Tense Families

Konoha.

Inside the Hokage Building, in the corridor.

The heads of several clans had gathered together.

They kept their voices low, but barely concealed excitement colored their tones.

"The Police Department's restructuring..."

"Someone is finally here to help shoulder this mess!"

Fugaku Uchiha crossed his arms, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

"Public Security Defense, and Border Patrol..."

"Our Hyuga Clan can finally get involved in these matters!"

Hyuga Hiashi stood to the side, his Byakugan turning almost imperceptibly as he stared fixedly at the floor.

"We've obtained administrative affairs, fiscal budgeting, and Mission Issuance Authority."

"It's practically handing half of Konoha's lifeblood over to us!"

Yamanaka Inoichi swallowed and muttered softly.

Akimichi Choza was not eating any snacks, and a flush had appeared on his face as well.

Everyone was thrilled.

In the past,

Konoha High Command had kept them so suppressed they could barely breathe.

Now, a massive cake had fallen right into their laps.

"Everyone."

"Don't celebrate too soon."

At that moment,

Shikaku Nara's voice rang out.

In an instant,

everyone turned to look at Konoha's strategist.

"Shikaku."

"What do you mean by that?"

"We've gotten our hands on such immense power, and you still expect us to put on a miserable face?"

Inuzuka Tsume frowned, somewhat displeased.

She had not received much authority herself.

But compared to before, Inuzuka Tsume was already quite satisfied.

"Do you think..."

"Lord Chiba is some generous philanthropist?"

Shikaku Nara sighed and raised his head to look at the ceiling.

The corridor instantly fell silent.

That young man had returned to the village, killed Danzo, and forced the Third Generation to step down.

How could he possibly be a philanthropist?

"What Lord Chiba gave us is indeed authority."

"But look carefully. Are there any specific details regarding the handover?"

"Did he designate the personnel directly under each department?"

"..."

Shikaku Nara continued, throwing question after question at them.

The others exchanged looks.

Back in the meeting room,

Chiba had merely said a few words and roughly assigned directions. He had not laid out exactly what needed to be done at every step.

That was not reasonable.

"What does that mean?"

Aburame Shibi adjusted his sunglasses and asked in confusion.

"It's a test."

Fugaku Uchiha suddenly spoke.

He narrowed his eyes, his tone turning grave.

"Lord Chiba possesses absolute military strength."

"So he does not care who holds authority."

"Because if he wants to, he can take it back at any time."

"By throwing these responsibilities to us now, he is testing our capabilities."

"Only those who handle their duties well can remain in their positions."

"If we mess it up..."

Fugaku Uchiha did not continue.

But everyone felt a chill run down their backs.

The consequences of failure certainly would not be pleasant.

"So that's how it is."

"Then the Police Department's restructuring must be completed as quickly as possible."

"The Hyuga Clan will absolutely not let him down."

Hyuga Hiashi's chest rose and fell sharply as he nodded silently.

He looked at Fugaku Uchiha, and a competitive edge appeared in his eyes.

"The Uchiha will do the same."

"All the Police Department's old bad habits must be completely eliminated."

"If anyone holds us back, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

Fugaku Uchiha snorted coldly.

The two great clan heads stared at one another, and the air filled with the scent of gunpowder.

This was no longer a struggle for profit like before, but a contest to demonstrate their value before the new Deity.

"Daily administration and finances..."

"That's a bottomless pit, especially now that the village has just gone through turmoil."

"Inoichi, Choza."

"Once we return, we need to work through the night and come up with a plan."

"We absolutely cannot let Lord Chiba think we're a bunch of useless fools."

"..."

Shikaku Nara rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza both nodded seriously.

For their clans' interests,

they would not drop the ball over something like this.

"The intelligence handover..."

"Root may have fallen."

"But the Anbu intelligence network is still in Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands."

"It won't be easy to take it over cleanly and decisively."

Aburame Shibi rubbed his brow, but a look of resolve flashed through his eyes.

This was the Aburame Clan's best chance to turn things around.

No matter the price, he would complete the task Chiba had assigned him.

Very soon,

the atmosphere in the corridor changed.

The initial excitement gave way to gravity and tension.

Everyone was seriously considering how to properly carry out what Chiba had assigned them.

"Tap, tap, tap~"

A moment later,

a series of footsteps sounded.

Chiba walked over.

The corridor instantly became silent.

All the clan heads immediately straightened up and lowered their heads in respect.

"Lord Chiba."

Everyone bowed in unison.

Chiba swept a calm glance over them.

Finally, his gaze settled on Shikaku Nara.

"Shikaku."

"Lord Chiba, I am here."

Shikaku Nara stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"Those old Sarutobi fools have agreed to hand over eighty percent of their family assets."

"For the next month, take people and audit their accounts."

"All confiscated funds and resources are to be turned over to the public treasury and registered in storage."

"If even a single coin is missing, you'll answer for it."

Chiba's tone was exceedingly calm, as though he were discussing something trivial.

However,

upon hearing the words "eighty percent of their family assets,"

a wave of stifled gasps immediately rose in the corridor.

The wealth accumulated by the Four Great Clans over decades was an astronomical sum!

Sarutobi Hiruzen had guarded against this his entire life, only to be stripped clean in the end.

"Yes."

"I understand."

Cold sweat beaded on Shikaku Nara's forehead.

Though this task was lucrative, it was also an enormous hornet's nest.

Auditing those old men's accounts was equivalent to carving flesh from their bodies.

However,

with Chiba backing him, Shikaku Nara was full of confidence.

"Alright."

"Go back."

Chiba waved his hand.

He said nothing further and headed straight for the stairs.

Watching Chiba's departing figure, the clan heads exchanged glances.

"Eighty percent..."

"The Four Great Clans are truly finished this time."

Yamanaka Inoichi murmured.

"Enough, stop talking nonsense."

"Make preparations. It's time to get to work."

"For the next month, none of us should expect to sleep."

Shikaku Nara exhaled a breath of stale air.

Before long,

everyone dispersed, each returning to make preparations.

After leaving the Hokage Building,

Chiba walked through Konoha's streets.

Although the higher-ups had just gone through a dramatic upheaval,

the civilians' lives had not been affected much.

Over tea and meals, they merely whispered about the Senju Clan's reappearance.

Chiba clasped his hands within his sleeves and walked at an unhurried pace.

His senses had long since spread outward.

Nothing happening throughout Konoha could escape his perception.

Suddenly,

a noisy commotion came from up ahead, mixed with children's shouts and curses.

"Beat him to death! That monster!"

"Get out of our village!"

"Hit him! Throw rocks at him!"

Chiba frowned slightly.

He followed the sound and stopped at the mouth of an alley.

Several civilian children wrapped in thick cotton clothes had formed a circle.

They held clumps of mud and stones in their hands, hurling them hard at the ground.

At the center of the circle, a little boy with golden hair was curled up in the corner.

He wore only a thin orange shirt. His face was filthy, smeared with mud.

A small stone struck his forehead, breaking the skin and drawing bright red blood.

But he did not cry.

In those azure eyes flickered a beast-like stubbornness and hurt.