The Second Hokage's Trap

Uchiha Yu pointed out the mistakes Uchiha Yashiro and the others had made, then helped them analyze who truly needed help.

He also explained what kind of help those people needed, what taboos to watch out for, which resources were readily available when offering aid, and which ones required extra effort.

Once the discussion turned to specific work, there were far too many details to consider. Uchiha Yu rambled on for several hours, leaving Uchiha Yashiro and the others dizzy-eyed and even drowsy.

Honestly, Uchiha ninja were unsuited for this kind of work. They were too straightforward, hopelessly clumsy with words, and every last one of them had a terrible temper.

They could be doing a good deed and still manage to offend someone beyond repair.

Not to mention dealing with trivial disputes where right and wrong were unclear. Uchiha, lacking any talent for smoothing things over, could offend both sides at once and make the two parties who had been arguing unite in hating the Uchiha.

Konoha's Military Police Force looked, no matter how one saw it, like a pit Senju Tobirama had dug for the Uchiha.

The Ino-Shika-Cho were clearly the most suitable for this work. The Nara were clever, the Yamanaka understood people's hearts, and the Akimichi were honest and dependable. Their combat strength was also guaranteed, so they could handle anything properly.

Even handing it over to the old-fashioned Hyuga, or even the dim-witted Inuzuka, would have been far better than handing it to the hot-tempered Uchiha.

The difference was like heaven and earth!

Yes, compared to the Uchiha, everyone else was damn well heaven.

As dusk approached, Uchiha Yu saw Uchiha Yashiro and the other two off. After closing the door, he sighed regretfully.

A leopard could not change its spots. If something was unsuitable, it was unsuitable.

And with the extreme hardliners led by Uchiha Setsuna, any disgusting thing they did could ruin everyone else's efforts.

Uchiha Yu naturally knew that today had been a waste of effort, but it was necessary groundwork.

After the Heart Monkey riot, Uchiha Yu's thoughts had begun to change. He muttered to himself, "Why can't I take control of the Uchiha clan...?"

"What are you talking about, meow?" Miwa Masayo jumped onto Yu's shoulder.

She had perhaps just woken up. She arched her back, raised her rump, and stretched luxuriantly. Her white-gloved paws spread open like blooming plum blossoms, tempting Uchiha Yu into restless anticipation.

No, we're not close enough yet. I can't rub her paws. Hold it in!

After giving a few dry laughs, Uchiha Yu answered, "Ha, I was talking about the Military Police Force led by the Uchiha clan. It would be difficult to reverse our current disadvantage."

"Meow, that really is too difficult. It's completely unsolvable, meow. Wait, you just said 'unless.' Do you have a solution even for something this difficult?"

"I have a solution that isn't really a solution."

Unless Uchiha Yu stepped forward himself and directly took command of Uchiha Yashiro's unit.

He had enough ability to handle every matter in Konoha properly. While resolving those matters, he could also take care of the villagers' feelings and turn around the reputation of both the Uchiha clan and the Military Police Force.

He was completely confident in that.

But that was not the issue. If he stepped forward, he would become a model for change within the Uchiha clan—and a prime target for enemies both inside and outside the clan.

Not only would he have to fight the clan's hardliners, he would also have to contend with the clan head, who was tough internally but conciliatory externally. He would need to guard against Shimura Danzō's schemes and assassinations, and might even have to compete with the Hokage for people's support...

Miwa Masayo's fur stood on end as she listened. "Meow, you'd definitely die first."

"Yeah, I would definitely die first. So I can't do that, and I won't stand on the front line of the struggle."

But taking control of the Uchiha clan doesn't require becoming its public face. I can instill ideas from the shadows, then cultivate the most suitable new clan head and make him my white glove.

Just as Uchiha Yu was considering who within the clan could replace Uchiha Fugaku, Miwa Masayo began meowing, "Yu, I'm hungry, meow."

The little cat's soft request instantly drove away Uchiha Yu's foul mood.

He rolled up his sleeves and replied with a smile, "I talked for too long today, so I'll make the quickest meal possible."

"Okay, meow. Hurry up, meow."

Uchiha Yu skillfully rinsed the rice, lit the fire, and steamed a pot of it.

Even with such a simple meal, a carnivorous cat still needed meat. There happened to be some boiled chicken left over from noon, so he chopped it into pieces while the rice cooked.

Then he searched through the kitchen and found a block of dried bonito that looked like a piece of wood. Taking out a kitchen grater, he quickly shaved off a large pile of bonito flakes. As the flakes appeared, the dried deep-sea bonito's surface area exposed to the air increased greatly, and its fresh, salty fragrance filled the room. Like a fishhook, it caught the senses of both human and cat, stirring strange associations of flavor.

Gulp. That was the sound of both human and cat swallowing saliva, followed by their stomachs rumbling in thunderous protest.

This smell is downright deadly. As expected of deep-sea bonito from the Ninja World. The bonito flakes from my previous life were nowhere near this enticing.

The rice was soon ready. First, he scattered in the diced chicken, then poured in a small amount of soy sauce for seasoning and color. After stirring it evenly, he sprinkled bonito flakes over the light-brown rice.

Steamed by the heat rising from the rice, the bonito flakes released an even richer fresh and salty fragrance, making their appetites surge.

As they dug in, the powerful aroma drifted outward and immediately stirred up dissatisfaction from the neighbors.

"That Yu kid is shaving bonito flakes again. Does he have too much money?"

"Ever since he formed a contract with a Ninja Cat, he buys dried bonito once every three months. A tiny block like that costs as much as a family of four's food for an entire month. He's really willing to spend."

"Idiot, that's a Ninja Cat, and Yu became a ninja long ago. Isn't it perfectly normal for a ninja's income to buy dried bonito?"

"That's true. Taro, Sonoko, Odagiri, Nagasawa, you all need to work hard. Once you graduate from the Ninja Academy and become ninja, you'll earn lots and lots of money. Then you can buy whatever delicious food you want."

"Mm! I'll work hard!"

Uchiha Yu and Miwa Yashi paid no attention to the neighbors' complaints and encouragement. They simply enjoyed their humble meal until a whole pot of rice had been completely devoured by one person and one cat, and only then did they stop in satisfaction.

"I'm full. That feels so good, meow."

Uchiha Yu rested for a while, finished a cup of tea, and began cleaning up the mess.

About half an hour later, Miwa Masayo was grabbed by the scruff of her neck. Her limbs curled up involuntarily as Uchiha Yu carried her out the door.

"What are you doing, meow?"

"Come run and exercise with me."

"No! This kitty's happy time isn't over yet, meow."

"Rika-chan, haven't you noticed you've gotten fatter? If you don't exercise, you're really going to turn into a little piggy, meow!"

"Don't call me Rika-chan!"

"Getting fatter, meow... meow?? Meow!!!"

Two hours later.

"I can't go on, meow. I'm dying, meow. I can't run anymore, meow."

"Mm, Ninja Cats aren't known for their endurance. That's about enough exercise for today. Rika-chan, get some proper rest."

"You're still going?"

"Mm, I'll run a little longer. I didn't prepare any weights today, so I can only make up for it with time."

"Why are you suddenly working so hard, meow?"

"I have no choice but to work hard. Otherwise, I'll be in danger."