era of ninja villages!
It seemed that the thinking of these elders who controlled the family's power had not yet caught up. Their thinking was still stuck in the Warring States period of individual ninja clans, and had not shifted to the ninja village era of ninja clans banding together.
They naively believed that because the Uchiha clan was strong, and Uchiha Madara was strong, they could rest easy in Konoha.
Uchiha Makoto glanced coldly at these elders... with these pests, how could the Uchiha clan grow bigger and stronger!
He had just mentioned finding allies and supporters in Konoha.
The tone of these elders was quite arrogant. They held the airs of a bloodline noble family and looked down on those small ninja clans.
Even for the secret jutsu families, they would belittle them in their words.
As for the Hyuga clan, which was also a bloodline ninja clan...
Logically speaking, the Uchiha clan, as the number two in Konoha, should pull the Hyuga, the number three, to deal with the Senju clan together, to maximize their interests.
But the elders did not try to win them over. Instead, they felt that the Hyuga clan should take the initiative to befriend the Uchiha clan.
After all, although the Hyuga clan's overall strength was good, they lacked a strong individual who could break the mold. Why should the Uchiha clan take the initiative to show goodwill?
But the Hyuga clan were like slippery eels, playing both sides!
When the number two and the number one were fighting for position, the number three must wait for the highest bidder.
If the Uchiha clan did not take the initiative to show goodwill, then the Hyuga clan would never take the initiative either... Anyway, the Hyuga clan had their own little plans. It didn't matter who became Hokage. They would still get their share. At worst, they would just eat a little less when they remained neutral.
The Uchiha clan, with their airs, waiting for others to take the initiative, was no match for Senju Tobirama's proactive goodwill.
Senju Tobirama, just by taking on disciples as a favor, had taken on many, and they were all selected from the powerful families of Konoha. He also used his status to dominate the selection of ANBU personnel and the personnel for the establishment of various departments in Konoha... This was all a show of goodwill.
The Uchiha clan originally had the ability to compete, but the list the elders submitted was all family disciples... Now, one step behind, every step behind.
Five golden years, missed, is missed.
"Elders, so-called power is not a position that can elevate or demote the Uchiha clan with a single piece of paper. Power is not the pleasure of achieving the glory of the Uchiha clan. It refers to the extent to which you can influence and control others, and even the entire spiritual life of Konoha..."
"The Uchiha clan can fight and kill outside, but inside Konoha, it's all about human relationships."
"What's the use of the Uchiha clan being able to fight? Even Lord Madara can't easily lay a hand on the ninja clans inside the village... Can he beat Lord Hashirama... What's the use of you putting on airs all day? I think if Lord Madara doesn't become the Second Hokage, it would be better for Konoha if Senju Tobirama became Hokage... you guys..."
Uchiha Makoto's tone was one of disappointment.
In fact, these words...
Uchiha Makoto had said them in the letters he wrote to the family, but obviously no one had taken his advice to heart... People usually can't be taught by others. They have to be slapped in the face by reality to know the pain.
But fortunately, it was not too late.
In a few more years...
If things really developed according to the plotline, first Uchiha Madara would defect from Konoha, then the battle at the Valley of the End would result in one death and one injury... Finally, Senju Tobirama would smoothly become the Second Hokage of Konoha. And at that time, the Uchiha clan's reputation in Konoha would be ruined because of Uchiha Madara's defection. Senju Tobirama would be able to play with the Uchiha clan like a soft persimmon.
Ah... of course, the current situation was a good thing for Uchiha Makoto.
The Uchiha clan being weak and stupid made Uchiha Makoto seem precious.
Uchiha Makoto could also use the Uchiha clan's actions to legitimately expand his influence in Konoha.
Up to this point...
The Uchiha elders, after being ridiculed by Uchiha Makoto to their faces, began to reflect on their own problems.
The reasoning was indeed so.
The selection of the Hokage in Konoha was a democratic vote. Unless you had the strength to flip the table like Uchiha Madara or Senju Hashirama, everyone had to follow the rules.
If the Uchiha clan couldn't get enough supporters now... and Uchiha Madara didn't become Hokage, Senju Tobirama could almost consider the position of the Second Hokage as his own.
The rather anxious elders began to discuss among themselves.
"Makoto, you're right... but at that time, we didn't know that Lord Madara wasn't interested in being the Second Hokage, and that Senju Tobirama was coveting the position with ill intentions. It's not that we are too incompetent, but that Senju Tobirama is too cunning!"
"That's right, we didn't expect this day to come."
"..."
"Makoto, what do you think we should do now?"
Facing the elders' complaints...
Uchiha Makoto suddenly felt that his teammates were a bit... no wonder you can't beat Senju Tobirama.
But for the sake of Akatsuki Village being able to get its hands into Konoha in the future, he still planned to do something. So Uchiha Makoto paused and said:
"Isn't there a good opportunity right now..."
"I remember Senju Tobirama asked the Uchiha clan to start preparing for the establishment of the Konoha Military Police Force after the new year. Isn't this an excellent opportunity to win over the ninja clans?"
"Take half of the Konoha Military Police Force's establishment and distribute it in Konoha!"
"Ah? Half?"
