Why Does the Village Target the Uchiha? Then I'll Give You an Answer!

Uchiha Setsuna spoke up, confusion flickering in his eyes.

Almost instantly.

As soon as Setsuna spoke, every Uchiha turned to look at him.

Clearly.

Everyone had thought nothing of it before, but now they suddenly realized.

That was right!

It was obviously something that could be resolved easily. After all, maintaining the village's Public Security was no difficult task at all for the Konoha Higher-ups.

But why?

Why would the Konoha Higher-ups rather return their ancestral land to the Uchiha than handle this matter themselves?

Uchiha Jin froze for a moment.

He truly had not expected Setsuna, that old Radical Faction member, to raise such a sharp question.

Had the man actually grown a brain after stepping down as an elder?

Still.

Though inwardly puzzled, he smiled and spoke directly.

"Elder Setsuna, that's a very perceptive question!"

"I imagine everyone is quite interested in this as well, so let me briefly explain it."

"To get to the root of this issue, we have to mention the Second Hokage—Senju Tobirama!"

"Back when Clan Head Madara failed in his bid for Hokage, Senju Tobirama created this so-called Military Police Force in order to placate the Uchiha."

"In essence, there was never any need for it!"

"Think of the other Four Great Shinobi Villages—whose village has something like a Military Police Force?"

"The Anbu could have fulfilled the Military Police Force's duties."

"Why do you think that was?"

Uchiha Jin narrowed his eyes slightly.

In the past, he would not have had any interest in explaining so much.

For one thing.

The Uchiha were all a hardheaded bunch. If they did not acknowledge you, they would not listen no matter what you said.

For another, there had been no time!

When he had truly resolved to join the Radical Faction, the Uchiha Clan had already become deeply unstable. What he needed most was to increase the Radical Faction's influence, then find a way to stabilize it.

But now, things were different.

The Radical Faction had already been completely stabilized and had become his staunchest supporters. Even among the Moderate Faction and the Middle Faction, most were now willing to follow his orders.

Though he was not the clan head, as a leader, it was time to display his wisdom!

Therefore.

He narrowed his eyes and gave everyone time to think.

Meanwhile.

As Uchiha Jin spoke, everyone present began pondering his words.

However.

Though they had not yet figured it out, the moment they heard that the other shinobi villages had no Military Police Force—and recalled Senju Tobirama's insidious ruthlessness—they immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Ten minutes later.

Seeing that no one spoke, Uchiha Jin understood that the Uchiha were all a hardheaded bunch and naturally did not wait any longer.

He took a deep breath and spoke in a grave tone.

"The Military Police Force is a conspiracy!"

"Senju Tobirama knew that the Uchiha were proud and not good at dealing with people, so he deliberately assigned this task to the Uchiha. His goal was to create a divide between the Uchiha and the village's other Shinobi Clans and Commoners, so that he could win over the other Shinobi Clans and Commoners and isolate the Uchiha."

"In Senju Tobirama's words, the Uchiha were too powerful, so they had to be locked in a cage!"

"After the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, ascended to the position, he made use of countless rules. And because Clan Head Fugaku was weak, he forced the Military Police Force to relinquish many of its originally important powers."

"Gathering intelligence, uncovering spies, interrogations, and so on—those were all lost under that useless Fugaku."

"Today, the Military Police Force retains only one authority."

"Public Security!"

"This is the Military Police Force's least important duty, and also the one most likely to create a divide between the Uchiha and the villagers and Shinobi Clans."

"Of course Sarutobi Hiruzen would not allow the Uchiha to give up the Military Police Force. Otherwise, if the villagers and Shinobi Clans no longer had a divide with the Uchiha, how would the Konoha Higher-ups target the Uchiha in the future?"

"So."

"The village won't send its own people. It'll only force the Uchiha to take charge of the Konoha Military Police Force!"

Uchiha Jin spoke coldly.

As Uchiha Jin spoke, everyone froze where they stood.

Everyone was stunned!

No one had expected that such a small Military Police Force could involve so many schemes.

The atmosphere instantly fell silent.

The mood throughout the small courtyard was oppressively grim.

Finally.

One Uchiha could no longer bear it and blurted out, "Why is the village forcing us? What mistake did we Uchiha make?"

"Damn village!" another Uchiha said.

For a moment.

Everyone was filled with righteous indignation.

Setsuna, who stood at the forefront, was also deeply puzzled.

He could not help looking at Uchiha Jin. "Jin, I know you're very smart."

"Do you know the reason?"

Almost instantly.

As Uchiha Setsuna spoke, everyone turned to look at Uchiha Jin again.

They all desperately hoped Uchiha Jin could give them an answer.

In response.

Uchiha Jin pondered for a moment before smiling and speaking.

"The reason? Of course I know it!"

"Since everyone wants to know, I'll explain it briefly."

"One word: money!"

"You have to understand that although the Third Shinobi World War has ended, and although Konoha appears to be among the victors, Konoha actually received no war reparations at all. Even the pensions for countless Konoha shinobi who died in battle still haven't been paid."

"Why?"

"Because Konoha has no money!"

"The pensions for fallen shinobi need to be paid, and the food, ninja tools, and other supplies consumed during the war also need to be replenished."

"The Daimyo has made it clear that the Land of Fire will not provide this money."

"So, everyone, where will the money come from?"

"Considering the sudden tension between Konoha and the Uchiha since the Nine-Tails' Rampage, I have every reason to suspect that the Konoha Higher-ups have set their sights on the Uchiha."

"Think carefully. Whenever Konoha shinobi press for pensions, or whenever the village runs into financial trouble, doesn't Danzo suddenly make a move against the Uchiha?"

"I can think of two reasons. One is to shift the public's attention, using the Uchiha—the people everyone fears—to cover up issues like pensions and budget shortfalls."

"The other reason is to buy time."

"What is Konoha waiting for?"

"Consider this: as long as they can wipe out the Uchiha, the wealth the Uchiha have accumulated over a thousand years will fall completely into the village's hands."

"Then they'll have money for the pensions of shinobi who died during the Third Shinobi World War, for Konoha's various budget deficits, and for replenishing food supplies. They could even make another profit after covering all that."

"Sacrifice an uncontrollable Uchiha clan that everyone fears, and they can resolve the fallen shinobi's pensions and the village's finances. The Konoha Higher-ups can even line their pockets, while Danzo gets the Sharingan he has always coveted."

"Sacrificing one Uchiha clan truly brings happiness to countless families!"

"What do you all think of this deal?"

"This is also why I joined the Radical Faction and never considered compromising with Konoha."

"Because Konoha will not allow us to surrender!"

"If we Uchiha surrender, then what happens to the pensions for fallen shinobi? How will the village's budget shortfalls be resolved?"

"Think carefully about why Konoha has suddenly become so eager to deal with us."

"Wasn't it because, a month ago, many shinobi once again proposed that the village promptly pay the pensions for shinobi who died in battle?"