"This is the personnel data of the Military Police Force."
When Roshi opened the file before Itachi, the young man's eyes twitched slightly—he could see everything inside without obstruction.
"Has Father already come to an agreement with you, Captain?"
Itachi's gaze lowered. "Personnel data… so it's a purge. How did you convince him to agree? No—if it's you, then you must've offered a plan he couldn't refuse."
Dealing with the police force inevitably meant a purge. The most obstinate members would never relinquish their authority, even if the clan's survival depended on it.
"Will the Village take action? Or the Senju…?"
Regardless, with the captain involved, the Uchiha Clan wouldn't end up cornered.
"Captain."
"Hmm?"
"If cooperation is needed, I'm willing to take part."
"It will be," Roshi nodded, "but not yet. I still need to study the specifics."
Compared to Fugaku—who often meandered and never reached the point—Itachi was direct, efficient, and had already worked alongside Roshi on two missions.
Receiving his answer, Itachi quietly closed his eyes. This was necessary.
To preserve the Uchiha Clan, something had to be sacrificed.
"Captain, during our first mission… you told me this: if those villagers had purged themselves the moment they noticed the signs, would the losses not have been fewer?"
Giving up the police force to secure the clan's future—it was a trade worth making, far better than facing complete annihilation.
Roshi examined the personnel data, dividing it neatly into three categories.
Radicals: Roughly thirty percent of the total. Zealous believers in the creed "Everything for Uchiha." They saw the Village and other clans as enemies and would stop at nothing to advance their ideals.
Conservatives: About twenty percent. They, too, cherished the Uchiha's honor but leaned toward rational negotiation—believing in improving their position through diplomacy and controlled displays of strength. These were the ones worth persuading.
They could be approached one by one—showing the advantages, framing outsiders' inclusion as "forging allies" and "paving the Uchiha's future." Promise them influence in the new order.
Ordinary members: The remaining half. They relied on the clan's stability, followed the prevailing current, and had no firm political stance.
These were the easiest to manage. As long as their livelihoods weren't too disturbed, they wouldn't resist fiercely.
The real threat lay with the radicals—unyielding, prideful, and unwilling to surrender any piece of their authority, especially the Police Force.
Many had long set the tone for rebellion. Roshi already had countermeasures prepared.
Still, this list represented Fugaku's personal assessment—and given his bias, there were bound to be errors. Perhaps those "conservatives" were more extreme than he believed. Perhaps the "ordinary majority" was smaller than fifty percent.
After gathering his thoughts, Roshi closed the file and returned it to Itachi.
"I already have a general direction—but it can't be executed based solely on paper intelligence."
His words didn't discourage Itachi. He simply accepted the data and waited.
"Itachi," Roshi said evenly, "I suspect your father won't fully accept my plan."
"I understand, Captain. Please tell me what you need me to do."
"I want you to use this data to confirm two groups: first, those who are completely uncompromising—true extremists within the Police Force. Second, those who are relatively open to negotiation."
Itachi nodded. "If there's an opportunity, should we… eliminate some of them?"
Roshi glanced at the boy's calm, expressionless face—and understood.
"No, Itachi. In this plan, you don't need to kill your clansmen. They haven't crossed that line yet."
He paused. "Also, you'll need to bring a summary of this plan back to your father. Tell him I require time to convince the Third Hokage to approve the transfer of elite Uchiha shinobi into the Anbu. Once that happens, some vacancies in the Police Force will naturally open up."
"As for how to persuade the others," Roshi said with a faint smile, "tell Fugaku this—"
'Everything is for the glory of the Uchiha. The clan's finest must stand among the Anbu, hidden in the shadows of Konoha. To achieve this, outsiders must temporarily enter the Police Force. Endure for now—for the sake of the Uchiha's rebirth.'
As Roshi spoke, Itachi's eyes sharpened with understanding.
'So that's it… to deal with those people, this is all it takes.'
'As expected of the Captain.'
"But remember," Roshi continued, "I need time—and so do you. This verification mission will be a long one."
The so-called plan for the Police Force was, in truth, still a rough framework—something presented merely to appease Fugaku for now. Since the man had shown goodwill, Roshi had to respond with something that at least looked concrete.
But actual implementation would demand far more. Itachi needed to verify every detail, and they would undoubtedly encounter complications.
What if the radicals weren't fools? What if the Village's own hardliners interfered?
And above all—Roshi's current power was still lacking. Acting as a bridge between the Uchiha and Konoha's leadership was risky enough to get him killed.
Fortunately, this wasn't yet Year 56. There was still time.
He needed that time—to consolidate his influence and sharpen his strength.
The plan's real activation would require a perfect moment: when the Uchiha's tension with the Village had ripened but not yet exploded—when their arrogance had isolated them just enough.
Only then would the Hokage be more receptive.
If Sarutobi proved obstinate, there were other paths. But first, Roshi had to become powerful enough to walk them.
The Uchiha's grand chessboard had just begun to move.
Fugaku's swift response—sending over this list—had been unexpected.
It seemed Roshi's Senju heritage still carried weight.
Without it, the proud Uchiha would never have even considered working with a fourteen-year-old Special Jonin—let alone reaching out first.
After all, in the original timeline, the clan had never once tried to ally with another clan. Their revolution had been a desperate gamble—a reckless coup born of pride, blind to the other clans' strength and politics.
But now, things were different. The Uchiha issue finally had a promising start.
Roshi leaned back and smiled faintly. "Itachi, how about we grab a bite later?"
"I'm sorry, Captain," Itachi replied with a polite bow. "I need to return this data first. Besides…" He glanced toward the door where Shisui was waiting. "…Shisui is still outside."
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