Hiruzen Sarutobi's Methods Were Too Ruthless—He Actually Gave the Uchiha Money

Konoha Police Force.

Hatake Sakumo sipped his tea, surveying the interior of the Police Force.

Not bad...

This institution, personally established by the Second Hokage and exclusively assigned to the Uchiha Clan, was responsible for internal village order and public security, with the authority to arrest criminal ninja.

Konoha Prison stood right beside the Police Force.

Ordinary Genin and Chunin would likely never come here even once in their lives, unless something unexpected happened...

Uchiha Fugaku sat across from Hatake Sakumo.

He held a document in his hands, frowning as he read it carefully.

It was a proposal for the Konoha Patrol Force, compiled from Hiruzen Sarutobi's words and written by Hatake Sakumo.

"Well? Interested?"

While drinking his tea, Hatake Sakumo reached for the snacks beside Fugaku. "Can I eat these? Kakashi made a little too little Saury this morning, so I didn't get full."

Fugaku rolled his eyes inwardly.

This was the Military Police Force, yet he treated it like a cafeteria! Eating and drinking whatever he pleased...

And as a father, he even made his son cook?

"Please, make yourself at home." Though that was what he thought, Uchiha Fugaku acted warmly.

"Try my wife's cooking."

This was actually Hatake Sakumo's way of showing goodwill.

Yet Fugaku truly could not get a read on the White Fang.

A few days ago, while off duty, Fugaku had gotten drunk with several friends and complained that Hatake Sakumo looked solemn, but was actually someone with a wicked sense of humor!

Yashiro had immediately agreed. "The White Fang is the shrewdest guy around. He tells everyone he uses a blade, but then wraps Lightning Release around One Thousand Years of Death!"

After learning what kind of Taijutsu One Thousand Years of Death was, half of Fugaku's drunkenness had vanished.

What normal person would develop a technique like that?

And add Lightning Release to it?

"These Three-color Dango are delicious. You have a wonderful wife, Fugaku." Hatake Sakumo ate with great satisfaction.

"I'm glad you like them!" Uchiha Fugaku smiled. He had once joked with Mikoto that their son would like these dumplings after he was born as well.

"Is this plan Lord Third's idea?" Uchiha Fugaku gave a light cough and moved to the main topic.

"Of course. Other than Lord Third, who else could adjust the village's public security?"

Hatake Sakumo said in surprise, "Didn't the proposal state that right at the beginning? You didn't read it carefully?"

Uchiha Fugaku felt a little tightness in his chest.

Of course he knew it was Hiruzen Sarutobi's idea, and he had seen it...

Wasn't that just an opening line to end the pleasantries and get to the point?

He realized that Konoha's White Fang was terribly pedantic!

And that remark about only the Hokage being able to adjust public security...

Uchiha Fugaku always felt that Hatake Sakumo was implying something, but he had no proof.

"Overall, this is very good for the Military Police Force and the Uchiha..." Uchiha Fugaku carefully chose his words.

He could not see anything unusual in the proposal.

It merely called for some Uchiha clansmen who had suffered war injuries but possessed abundant experience.

Or members who held idle positions in the Military Police Force, had spare capacity, and wanted to earn more money to enter this new security system.

The issue was...

First, the Military Police Force's original duties had not been reduced. Second, its funding had not been cut.

Was that right?

The proposal only mentioned that Konoha's current security forces were insufficient. Though it mentioned the Uzumaki Kushina incident, it did not place all the blame on the Military Police Force.

Was this still Konoha's upper leadership's usual style?

Could such a windfall really fall from the sky?

He had discussed it privately with Clan Leader Isshin.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's public emphasis on security issues was a precursor to making trouble.

They had to guard against that move. If it truly happened, they needed to argue their case and find problems in other departments.

"Good, so you agree?"

Hatake Sakumo said with a smile, "Deputy Minister Fugaku, you can go back and discuss it with the clansmen. Joining isn't compulsory."

"The Uchiha are an important part of the village and possess extensive experience. Personally, I hope you can join. Lord Third specifically emphasized your importance to the village."

"The funds for the Patrol Force were donated to the village by Lord Third. He hopes they can also help take care of the Uchiha clansmen."

Uchiha Fugaku's expression turned solemn. "Thank you for Lord Third's concern!"

"Give me an answer as soon as possible. I'll reserve one spot in every squad for the Uchiha first." Hatake Sakumo rose and extended his hand to Fugaku.

