Responsibility Division

The mobilization of the Military Police Force was not as simple as Nara had imagined. The funding provided by Konoha Village was limited, which restricted the number of personnel they could hire.

It was out of the question for the Uchiha clan to pay out of their own pockets to expand the force and serve Konoha; self-funded devotion was clearly inappropriate.

Nara stroked his chin, calculating in his mind.

The Land of Fire allocated three billion ryo to Konoha, and Konoha allocated one hundred and fifty million ryo to the Military Police Force.

With each member of the police force earning an annual salary of six hundred thousand ryo, the budget was almost entirely consumed just by the salaries of the two hundred-plus officers.

There was basically no significant surplus unless they docked pay, but that was merely a management tactic; it was impossible to squeeze much funding out of the staff that way.

Six hundred thousand ryo for a ninja was equivalent to four minimum-wage A-rank missions, or one per quarter.

How should this money be allocated and spent?

If he were to lower the salaries of the Konoha Military Police Force staff, such an unpopular policy would surely lead to Uchiha Nara being despised by the members.

It wouldn't matter even if Nara were the Uchiha clan head. Controlling the police force would be completely out of the question.

How could he change the division of duties without harming the interests of the staff? Expanding recruitment was not an option unless Konoha increased the budget.

Nara thought of the Third Hokage and the advisors, and he couldn't help but shake his head at the prospect of requesting more funding.

This was while Shimura Danzo was away on a mission; if he were in the village, requesting more funding would be out of the question—to even bring it up would be to invite humiliation.

The ninjas below watched Nara sitting above, seeing that Lord Nara seemed lost in thought, unaware of what he was pondering.

"Ahem." The elderly Uchiha Go coughed.

Nara snapped back to reality.

"As Konoha jonin and the elite of the Uchiha, is it not somewhat inappropriate for you to be bullying the villagers? I have a plan to adjust the structure and division of duties within the team."

"You are the elite of my Uchiha clan and also Konoha jonin; from now on, you will no longer need to participate in street patrols."

"Henceforth, you will be responsible only for arresting ninjas with criminal tendencies and for investigating and capturing foreign spies."

"As for the patrol areas you were responsible for, I will have the Third and Fourth Squads each increase their coverage by half."

Uchiha Nara said calmly.

These elite Uchiha jonin had no desire to deal with such trivial matters anyway.

"Lord Nara, capturing ninjas and spies—these tasks are at least B-rank or even A-rank missions, right? What about the remuneration?"

Uchiha Saburo asked with burning eyes.

Missions involving contact with other ninjas were at least B-rank and carried significant danger; furthermore, the pay was a concern.

Patrolling the streets, while trivial, carried no risk. If patrolling the streets and capturing ninjas paid the same, it would certainly be difficult to justify.

"Salaries will not be adjusted for the time being. The Konoha Military Police Force First Division will gradually adjust its structure in the near future. Konoha needs powerful police ninjas to maintain the peace of the village."

"You are all Uchiha elites and Konoha jonin, meeting the requirements of powerful ninjas. As for the Second, Third, and Fourth Squads, they will no longer be assigned those dangerous tasks; this heavy responsibility will be carried by you."

On his first day as division captain, before his seat was even warm, Uchiha Nara was already planning to adjust the regulations that had governed the police force for years.

The many staff members below looked at one another. For the warlike, confident, and powerful Uchiha, only battle could demonstrate their worth.

But this was on the condition that they were paid; without reason, no one was willing to risk their lives.

Nara watched the ninjas below whispering to each other and did not stop them, instead using his chakra to ask in a soft voice.

"What are your thoughts on this arrangement? These tasks are dangerous, so you may choose to apply for a transfer to other squads. It is no problem."

Although Nara's voice was understated, his words reached everyone's ears.

"Lord Nara, I request a transfer to another team."

"Lord Nara, I also request a transfer."

"I request one as well!"

Several older ninjas filed their requests one after another. Nara glanced at them; most of these ninjas were nearing fifty or just past it.

They were no longer at the peak of their ninja strength and were indeed ill-suited for such tasks.

"Hmm, are there any others who wish to apply?" Nara asked softly, his face expressionless.

After the five older ninjas applied, the other younger ninjas remained expressionless, seemingly unfazed by the prospect of such dangerous missions.

They fully displayed the confidence and pride of the Uchiha clan.

"Very well. You five have served in the police force for many years and have worked hard. I have received your applications. As for the results of the transfers, I will inform you once we have coordinated within the division."

"Yes!"

The five bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

Transfers were not something that could be granted simply by application; they also depended on whether anyone in other squads or teams was willing to transfer into the First Squad.

Uchiha Fugaku, at the Konoha Village Second Division Military Police Force office, frowned as he looked at the intelligence on the scroll.

The spy discovered earlier was thought to be from the Land of Earth, but after observing the spy's actions for a period of time, he noticed something unusual.

The individual seemed to be frequently in contact with ninjas dressed as Anbu. If there was a connection to the Anbu, or if the Anbu had taken over the case, it was clearly not for the police force to intervene.

Furthermore, there was contact with the Anbu; perhaps he was an informant for the Anbu, or possibly a member of the intelligence division, which made what was originally a simple espionage case somewhat complicated.

Uchiha Fugaku, acting as the assistant captain, was leading the Second Division. At this moment, he sat in the office that had originally belonged to the Second Division captain, lost in thought.

The captain of the Second Division sat below him, looking very respectful. Ever since Fugaku had arrived at the Second Division, the captain had voluntarily stepped down to yield his position.

He was content to serve as Fugaku's subordinate, which showed that Uchiha Fugaku was truly deeply respected by his clansmen and possessed both popularity and capability.

Several Anbu descended from the sky, landing outside the office and knocking on the window.

Fugaku frowned; an Anbu visit. Almost every member of the Uchiha clan was extremely repulsed by the Anbu.

The elites of the Uchiha often discovered Anbu stationed outside the Uchiha compound, seemingly keeping the Uchiha under surveillance.

They would drive one group away, only for another to arrive shortly after. Whenever they asked the Anbu or Sarutobi Hiruzen for the reason behind their stationing, the answer was always that they were just passing through on a mission or that they could not disclose the information.

"Uchiha Fugaku, the Hokage requests your presence. Please come with us."

"Very well."

After the Anbu verbally relayed the Hokage's summons, Uchiha Fugaku considered it for a moment before following the Anbu toward the Hokage Building.

Hokage Building.

At the Hokage's desk, the majestic Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, puffed on his pipe while slowly processing the various affairs of Konoha.

As the leader of the village, the Third Hokage's workload was immense. Although the advisory council helped share some of the burden, advisors were only advisors after all; they generally only discussed opinions to provide the Third with consultation.

The serious business of Konoha Village was still handled and decided by the Third. The sheer volume of backlogged work meant that the Third Hokage often had lapses in oversight.