Uzumaki Nao

Naraku set down his teacup without changing expression and said softly,

"It's not that. I just thought of Root when you said your clansmen hadn't been seen for three years. That's simply how Root operates. Even I, as the Uchiha clan leader, deeply distrust them."

Uzumaki Nao had already guessed what was going on, but still planned to ask for an audience with Lord Hokage tomorrow and inquire about his clansmen.

As clan leader, it was only natural for him to worry about his people. Surely the Lord Third would understand.

Thinking of that, Uzumaki Nao was reminded of the disaster that had destroyed his homeland. He sighed and said,

"Over the past few years, I've gradually found my clansmen scattered across the land and brought them to Konohagakure. Five years ago, the Uzumaki Clan was a large clan with over a thousand ninja. Now, barely a hundred of us have survived."

"I don't know whether bringing them to Konoha was a blessing or a curse. Sigh... Perhaps the Uzumaki living in Konoha are all that remain of our clan."

"Don't sigh, Nao. Your clansmen who joined Anbu are blessed with good fortune. Perhaps they were sent on some long-term missions."

Naraku offered reassurance, then picked up his teacup and lowered his eyes. Even he didn't believe what he was saying.

Hearing this, Uzumaki Nao let out another heavy sigh.

It was impossible that a newly arrived ninja clan would be sent on long-term missions. They hadn't even finished their probationary period, during which their loyalty and the like would be assessed.

Besides, long-term missions were usually espionage or counterintelligence operations. How could they possibly be entrusted to the Uzumaki?

"How come I've never heard of Root?" Uzumaki Nao set aside his other thoughts and decided to learn more about it.

"Most ordinary villagers never come into contact with Root. They only suppress the ninja clans and recruit talented young ninja with exceptional potential. Once they set their sights on you and bring you into Root... heh."

Naraku's voice trailed off. He gave an awkward chuckle, unwilling to say more.

Uzumaki Nao's expression turned solemn.

"I understand. I'll ask the Lord Third!"

He had already reached a conclusion about the clansmen who had joined Konoha but hadn't sent word in three years. The Uzumaki were one of the most recent clans to join. Though their numbers weren't small, their standing wasn't very high, making them easy to exploit. Just as the Lord Third had demanded that they provide some ninja for Anbu, Uzumaki Nao had been unable to refuse.

The only two Uzumaki granted jonin rank in Konoha were the clan leader, Uzumaki Nao, and his younger brother, Uzumaki Qu. The rest were mostly chūnin, genin, or students.

Most of the Uzumaki children were being raised in the clan's own territory, while some had enrolled in the Ninja Academy.

As for the teenagers, most had joined Konoha's Anbu. Uzumaki Nao was now deeply ashamed of the clansmen who had been recruited into Anbu.

At the moment, he was thinking about how to protect his people and keep Konoha from taking any more of them.

The Uchiha clan leader before him was clearly powerful enough to shelter the Uzumaki.

"I hope you get a satisfactory answer." Hearing that Uzumaki Nao intended to speak with the Lord Third, Naraku replied and gave a slight shake of his head.

The Lord Third's usual tactics were either to brainwash people with the Will of Fire, pass the buck, or stall for time. Anyone who didn't know what the Third was really like would be fooled into ruin.

With that in mind, Naraku couldn't help warning him, "It might be unbecoming of a subordinate to criticize his leader, but the Lord Third, heh..."

Naraku couldn't openly speak ill of the Lord Third, but even the thought of him made Naraku sneer.

Uzumaki Nao understood what Uchiha Naraku meant.

"Since our clan joined Konoha, we naturally have to contribute. But my clansmen are still too young, and we don't have any powerful ninja. What should we do?"

Quite a few Uchiha ninja also served in Konoha's ninja ranks. The Uchiha were a powerful fighting clan, and if the Uzumaki were on good terms with them—

Then forming squads with Uchiha ninja would surely improve the Uzumaki's chances of survival.

Konoha's ninja were under the village's direct control and managed by the Hokage. The village usually kept them employed by assigning them missions through the Mission Hall.

But sometimes it gave specific orders: for example, sending Shimura Danzō to the Land of Rain to face off against Hanzo, or sending Hatake Sakumo to the Land of Wind on a surprise strike to assassinate targets and sabotage enemy operations.

The Hokage could dispatch the Sannin, Anbu, and ninja squads, but he couldn't dispatch the Uchiha Clan or the Konoha Military Police Force.

At least, that was how things stood for now. Fugaku's submission to the Hokage happened later in the anime. Nothing like that had happened at this point.

Naraku picked up on Uzumaki Nao's unspoken meaning and said softly,

"You can join the Police Force. I'm not only the Uchiha clan leader; I also hold a position and have a say in the Konoha Military Police Force."

Uzumaki Nao had only meant to suggest that they form squads with Uchiha ninja. He hadn't expected Naraku to openly invite them to join the Police Force.

He couldn't help staring in surprise. It was a cushy job. The pay aside, at least they'd be kept away from the battlefield.

And with the Uchiha backing them, Anbu and Root surely wouldn't dare come asking for more people.

"Hahaha, that would be wonderful, truly wonderful! Lord Naraku, please have some tea." Uzumaki Nao smiled and drained his cup.

Uchiha Naraku lifted his teacup and took a small sip, thinking, The Public Security Squad and the Village Management Squad need some non-Uchiha personnel. This works out perfectly.

Though villagers tended to despise those two departments, they really did keep people far from the battlefield.

The Uchiha had held these posts for so long. Countless villagers resented and scorned them, but the other ninja clans still envied them.

"Nao, you should think this over carefully. Quite a few of your clansmen seem to work in the Sealing Team and Barrier Team. If you get too close to the Uchiha, you might..."

Naraku left the rest unsaid. Getting too close to the Uchiha could bring down the Hokage faction's ire. If the Uzumaki were then kicked out of the other departments, things would get awkward.

"Two of our clansmen work in the Sealing Team and two in the Barrier Team. That's only four jobs. It's no big deal. With Lord Naraku's support, why should I care about that?"

Uzumaki Nao said it without a hint of concern.

"True. The Military Police Force can offer you at least thirty positions, so there's no need to worry about losing one or two people." Naraku nodded slightly and named a specific number.

Uzumaki Nao's eyes immediately lit up. Thirty positions—that meant thirty steady jobs. The rest of the clan could just carry out their missions as usual and mind their own business.

If those with talent or potential could join the Police Force, he wouldn't have to worry about his clan being wiped out.

After all, Konoha was the strongest ninja village. It wasn't as though some other village could organize a force capable of destroying it.

No matter how the clansmen fared, as long as the Military Police Force held authority, the clan couldn't be wiped out.

Uzumaki Nao was deeply regretful that he had agreed to the Lord Third's demand and sent his clansmen to Anbu. He believed he had doomed them.

He absolutely couldn't pass up the offer from the Uchiha Military Police Force. The Uchiha had become the foremost ninja clan in Konoha precisely because they controlled the Military Police Force.

"Then I'm grateful, Lord Naraku! The Uzumaki Clan is ready to serve you with all our strength!" Uzumaki Nao hurried to pledge his loyalty.

"Don't mention it, Nao. We're already friends. By the way, Nao, I've been studying fuinjutsu for the past three years as well. Some of the techniques are truly obscure and difficult..."