The curry rice on the table was steaming, emitting an alluring aroma.
After Naraku quickly finished his portion, he hastily untied his apron and left the house without waiting for Kakashi to return, heading with Fūyō, who had come to pick him up, to the Naka Shrine for the grand Clan Meeting.
By the time he arrived, the venue was already packed with Clan Member, even many Uchiha who hadn't awakened their Sharingan were there, gathered in small groups, whispering to each other.
As soon as Naraku entered, the volume in the hall suddenly dropped by two points, and everyone focused their attention on the clan's renowned genius.
Several parents who had received his kindness nodded in greeting, then offered genuine smiles.
Fūyō whispered, "The Clan Head is waiting for you at the very front."
"I know, thank you, Fūyō-ge."
Naraku walked through the crowd without changing his expression, reaching the high platform at the front, and calmly sat to Uchiha Fugaku's right, one position behind him, facing all the Clan Member just like him.
"Silence."
The moment Fugaku spoke, the entire venue fell silent.
Awakening the legendary Mangekyo, leading the Clan Member to resist Konoha's oppressive rule, killing the culprit Danzo Shimura, and rescuing Naraku, the Uchiha's once-in-a-century genius… one by one, Fugaku appeared reliable and powerful in the eyes of the Clan Member, and his authority as Clan Head was fully demonstrated at this moment.
"Today's Clan Meeting has an important announcement."
Fugaku paused, then dropped a bombshell.
"The Uchiha Police Force's existing eight squads will be cut by half, with the positions given to other Konoha Ninja Clans and civilian Ninja."
Before he finished speaking, this announcement caused an uproar in the hall, and several elderly elders even stood up in shock.
"Clan Head! How can this be?!"
"The Police Force has been an exclusive Uchiha privilege since Konoha's founding. Giving away half of it to others?"
"Wouldn't that make us even more passive?"
"Are we still going to compromise with the Hokage?!"
After everyone had vented their emotions, Fugaku slowly opened his previously half-closed eyes and explained, "Clan Member, trust me, the Uchiha will gain much more from this."
After a brief period of wavering, most Uchiha still believed in Fugaku's strength and character, and the dissenting voices gradually died down.
Just then, a loud shout came from the elders' seats.
"No!"
Third Elder Uchiha Seki stood up from his seat, his slightly aged face filled with fury.
It was well known that he managed two Police Force squads, a number second only to the Clan Head. If The Police Force were to be cut, he would undoubtedly be the first to be targeted.
Wouldn't the power he wields be greatly diminished then?
"I absolutely disagree with this measure. Is the Clan Head only going to sacrifice our Clan to curry favor with those greedy guys in Konoha?"
"Without The Police Force, how will the Uchiha survive?!"
Naraku watched this hypocritical man rant with cold eyes, pondering how to deal with him.
Uchiha Seki's main concern was never how the Clan Member would survive, but how to preserve his own power and wealth.
Admittedly, he wanted the Uchiha to improve, but on this path, the one who bled and sacrificed absolutely could not be him.
"This is an announcement," Fugaku glared at Uchiha Seki, his crimson Mangekyo suddenly appearing, and a heavy, tangible pressure instantly filled the entire hall, "not a discussion!"
Naraku followed suit, his Mangekyo Sharingan, with its intertwined crescent moons, glowed faintly, telling everyone that he would only stand with the Clan Head.
Instantly, multiple Healing Seal incantations rapidly appeared on his face and body, coiling like dense snakes. Without using Dōjutsu or Susanoo, he barely managed to withstand the raging Dōjutsu Power (Pupil Power).
But even under such constraints, the Uchiha present wouldn't doubt Naraku's ability to tear the Third Elder apart at that moment.
Uchiha Seki, who had lived in comfort for years and no longer knew what battle was, was drenched in cold sweat. If not for another elder supporting him, he would have almost collapsed onto the ground.
After delivering the intimidation, Fugaku then closed his Mangekyo and said loudly, "You all need not worry, I am not asking the Uchiha Clan to sacrifice in vain. Everything we lose will return to our hands."
"The condition for the Uchiha Clan to give up half of The Police Force positions is…"
Hokage Building, High-Level Meeting.
"In order to improve Konoha's internal team structure and elevate the Village's overall strength, our Uchiha Clan has decided to give up half of The Police Force's positions."
"The condition is to exchange for Uchiha entering other Konoha departments—including Anbu—and to permanently possess this power."
The second Fugaku finished reading his speech, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two Advisors' faces twisted.
Allowing Uchiha to enter schools, medical squads, interrogation units, intelligence departments… even Anbu?
This was practically digging up Konoha's roots!
Dream on!
Other Ninja Clans and civilian Ninja wouldn't agree either!
Utatane Koharu was about to object when she saw the Inuzuka Clan Head decisively speak up in front of everyone: "Agreed."
Immediately after, the Hyūga Clan Head also nodded: "Agreed."
Even the Ino–Shika–Chō Clan Heads, whom she thought would strongly object, had wandering eyes and remained silent, their posture clearly indicating silent approval.
Now, the intelligence, interrogation, sealing, and Barrier departments were half-switched sides.
Tsunade looked at Utatane Koharu playfully and, representing the medical squad, made the final decision: "Agreed."
Even if she hadn't been in Konoha for the past few years and the medical squad was temporarily managed by the other party, as long as she nodded, there wouldn't be much opposition within the entire medical system.
Jiraiya followed Tsunade's lead: "Agreed."
Although Jiraiya had left the Village to wander after the Second Ninja War and didn't hold any official position, he was still a Konoha hero in the hearts of most civilians, and his words made many civilian Ninja in the Jōnin Squad choose to support him.
--Impossible!
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that The Police Force had always been a coveted prize in the eyes of the major Ninja Clans, but it couldn't possibly be worth exchanging so many benefits with the Uchiha, could it?
Even if Danzo's past incident was exposed, it shouldn't have come to this!
The Uchiha must have made other deals with them!
At this moment, the person he least expected stood up and said with conviction: "The Shimura Clan agrees!"
Homura Mitokado's eyes almost popped out.
--No, buddy!
--Your previous Clan Head, Danzo Shimura, died at Uchiha Fugaku's hands!
--How dare you agree?!
Shimura Yasushi felt Homura Mitokado's gaze and nervously touched his nose: No one could refuse that condition.
That was the strongest Bloodline Limit in the Ninja World, the Sharingan!
Uchiha Fugaku personally promised to no longer restrict Clan Member to only marrying within the Clan!
From now on, the Uchiha would not only accept inter-clan marriages, allow women to marry out, but even consider adopting male heirs!
Who wouldn't want their descendants to have the chance to awaken the Sharingan?
Even if they had to be entered into the Uchiha Clan registry after awakening and acknowledge their Uchiha bloodline, it would still be completely worth it!
The momentum was set. If Hiruzen Sarutobi stubbornly refused to let the Uchiha have their way, then the 'ducks in hand' for most of the people present would fly away, and they would undoubtedly resent him.
The support lost due to Danzo's mess would be even harder to win back.
He could only agree.
And the Inuzuka Clan Head, who was the first to reach an agreement with the Uchiha, was grinning from ear to ear, thinking how fortunate he was to have already instructed the young men and women in his Clan to quickly pursue the Uchiha they liked.
Marry in half a year!
Have children in a year!
Two children in three years!
Three children in five years!
Hahaha! My Inuzuka Clan is going to prosper!