Year 38 of Konoha
The Second Shinobi World War grew increasingly intense. The fighting between Sunagakure and Amegakure had ended, and Salamander Hanzo launched an attack on the Konoha Ninja stationed in the Land of Rain.
The assault by the Demigod Hanzo inflicted heavy losses on the Konoha Ninja stationed in the Land of Rain. Salamander Hanzo boasted that he would not allow the ninjas of any nation to set foot in the Land of Rain.
Although the Konoha Ninja suffered heavy losses in the attack, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade made a name for themselves in the Land of Rain and survived their encounter with Salamander Hanzo. The man known as the Demigod, Salamander Hanzo, instead retreated to Amegakure.
The title of the Sannin spread across the nations.
The Uchiha, one of Konoha's most prominent clans and the largest clan in the Shinobi World, had almost none of its members active on the battlefield.
During the three most intense years of the Shinobi World War, the entire Uchiha Clan stayed safely behind the front lines. In Konoha, they drew their pay and managed the important task of clearing away street vendors.
"Chidori Current!"
Lightning burst from Uchiha Naraku's entire body, striking down all the wooden posts around him like an electric net.
"Whew, I finally developed Chidori Current."
Naraku wore a black kimono embroidered with yellow rice ears, with a purple cardigan over it.
Naraku was sixteen now, already over 1.8 meters tall and quite imposing, with handsome features.
He had led the Uchiha Clan for nearly three years, and his every move now carried a hint of authority.
In between training, Naraku had also been troubled by the recent rumors in Konoha.
Many nasty rumors had recently been circulating in Konoha, criticizing the Uchiha Clan for being too afraid to go to war and only daring to bully villagers.
It was impossible to trace when these rumors had first started spreading.
Naraku knew he had to put an end to their influence.
Naraku took Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Rettou with him to the Hokage Office.
Hokage Office
The Third puffed away on his pipe.
The Anbu guard on duty used the Body Flicker Technique to enter the Third's office and report to him. The Third nodded.
As soon as the Anbu left, Uchiha Naraku arrived at the Third's office with two ninja guards and pushed open the door.
"Lord Hokage, the Second Shinobi World War is raging, and the Konoha Ninja have suffered heavy losses. As members of Konoha, we of the Uchiha Clan request permission to join the war!"
Uchiha Naraku stated his purpose plainly and concisely.
The Third laughed.
"Hahaha, Naraku, it's wonderful that you feel this way. But fighting outside the village is no different from fighting within it. Countless spies from other nations are hiding in the village, and the Uchiha Military Police Force is needed to capture them. This is an extremely important mission, no less important than the front lines!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen cheerfully praised Naraku, then explained the situation to him. He simply ignored Naraku's request to join the war.
Konoha was powerful at the time, with ninjas at every level and a full complement of forces. The senior members of the Advisory Council, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō, were still inheritors of the Will of Fire, devoting themselves to Konoha. They sincerely wanted to serve the village, and were nowhere near as unwilling to relinquish power as they would be later.
"But rumors are spreading through the village that the Uchiha Clan bullies villagers but is afraid of the battlefield. They're damaging our clan's reputation!"
"Being a ninja means knowing how to endure. It's only natural that the villagers don't understand you. That's all the more reason you mustn't slack off in your work! The Military Police Force was established to protect the villagers!"
The Third exhaled a ring of smoke and spoke gravely.
The Third was usually warm and sunny, but the occasional sternness with which he addressed serious matters made it hard not to feel the presence of a Shinobi Hero.
"Yes, I understand!"
"Good. Konoha's safety depends on you!"
"Yes!"
Naraku had no choice but to agree with his superior.
Uchiha Naraku and the others withdrew.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood by the window, expressionless, watching the three of them leave.
"Clan leader, everyone in the village is saying the Uchiha are cowards, and the Third won't let us fight. Won't that just prove the rumors right?"
Uchiha Rettou gritted his teeth. He hated the people slandering the Uchiha so much that he wanted to burn them to ashes with a single blast of fire.
Uchiha Yashiro said nothing, but he watched Naraku, clearly waiting for an answer.
"Whether we're cowards isn't for the villagers to decide. This is nothing but slander from people with an agenda. Lord Hokage is right: it's only natural the villagers don't understand. That's why we must endure."
Naraku's words left the two men deeply dissatisfied.
"Clan leader, we can't let the villagers trample on the Uchiha's reputation! Why not mobilize our people to capture those slandering us and use the Sharingan to interrogate them until we find out where the rumors started?"
"No. That would only make the rumors—that we only bully ordinary people and don't dare go to war—seem even more true."
Yashiro and Rettou exchanged a glance. They could both see the blazing fury in the other's eyes.
"Don't be so impatient. I have a way to deal with this."
Uchiha Naraku said calmly.
Hearing that their clan leader had a plan, the two men's eyes lit up. Over the past three years, under Naraku's leadership, the Uchiha Clan had grown increasingly united.
Yashiro was in charge of the Administration Department, overseeing household records, commissions, money, and supplies. He could see the bills in the safe growing in number. As one of the clan's elite jonin, Yashiro also sometimes went to the Ninjutsu Academy to teach Fire Style Ninjutsu and share his knowledge of the Sharingan.
Yashiro felt proud of the clan's development.
Rettou had also moved from the Craftsman Department and the Cleaning Department to the Administration Department. The two service departments had been handed over to other ordinary clan members. He was now responsible for the nursing home and orphanage.
The elderly had care, and the young had support. Every member of the clan, whether a ninja or an ordinary clan member, benefited.
Everyone had fully accepted the Clan Affairs Hall's authority and oversight. Even the heads and elders of the various Uchiha factions had gradually lost all their power over the past three years.
Their children and nephews no longer needed the elders to speak on their behalf. If they had a complaint or some other issue, they could report it to the Administration Institute themselves. They no longer had to watch the elders' faces to study ninjutsu or collect their stipends, either.
The Advisory Institute was where the elders had found a place for themselves. It was true that they had lost all their power, but as the clan leader's advisors, they still had the right to meddle in the Clan Affairs Hall's work and offer suggestions to the clan leader. And it was also true that they still had power—but Naraku could simply ignore their interference and suggestions.
Naraku had been a captain and advisor in the Military Police Force for nearly three years, yet he had spent little effort on it. Now that the Administration Institute and Advisory Institute handled clan affairs, it hardly mattered whether Naraku showed up or not.
His work amounted to signing and stamping documents, or checking in on clan members and looking into their living conditions.
He could already leave the work to others. He only needed the title of clan leader.
Over the past three years, Naraku's strength had advanced rapidly. At his age, it was the perfect time to grow taller and stronger.
And since he hadn't gone to the battlefield or carried out missions like infiltration and assassination, he had eaten and slept well in the clan and grown to over 1.8 meters tall.
He'd also had plenty of time to study ninjutsu. In three years, he had gained a general understanding of the sealing technique scrolls given to him directly by Uzumaki Jiraiya, and could perform a few simple sealing techniques. He had also successfully developed Chidori Current.
Among the ranks of the jonin, Naraku was already one of the top elite fighters.
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