Nara Shikaku

The Nara Clan's territory was located on the west side of Konoha, a place with lush vegetation and Sika Deer leisurely strolling everywhere.

Compared to the Uchiha Clan's constantly tense and grim atmosphere, it was quiet, even somewhat lazy.

"Do I really have to go?"

Uchiha Fugaku stood at the gate of the Nara Clan, adjusting his slightly wrinkled collar, his expression even stiffer than when facing Hanzō.

As the young head of the Uchiha, taking the initiative to visit another clan to seek cooperation was almost unprecedented in the Uchiha's history, and the pride ingrained in his bones made him feel uneasy all over.

"Give him some face, senpai."

Nishikawa Tetsu stood behind him, holding two bottles of good wine he'd pilfered from the Uchiha Clan: "Think about the approval rating after the reform, think about Mikoto's smile. Getting 'Deer' on our side is like getting Ino-Shika-Cho on our side."

Hearing the name "Mikoto," Fugaku took a deep breath, and the impulse to turn around and leave was instantly suppressed. He hoped that Mikoto and their future children could live in a Konoha without prejudice.

"Let's go."

The one responsible for greeting them at the gate was a boy who looked only eleven or twelve years old, with a pineapple-shaped hairstyle pointing to the sky.

He yawned, with a "what a pain" expression on his face, looking at Fugaku, who wasn't much older than him, and the same-aged Nishikawa Tetsu.

"It's Fugaku-senpai... Dad's already waiting inside."

The boy was none other than Nara Shikaku. At this time, he had just graduated from the Ninja Academy not long ago, and he didn't yet have the aura of Konoha's chief strategist that he would later possess. He was more like a lazy young man.

"Thank you, Shikaku." Fugaku nodded.

Nishikawa Tetsu took another look at Shikaku. The two of them didn't have much interaction at the Ninja Academy and weren't in the same class.

Led by Shikaku, the two passed through the courtyard and arrived at a spacious Japanese-style room.

A man in his prime was sitting cross-legged in front of a Go board, holding a Go stone in his hand, his brow furrowed, seemingly contemplating his next move.

He had a beard, and there were a few shallow scars on his face, medals left from the First Ninja World War.

Although his posture was lazy, his eyes occasionally flashed with a heart-palpitating light.

The current head of the Nara Clan, the leader of the Jonin Squad—Nara Shikaku.

"What a rare guest, the young head of the Uchiha Clan."

Nara Shikaku placed the Go stone down, looked up at the two who had entered, his gaze lingering on Nishikawa Tetsu for a moment before turning to Fugaku, "Instead of dealing with those complaints flying all over the place at the Police Force, what brings you to my quiet place?"

"Shikaku-senpai, I have something important to discuss."

Fugaku sat down opposite him, adopting a very humble posture.

He knew very well that the man in front of him was Konoha's true top strategist, and it was pointless to try to outsmart him.

"Regarding the reform of the Police Force, I need the Nara Clan's help."

"What a pain..."

Nara Shikaku scratched his head, not even reaching for the good wine that Fugaku had offered, "I knew it. You Uchiha have been making such a big commotion lately, it couldn't be anything good. The Police Force is a mess, it's a private plot that the Second Hokage gave you, and it's also being watched by the higher-ups. Our Nara Clan is a small family that's afraid of trouble, we don't want to get involved."

The refusal was straightforward and in line with the Nara Clan's philosophy of survival—prudent self-preservation.

"What if I said, this isn't getting involved, but rather sharing power?"

Nishikawa Tetsu, who had been standing beside him, suddenly spoke.

He stepped forward, placed the two bottles of good wine next to the Go board, and then took out the revised Police Force Reform Plan from his pocket, gently pushing it in front of Shikaku.

"Nara Clan Head, you are a smart man, you should be able to see the current situation in Konoha."

Nishikawa Tetsu's voice was calm and rational, not at all like a ten-year-old child: "The Uchiha Clan is like a pressure cooker, and the pressure has reached the critical point. If it explodes, it won't just be the Uchiha who get hurt, the entire Konoha will be affected. As the Hokage-sama's right-hand man, do you really want to see that kind of situation?"

Nara Shikaku's seemingly sleepy eyes narrowed slightly, and the lazy aura instantly disappeared, replaced by scrutiny.

"Nishikawa Tetsu... the brat who caused the Poison Gas Warfare in the Land of Rain?" Shikaku didn't look at the plan, but stared at Nishikawa Tetsu, "Did you write this?"

"It's Captain Fugaku's idea, I just wrote and polished it." Nishikawa Tetsu took a step back with good sense, giving the spotlight to Fugaku.

Shikaku didn't say anything. He seemed to see through this clumsy modesty, but he didn't expose it. Instead, he picked up the plan and started reading it.

At first, he was just casually glancing at it.

But as he read, the fingers holding the scroll gradually tightened, and his legs, which were originally crossed, also straightened slightly.

"Introducing foreign clan Ninja... community police system... even joint law enforcement?"

The more Shikaku read, the more shocked he became. He looked up, scrutinizing the young Uchiha Fugaku with a completely new perspective.