"I look forward to the Military Police Force providing assistance to the Patrol Force."

The two shook hands.

After Hatake Sakumo left, Fugaku hurriedly went to find Uchiha Isshin.

This old man was the pillar of support for Fugaku and the entire Uchiha Clan, practically a living fossil of the Uchiha.

After hearing Fugaku's account, Isshin remained silent for a long time before taking out his pipe for the first time in ages.

He exhaled puff after puff of smoke.

"Clan Leader Isshin, don't just smoke. Say something!" Fugaku was anxious.

"I never expected Hiruzen Sarutobi's methods to be this vicious, nearly as bad as that damned bastard's..."

Uchiha Isshin's voice was hoarse. "Actually giving the clansmen money and jobs—I never saw that coming!"

A layer of confusion appeared on Fugaku's face.

What was he talking about?

Seeing Fugaku's expression, Isshin became even more grief-stricken. "Didn't I tell you not to forget the clan's history?"

"When the Military Police Force was first established, everyone thought it was great. But what about now?"

"You only see the benefits Hiruzen Sarutobi is offering, but not the conspiracy behind them..." Uchiha Isshin took another deep drag from his pipe, stimulating his thoughts. "This so-called Public Security Force may not be encroaching on the Military Police Force's duties now, but what about later?"

"Once these clansmen get new jobs and money, and come into contact with Konoha's Hokage-supporting faction, will they still remember that the Uchiha should have a Hokage position after enough time passes?"

Fugaku frowned.

He felt Uchiha Isshin was being somewhat extreme, but his words also made sense.

"Moreover, those Uchiha who join the Patrol Force are disadvantaged groups, making them easier to buy off."

"They don't have much say within the clan, but they have relatives and friends. One person can have the propagandistic effect of ten..."

Isshin let out a heavy sigh. "And this money was donated by Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

Fugaku said in a low voice, "Then we'll refuse! We'll say the Military Police Force is too busy..."

"Refuse?"

Uchiha Isshin gave a bitter smile. "How can you refuse? The clansmen won't understand first of all. They extend an olive branch, and we want to burn it with Fire Release..."

"If we refuse this time, then when the village makes further adjustments to authority later, we may not even have the right to speak!"

If they would not participate in benefits that also served the village, what right did they have to be among the upper leadership?

Fugaku was dumbfounded and hurriedly asked, "Then what should we do?"

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

At that moment, Uchiha Isshin seemed to have aged many, many years. In Fugaku's eyes, even the wrinkles on his skin appeared to deepen.

"I am an incompetent Clan Head, Fugaku."

"Whenever I think of the previous Clan Heads, the Great Clan Leader possessed overwhelming power, the Young Clan Leader possessed wisdom, and even my elder brother Zetsu had nothing but brute courage."

"What do I have? I have nothing, so I can only follow the final words left behind by Young Clan Leader Izuna."

"Never trust Senju Tobirama!"

Uchiha Isshin's tone was powerless. "Many times, I've imagined whether Madara and Clan Leader Izuna, if they have spirits in heaven, could be reborn into the clan and guide the clansmen..."

"Even if they could just appear in my dreams once and teach me a few things!"

Sometimes, a man's collapse happened in an instant.

Uchiha Fugaku understood that phrase deeply.

"Clan Leader Isshin, please pull yourself together! We need you!" Uchiha Fugaku carefully comforted Isshin and asked.

"So what exactly should we do?"

"Join. Do as Hiruzen Sarutobi says." Uchiha Isshin looked exhausted and waved his hand.

"From now on, we need to hold Clan Meetings frequently and make the clansmen remember as much as possible that we are one of Konoha's founders! We absolutely cannot be bewitched by these petty gains..."

"We must also subtly deconstruct the things Senju Tobirama did. Let me think carefully about the proper degree. In the current situation, stirring up hatred does us no good."

"This is all we can do."

"We can only wait for the right time!" Uchiha Isshin shook his head. "Fugaku, your child is about to be born, right? You must educate him well in the future, understand?"

"Perhaps he will be a genius like Clan Leader Izuna."

"May your words come true..." Uchiha Fugaku answered respectfully.

Seeing Uchiha Isshin like this, Fugaku even felt a trace of fear toward the position of Clan Head...

That seat was not an easy one to hold.

And at this moment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the behind-the-scenes Hokage whom Uchiha Isshin had condemned as exceedingly ruthless.

Walked with his hands behind his back.

He was preparing to inspect the first phase of Konoha Pharmaceutical's construction!