A month later, at the Uchiha Clan Head's home.
"Old man, did you remember what I told you?"
"Brat, I'm not so old that I've got that... whatever dementia thing!"
"It's senile dementia. Sigh... Old man, you really are getting old."
"Old, my ass! Where did you even learn a word like that, brat?!"
The Old Geezer and the brat had once again begun their incredibly cheerful daily bickering.
"Ahem... Dear, it's almost time." Seeing that time was running short, Aoko timely interrupted them.
Today was the family council hosted by the Third Hokage.
If Chiken was late, it would not bode well for the Uchiha.
"I'll deal with you when I get back, brat!"
"Tch. If you were really capable of that, old man, why didn't you dare take my Crimson Twin Dragons Fist last time?"
"You still dare bring that up? If the Hyuga Clan found out you learned the taijutsu of their main family, they wouldn't just tie you up?"
Shin shrugged indifferently. "It's fine. I'm friends with their little princess."
Chiken protested indignantly. "Brat, weren't you practically begging me to help settle things with the Hyuga Clan before? And this is how you act after it's done?"
"Did you settle it, old man? I never said I wanted an arranged childhood marriage with the Hyuga Clan!"
"What? Blame yourself for not making it clear."
"I did say it, but none of you believed me."
Seeing that the two were about to start fighting again, Aoko and Fugaku hurriedly separated them.
"Let's go, dear."
"Shin, let's go to the training ground."
Thanks to the efforts of the mother and son, this father-son showdown finally did not continue.
Even so, Chiken and Shin were still cursing at each other as they left.
Hokage Building, conference room.
The Third Hokage looked at the clock on the wall and frowned slightly.
"What are the Uchiha and Hyuga doing..." A certain small ninja clan head sitting in the corner grumbled. "If they don't get here soon, I'm leaving!"
The Third Hokage thought to himself that this ninja clan was not particularly strong, yet its leader had quite the mouth.
It seems this meeting can resolve that matter as well...
"Whoosh..." The sound of the door opening interrupted his thoughts.
The clan heads all turned to look.
Meitoku led two clansmen into the conference room with long strides.
"It seems that old geezer Uchiha Chiken hasn't arrived yet." He swept his gaze around the room before speaking.
Before he could add anything else, a familiar voice from outside the door forced his words back down his throat.
"Old Fossil, aren't I here now?"
Chiken slowly walked in with his hair slicked back, dressed in an Uchiha coat and looking imposing.
"Old geezer, you're late." Meitoku sneered.
Chiken first glanced at the clock on the wall before retorting, "Old Fossil, is your eyesight failing? Hmm, only now does it count as being late."
The hands had just passed three o'clock.
Seeing the situation, the Third Hokage stood and announced the start of the meeting. "All right, you two clan heads, don't waste any more time. The clan heads of Konoha all have precious time."
"Hmph!" X2
The two snorted at each other, then took their respective clansmen to their seats.
"I believe all of you clan heads know the purpose of today's meeting..." The Third Hokage guided the proceedings. "Regarding the recent issues involving the Uchiha and Hyuga, how do you think they should be resolved?"
"Is there even a need to ask? They've caused the people of the village so much trouble. They must be severely punished!" A sinister voice echoed through the conference room.
Just from the tone of his voice, one could tell he was undoubtedly an expert at scheming.
Chiken turned his head and saw that it was the head of the Shimura Clan, Shimura Danzō.
He recalled the conclusion he had reached after discussing the matter with his clansmen and family over the past month: whoever targeted the Uchiha first was highly likely to be the one who had murdered Kagami Uchiha.
Thus, while remaining calm on the surface, he took the initiative to stand and propose, "Lord Hokage, on behalf of the Uchiha Clan, I would first like to offer everyone our sincere apologies."
After bowing, he continued, "As punishment, the Uchiha will voluntarily relinquish our positions in the Military Police Force..."
