Danzo's Grievances

Not long after Uchiha Ling walked out of the Hokage Office, a frustrated Shimura Danzō arrived.

Shimura Danzō did not sit in the guest chair; instead, he stood directly before Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk, his wooden cane trembling slightly from his tight grip, his knuckles turning white.

His only visible left eye was bloodshot, surging with nearly uncontrollable rage and humiliation.

"Hiruzen! You saw it! You saw it all!"

Danzō's voice was hoarse, stripped of its usual gloom, leaving only a sharpness born of total provocation.

"That Uchiha brat! Does he have any regard for the village in his eyes? Does he have any regard for us elders who have bled and sweated for this village?

He dared—he actually dared to have his subordinates block me at the door! Since when did the Military Police Force become Uchiha Ling's private kingdom? Huh!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag from his pipe, the swirling smoke blurring the complex expression on his face.

He did not answer immediately, simply watching his agitated old friend in silence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could understand Danzō's anger; anyone subjected to such public humiliation would struggle to remain calm. But at the same time, he could not fully agree with Danzō's assessment.

"Danzō, calm down," Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke, his voice tinged with weariness.

"Uchiha Ling was here yesterday. His explanation was that everything was done in accordance with the regulations left behind by the Second Hokage. Those rumors do indeed exist, and their nature is malicious. He investigated according to the law; we cannot find much fault with the procedure."

"Procedure? Regulations?" Danzō sounded as if his tail had been stepped on, his voice rising sharply.

"Those are just excuses! Hiruzen, can't you see it? That brat is using the regulations to openly expand the power of the Uchiha! He's striking at dissenters!

It's me this time, but what about next time? Might it be your turn next?

The Military Police Force possesses independent law enforcement, investigative, and detention powers! It covers the entire village! They can even employ 'extraordinary coercive measures'!

This power is too great! It is so great that it already threatens the authority of the Hokage and the balance of the village!"

This statement was like a needle, precisely piercing the deepest, hidden concern in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart.

How could he not know that the power of the Military Police Force was excessive?

When the Second Hokage established this department and handed the authority to the Uchiha, it was intended to serve as a form of check and balance, as well as a means of isolation.

But times had changed, and the original balance seemed to be tilting in an uncontrollable direction following the emergence of an anomaly like Uchiha Ling.

Uchiha Ling had not been bogged down by the trivialities of the Military Police Force or isolated by the resentment of the villagers like previous Uchiha heads; instead, he used it to establish his prestige and even turned the regulations around to corner the Council of Elders.

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's silence, Danzō knew his words had taken effect. He lowered his voice, his tone becoming more sinister:

"Hiruzen, we cannot let this continue. This Uchiha Ling is ambitious, ruthless, and possesses both extraordinary strength and the ability to bewitch the hearts of others.

If we allow him to continue controlling a Military Police Force held entirely by the Uchiha, in time, Konoha might truly end up belonging to the Uchiha!

We must find a way to weaken the power of the Military Police Force—at the very least, we must break the Uchiha's monopoly over it!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, his gaze sharp as he turned to Danzō: "Weaken it? How? By abolishing the regulations set by the Second Hokage? Just because we feel Uchiha Ling has too much power? What would the clans that have followed the village's founding rules since the beginning say?

Furthermore, Uchiha Ling just 'acted according to the law.' If we turn around and abolish the regulations, it will only provoke a stronger backlash from the Uchiha Clan and make other clans wary."

Danzō's single eye flickered; he clearly understood that forcibly abolishing the regulations was unrealistic. He had already prepared a countermeasure:

"If we can't abolish them, then dilute them! Stuff people into the Military Police Force! Modify the entry rules to explicitly state that the Military Police Force is no longer just the private property of the Uchiha; it should be open to all qualified ninja in the village!

Absorb members from other clans, even civilian ninja. As long as we have our people inside, along with other stakeholders, it won't be so easy for Uchiha Ling to cover the sky with one hand!

We can slowly infiltrate and divide, eventually regaining control of the actual power of the Military Police Force."

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into a long, deep contemplation. The tobacco in his pipe burned down to ash.

Stuffing people into the Military Police Force to dilute the Uchiha's control was indeed a relatively moderate and more actionable plan.

"This may be the most feasible approach for now," Hiruzen Sarutobi finally nodded slowly, reaching a decision.

"However, this matter cannot be rushed. We need to find an appropriate time to discuss it with Uchiha Ling.

After all, he is the nominal head of the Military Police Force. Bypassing him to force this through might yield the opposite of the desired result."

"Discuss? Hmph, I fear that brat won't submit so easily," Danzō snorted coldly.

"We must try," Hiruzen Sarutobi extinguished his pipe.

"As for you, Danzō, you were indeed inconsiderate in this matter. Even if you didn't directly order those rumors, you cannot escape responsibility for them.

I will announce an 'internal warning' against you and order you to restrain your subordinates. Let this matter end here for now."

Danzō's expression shifted several times, but in the end, he forcibly suppressed his unwillingness and nodded.

For now, he had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill.

"This old man understands..."

The next morning, Uchiha Ling was summoned to the Hokage Office once again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not beat around the bush. After a brief greeting, he cut straight to the point, his tone gentle yet carrying an unquestionable weight:

"Ling, regarding the Military Police Force, I have discussed it with several elders. When the Second Hokage established the Military Police Force and granted it significant power, his original intention was to maintain the stability of the village.

As times change, in order to better promote the integration of ninja from all clans and social strata, and to reflect the spirit of Konoha as one entity working toward common governance, we feel that the composition of the Military Police Force could perhaps undergo some adjustments."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, observing Uchiha Ling's reaction. Seeing that the other man remained calm, he continued:

"We are considering whether we could appropriately modify the entry rules for the Military Police Force to open it to the entire village, absorbing some excellent ninja from other clans, and even civilian ninja who have shown outstanding performance. What do you think?"