As long as they are all family, what is there to divide power?

"Clan Head, I haven't finished explaining my plan, you should first..."

"Put away your little schemes!"

"This is absolutely impossible!"

Qingguang wanted to continue speaking, but the matter had already touched Fugane's sore spot. He even had the urge to kick Qingguang out of the door right now.

Such a good child, he must have been brainwashed by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Otherwise, how could he come up with such a poisonous plan that would harm the very foundation of the clan?

He could even picture a future where the Police Department's authority was divided among other ninja clans, and the Uchiha Clan was kicked out of the Police Department.

This was practically a cuckold's behavior!

"Clan Head Fugane, you've misunderstood. Please let Qingguang finish speaking first," Shifang added at the right moment.

Seeing Shifang's serious and earnest expression, Fugane calmed his inner turmoil. He crossed his arms and nodded.

After all, Shifang was an elder of the clan and held considerable influence. He might as well listen further.

If this child Qingguang truly went down the wrong path, then he would have to give up on recruiting this genius.

"Fine, then I'll give you this chance. Continue speaking."

At this moment, Fugane finally displayed the dignity and presence befitting a clan head.

Qingguang's lips curved upwards. Fugane's reaction now was exactly the same as Uncle Shifang's when he first heard it.

"Clan Head, do you remember what we were discussing at the beginning?"

"The matter between Yashiro and Akiya."

"Exactly. The decentralization I'm talking about, in a sense, isn't about dividing power externally, but internally."

This statement confused Fugane. He understood each word individually, but together, what was this?

"Continue." Fugane frowned, his eyes showing confusion and curiosity.

"The so-called decentralization means that in the future, if the family members of the Uchiha meet the recruitment criteria for the Police Department, they can also join."

Upon hearing this, Fugane was about to dismiss it as nonsense, but when he connected it with the matter between Yashiro and Akiya, a different thought arose in his mind.

"You mean, after Akiya and Yashiro get married, she will be brought into the Uchiha Police Force?"

According to ninja world customs, after a couple gets married, the wife usually takes her husband's surname. Only a very small number of men who marry into a family would adopt the wife's family name.

Logically, as long as one was an Uchiha, they could join the Police Department, even if they changed their surname.

However, for years, he had never considered this point. It was because no ninja who had changed their surname had ever actively applied to join the Police Department. They didn't see themselves as Uchiha, especially since they didn't have the Sharingan.

Fugane's rare moment of clarity made Qingguang finally breathe a sigh of relief.

It seemed the clan head was just not good at conversation, not genuinely stupid.

"That's right. Akiya is a ninja from the Inuzuka Clan. Her parents oppose this marriage because they fear offending the unspoken agreement that has long existed among other ninja clans."

"However, if we are willing to offer sufficient benefits, they will surely be swayed by these superior conditions."

"After all, the authority of the Police Department was personally approved by the Second Hokage, Tobirama, and in some aspects, it holds the same status as the Hokage."

"If the Inuzuka Clan still disagrees, but as long as this news is spread, other clans will inevitably be attracted."

By the time Qingguang said this, Fugane had completely understood.

This was an open and aboveboard stratagem, a power that the former Tobirama Senju had given to the Uchiha. Both logically and ethically, it was entirely legitimate.

This position, which was supposed to restrict the Uchiha Clan, had, through Qingguang's clever plan, become the greatest asset for attracting other ninja clans.

"What if Yashiro and Akiya's marriage falls through?" Fugane asked with a smile, teasing.

Qingguang's lips twitched involuntarily.

This clan head was truly... once he wasn't in that "clan head" mode, he really didn't know how to converse. He was like Kogoro Mouri.

Could it be that the clan head also had some kind of switch on his neck?

Three days later, Yashiro, accompanied by Qingguang, headed to the Inuzuka clan's territory.

The Inuzuka Clan's status within Konohagakure wasn't particularly high, but they were not comparable to minor ninja clans. Relying on their secret Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu, they held a certain standing.

The Inuzuka territory was located in the northwest of the village, near the outskirts. This was a location they had chosen themselves.

Although remote, the environment here was extremely suitable for training Ninja Dogs and was greatly favored by them.

On the streets, Qingguang and Yashiro could see traces of Ninja Dogs and domestic dogs everywhere.

Every household kept a few, even ordinary people without ninja talent did.

They could even see packs of dogs wandering the streets, calling out to friends, a common sight.

"Qingguang, you, you, don't be nervous."

"If you're nervous, I, I get nervous too." Yashiro followed behind Qingguang, his speech becoming somewhat stuttered.

Qingguang silently put his hand to his forehead, stopped, walked behind Yashiro, and pushed his back forward with both hands.

"Brother Yashiro, it's not like I'm the one getting married, so why should I be nervous? You're the groom-to-be, you should be walking in front."

"But..."

"There's no 'but.' For your and Akiya-neechan's future happiness, if you displease her parents now, how will you ever bear the responsibility of a husband later?"

Stung by Qingguang's words, Yashiro felt a surge of heat rush through his body, a nameless passion igniting in his chest.

"Everything is for the future of Akiya and myself!" He clenched his fists, cheering himself on.

"Very good, that's the spirit."

Before long, Qingguang and Yashiro arrived at a spacious training ground.

Upon entering, they could see all sorts of Ninja Dog training equipment.

Balance beams, log arrays, rope climbs, fire hoops...

Energetic, robust Ninja Dogs with gleaming fur were constantly practicing on them.

There were even several large, fierce Ninja Dogs overseeing the training, their gazes constantly sweeping over the other dogs.

Akiya's father, Inuzuka No, clad in a Konoha uniform, had three claw-like scars on his jawline. His chin was covered in stubble, and his short, sturdy hair made him look incredibly spirited. He wore a whistle around his neck for commanding the Ninja Dogs.

Seeing him, Yashiro hesitated to approach, but Qingguang forcibly pulled him over to Inuzuka No's side.

Yashiro stood there, silent, his face tense, his muscles taut.

Inuzuka No glanced at Yashiro, his hostility undisguised, then cast a look at Qingguang.

The Hokage's adopted son? What's he doing here?

"I'm usually busy training Ninja Dogs. If you have nothing important, don't disturb my work."