039 Uchiha Old Guard, Shimura Danzō's Wonderful Emotional Intelligence

"Not much. One each, just enough to fill your stomachs..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled as he handed out the rice balls, then feigned surprise. "Save one for me!"

The Patrol Force burst into laughter.

Shimura Danzō silently walked to Hiruzen Sarutobi's side and assessed the squad before him.

After a full day of inspection, Shimura Danzō had already grasped the organizational concept behind the Patrol Force.

Three to five members who were not adept at combat but excelled at detection formed a team, while an experienced veteran served as captain. They conducted staggered patrols along the village's outer defensive perimeter.

Their wages were paid directly by the village, including the cost of specially made uniforms and worn-out Ninja Tools.

Shimura Danzō had just asked Hiruzen Sarutobi whether the village could bear the financial burden this brought.

The Lord Hokage's answer, however, was that this was actually making money for the village...

In the Shinobi World's current climate, a stable job that came with a sense of honor and covered equipment losses was exceptionally appealing, even if its pay was only one-half to one-third of what one could earn by taking commissions independently.

However, this balance between stability and income was generally something only Chunin and injured, disabled veterans were willing to accept.

Jonin, on the other hand, were more willing to take on lucrative and dangerous missions.

Under this logic, the village's investment in the Patrol Force was not high, yet their presence could greatly prevent enemy infiltration and sabotage. That, too, was a form of generating income.

It was simply invisible—not hard cash in hand—so it was easy to overlook instinctively.

"Everything going well?"

"You've all seen the situation in the Shinobi World now..."

"Spies and scouts from every faction could infiltrate at any time. The responsibility on your shoulders is heavy!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi encouraged them. "Report anything unusual promptly. And if you need further support from the village, don't keep it bottled up. I'll make adjustments."

A Chunin from the Inuzuka Clan repeatedly shook his head. "Lord Hokage, things are already great as they are! We all really like this job..."

"A lot of my clansmen envy me and regret not signing up! Even a Jonin said so..."

This Inuzuka Chunin was not particularly capable in direct combat, and he had only a rudimentary grasp of his clan's secret technique, Gatsuga.

But the Patrol Force's work brought out his strengths in reconnaissance perfectly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi merely smiled without speaking.

This proposal was meant to strengthen the village's security with maximum efficiency, not to use blades as shields.

Thus, although most Jonin had initially shown little interest in the job—

A small number had been interested, but Hatake Sakumo had strictly followed Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions and rejected them.

This was the optimal allocation of resources.

"Young man, is it good?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave this Aburame Chunin's shoulder a slightly firm pat. "Not bad. Very quiet! You've got the makings of a counter-reconnaissance specialist..."

The Aburame Chunin, wearing sunglasses and a Patrol Force uniform, appeared expressionless, but his pupils trembled as he cried out inwardly:

Lord Hokage actually noticed me? I do have a presence!

The Aburame Clan possessed a peculiar aura unique to them—people could easily overlook them.

In truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi had not noticed him either. But as a mature Lord Hokage, he naturally could not favor one person over another during such a visit.

As they chatted, something stirred in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.

Logically speaking, he should have exchanged a few more words with the captain leading the group.

This captain was clearly an Uchiha. He looked rather old and had only one arm.

At a glance, it was obvious he had been injured on the battlefield...

But the problem was that an Uchiha of this age might not have sustained his injury for Konoha. It was also possible that it had happened during the Warring States Period...

And during the Warring States Period, who was most likely to have left him disabled?

Hard to guess.

So Hiruzen Sarutobi only spoke with him about work and did not mention his missing arm.

However, Shimura Danzō beside him seemed to have overlooked that point.

"Hmph, this kind of Uchiha is obviously the most stubbornly rebellious sort..."

"Forget it. Hiruzen said we should win over and break down the Uchiha Clan, so I need to learn to do the same!"

Shimura Danzō forced an ugly smile and said in what he believed was a warm tone, though it came out stiff and harsh, "You were disabled for the village, weren't you?"

"Konoha will never mistreat anyone who has given something for the village. Work hard!"

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere abruptly plunged into an awkward whirlpool.

This Uchiha's name was Homura.

He was a genuine old-timer. In terms of age, he was actually a little older than Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō...

One of the few surviving elders of the Uchiha Clan from the Warring States Period.

And this arm of his had been severed by someone using Water Release during the final battle between the Uchiha and Senju...

Few people remembered it, because to a certain white-haired Hokage, it had merely been something he did in passing.

But from that point on, this Two-Tomoe Uchiha had withdrawn from the front-line combat ranks.

For the vast majority of ninja, losing an arm was fatal—even for Dōjutsu users.

And after Konoha's Military Police Force was established, he had been too proud to join.

That was because the Uchiha assigned to fieldwork and front-line missions in the newly founded Konoha Military Police Force were all elites, meant to display the clan at its strongest within the village.

The clerical work arranged for him had only stung Uchiha Homura's competitive pride, so he simply made Ninja Tools, collected the clan's meager stipend, and lived a quiet, ascetic life.

As a result, he became one of the Uchiha who lived the longest, with his body remaining in excellent condition.

This time, he had joined the Patrol Force.

On one hand, Uchiha Isshin had asked him to infiltrate it and investigate what exactly Konoha's higher-ups were plotting...

On the other hand, after Hatake Sakumo spoke with Uchiha Fugaku, he had personally sought out Uchiha Homura and hoped he could contribute to the village.

That long-lost feeling of being needed moved Uchiha Homura greatly.

And after joining the Patrol Force, his days had been quite pleasant.

The younger members of the Inuzuka Clan and Aburame Clan greatly respected him as an elder who had lived through the Warring States Period. Many details and decisions during reconnaissance relied on his planning and adjustments.

They also loved listening to him tell stories.

Thus, the atmosphere within the squad was very harmonious, and the others had also learned why he had lost an arm...

But as he looked at Shimura Danzō's corpse-like face wrapped in bandages, listened to that deliberate tone, and recalled all the surveillance Danzō had imposed upon the Uchiha over the years—

Uchiha Homura felt blood rush to his head and blurted out, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Advisor. I will give everything I have to keep the enemy at bay for the village."

"But I cannot claim honors that do not belong to me."

"This arm of mine was not cut off by an enemy. It was done by the Second."

The already awkward atmosphere could now only be described as tense.

Shimura Danzō dangerously narrowed his eyes.

The ninja of the Inuzuka Clan and Aburame Clan instinctively swallowed.

The moment Uchiha Homura finished speaking, he regretted it.

But as an Uchiha, words once spoken could never be taken back. He stiffened his neck and said nothing.

"Hey, Danzō..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart stirred, and he broke the suffocating atmosphere. "I remember your grandfather cut down my father once, didn't he?"

Shimura Danzō froze.

Hey, Hiruzen, you brat, you hold grudges that badly?

You still remembered that?!