Sarutobi Clan Admits Defeat, Gatekeeper Clan Appears

After that day, Jinghuo Uchiha became calm once more.

The villagers began looking forward to a better future. They treated the Sarutobi Clan well, bringing food and drinks to their shops.

The Sarutobi Clan did not grow arrogant.

With the Shimura Clan's fate as a warning, they listened closely to their Clan Head and cautiously took up the role of the Police Force, maintaining an excellent attitude.

That alone was nothing, but they treated not only the victims well, but even the perpetrators.

It was as though they did not want to offend anyone.

In the Sarutobi Clan's view, the perpetrators might have been wrongfully accused as well.

Treating both sides well was also good for the Sarutobi Clan.

Yet it was precisely this attempt to please both sides that led to gossip about the Sarutobi Clan within just three days.

"Why are they being so polite to criminals?!"

"Uh..."

The victims' friends and relatives were deeply displeased, but the bystanders could not truly empathize and could only smile awkwardly.

The Sarutobi Clan had already been proceeding with great caution. The moment they heard the news, they immediately reported it.

As soon as the Sarutobi Clan Head heard it, the Shimura Clan's fate flashed through his mind. He was so frightened that he nearly fell off his chair.

"No! If this continues, the Sarutobi Clan will be wiped out!"

After serving in the Police Force for only three days, the Sarutobi Clan Head decisively went to find Sarutobi Hiruzen. He said that the Sarutobi Clan was incapable, that everyone in the Sarutobi Clan was useless, and that he could broadcast the news to the entire village. All he asked was for the Sarutobi Clan to be removed from the Police Force.

"Give the Police Force back to the Uchiha Clan?"

"The Sarutobi Clan has only me who is capable?" Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that such wording could work on the villagers, so he agreed.

But he was worried that Jinghuo Uchiha would disagree and come to the Village Center to use a big move again, so he called Uchiha Itachi over.

After hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen relay the Sarutobi Clan's surrender, Uchiha Itachi also relayed Jinghuo Uchiha's exact words. "Jinghuo said that we of the Uchiha Clan are all rough men. If any villagers get hurt because of us, that will all be your fault, Sarutobi Hiruzen."

"..."

He can tie this to me too?!

At that moment, he felt Jinghuo Uchiha's malice and began to harbor some doubts.

So he said to Uchiha Itachi, "How about... arranging for another clan to take over? What about the Inuzuka Clan?"

"Lord Hokage can decide for himself." Uchiha Itachi remained as calm as ever and left.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched him go, his brow deeply furrowed.

He had failed to probe anything out.

The Inuzuka Clan could indeed serve in the Police Force, but they had too few members. At the very least, the Aburame Clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio would need to join them.

But having five clans involved would be far too chaotic, and there was no one who could truly suppress all five clans.

So he summoned Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu arrived with imposing, authoritative airs.

After hearing why Sarutobi Hiruzen had called them, they were terrified.

"Have the Mitokado Clan take over the Police Force?!"

"Have the Utatane Clan take over the Police Force?!"

The two hurriedly shook their heads in unison and refused.

"No, no, absolutely not!"

Seeing their reactions, Sarutobi Hiruzen more or less guessed what was going on.

First, they might have seen the Shimura Clan's destruction and the Sarutobi Clan's surrender, leaving them too afraid to accept.

Second, they might have sensed Jinghuo Uchiha's malice.

No matter what, the village could not go without a clan serving in the Police Force!

"What about having Civilian Ninja take over?" Utatane Koharu suggested.

"No." Sarutobi Hiruzen had considered this idea long ago.

There were two problems.

First, there were too few Civilian Ninja, and their strength and character varied widely.

Second, there were no ninja in the village capable of commanding them.

The first point was not much of an issue. They only needed to put in more effort guiding them.

The important thing was the second point: there was no ninja capable of commanding all of them.

Oh, no, there was one... The image of Jinghuo Uchiha, that flat-top youngster, surfaced in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind.

Fugaku Uchiha, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Shisui—all the Uchiha trusted his words.

If it were him, perhaps he could command even ninja who did not know him?

But Sarutobi Hiruzen did not believe that Jinghuo Uchiha would obediently listen to him.

A refusal would be fine.

But if he agreed, Sarutobi Hiruzen feared that he would pull some trick.

Or would he simply ignore those Civilian Ninja?

Sarutobi Hiruzen had a headache.

The Police Force held considerable authority. If it was not properly controlled, it could easily cause major problems.

Things like corruption, favoritism, and disregard for regulations could make the villagers lose faith in the Police Force, a village institution. They would lose faith in him as Hokage as well.

Then the problem would truly become serious.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu understood Sarutobi Hiruzen's troubles after hearing this.

For a time, the Hokage Office was filled with gloom.

After several minutes, Mitokado Homura tentatively suggested, "How about... handing it to the Hyuga Clan?"

"The... Hyuga... Clan?" Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly repeated. The more he said it, the brighter his eyes became.

What a good idea!

There had always been two clans in the village competing for the title of Konoha's strongest clan: the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan.

The Hyuga Clan had long wished to contend with the Uchiha Clan. If they were handed the Police Force now, they would certainly seize the opportunity, widen the gap with the Uchiha Clan, and completely become Konoha's strongest clan.

With their Byakugan bloodline limit, their powers of observation were even stronger than those of the Uchiha Clan. They were highly suited to this position.

As for the dissatisfaction in the villagers' hearts, the Hyuga Clan would surely resolve it perfectly and display the bearing of Konoha's strongest clan.

This proposal brought relaxed, satisfied smiles to the faces of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu, who had just been full of worry.

With the Hyuga Clan as the Gatekeeper Clan, it would not involve the Sarutobi, Mitokado, and Utatane Clans behind them.

They could finally rest easy.

Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Hyuga Hiashi, the Hyuga Clan Head, and informed him of the matter.

Hyuga Hiashi could not help but freeze.

"Have the Hyuga Clan take over the Police Force?"

"What? Are you unwilling?" Sarutobi Hiruzen felt uneasy. Countless lines about the Will of Fire, contributing to the village, and building a better village immediately sprang into his mind, and he prepared to persuade Hyuga Hiashi properly.

But before he could speak, he saw Hyuga Hiashi, dressed in a kimono, bow slightly and say with stern respect, "The Hyuga Clan is willing to take over the Police Force."

"Is... is that so?" Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly suppressed the joy in his heart. "The village thinks very highly of the Hyuga Clan."

"Yes." Hyuga Hiashi remained stern, with not a trace of joy or dissatisfaction visible on his face.

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke a few more heartfelt words about how highly the village regarded the Hyuga Clan, as though saying, I'm counting on you. Don't let me down.

"Yes." Hyuga Hiashi's stern expression remained unchanged.

Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled, finally at ease.