The End of the Second World War

Year 38 of the Leaf.

The intensity of the Second Shinobi World War continued to escalate, and the clashes between the Sand Village and the Rain Village had already concluded. Hanzo of the Salamander launched an attack on the Leaf ninja remaining in the Land of Rain.

Due to the assault by the demigod Hanzo, the Leaf ninja stationed in the Land of Rain suffered heavy losses. Hanzo of the Salamander issued a wild declaration, forbidding ninja from any nation from setting foot in the Land of Rain.

Although the Leaf ninja suffered heavy casualties from the attack, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade shone brilliantly in the Land of Rain, surviving under the hands of Hanzo of the Salamander, while Hanzo himself, known as the demigod, actually retreated back to the Rain Village.

The reputation of the Sannin spread throughout all nations.

As a prestigious clan of the Leaf and the number one clan in the shinobi world, the Uchiha had virtually no clansmen active on the battlefield.

During the three most intense years of the Great Shinobi War, the entire Uchiha clan remained safely in the rear, drawing salaries within the Leaf Village while managing the important task of policing the street vendors.

"Chidori Current!"

Lightning erupted from Uchiha Nara's entire body like an electric web, knocking down all the wooden stakes in the vicinity.

Hah, the Chidori Current has finally been successfully developed.

Nara wore a black kimono embroidered with yellow rice ears, layered under a purple open-front cardigan.

At sixteen years old, Nara was already over 1.8 meters tall, quite imposing, and possessed a handsome face.

Nara had been in charge of the Uchiha clan for nearly three years, and his every gesture already carried the aura of someone in a high position.

Beyond his training, Nara also felt uneasy about the recent rumors circulating in the Leaf.

Many malicious rumors had been spreading throughout the Leaf Village lately, attacking the Uchiha clan for being too afraid to go to the battlefield and only daring to bully the villagers.

It was impossible to trace when these types of rumors had first emerged.

Nara understood that he had to eliminate the influence of such rumors at this time.

Nara took Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Rettou with him and headed toward the Hokage's office.

Hokage Office.

The Third Hokage held his pipe, puffing away and blowing smoke rings.

An Anbu guard on duty entered the Third's office via Body Flicker to report on his work, and the Third nodded.

As soon as the Anbu left, Uchiha Nara, accompanied by his two guard ninja, pushed open the door and entered the Third Hokage's office.

"Lord Hokage, the Second War is currently in full swing and the Leaf ninja have suffered heavy losses. As members of the Leaf, our Uchiha clan requests to join the war!"

Uchiha Nara was concise and to the point, stating his intentions directly.

The Third Hokage laughed heartily.

"Hahaha, Nara, it is excellent that you have this heart, but fighting abroad is the same as fighting within the village. There are countless spies from other nations lurking inside the village who need the Uchiha Police Force to apprehend them. This is a vital mission, no less important than the front lines!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen praised Nara with a cheerful demeanor, but explained the situation to him. He ignored Nara's request to join the war entirely.

At this time, the Leaf's combat power was strong, with ninja of all ranks fully equipped. The high-level advisory group, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, were still inheritors of the Will of Fire who shone and burned for the Leaf. They were truly dedicated to the village at this time, far from the state of clinging to power seen in their later years.

"But rumors are spreading in the village that our Uchiha clan bullies the villagers while fearing the battlefield, which has damaged the reputation of the Uchiha clan!"

"A ninja's work is precisely one that requires endurance; it is normal for the villagers not to understand you. Precisely because of this, you must not slack off in your duties! The Police Force was established to protect the villagers!"

The Third blew a smoke ring and said sternly.

The Third Hokage was usually warm and sunny, but his occasional seriousness when discussing official business allowed one to feel the demeanor of a Shinobi Hero.

"Yes, I understand!"

"Good, the safety of the Leaf needs you!"

"Yes!"

Since the leader had spoken, Nara had no choice but to comply.

Uchiha Nara and the others withdrew.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood before the window, expressionless, watching the three figures depart.

"Clan Leader, the village is currently spreading rumors that we Uchiha are cowards. Since the Third won't allow us to fight, doesn't this just confirm what the rumors say?"

Uchiha Rettou gritted his teeth; he wanted nothing more than to burn those who slandered the Uchiha to ashes with a single burst of fire.

Although Uchiha Yashiro did not speak, he looked at Nara, clearly waiting for his response.

"Whether we Uchiha are cowards or not is not for these villagers to gossip about. It is merely the slander of those with ulterior motives. Lord Hokage is right; it is normal for the villagers not to understand, and that is why we must endure."

Nara's words left the two of them very dissatisfied.

"Clan Leader, how can we allow these villagers to trample on the honor of the Uchiha! I think we should mobilize our clansmen to capture those who are slandering us and use the Sharingan to interrogate them about where this started!"

"No need. That would only confirm the rumors that we only know how to bully civilians and are afraid to go to the battlefield."

Yashiro and Rettou exchanged glances, both seeing the raging fire in the other's eyes.

"Don't be so impatient; I have my own way of handling this."

Uchiha Nara said calmly.

Upon hearing that their clan leader had a plan, the eyes of the two lit up. Over the past three years, under Nara's governance, the Uchiha clan had become increasingly united.

Yashiro managed the Administration Department, overseeing household registrations and the distribution of funds and provisions, watching the stacks of cash in the safe grow ever larger. As an elite jonin within the clan, Yashiro also occasionally visited the Ninjutsu Academy to teach Fire Release ninjutsu and share his experience in utilizing the Sharingan.

Yashiro felt a sense of pride regarding the clan's development.

Reto had also transferred from the Craftsman Department and Cleaning Department to the Administration Department, leaving the two service departments to other ordinary clansmen. Within the Administration Department, he was responsible for the nursing homes and orphanages.

The elderly were cared for, and the young were supported. Every clansman, whether a ninja or an ordinary member, had completely accepted the leadership and control of the Clan Affairs Hall. This included the former heads and elders of the various Uchiha factions, who, after three years of subtle influence, had lost all their power.

Their nephews and sons no longer needed the elders to speak for them; if they had grievances or other matters, they could simply report them to the Administration Institute themselves. As for learning ninjutsu or receiving stipends, they no longer had to look to the elders for approval.

The Advisory Institute was a place for the elders to reside. To say they had lost all power was true, yet as advisors to the clan head, they held the right to criticize the Clan Affairs Hall and offer suggestions to the clan head. To say they held power was also true, yet Naraku could completely ignore their criticisms and suggestions.

Having been the advisor to the captain of the Police Force for nearly three years, Naraku had not expended much mental energy on the force. Now that clan affairs were handled by the Administration Institute and the Advisory Institute, it actually made no difference whether Naraku showed his face or not.

His work consisted only of signing and stamping documents, or perhaps checking on the clansmen to investigate their living conditions.

He could already wash his hands of the work; holding the title of clan head was enough.

Over these three years, Naraku's strength had progressed rapidly; this age range was the prime time for both physical growth and gains in power.

Furthermore, Naraku had not been sent to the battlefield to execute missions involving infiltration or assassination.

Eating well and sleeping well within the clan, he had grown to over 1.8 meters tall.

He also had ample time for ninjutsu research. In three years, he had gained a general understanding of the sealing ninjutsu scrolls given to him by Uzumaki Nao and could cast some simple sealing techniques, and he had also successfully developed the Chidori Current.

Naraku's strength now placed him among the elite, top-tier ranks of the jonin.