The Konoha Police Force.
Sakumo took small sips of tea, surveying the interior environment of the Police Force.
Not bad…
This institution—created single-handedly by the Second Hokage and dedicated exclusively to the Uchiha clan—was responsible for internal village order and public security, with the authority to arrest criminal ninja.
Adjacent to the Police Force was the Konoha Prison.
Ordinary genin and chūnin, unless something unexpected happened, would in fact likely never come here even once in their entire lives…
Fugaku sat across from Sakumo.
In his hands, he held a document, brows furrowed as he read it carefully.
It was a written plan for the Konoha patrol forces—compiled from what Hiruzen had said and written down by Sakumo.
"So, what do you think? Interested?"
Sakumo drank tea as he spoke, his hand also reaching toward the small snacks beside Fugaku. "Can I eat these? Kakashi didn't make much saury this morning—I didn't get full."
Fugaku rolled his eyes inwardly.
This is the Police Force, you know. And you're treating it like a cafeteria—eating and drinking as you please…
And you're a father, yet you have your son cooking for you?
"Please, make yourself at home—treat it like your own place." That was what he was thinking inside, but Fugaku's outward manner was warm and hospitable: "Try some of my wife's cooking."
Sakumo's behavior was, in fact, a kind of goodwill gesture.
And Fugaku really couldn't get a read on White Fang.
A few days earlier, during a day off, Fugaku had gotten drunk with a few friends and even complained that Sakumo looked dignified, but was actually a guy with a really nasty sense of humor!
Yashiro had chimed in right then: "White Fang is the craftiest of them all—he tells people he uses a blade, but then he uses Lightning Release to wrap around a Thousand Years of Death!"
After learning what kind of taijutsu Thousand Years of Death actually was, Fugaku sobered up by nearly half.
What kind of decent person researches a jutsu like that?
And even adds Lightning Release?
"These three-colored dango are delicious. You have a good wife, Fugaku." Sakumo ate with great satisfaction.
"I'm glad you like them!" Fugaku smiled. He had even joked with Mikoto that after their son was born, he would like these dango too.
"Is this plan the Third Hokage's idea?" Fugaku cleared his throat lightly, steering the conversation to the main topic.
"Of course. Other than the Third Hokage, who else could adjust the village's public security?"
Sakumo said, surprised, "Doesn't it say that right at the beginning of the plan? You didn't read it carefully?"
Fugaku felt his chest tighten a little.
Of course he knew it was Hiruzen's idea, and he had seen it…
Wasn't that just a random opening line to use when you finish the pleasantries and get down to business?
He realized that Konoha's White Fang was the kind of person who took things extremely literally!
And the whole "only the Hokage can adjust public security" thing…
Fugaku always felt Sakumo was implying something, but he had no evidence.
"Overall, this is very good—for the police force, and for the Uchiha…" Fugaku weighed his words carefully.
He couldn't see anything unusual in the plan.
In fact, it was simply a matter of allowing some members of the Uchiha clan who had sustained combat injuries but were rich in experience—or members who held idle posts within the Police Force, had spare capacity, and wanted to earn some extra money—to enter this new security system.
The problem was this.
First, the original functions of the Police Force were not reduced.
Second, the budget was not cut.
Did that really make sense?
Throughout the entire plan, it merely mentioned that Konoha's current security strength was insufficient. Although the Uzumaki Kushina incident was brought up, the responsibility was not placed entirely on the Police Force.
Was this really the style of Konoha's upper leadership?
Could such a windfall really fall from the sky?
He had privately discussed this with Clan Head Isshin.
Hiruzen's public emphasis on security issues was a sign of an impending move.
They needed to be on guard. If it really happened, they would have to argue on principle and identify problems in other departments.
"Very good—so that means you agree?"
Sakumo said with a smile, "Deputy Chief Fugaku, it would be good for you to go back and discuss it with the clan. Participation is not mandatory."
"The Uchiha are an important component of the village and possess extensive experience. Personally, I hope you will join. The Third Hokage has repeatedly emphasized your importance to the village."
"As for the patrol force funding, it was donated to the village by the Third Hokage. He also hopes to take care of the Uchiha clan members."
Fugaku's expression turned solemn. "Thank you for the Third Hokage's consideration."
"Please give me a reply as soon as possible. I'll reserve one slot for the Uchiha in each squad for now." Sakumo stood up and extended his hand toward Fugaku.
"I look forward to the Police Force providing support to the patrol force."
