Clan Meeting Dispute

Night fell, and the city lights began to glow.

The night sky over Deep Blue Sky resembled an incomparably vast blanket, with stars strewn across it like crystalline, glittering gems.

Under the cover of night, the Uchiha Clan Compound was especially solemn. Six fully armed Uchiha stood guard at each of the two entrances, while several Uchiha ninja patrolled back and forth atop the walls. The Military Police Force, which usually worked overtime at this hour, had closed early today. Its members leisurely headed home in twos and threes, whispering among themselves as they exchanged intelligence.

More than forty jonin had already gathered at Naka Shrine, a place no one usually bothered to visit. Aside from a handful of clansmen who had advanced through mastery of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, all the rest were Uchiha elites who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

This was an exceedingly terrifying force, and it was not even the full strength of the Uchiha Clan. Quite a few Uchiha jonin were still leading teams on missions outside or remained in the compound on guard duty.

The sudden gathering of Uchiha ninja naturally alarmed the Hokage's Office Building and the major ninja clans as well. On Konoha City Wall, many shadowy figures secretly observed the activity at Naka Shrine from afar, yet none dared approach. After all, the powerful and overbearing Uchiha never knew restraint once they started fighting.

The Uchiha Clan Head arrived first. Elder Setsuna and the elders of the Radical Faction's various family lineages arrived afterward, while the Conservative Faction came last. Once everyone had assembled, the Uchiha Clan Head led the attendees into the shrine.

The agenda for today's clan meeting had long since been communicated to the participating clansmen. The Uchiha Clan now sat separately: the Radical Faction was high-spirited and certain of victory, while the Conservative Faction frowned deeply with worry. Looking at the clearly divided factions, the Uchiha Clan Head felt an enormous headache coming on.

"Since everyone is here, let's begin," the Uchiha Clan Head said with a sigh.

"Regarding our proposal to establish a ninja... ahem, a Konoha Military Police Force Reserve Training Academy within the Military Police Force, the specifics are as follows..."

An elder from the Radical Faction took the lead as their "artillery piece," elaborating at length from every angle on the advantages of establishing the Uchiha Clan's own centralized ninja training institution, as though the clan would collapse at any moment if it did not do so.

"...In summary, establishing the Konoha Military Police Force Reserve Training Academy will benefit the present generation and bring advantages for generations to come. It is imperative. Anyone who dares object will be an eternal sinner of the Uchiha Clan..."

"I object!"

Though the Radical Faction's long-winded speech was difficult for the Conservative Faction to accept, they felt that it would still benefit the clan as a whole. They had wanted to oppose the Radical Faction's proposal out of habit, yet could not find any key point to refute. Thus, they could only continue listening. But as the Radical Faction piled on more and more accusations, some among the Conservative Faction could no longer sit still.

"Elder Shigenobu, please observe the etiquette of the clan meeting."

Elder Setsuna said this blandly.

"He is pushing the clan into an abyss to achieve his unspeakable aims!"

"Elder Shigenobu, watch your words. The clan meeting is not a one-man show. Please observe the etiquette of the clan meeting."

The Uchiha Clan Head also said to Elder Shigenobu of the Conservative Faction with a dark expression.

"One ninja village, one ninja academy. If our clan establishes its own ninja academy, that would be an act of division. It will inevitably worsen our relationship with the Hokage Faction. Furthermore, if no clan members attend the ninja academy, our relationships with the village's other companions will grow cold. The village's neutral faction will also be more easily won over by the Hokage Faction. From the perspective of shifting relative strength, this is difficult to accept..."

Another Conservative Faction elder analyzed the matter unhurriedly.

"It is precisely because of strength that we must establish the clan's educational institution. The younger generation is truly disgraceful—every single one of them is a shame to the Uchiha!"

"Are you willing to watch the clan be isolated by the village?"

"We are the mighty Uchiha Clan! Why should we concern ourselves with such vermin!"

"Nonsense! It is because of people like you that the clan is being ostracized!"

"You disgrace of the Uchiha, wagging your tail and begging for favor from the Senju! You deserve divine punishment!"

"What did you say?! I'll kill you!"

As they went on, the elders' debate gradually devolved into personal attacks, and the atmosphere instantly became tense as drawn swords.

The Uchiha Clan Head, seated above, looked at this all-too-familiar scene, then glanced at Elder Setsuna, who remained perfectly composed. His headache worsened. He was the dignified clan head, yet he could never control the clan meeting. How was he supposed to live that down?

As the elders below grew increasingly outrageous, some became so worked up that they even activated their Sharingan. The Uchiha Clan Head finally could not endure it any longer.

"Silence!"

"Let's settle it by vote!"

"Fine!"

The Radical Faction, which held the numerical advantage, agreed first.

"Opposed!"

The slightly smaller Conservative Faction sprang up in objection.

"Opposed to what? You spineless disgraces of the Uchiha!"

"What are you yapping about? You think we're afraid of you?"

The elders, who usually all carried themselves with great dignity before others, began tearing into each other again.

"Silence!"

The Uchiha Clan Head gritted his teeth as he glared at these disobedient old fossils, his fury boiling over.

But there was no choice. Forcing a vote was not feasible. Neither the Radical Faction nor the Conservative Faction was the sort to willingly accept the result of a vote. Every one of them firmly believed that authority stemmed from strength. Without a unanimous agreement, the matter could never be carried out—not even if it won a vote.

"Elder Setsuna, you have something to say, don't you..."

With no choice, the Uchiha Clan Head could only seek a compromise from Elder Setsuna, the leader of the Radical Faction, to placate the Conservative Faction.

Elder Setsuna swept his gaze across every attendee. None of them dared meet his eyes, and they all lowered their heads to avoid making eye contact.

"The Konoha Military Police Force Reserve Training Academy is a necessary measure to strengthen the overall capabilities of Military Police Force members."

Elder Setsuna first set the tone.

A wave of commotion passed through the Conservative Faction, but no one spoke. The Uchiha Clan Head's headache only worsened. As clan head, he held less authority than a decrepit old fossil from the Warring States era. How was he supposed to live that down?

"The Reserve Training Academy mainly consisted of two aspects. First, active-duty members of the Military Police Force would be rotated out of their posts in batches for intensive training, strengthening the overall capabilities of the force and preventing them from being corrupted by comfortable days until Uchiha's glory was completely lost."

Elder Setsuna explained in an orderly manner.

"Second, in order to strengthen the Military Police Force's personnel structure and reserve forces, we will draw on the Ninja Academy system to recruit aspiring youths who wish to make achievements in the Military Police Force. They will receive preparatory police education and be trained from a young age in proficient Military Police Force enforcement skills, among other things..."

"Of course, the Konoha Military Police Force Reserve Training Academy will not require every clan member's children to enroll. Admission will primarily be voluntary, with applicants needing to pass a certain assessment before entering the academy."

"Should they enroll, their academic qualifications from the Reserve Training Academy will naturally benefit their post-graduation evaluations for entering the Military Police Force. However, the Military Police Force's doors will not be closed to clan members educated at home or in the Ninja Academy. It is simply that, if positions in the Military Police Force are limited, they will need to compete for employment on merit..."

Elder Setsuna's explanation was clear and well-reasoned. After hearing it, the crowd's anger naturally subsided considerably.

Seeing this, the Uchiha Clan Head immediately struck while the iron was hot.

"Then let us settle this matter by vote!"

In a short while, the Clan Meeting voting results were announced. The Radical Faction voted unanimously in favor, while nearly half of the Conservative Faction abstained.

The formal establishment of the Konoha Military Police Force Reserve Training Academy had begun its countdown.