Konoha Military Police Force

With the support of the elders, the Administration Institute recruited personnel and compiled population statistics with remarkable speed. The commissions from the ninjas' missions were now being handed directly to the Administration Institute for accounting, and the power of the fragmented Uchiha factions was gradually centralizing within the Clan Affairs Hall.

Uchiha Clan

Naraku House

"Son, not bad. The changes in the Uchiha over this past month are plain for all to see. Our oppression by the Hokage was inseparable from the issue of having too many factions within the clan," Uchiha Sanzang said, sitting in the main seat.

Naraku knelt on the floor below, listening to his father's teachings.

"Yes, Father. The construction of the Clan Affairs Hall requires the participation of all clansmen. Whether it is the Ninjutsu Academy caring for Uchiha ninjas, or the Sanitation Bureau and Craftsmen Bureau looking after the ordinary Uchiha populace,"

"Or the Orphanage and Nursing Home tending to the widowed elderly and children who have lost their parents, or the Advisory Institute managing the status and rights of the various elders,"

"The clan affairs within the Uchiha are all-encompassing. Only a unified leadership body can forge the Uchiha into a single entity, rather than having each elder manage their own household."

Naraku did not offer humble refusals; instead, he stated the purpose behind the construction of the Clan Affairs Institute.

"Hmm, it seems there was a reason your uncle supported you. While clan affairs are important, your strength must not fall behind."

"The Uchiha, Konoha, and even the entire ninja world—all respect strength. Without strength, you have nothing once you die!"

"Death is fair. It doesn't matter how old you are, how much power you hold, whether you are a clan head, or just a Konoha villager."

Uchiha Sanzang shifted from praise to warning. After a brief pause, he continued:

"Starting tomorrow, you will serve as a consultant for the Military Police Force. As you said before, we only know how to kill and complete missions; there are many problems for which we cannot find answers."

"The Hokage has ordered the Military Police Force to the front lines to fight and defend a country. I truly cannot think of a way to resolve this dilemma."

"As the department responsible for maintaining order in Konoha, our duty is to stay within the village. As for missions like being drafted for combat—should we go, or should we not? And what are the consequences of either choice?"

"I have thought about this for many days. I had never considered these types of questions before. Your inquiry has reminded me, and it has made me realize my own shortcomings."

At this moment, Uchiha Sanzang's expression was solemn and his tone indifferent, much like his uncle Dazang. It was unclear if this was a hereditary trait.

"I have only been the Uchiha leader for a month, and the construction of clan affairs has just begun. Must I go to the Military Police Force now?"

Naraku asked with some hesitation.

"Consultant for the Military Police Force—it's an advisory role, only handling consultations. You don't need to be responsible for anything specific. Besides, aren't you happy to collect an extra paycheck?"

Sanzang wore an expression that said, Don't act like you're suffering when you're getting a good deal.

"Furthermore, as my son, you need to understand the future power structure of the Military Police Force. This is your first step in engaging with them. Since you are the clan head, you cannot afford to be ignorant of the Uchiha Military Police Force."

Uchiha Sanzang turned serious and spoke in a low voice. The official title for the head of the Konoha Military Police Force was Captain, with multiple squads under his command.

According to what Naraku knew, there was no real division of duties; whenever something happened, everyone just swarmed in.

If someone was sneaking around, everyone swarmed in. If someone looked like a spy, everyone swarmed in. It was chaotic and prone to problems.

Obviously, a civilian sneaking around and a spy stealing classified intelligence could not be handled in the same way.

Nor could they be handled by the same group of people. Ninja affairs were generally handled by ninjas. As elites who had bled on the battlefield, setting aside genin, which chunin or jonin among them didn't have hands stained with blood?

It was clearly unnecessary for ninjas to step in to handle trivial matters. However, for capturing spies, criminals, or ninjas with criminal tendencies, powerful bloodline-limit ninjas naturally had to step forward.

It was no wonder the Konoha villagers held such deep resentment toward the Military Police Force. If a vendor saw the police and fled, only to be chased down, beaten, or killed, that was clearly wrong.

Naraku snapped back to reality.

"The Military Police Force, then. It truly does need to be understood and appropriately adjusted." Naraku nodded.

"You brat, you actually want to adjust the Military Police Force? Don't think that just because you've earned the name of 'Copy Ninja' that you're invincible within the Uchiha."

Uchiha Sanzang glanced at Naraku with a look that told him not to overestimate himself.

"I understand, Father. Please rest assured."

Originally, Uchiha Sanzang and Dazang had agreed to let Naraku serve as the clan head and Fugaku as the Captain of the Military Police Force.

However, because Naraku's governance had been quite effective, the strength of the clansmen had been twisted into a single rope by the Administration Institute.

His outstanding performance had earned Uchiha Sanzang's full approval. The Konoha Military Police Force was an important power institution through which the Uchiha participated in Konoha.

The Land of Fire provided Konoha with three billion ryo in funding annually to support tens of thousands of ninjas. An A-rank mission paid at most one million ryo, while an S-rank mission paid over one million.

For a three- or four-man squad, completing a single S-rank mission could earn them several million ryo.

During wartime, such S-rank and A-rank missions were countless.

Missions to suppress ninja troops or assassinate important figures were all A- to S-rank.

Missions to suppress ninja troops could involve thousands of ninjas, and post-war compensation and the like required the Hokage to regulate the use of funds; three billion ryo was not actually that much.

Konoha allocated 150 million ryo annually to the Military Police Force, which had over two hundred members maintaining order throughout the village.

Even if the salary for each member was based on a C-rank mission at 50,000 ryo per month, that would require 600,000 ryo per person per year. For 200 members, the salaries alone would cost 120 million ryo, leaving the Military Police Force's budget quite tight.

How to use the Military Police Force's money had always been a headache for Uchiha Sanzang. Putting the remaining 30 million ryo into his own pocket felt like a violation of the ninja's three prohibitions.

Returning it to Konoha was impossible. Uchiha Sanzang was the type of person who had money but didn't know how to spend it.

Perhaps things would be much better if these matters were handed over to Uchiha Naraku.

Uchiha Sanzang glanced at Naraku and said in a low voice, "You are not the only consultant for the Military Police Force; Fugaku and Uchiha Yashiro are as well. At the same time, this is a test."

"I have controlled the Military Police Force for too long; it is time for someone else to take the helm."

Naraku curled his lip; Fugaku might have a chance, but Uchiha Yashiro was just there to make up the numbers.

Without green leaves like Uchiha Yashiro to set them off, the Uchiha clansmen would feel there was no way out, so for some high-level positions, they at least had to select other clansmen to serve as those leaves.

You are a candidate too; if you can't get elected, you have no one to blame but yourself.

"Brother Fugaku handles the Police Force well enough; when the time comes, I'll have Brother Fugaku and Brother Yashiro serve as my assistants," Naraku said after a moment of contemplation, picking up where Uchiha Sanzang had left off.

"Heh, wanting Fugaku and Yashiro as your assistants—you certainly seem confident about securing the position of Police Force Captain."

"Of course, you have to look at whose son I am," Naraku said, taking the opportunity to butter him up.