"This is a department that our Uchiha clan has worked so hard to get from Senju Tobirama, and the Uchiha clan has absolute power in it..."
The elders frowned one by one, feeling that Uchiha Makoto's suggestion was... this was really cutting into their own flesh.
Establishment is precious.
Even in Konoha.
According to the regulations set by Senju Tobirama in Konoha...
Ninja on the Konoha establishment can enjoy a fixed salary and special welfare benefits on holidays.
The salary is divided according to the average income of the ninja level in the village and the village's consumption level.
Take a genin as an example. They basically live on D-rank missions. The average salary for a D-rank mission is about one to three thousand ryō. After deducting the village's commission and the share of the other team members, an ordinary genin can only get a few thousand ryō for completing a D-rank mission. At most, they can complete about twenty missions a month and earn tens of thousands of ryō.
The cost of missions is also paid by the ninja themselves, which is also an expense.
And although D-rank missions have a lower threat to ninja, there are always accidents.
If you get injured...
In short, even in Konoha, the life of a genin is actually very tight.
But having an establishment in the village is different.
The current fixed salary for a genin on the establishment is fifty thousand ryō per month.
Chūnin and jōnin are even higher!
And the most crucial thing is that this money is unshakable and arrives monthly... completely separate from the income from missions.
Currently, even the Senju clan in Konoha did not have control over an entire department's establishment!
So the Uchiha clan believed that obtaining the Konoha Military Police Force was a concession from Senju Tobirama, even though he had also proposed additional requirements—the Uchiha clan would have to solve the funding for the establishment of the Konoha Military Police Force themselves, and also for the first three years... The Uchiha clan had agreed to all these conditions.
The Uchiha clan was not short of these funds at the moment. This deal was too worth it.
After suffering for the first three years, this would be a stable job that belonged exclusively to the Uchiha clan!
As the saying goes, don't let good water flow into others' fields!
The clan's elders couldn't possibly give these establishments to outsiders, right?
So all the Uchiha clansmen were eyeing these establishments, seeing them as a welfare for the Uchiha clan as a founding family, a symbol of the Uchiha clan's extraordinary status in Konoha!
And the Uchiha elders also intended to turn the Konoha Military Police Force into a base for the Uchiha clan, a fortress that belonged exclusively to them.
"Makoto, I think we should... reconsider this."
"This is a major matter... if we do this, we won't be able to explain it to the family."
"That's right, giving away so many establishments..."
The Uchiha elders began to shake their heads.
Uchiha Makoto was talking about half of the establishment with one mouth. He said it so easily, but the knife was cutting into their own people first... How could the Uchiha clansmen be willing?
Once they did this, the family would not be peaceful!
And Uchiha Makoto was also very helpless.
He certainly knew that this was all the conspiracy of that old ghost of the Senju, Senju Tobirama!
Senju Tobirama had given the Uchiha clan a pie they couldn't refuse.
The pie was fragrant and eye-catching.
Uchiha Makoto had the power to distribute this fragrant pie as he pleased.
And the other families in Konoha were also watching with eager eyes... Uchiha, you don't want to eat it all by yourselves, do you?
But the Uchiha clansmen would absolutely not give up their own pie. Their pride made them see it as a symbol of the Uchiha clan's extraordinary status in Konoha.
And the establishment was indeed fragrant... the people of Shandong can best understand this feeling.
However, although the elders had all voted against it...
Uchiha Makoto did not back down.
"If the Uchiha clan monopolizes it this time, the family's situation in Konoha will probably become more and more difficult. Senju Tobirama is forcing you to make a choice... but he knows that with the Uchiha clan's character, they will probably choose to monopolize it."
"So many big and small families in Konoha are watching the Uchiha clan eat alone... what will they think... can they still support an Uchiha to become Hokage?"
The person involved is confused, but the bystander is clear. Uchiha Makoto analyzed it from an outsider's perspective.
The Uchiha clan eating alone... in the eyes of the other big and small families in Konoha, how could they be worthy of being Hokage?
"Senju Tobirama, he's so despicable!"
"Sure enough, I knew Senju Tobirama had no good intentions!"
"No wonder he was so straightforward at that time!"
"Then what... should we do... do we have to give away half of the establishment?"
The problem quickly came back.
Cutting one's own flesh is not so easy.
The elders present all knew that whoever spoke first, whoever made the decision first, would have to bear the pressure of the family... they were also afraid of people throwing shit at their doors in the middle of the night.
Uchiha Makoto was now an outsider, sitting motionless, quietly watching them.
He certainly had a way to solve this problem.
Isn't it just a matter of money?
Even though Akatsuki Village was now involved in more and more projects, and the bulk of its financial funds were all invested in various projects for the next five years, it was in a stage of spending more and earning less. The initial investment in industry was very high, and it was impossible to get a return quickly.
Some investments might not even break even in five years.
The village's funds were actually a bit tight, but fortunately, Akatsuki Village had the salt tax, a national-level income, as its support.
This was a stable income, and it should be no problem to get through the difficult early period with it.
Now, it was just a matter of a few hundred million ryō more in expenses on Akatsuki Village's books each year. It wasn't a particularly large expense!
However, although he could give this money...
He absolutely could not give it away easily. Uchiha Makoto had to maintain his posture
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