Ao: We Uchiha Clan members are all upstanding citizens

Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted sharply, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his conical hat. On the surface, however, he forced himself to remain composed. "Clan Leader Ao, I still need to deal with the mess Danzo left behind. If I were to step down now, I fear it would trigger further instability."

His gaze swept over Shisui, who was stirring restlessly behind Uchiha Ao.

A plan formed in his mind instantly. "Very well... if stepping down can appease the Uchiha's anger and settle the hearts of the people of Konoha, I am willing to relinquish power temporarily."

He slowly removed his Hokage hat, his white hair fluttering in the chaotic currents of air. "But the transition must be gradual to prevent Konoha from falling into even greater chaos."

"No! Lord Hokage, this is not your fault!" A cry suddenly erupted from the crowd as an elderly man in plain clothes stumbled out, his gray hair in disarray.

The Anbu maintaining order watched with cold eyes, not making a single move.

The old man reached the platform and fell to his knees, his calloused hands clutching tightly at Hiruzen Sarutobi's hem. "The sins committed by that old thief Danzo should not be borne by you!"

"That's right! The Third Hokage has always given his all for Konoha! The only one truly guilty is that old thief Danzo!" another young civilian in the crowd shouted, raising his arms.

After a brief moment of thought, the other civilians decisively chose to believe in their Lord Third Hokage.

"Yes, everything is the fault of the old thief Danzo; it has nothing to do with Lord Hokage!"

"Lord Hokage, please do not step down from your heavy responsibilities!"

The civilians behind them raised their arms and cheered, the roar of their voices nearly blowing the roof off the Hokage Building.

"Ao, the outcry from the civilians is too great. I fear Hiruzen Sarutobi won't give up his real power so easily," Fugaku whispered, lowering his voice.

In his view, although Ao had performed perfectly in every aspect, his youth was a fatal flaw.

Without enough experience, he was still too green to deal with an old fox like Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Fugaku, don't be impatient," Uchiha Ao waved his hand, teasing in a low voice. "I've only been clan leader for a few days, and you already want me to be Hokage? That's taking too big a step."

"Besides, if we truly wanted to take the Hokage position, our clan's current combat strength could easily handle the entire village if we forced the issue."

"But what the Uchiha clan needs are comrades who can truly accept us."

A flash of surprise crossed Fugaku's eyes, and he couldn't help but re-evaluate the young clan leader before him.

Uchiha Ao said nothing more, instead watching Hiruzen Sarutobi's performance with a smile.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked toward the people who were holding up their farming tools and cheering for him, his clouded eyes growing moist.

He reached out with a trembling hand and gently stroked the back of the old man's weathered hand. "Everyone... there is no need for this."

His voice was choked with unprecedented emotion. "Protecting Konoha has always been my life's wish."

The crowd's cheers grew even louder; some threw their tattered straw hats into the air, while others untied their headbands and waved them, as if pouring out years of accumulated trust and respect.

Seeing this, the corners of Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth curled upward slightly.

Little brat, you are still too green to topple me.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put the hat inscribed with the character for "Fire" back on his head and looked toward the Uchiha clan. "The people of Konoha trust me so much that I truly cannot let them down. My apologies, Clan Leader Ao, but I cannot relinquish the position of Hokage just yet."

Uchiha Ao's smile did not fade; he nodded. "Lord Hokage is right."

"However," he shifted his tone, "our Uchiha clan has shed blood for Konoha for many years; surely we deserve at least a chance to seek justice."

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew it wouldn't be that simple, but his position as Hokage was now secure, and all blame had been shifted away from him.

He asked with a calm expression, "Clan Leader Ao, name whatever compensation your Uchiha clan desires. If that is not enough, I can pay you out of my own pocket."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Ao wore an innocent smile and spread his hands. "Compensation? Lord Hokage, you speak too seriously. All we seek is a fair reputation."

He walked slowly to the edge of the platform, looking down at the impassioned crowd below, his voice clear and resonant. "Friends of Konoha, I know that when our Uchiha clan previously served in the Military Police Force, our methods were too heavy-handed, leading to misunderstandings."

"Here, as clan leader, I promise that starting tomorrow, all police personnel from the Uchiha clan will undergo training in batches. We will abandon the crude and violent style of the past and protect Konoha in a more gentle manner."

Behind him, Uchiha Izumi silently activated her Mangekyo, casting a genjutsu upon all the Konoha civilians in front of them.

Aside from Shisui and Fugaku standing beside her, no one noticed this.

The crowd fell into a brief silence, with only the sound of heavy breathing and the rustling of fabric audible.

Suddenly, the white-haired old man stood up shakily, tears streaming down his wrinkled face. "Good! That's good! If the Uchiha can truly do this, this old bone will be the first to support you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.

???

At this moment, not only Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two decorative elders behind him felt confused, but the various clan leaders below the stage were also bewildered.

Wait, you all just believe that?

They subconsciously assumed that someone from the Uchiha had cast a genjutsu on the civilians, but when they turned to look at the crowd, they fell silent.

There wasn't a single trace of genjutsu on them.

In other words, they actually believed it!?

Hiruzen Sarutobi was also unsure of what was going on.

"Hiruzen, what do we do?" Koharu Utatane's hand, gripping her cane, showed bulging veins, her clouded eyes fixed on Uchiha Ao's composed smile. "These foolish people were deceived by a few words? The Uchiha's ambition is clear for all to see!"

Homura Mitokado beside her let out a heavy snort, his white hair trembling slightly with the movement. "They must have used some underhanded means! We must not let them succeed!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared for a long time without seeing any clues, so he could only knock his pipe hard against his waist, shaking off a few sparks. "It's fine. This isn't enough to affect us."

Seeing the crowd's reaction, Uchiha Ao's smile became even more sincere. He raised a hand to signal for the noisy crowd to quiet down, his voice clear as he continued, "Furthermore, I have another idea—to expand the Konoha Military Police Force."

A wave of uneasy murmurs rippled through the crowd, and Uchiha Ao struck while the iron was hot: "The new Military Police Force will be open to all residents of Konoha."

"We will establish an open selection mechanism. Any ninja with the aspiration to protect the village, or even ordinary citizens, can join through the assessment process."

Nara Shikaku frowned slightly, silently weighing the pros and cons in his heart.

Mitokado Homura, however, suddenly sneered: "Fine words! You're merely trying to use this to expand the Uchiha's influence!"

"Advisor Homura, that is where you are mistaken." Uchiha Ao remained unhurried, signaling his clansmen to bring out a thick scroll. "This is the draft for the restructuring of the Military Police Force. All organization, deployment, and assessments can be decided through joint consultation with representatives from every clan. If necessary, Lord Hokage may dispatch the Anbu to supervise at any time."

He paused, his tone sincere: "We Uchiha only wish to contribute to Konoha, and we hope to use this to dispel everyone's doubts."