A Clear Understanding

Sarutobi Hiruzen was also startled back to his senses by a flash of gold, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

Then, his expression changed like flipping a book. His previously ferocious and terrifying face instantly returned to one of kindness and amiability. "Shizuka," he said with a smile, "I was just joking with you. Konoha will compensate the Hyuga Clan Land."

"Fine." The golden flames on Jinghuo Uchiha's body turned into orange flames.

The orange flames gradually dissipated.

Both the Hyuga Great Elder and Sarutobi Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of fortunate survival.

Jinghuo Uchiha turned to leave.

As if remembering something, he turned back to look at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Oh, right. Over the years, due to the Shimura Clan's ambition, the losses they've caused our Uchiha Clan, the Uchiha being placed on the front lines of war arrangements, and the immense casualties suffered by the Uchiha, when will you compensate us?"

The Nine-Tails Fox rumors, Danzo's eye-gouging, clan member casualties, concealed war merits...

Although Jinghuo Uchiha didn't state it clearly, Sarutobi Hiruzen instantly thought of these things, and his gaze immediately became veiled.

But under Jinghuo Uchiha's smiling gaze, he quickly forced a smile. "Konoha's current financial situation is rather tight. Can the Uchiha Clan understand?"

"Oh, then I'll understand you for a few more days."

Jinghuo Uchiha waved his hand and left.

Only the Hyuga Great Elder was left, deeply shaken.

He had heard that a certain Uchiha kid was always causing trouble in the village center, but he hadn't paid much attention to village affairs.

Now, he realized it wasn't just causing trouble; it was practically defecating on Sarutobi Hiruzen's head and making him eat it!

And Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to eat it!

Has the Uchiha clan become this terrifying?

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the Hyuga Great Elder with a forced smile, "Is there anything else?"

The Hyuga Great Elder knew that Sarutobi Hiruzen was in a bad mood and was trying to get rid of him.

So he quickly left, lest he suffer collateral damage.

After he left, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression quickly turned grim.

His tightly clenched fists trembled uncontrollably, filled with suppressed frustration.

Hyuga Clan Land, Meeting Room.

The Great Elder knelt in the main seat, Hyuga Hiashi to his left, and Hyuga Hizashi to his right.

These twin brothers both looked at the Great Elder who had just returned from the Hokage Building.

"The Uchiha Clan will not compensate; the village will compensate," the Great Elder said.

"Why?" Hyuga Hiashi asked.

Originally, it should have been him, the Clan Head of the Main Family, who went. However, he wasn't present at the time and hadn't interacted with Jinghuo Uchiha, so the Great Elder, who wanted to go, went instead.

The Great Elder said sternly, "It should be due to the Shimura Clan. Hiashi, you can investigate further."

"Yes," Hyuga Hiashi replied.

At the same time, he felt a bit strange.

The Hyuga Clan appeared peaceful, but in reality, the system of Main Family and Branch Family filled the clan with internal conflicts.

However, if someone were to target them, the Branch Family would have to protect the Main Family, and they would unite against outsiders.

This system allowed their Hyuga Clan to ignore the various conspiracies happening in the village and remain isolationist.

As long as Konoha existed, the Hyuga Clan would always exist.

Now, the Great Elder, who had always adhered to the concept of isolationism, was asking him to actively participate in the village's conspiracies?

It seemed that something significant must have happened secretly within the Shimura Clan to change the current situation in Konoha.

"Then what about Jinghuo Uchiha destroying the Hyuga Clan Land?" Hyuga Hizashi asked.

Although no one was injured, it was better to be safe than sorry!

The Great Elder recalled Jinghuo Uchiha's appearance, that flash of golden, imperial majesty. His expression remained serious.

"Jinghuo Uchiha wouldn't dare to kill anyone. Since the village will compensate, the Hyuga Clan will not suffer any losses."

"The village's finances are a bit tight," Hyuga Hiashi said.

He had taken office today and, after glancing at the budget, had discovered this problem.

The Great Elder looked at him, his gaze filled with a hint of disappointment, like a parent whose child wasn't living up to their potential. But he patiently said, "If the village cannot compensate with money, it can compensate with power. Exchanging money for power is a good thing."

Then there would be more people protecting the Main Family!

If the Hyuga Clan were to become Hokage, the entire Konoha would come to protect the Main Family!

The Great Elder was very pleased with his own idea.

"Yes."

Although Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga both agreed, they felt things wouldn't go so smoothly.

Not to mention Jinghuo Uchiha's volatile temper.

Just the fact that Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Uchiha seemed to be in opposition, yet the Uchiha still controlled an important department—Root.

This was enough to show that the situation in Konoha was extremely chaotic, and Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer control the overall picture.

At this moment, if the Hyuga Clan were to insert themselves as a third party, hoping to reap the spoils, it was likely the sandpiper and clam would cease their struggle.

This muddy water was not worth wading into!

Thinking this, Hyuga Hiashi voiced his thoughts: "Great Elder, I believe the Hyuga Clan should give up the Police Force."

"No! This is the Hyuga Clan's opportunity!"

Hizashi Hyuga wanted to support Hyuga Hiashi, but seeing the Great Elder's firm, almost stubborn expression, he swallowed his words.

In the end, the two bowed their heads, watching the Great Elder's feet walk past them, their hearts filled with unease.

When the Hyuga Clan first took over the Police Force, the villagers were very much against it.

How could they be better than the Sarutobi Clan?

But they gradually discovered that although the Hyuga Clan's attitude wasn't as good as the Sarutobi Clan's, and their faces were always sour.

They did their jobs well, with meticulous observation.

And their tracking abilities were extremely strong.

For seven days, not a single fugitive had escaped.

This gradually made the villagers accustomed to it.

However, some people were very uneasy.

For example, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Nara Shikaku, Uchiha Itachi, and others.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, to save face, asked Nara Shikaku to persuade Jinghuo Uchiha.

Uchiha Itachi and Nara Shikaku were similar types of people, so the two went together to Jinghuo Uchiha's home.

But they didn't find Jinghuo Uchiha.

They asked the clan members.

The clan members said, "He's at the lake trying out new techniques."

Uchiha Itachi: "???"

Nara Shikaku: "???"

After destroying the Hyuga Clan's land last time, you're letting him try them out again?

Aren't you afraid of something going wrong?

"Aren't you going to stop him?" Nara Shikaku became anxious.

"Stop him?" The clan members looked at Nara Shikaku as if they saw themselves a few days ago and said self-mockingly, "If we don't stop him, he'll just activate Fire Style Chakra Mode. If we try to stop him, he'll directly activate Emperor Flame Mode."

His self-mockery, along with his expression, seemed to say: "Stop him? Risk our lives to stop him?"

Uchiha Itachi: "..."

Nara Shikaku: "..."

Admittedly, the Uchiha clan members' words made them realize that they didn't seem to have anything that could persuade Jinghuo Uchiha.

Forcefully stop him? Jinghuo Uchiha was terrifyingly strong.

Compensation for damages? Jinghuo Uchiha would just have the village compensate him.

The Hyuga Clan's dissatisfaction? The village's chaos?

These were things Jinghuo Uchiha didn't care about at all.

He was a hot-tempered person who lived entirely in the moment.

All he wanted was understanding of intent.

Uchiha Itachi and Nara Shikaku were getting headaches.