Seeing the clan heads stunned by his words, he secretly laughed to himself. "To compensate everyone for your losses, I have decided to give each person present a storefront on Uchiha Commercial Street free of charge."
The Third Hokage could only think, Well, damn.
First, Chiken admitted fault. Then he used the opportunity to free the Uchiha from their restraints.
After that, in the name of compensation, he brought those ninja clans into the Uchiha Commercial Street camp.
It was a strategy that killed three birds with one stone.
Chiken's bold decision made Meitoku inwardly marvel at his cleverness.
But he still did not want to let the other man off easily. "Old geezer, that's quite a bloodletting. Has the Uchiha Clan agreed to this?"
"I am the Uchiha Clan Head. What I say represents the agreement of every clansman."
After saying that, Chiken recalled the countless verbal battles he had fought with his clansmen over the past month.
Fortunately, he had ultimately won them over with financial interests.
Otherwise, there was no way they could have reached a unanimous decision to collectively give up the Military Police Force.
This might lead others to imitate and copy the Shopping Street's plans.
But in the end, Shin had persuaded Chiken with the argument that they possessed the core technology, so he had agreed to relinquish the Military Police Force appointment.
Thus, under the share-dividend system, he had ultimately convinced every member of the Uchiha Clan.
"Impossible! The responsibilities of the Military Police Force were personally assigned to you Uchiha by the Second Hokage!" Danzo immediately rejected the proposal fiercely. "Are you trying to defy the Second Hokage's orders?"
After giving it some thought, Chiken pointed out the flaw in his words. "Oh? How does the Uchiha Clan voluntarily giving it up become defying orders in Clan Head Danzo's eyes?"
"Could it be that the Military Police Force has always been a disguised form of punishment for the Uchiha?"
Danzo quickly reacted. "How could the Military Police Force be a punishment? Entrusting such an important position to the Uchiha is a sign of trust in you."
"Since it is the village's trust in the Uchiha, then recently, the village must have been thoroughly disappointed in us, right?"
The well-prepared Chiken unleashed a combination strike. "If we voluntarily lay down this trust as punishment, what impact will it have on the village?"
"With the Uchiha holding the Military Police Force, I imagine all the clan heads present have long been dissatisfied, haven't you?"
Impressive.
These three questions not only took responsibility voluntarily, but also expressed willingness to give up the power in their hands. Finally, they stirred the major ninja clans' desire for the Military Police Force.
From the standpoint of righteousness, there was nothing to criticize.
"You... you..." Danzo was momentarily unable to retort.
"It seems Clan Head Danzo holds quite a deep prejudice against the Uchiha..." Chiken twisted the knife further. "Our clan hasn't done anything to offend you, has it?"
Though his words appeared to target Danzo directly, every clan head present knew that the matter of the Uchiha would end here because of them.
If they continued pursuing it, Chiken would simply throw the same question back at them.
That would not be worth the loss.
Seeing this, the Third Hokage had only one choice.
He stood and faced the crowd. "As the current Hokage, I accept the Uchiha Clan's resignation. Do any of you have objections?"
The clan heads all nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, the Third Hokage let out a sigh of relief.
The difference between him and his teacher, the Second Hokage, was that he did not entertain so many conspiracy theories.
He could not possibly become hostile toward the entire Uchiha Clan because of one Uchiha Madara.
He could clearly distinguish between an individual and a collective.
Besides, the situation in Amegakure was unclear. At a time like this, maintaining Konoha's peace and stability was what mattered most.
"As for the work of the Military Police Force, any interested clans may discuss it separately after the meeting..."
The Third Hokage looked at his old friend Danzo. "From today onward, the Military Police Force will officially fall under village administration. Do any of you have further questions?"
The clan heads all shook their heads, indicating that they had no objections.
And beneath that gentle gaze, Danzo did not show any intention of opposing it either.
"Very good."
After withdrawing his gaze, the Third Hokage was very satisfied that the first agenda item had been resolved perfectly.
Before you continue