Uchiha Setsuna spoke, confusion flickering in his eyes.
Almost instantly.
As Setsuna spoke, every Uchiha turned to look at him.
Clearly.
Everyone had thought nothing of it before, but they suddenly realized it now.
That was right!
It was obviously something that could be resolved easily. 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 the Uchiha Compound to the Uchiha than handle this matter themselves?
Uchiha Jin was taken aback.
He truly had not expected Setsuna, that old Radical Faction member, to ask such a perceptive question.
Had the guy actually grown a brain after stepping down as an Elder?
Still.
Though he was deeply puzzled, he merely smiled.
"Elder Setsuna, that was a good question!"
"I imagine everyone is 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 to become Hokage, Senju Tobirama created this so-called Konoha Military Police Force in order to placate the Uchiha."
"In essence, there was no need for it at all!"
"Look at the other Four Great Shinobi Villages. Which one of them has something like a Military Police Force?"
"The Anbu could have handled the Military Police Force's duties."
"Why do you think that was?"
Uchiha Jin narrowed his eyes.
Under normal circumstances, he would not have been interested in explaining so much.
For one thing.
The Uchiha were all stubborn fools. If they did not acknowledge someone, they simply would not listen to anything that person said.
For another, there had been no time!
When he had truly decided to join the Radical Faction, the Uchiha clan had already been in turmoil. What he needed most was to strengthen the Radical Faction's voice and find a way to stabilize it.
But now, things were different.
The Radical Faction had already been completely stabilized and had become his staunch supporter. Even most members of the Moderate Faction and Middle Faction were now willing to follow his orders.
Though he was not the Clan Head, as a leader, he ought to display his wisdom!
Therefore.
He narrowed his eyes and gave everyone time to think.
Meanwhile.
As Uchiha Jin spoke, everyone present began pondering the matter.
However.
Though they had not yet figured it out, after hearing that the other Shinobi Villages had no Military Police Force, coupled with 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 stubborn fools and naturally did not continue waiting.
He took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.
"The Konoha Military Police Force was a conspiracy!"
"Senju Tobirama knew that the Uchiha were proud and not particularly skilled at dealing with people, so he deliberately assigned this task to the Uchiha. His goal was to create a rift between the Uchiha and the village's other Shinobi Clans and Commoners, so that he could win over those other Shinobi Clans and Commoners to isolate the Uchiha."
"In Senju Tobirama's words, the Uchiha were too strong, so they had to be locked in a cage!"
"After the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, took office, he used countless rules and Fugaku's cowardice to force the Konoha Military Police Force to relinquish many of its originally important powers."
"Gathering intelligence, finding spies, interrogations, and so on—those were all lost under that useless Fugaku."
"Now, the Konoha Military Police Force retained only one authority."
"Public security!"
"It was the least important duty of the Konoha Military Police Force, and also the one most likely to create a divide between the Uchiha, the villagers, and the Shinobi Clans."
"Of course Sarutobi Hiruzen would not allow the Uchiha to abandon the Konoha Military Police Force. Otherwise, if the villagers and Shinobi Clans no longer had a divide with the Uchiha, how could the Konoha Higher-ups continue targeting the Uchiha?"
"So."
"The village would never send its own people. It would only force the Uchiha to take charge of the Konoha Military Police Force!"
Uchiha Jin spoke coldly.
Gasp!
As Uchiha Jin spoke, everyone froze where they stood.
Everyone was dumbfounded!
No one had expected a small Konoha Military Police Force to contain so many schemes.
The atmosphere fell silent in an instant.
The entire courtyard was oppressively somber.
Finally.
One Uchiha could not bear it any longer and could not help saying, "Why is the village forcing us? What wrong have we Uchiha ever committed?"
"Damn village!" another Uchiha said.
For a moment.
Everyone was filled with righteous indignation.
Setsuna, who stood at the front, was equally confused.
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 could not help looking toward Uchiha Jin again.
They all desperately hoped that Uchiha Jin could give them an explanation.
As for that.
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 must know that although the Third Shinobi World War has ended, and although Konoha appears to be one of the victors, Konoha actually received no war reparations. Even the pensions for countless Konoha ninja who died in battle have yet to be paid."
"Why?"
"Because Konoha has no money!"
"The pensions for the fallen ninja must be paid, and the food, Ninja Tools, and other Supplies consumed during the war must also be replenished."
"The daimyo has made it clear that the Land of Fire will not provide this money."
"So, everyone, where would the money come from?"
"Considering the tense atmosphere between Konoha and the Uchiha ever 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 ninja demand pensions, or whenever the village faces financial problems, doesn't Danzo suddenly make trouble for the Uchiha?"
"I can think of two reasons. One is to shift the focus, using the Uchiha—an existence everyone fears—to cover up issues like pensions and fiscal shortfalls."
"The other reason is to buy time."
"What was Konoha waiting for?"
"Consider this: once they eliminate the Uchiha, the wealth the Uchiha have accumulated over a thousand years will fall completely into the village's hands."
"At that point, they would have the pensions for ninja who died during the Third Shinobi World War, the funds to cover Konoha's financial shortfalls, and food to replenish its stores. Even after all that, the Konoha Higher-ups could still make another fortune."
"By sacrificing one uncontrollable Uchiha clan that everyone feared, they could solve the issue of fallen ninja pensions and the village's finances. The Konoha Higher-ups could even line their pockets, and Danzo could get the Sharingan he had long coveted."
"Sacrifice one Uchiha, bring happiness to countless families!"
"What do you all think of that deal?"
"That is also why I joined the Radical Faction and never considered compromising with Konoha."
"Because Konoha would not allow us to surrender!"
"If we Uchiha surrendered, what would happen to the pensions of the fallen ninja? How would the village's fiscal shortfalls be resolved?"
"Think carefully about why Konoha had suddenly become so eager to deal with us lately."
"Wasn't it because, a month ago, many ninja once again proposed that the village promptly pay the pensions for those who died in battle?"
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