Their hands clasped together.
After Sakumo left, Fugaku hurriedly went to find Uchiha Isshin.
This elderly man was the pillar of both Fugaku and the entire Uchiha clan, practically a living fossil of the Uchiha.
After hearing Fugaku's account, Isshin fell into a long silence. After a long while, he took out his smoking pipe—something he had not done in a long time.
He exhaled puff after puff of smoke.
"Clan Head Isshin, don't just smoke—say something!" Fugaku was anxious.
"I never imagined Sarutobi Hiruzen's methods would be this vicious—he's almost on par with that bastard…"
Isshin's voice was hoarse. "Actually handing out money and jobs to the clan members—this is something I never expected!"
A trace of confusion surfaced on Fugaku's face.
What are you talking about?
Seeing Fugaku's expression, Isshin grew even more pained. "Didn't I tell you—never forget the clan's history!"
"When the Police Force was first established, everyone thought it was a good thing. But what about now?"
"You only see Sarutobi Hiruzen's benefits, but you don't see the conspiracy behind them…" Isshin took another deep drag from his pipe, stimulating his train of thought.
"This so-called security force—yes, right now it hasn't squeezed the functions of the Police Force. But what about later?"
"These clan members get new jobs and money, come into contact with Konoha's pro-Hokage faction. Over time, will they still remember that the Uchiha should have a Hokage of their own?"
Fugaku frowned.
He felt that what Uchiha Isshin was saying was somewhat extreme, but also very reasonable.
"And those Uchiha who join the patrol force—they're a vulnerable group, much easier to buy off."
"They don't have much say within the clan themselves, but they have relatives and friends. One person alone can have the effect of spreading things to ten others…"
Isshin let out a heavy sigh. "And on top of that, this money is being donated by Sarutobi Hiruzen himself!"
Fugaku said in a low voice, "Then we refuse! We'll just say the Police Force is already too busy…"
"Refuse?"
Isshin gave a bitter smile. "How do you refuse? The clan members themselves won't understand. Someone extends an olive branch, and we want to burn it with Fire Release…"
"If we refuse this time, then when the village makes further adjustments to power in the future, I'm afraid we won't even be able to open our mouths!"
Benefits like this—benefits that also serve the village—and we still refuse to take part. On what grounds would we qualify to be part of the upper leadership?
Fugaku was stunned and hurriedly asked, "Then what do we do?"
"You're asking me—who am I supposed to ask?!"
At that moment, Isshin seemed to have aged many, many years. In Fugaku's eyes, even the wrinkles in his skin appeared to have deepened.
"I am an incompetent clan head, Fugaku."
"Whenever I think of the previous generation of clan leaders—the great clan head with his overwhelming strength, the young clan head with his wisdom—even my older brother Setsuna had nothing but raw courage."
"What do I have? I have nothing. So all I can do is follow the final words left behind by Young Clan Head Izuna."
"Do not trust Senju Tobirama!"
Isshin's tone was extremely weary. "So many times, I have imagined—if Madara and Clan Head Izuna still had spirits watching from the Pure Land, could they be reborn into the clan and point the way forward for our people…"
"Even if it were just once—if they could appear in my dreams and teach me a few words, that would be enough!"
Sometimes, a man's collapse happens in a single instant.
Fugaku deeply understood that sentence.
"Clan Head Isshin, please pull yourself together! We need you!" Fugaku carefully tried to comfort Isshin, then asked, "Then what exactly should we do?"
"Join—do as Sarutobi Hiruzen says." Isshin looked exhausted and waved his hand.
"From now on, we need to convene clan meetings frequently, and do our utmost to make the clan members remember that we are one of Konoha's founders! We must not be led astray by these petty benefits…"
"We also need to subtly dismantle the things Senju Tobirama did. I'll think carefully about the scale—under the current circumstances, stirring up hatred does us no good."
"This is all we can do."
"We'll wait for the right moment." Isshin shook his head. "Fugaku, your child is about to be born, right? From now on, you must educate him well, understand?"
"Perhaps he'll turn out to be a genius like Clan Head Izuna."
"Thank you for the kind words…" Fugaku replied respectfully.
Seeing Isshin like this, Fugaku even felt a trace of fear toward the position of clan head…
This position was not an easy one to sit in.
And at this very moment—the Black-Hand Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, whom Uchiha Isshin had condemned as extremely ruthless, had his hands clasped behind his back, and was preparing to inspect the first phase of Konoha Pharmaceuticals' construction!
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