Consolidation and Opportunity

Inside a spacious Japanese-style room, the air was filled with the faint, lingering fragrance of freshly brewed green tea and a sense of quiet solemnity.

Uchiha Mikoto sat kneeling at the head of the room, dressed in the deep purple attire of the Uchiha clan. Her long hair was tied back meticulously, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck.

The woman's expression was calm, her eyes clear and focused. The girlish demeanor she had shown before Uchiha Ren the previous night had faded, replaced by a composed and capable air.

Seated on both sides below her were the participants of this meeting—

Her deputy, the efficient and sharp Uchiha Hazuki; and representing the Hawk Faction, the fierce-looking Uchiha Yashiro, who sat as still as a pine.

And the controller of the clan leader faction's intelligence network, the stern-faced Uchiha Fugaku.

Sitting beside Fugaku was a young man with a slightly gloomy temperament and sharp eyes—Uchiha Yakumi.

"Everyone."

Mikoto scanned the room, and under the respectful gazes of Hazuki and Yashiro, and the calm stares of Fugaku and Yakumi, she spoke.

"I believe you all know why I have summoned you here today."

"According to the joint resolution of the clan leader and Elders Setsuna and Huoke, effective immediately, all intelligence networks under the clan will be integrated and unified, and I will be responsible for overseeing them."

As she finished, her gaze fell upon Fugaku's face, her intent unspoken but clear.

With the new leaders of the Hawk and Dove factions in agreement, the only "outsiders" present were the two from the clan leader faction.

Having been prepared for this, Fugaku met Mikoto's gaze, nodded slightly, and said calmly.

"The clan leader has already conveyed the instructions to me. The list of personnel under my jurisdiction, contact methods, and recent intelligence summaries are all here."

He placed a well-sealed scroll on the low table in front of him, his movements crisp and devoid of any hesitation.

Although he felt a sense of reluctance in his heart, knowing that he had fallen behind this dazzling newcomer in terms of the clan's future direction, he displayed the proper conduct expected of someone who had received elite training when it came to executing the clan's collective decisions. He would not drag his feet.

"Thank you, Brother Fugaku."

Mikoto nodded gently, and Hazuki immediately stepped forward to respectfully collect the scroll.

She continued, her logic clear and structured.

"Integration is not merely a simple addition. Hazuki, you are responsible for coordinating with Brother Fugaku to reorganize the existing structure, remove redundant nodes, and evaluate personnel efficiency. I want to see a preliminary integration plan within three days."

"Yes, Lady Mikoto."

Uchiha Hazuki agreed without hesitation, her eyes filled with excitement and drive.

"Yashiro."

Mikoto turned to the other side.

"Present."

"You are responsible for organizing the external communication channels and confirming their security."

"In particular, confirm the situation at every border, as well as the contact lines for our secret outposts in the various towns of the Land of Fire, to ensure there are no mistakes."

"Understood!"

Uchiha Yashiro nodded.

He held 100% approval for the woman before him—the future clan leader's wife, who was dignified and graceful in daily life, yet commanded absolute authority when handling affairs.

Mikoto looked at everyone, her expression suddenly turning cold as she spoke.

"Since last night, there have been more sneaky ninjas around the clan grounds. I am sure everyone here understands what this represents."

Hearing this, the group nodded in unison. They were well aware of what was happening at their doorstep, and they understood that this was a warning and a show of vigilance from the high-level officials of Konohagakure.

Therefore, the clan needed a unified opinion on how to handle this matter.

They could not have one side capturing these people while the other side went to apologize, making the clan seem schizophrenic.

In the early stages of the clan's integration, it was the consensus of all that affairs should be resolved through consultation between the factions.

However, people have tempers.

Mikoto then swept her gaze toward Uchiha Yakumi, her voice cold.

"Yakumi, I will leave it to you to be responsible for counter-surveillance against the high-level officials of Konohagakure. Whether it is Mitokado Homura at the Daimyo Palace or the advisors and the Third Hokage at the Hokage Building, we must at least know their whereabouts."

Yakumi lifted his eyelids, looked at Mikoto as she fulfilled her duties, and bowed his head.

"As you command, Lady Mikoto."

He knew what monitoring these people represented—the most hardline and intense consequence, which was the "decapitation tactic" Uchiha Ren had proposed at the clan meeting.

But to allow them to monitor the Uchiha, while not allowing the Uchiha to take countermeasures...

Ask yourself, is that reasonable?

It is not reasonable!

Is this radical?

This is very Uchiha!

With a more assertive superior in charge, Yakumi felt significantly less stifled.

He loved the Uchiha Clan deeply, but that did not mean he was willing to see his family act like dogs!

Fugaku remained silent on the side.

With the arrangements settled, Mikoto's tone softened slightly.

"The clan is at a critical juncture; intelligence will be our eyes and ears in the upcoming negotiations with the Hokage, and even on the future battlefield."

"You are all indispensable elites of the clan, and I hope we can work together to make these eyes sharper and these ears more sensitive."

"For the Uchiha!" Yashiro shouted in a low, firm voice.

"For the Uchiha!" Hazuki and Yakumi echoed in response.

Watching Mikoto command the room from the head seat, organizing the complex intelligence work with clear, logical precision in mere moments, the last trace of hesitation Fugaku felt regarding the transfer of power dissipated.

She was truly the most suitable candidate, and the bridge connecting the various factions within the clan at this moment.

After this, I just need to do my part well.

I will let the clansmen know that I, too, am contributing my strength to the family!

Fugaku resolved firmly in his heart.

His love for the clan was consistent throughout, second to none.

Before long, the meeting neared its end.

Specific details were left for Hazuki and Yashiro to discuss further with Fugaku and Yakumi.

Mikoto sat upright at the head of the table, listening quietly to their discussion and occasionally interjecting a point or two.

The sunlight traced a soft halo along her calm profile.

Yet, the light flickering in her eyes was sharper than the sun itself.

It was as if she had already pierced through the layers of rooftops in Konohagakure, looking out toward the ever-changing ninja world.

Just then, with a crisp "pop," a beautiful and elegant Silver-spotted Cat leaped out of thin air, calling out.

"Lady Mikoto, an urgent report!"

Everyone in the room immediately fell silent.

Yashiro and Hazuki looked thoughtful, while Yakumi and Fugaku pondered whether they should find an excuse to leave.

However, they waited for Mikoto's lead.

The clever Silver-spotted Cat landed lightly in Mikoto's arms, looked up at her mistress who nodded gently, and meowed the intelligence entrusted to it by Ren.

"Some cats discovered that a large number of Konohagakure ninja forces are suddenly marching rapidly toward the southwest this morning."

"If nothing goes wrong, these should be the reserve ninja forces prepared by the Konohagakure higher-ups to deal with the war, and their target is Sunagakure."

The expressions of everyone present turned solemn.

Mikoto immediately sensed an opportunity—a chance to test the bottom line of the Konohagakure higher-ups.

"Ayan, go back and report to Ren; I have matters to attend to here."

"Meow."

As the Silver-spotted Cat departed, Mikoto looked at Fugaku, the corners of her lips curling upward.

"Brother Fugaku, now that you have laid down the burden of intelligence, you will surely take on more responsibilities within the Police Force. As for those 'sneaky individuals' lurking on the outskirts of our clan grounds, how do you suggest we deal with them?"