"Fugaku, do you know what this means? You're actively dismantling the Uchiha's walls, giving up power. Aren't you afraid that those old stubborns in your family will eat you alive?"

"They want to eat, but they'll have to lose a few teeth." Fugaku said coldly, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes, "For the sake of the clan's survival, some rotten flesh must be cut off."

"What a spirit."

Nara Shikaku closed the scroll, his fingers gently tapping the table, making a series of rhythmic sounds.

He was calculating.

As Konoha's strategist, he instantly saw through the enormous political value behind this plan.

Uchiha's proactive concession can not only alleviate the conflict with the village, but more importantly, it is an excellent opportunity to truly incorporate the Police Force into the Hokage system.

If the Nara Clan can serve as advisors and scribes, the Yamanaka Clan can be responsible for interrogation and intelligence, and the Akimichi Clan can handle law enforcement and logistics, then it can thoroughly tame the beast that is Uchiha from a legal and procedural standpoint, while greatly enhancing the political influence of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio in the village.

This benefits the Hokage, benefits the village, and benefits the Nara Clan even more.

The only downside is probably... it will be very busy.

"Sigh..."

Nara Shikaku sighed, turning to look at his son Shikaku, who was eavesdropping outside the door, "Shikaku, go get my tea set."

Shikaku, who was outside the door, grimaced and turned to leave.

Fugaku and Nishikawa Tetsu exchanged glances.

It's done.

"However, this plan alone is not enough."

Shikaku pointed to one of the items in the plan, "If you want the Third Hokage, or even other higher-ups, to agree, you need an entry point."

"What entry point?" Fugaku asked.

"Recently, due to post-war resettlement issues, there have been frequent security incidents involving displaced people and disabled Ninja, and Anbu is understaffed."

A glint flashed in Shikaku's eyes: "Tomorrow, I will submit a Proposal on Strengthening Post-War Public Security Management to the Hokage in the name of the Jonin Squad, proposing to expand the functions of the Police Force and introduce elites from various clans to assist in management. When the time comes, you can take advantage of the situation and present this reform plan."

Nishikawa Tetsu secretly praised him, as expected of Shikaku, the older generation is indeed more experienced.

It's not Uchiha's request, but the village's urgent need.

This move of using borrowed strength directly turned Uchiha's passive reform into an active undertaking in response to the village's call.

"Thank you." Fugaku nodded solemnly.

"Don't thank me too early."

Shikaku opened the wine brought by Nishikawa Tetsu, smelled the aroma, and finally a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Then he looked at Nishikawa Tetsu, his eyes meaningful: "Interested in interning with our Jonin Squad?"

Nishikawa Tetsu shook his head: "I'm just a Chunin, you flatter me."

By the time they left the Nara Clan grounds, it was already dark.

Uchiha Fugaku's steps were noticeably lighter, the huge stone pressing on his heart had finally been moved away a bit.

"Is this what they call politics?" Fugaku looked at the moon in the sky and sighed, "It's more tiring than killing people in the Land of Rain."

"Ninjutsu is fighting against nature, politics is fighting against people's hearts."

Nishikawa Tetsu walked beside him, "Getting Nara Shikaku on our side is equivalent to getting the Ino-Shika-Cho trio on our side. With them speaking in our favor in front of the Hokage, the success rate of this matter is already eighty percent."

"What about the remaining twenty percent?"

"The remaining twenty percent lies with Danzo."

Nishikawa Tetsu's eyes turned cold, "That old guy will definitely not sit idly by and watch Uchiha change, he will definitely sabotage it."

"What can he do? The general trend is in our favor now."

"Create accidents." Nishikawa Tetsu stopped and looked into the shadows, "For example... let the Police Force commit an unforgivable mistake on the eve of the reform."

Just then, a black Crow fell from the sky and landed on Fugaku's shoulder.

It was the Uchiha Clan's emergency communication Ninja beast.

Fugaku took off the letter tube from the Crow's leg, unfolded it, and his face instantly turned pale, even the hand holding the letter was trembling slightly.

"Something happened."

Fugaku's voice suppressed an impending rage:

"Just now, several radical clansmen under Elder Setsuna beat up several drunken villagers on the street under the pretext of 'suspicious behavior'."

"And... it is said that one of the villagers is seriously injured and dying, and has now been sent to Konoha Hospital."

"Has the identity of that villager been investigated?" Nishikawa Tetsu asked calmly.

"It hasn't been clarified yet, but the letter says that the villager seemed to deliberately provoke the police force before being beaten."

Hearing this, Nishikawa Tetsu's lips curled into a cold arc.

"No need to investigate, it's probably Danzo's man."

"Sure enough, Danzo has made his move."

In Hokage, it's always right to blame Danzo for this kind of thing.

Nishikawa Tetsu looked at Fugaku, his eyes without panic: "This is called--even if there is no conflict, create one."

"Let's go, senior." Nishikawa Tetsu adjusted his arm guard.

"It seems that tonight, we have to work overtime at the Police Force. Whether we can preserve the fruits of the reform depends on how we handle this 'accident' tonight."