The Military Police Force couldn't be expanded as easily as Naraku had imagined. Konoha only provided so much funding, which was enough to hire only so many people.
The Uchiha Clan couldn't exactly pay out of pocket to expand the force and work themselves to the bone for Konoha. Clearly, making such a personal sacrifice wouldn't be appropriate.
Naraku rubbed his chin, calculating in his mind.
The Land of Fire allocated three billion ryō to Konoha, and Konoha allocated 150 million ryō to the Police Force.
Each member of the Military Police Force earned an annual salary of 600,000 ryō. The salaries of just over two hundred officers nearly exhausted the entire budget.
There was basically no surplus to speak of, unless it came from things like salary deductions. But those were merely a management tool; it was impossible to squeeze much funding out of the staff.
For a ninja, 600,000 ryō was equivalent to four of the lowest-paying A-rank missions, or one per quarter.
How should the money be allocated and spent?
If he lowered the salaries of Konoha Military Police Force staff, such a universally despised policy would earn Uchiha Nara the contempt of the officers.
Even being the Uchiha Clan Head wouldn't help. Taking control of the Police Force would be even more out of the question.
How could he change the division of duties without harming the interests of Konoha Military Police Force staff? Expanding the force was out of the question unless Konoha increased its funding.
Naraku thought of the Third and the several advisors, then couldn't help shaking his head at the idea of requesting more funding.
That was with Shimura Danzō away on a mission. If Shimura Danzō were in the village, asking for more funding would be even more unthinkable. Bringing it up would only invite humiliation.
The ninjas below watched Naraku sitting up front. Lord Naraku seemed lost in thought, his mind somewhere far away.
"Ahem." Uchiha Go, an older man, coughed.
Naraku came back to himself.
"As Konoha jonin and the Uchiha Clan's elite, don't you think it's somewhat inappropriate to bully the villagers? I have a plan to restructure the force and redistribute its duties."
"You're the elite of the Uchiha Clan and Konoha jonin. From now on, you won't have to take part in street patrols."
"Your only responsibilities will be arresting ninja with criminal tendencies and investigating and apprehending foreign spies."
"As for the patrol areas you currently cover, I'll have the Third and Fourth Squads each take on half more."
Uchiha Nara spoke calmly.
These Uchiha jonin were elites, and they didn't want to deal with such trivial matters either.
"Lord Nara, capturing ninja and spies is at least B-rank or A-rank work, isn't it? What about the pay?"
Uchiha Saburo asked, his eyes gleaming.
Any mission involving contact with ninja was at least B-rank and carried considerable danger. The pay was a problem too.
Patrolling the streets was tedious, but it carried little risk. If patrols and capturing ninja paid the same, that did seem somewhat unreasonable.
"Your salaries won't be adjusted for now. The Konoha Military Police Force First Division will gradually restructure in the near future. Konoha needs powerful police ninja to maintain peace in the village."
"You're all Uchiha elites and Konoha jonin, qualified to meet the standard of powerful ninja. As for the duties of the Second, Third, and Fourth Squads, they won't be handling those dangerous missions. You'll be taking on that responsibility."
On his first day as division commander, before he'd even gotten comfortable in his seat, Uchiha Nara was already planning to change the Military Police Force's longstanding rules.
The staff below looked at one another. For the combative, confident, and powerful Uchiha, battle was the best way to prove their worth.
But that was on the condition they were paid for it. No one was willing to risk their life for nothing.
Naraku watched the ninja below him whisper among themselves and didn't stop them. Using chakra, he spoke softly.
"What do you think of this arrangement? These missions are dangerous. You can request a transfer to another squad if you wish. That's perfectly fine."
Though Naraku's voice was casual, his words reached everyone.
"Lord Nara, I request a transfer to another squad."
"Lord Nara, I'd like to request a transfer too."
"I'd like to transfer as well!"
Several older ninja requested transfers in turn. Naraku glanced at them. Most were nearing fifty or had just passed that age.
They were no longer at the peak of their strength as ninja, and these missions indeed weren't suited to them.
"Very well. Is anyone else requesting a transfer?" Naraku asked quietly, his expression unchanged.
After the five older ninja made their requests, the younger ones remained expressionless, seeming entirely unfazed by the dangerous missions.
They showed the Uchiha Clan's confidence and pride to the fullest.
"Good. You five have served in the Military Police Force for many years and worked hard. I've received your requests. As for the results, I'll let you know once we've coordinated within the division."
"Yes!"
The five bowed in acknowledgment.
A transfer wasn't something they could simply request and receive. It also depended on whether anyone from the other squads or teams was willing to transfer to the First Squad.
Uchiha Fugaku was in the Military Police Force office of Konoha's Second Division, frowning as he read the information on a scroll.
They had previously discovered a spy and assumed he was from the Land of Earth. But after observing his actions for a while, they noticed something unusual.
He seemed to be in frequent contact with ninja dressed as Anbu. If he was connected to the Anbu, or if the Anbu took over the case, the Police Force would clearly have no room to intervene.
And since he was in contact with the Anbu, he might be one of their informants or a member of the Intelligence Division. The case, which had seemed simple at first, was becoming complicated.
As the assistant squad leader, Fugaku was in charge of the Second Division. He sat in the division commander's office, deep in thought.
The Second Division commander sat respectfully below him. Ever since Fugaku had arrived, the commander had willingly stepped aside.
He was content to serve as Fugaku's subordinate. It was clear Uchiha Fugaku was deeply respected by his clanmates and had both influence and ability.
Several Anbu dropped from above and landed outside the office, tapping on the window.
Fugaku frowned. The Anbu had come calling. Nearly the entire Uchiha Clan despised the Anbu.
Uchiha elites often spotted Anbu outside the Uchiha Clan Compound, apparently keeping watch on the Uchiha.
They would drive one group away, only for another to arrive soon after. Whenever they asked the Anbu or the Third why they were stationed there, the answer was always that they were passing through on a mission or that they couldn't disclose the information.
"Uchiha Fugaku, Lord Hokage wishes to see you. Please come with me."
"All right."
The Anbu verbally delivered the Hokage's summons. Uchiha Fugaku considered it briefly, then followed them to the Hokage Building.
Hokage Building
At his desk, the imposing Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, puffed on his pipe as he slowly handled Konoha's various affairs.
As the leader of a village, the Third had an enormous workload. The Advisory Council helped shoulder some of it, but its members were advisors, after all. They generally discussed matters and offered opinions for the Third to consider.
The actual affairs of Konoha were still handled and decided by the Third. So much work piled up that even he often overlooked things.
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