Ao: The General

"No! I cannot agree to this."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stated firmly, "The Military Police Force was established by the Second Hokage and serves as a vital foundation for Konoha. How could it be restructured so easily?"

Uchiha Ao chuckled and continued, "Lord Hokage, it is precisely because the Military Police Force is a vital foundation of Konoha that it is in even greater need of reform."

That evil Uchiha brat!

Hiruzen Sarutobi cursed inwardly.

Hiashi Hyuga, who had been silent on the dais, stood up after a moment. "Uchiha... Clan Head,"

Hiashi Hyuga nodded slightly, his snow-white pupils watching Uchiha Ao calmly. "While what you just said has merit, restructuring the Military Police Force is a move that affects the entire body."

"Many ninja clans have been rooted in Konoha for a long time, each with their own designated roles. Rash changes will not only disrupt the existing order but could also trigger conflict."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback, not expecting Hiashi to suddenly stand up and speak for him.

"Clan Head Hiashi, that is where you are mistaken. Reforming the Military Police Force will not harm the various clans; on the contrary, it will bring benefits."

"First, we will provide training resources to those willing to join the Military Police Force."

"Second, the basic techniques of the Uchiha Clan will be opened for all police personnel to study."

Some civilian ninjas were tempted upon hearing this.

They had no background and no support from a clan; they had relied entirely on themselves throughout their training.

The benefits of joining the Military Police Force were, to them, an unprecedented opportunity.

However, the heads of the various clans looked on with slight disdain.

Basic ninjutsu was of no use to them.

"Clan Head Uchiha, if that is all you have, I fear it will be difficult to truly convince the various clans." Shikaku Nara shook his head, speaking nonchalantly with a scrutinizing look in his eyes. "Basic ninjutsu is nothing more than a chicken rib to us."

Yes, that's it. Teach this evil Uchiha brat a lesson!

Hiruzen Sarutobi gripped his pipe tightly on the high platform, sparks falling onto his conical hat. He thought to himself that Shikaku Nara was indeed an old fox; with just a few words, he had turned the situation around.

Yet, Uchiha Ao remained composed. "Clan Head Shikaku, I haven't finished speaking yet."

He scanned everyone present and said, "We will also open up our clan's forbidden techniques."

Before his voice had even faded, the entire room was in an uproar, and the pipe in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand nearly slipped.

How does this brat dare!

This was the thought in everyone's mind.

Forbidden techniques were practically the foundation of every clan's existence. Although, given the Uchiha's situation, they relied more on their Sharingan, those were still forbidden techniques!

"Clan Head Uchiha, may I ask what restrictions there are to obtaining these forbidden techniques?" Shikaku Nara did not believe the Uchiha Clan would be so kind.

"Naturally, there are restrictions." Uchiha Ao's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over the restless hearts of the crowd.

"However, even for an ordinary Chunin, as long as they complete the daily tasks of the Military Police Force, they can exchange for our clan's complete forbidden techniques in just ten years."

"Clan Head Ao, you cannot speak so lightly!" Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer contain himself, slamming his pipe onto the armrest and scattering sparks near his feet.

If he let this continue, these old foxes might actually be unable to resist and agree.

Uchiha Ao, however, seemed to have already calculated the old Hokage's reaction and raised his hand to signal, unhurried.

"This is my first time meeting everyone, so it is normal that you do not understand or trust me." Uchiha Ao stepped back, signaling Fugaku to come forward and speak.

Fugaku nodded, took Uchiha Ao's place, and faced the clan heads. "I, Fugaku Uchiha, swear in the name of the Uchiha Clan's Deputy Clan Head that every word our Clan Head has said is true."

As soon as Fugaku finished speaking, the reactions of the clan heads varied, and undercurrents began to surge.

"Shikaku, do you believe Fugaku's words?" Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi decided to leave the choice to their external brain.

"Fugaku Uchiha has always been cautious and steady; he doesn't seem like the type to risk his entire clan's reputation."

Shikaku Nara tapped his chin. "But that doesn't mean the Uchiha lack ambition—by dangling forbidden techniques as bait, they are clearly trying to break the existing power structure."

Although they were part of the Hokage's faction, they had received almost no benefits.

Everything had been taken by the Sarutobi and Shimura clans.

Shikaku Nara's gaze grew deeper as he looked at the two. "The current situation is both a crisis and an opportunity for us."

"The Third Hokage has held Konoha for many years, and the Shimura and Sarutobi clans are deeply entrenched. While our clans appear to be working within the Hokage's system, the benefits we receive have been decreasing year by year."

"Then what should we do? Join them directly?" Choza Akimichi scratched his head.

"No, let's wait and see. There are others more anxious than us."

Hiashi Hyuga watched Uchiha Ao speak eloquently and caught a glimpse of Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand gripping his pipe; he already had his answer.

He stepped forward and said, "I believe in Clan Head Fugaku's character."

The situation of the Hyuga Clan in Konoha was not much different from that of the Uchiha Clan.

The only obvious difference was that the Hyuga Clan had not been wiped out in the future.

Hinata was the eldest daughter of the Hyuga, yet when she went out, children mocked her for her eyes.

Was that reasonable?

Hiashi Hyuga instinctively gripped his daughter beside him.

He had never forgotten the incident involving Hizashi all those years ago.

Hiruzen Sarutobi trembled with rage; he had not expected Hiashi to betray him at a time like this, and he stammered, "Hiashi! Do you know what you are saying!"

Hiashi Hyuga replied with neither servility nor arrogance, "Lord Third, I have known Fugaku for a long time, and I am very clear about his character."

Hiashi Hyuga instinctively stepped in front of Hinata, blocking Hiruzen Sarutobi's line of sight.

If the Uchiha clan failed to hold the front, he would have no choice but to offer his own life to earn Hiruzen Sarutobi's forgiveness.

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed in his extreme fury, bloodshot veins appearing in his clouded eyes: "Good! Very good!"

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to speak again, Shikaku Nara suddenly stepped forward, his face wearing his signature lazy smile: "Lord Hokage, please calm your anger. Clan Leader Hiashi is surely considering the long-term interests of Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi whipped his head around, his clouded eyes staring fixedly at Shikaku Nara as a suppressed growl emanated from his throat: "Shikaku! Are you going to join in this nonsense too?"

Yet, Shikaku Nara remained slow and steady, as if he could not feel the stifling scent of gunpowder in the air: "Lord Third, you have governed Konoha for decades; surely you understand the principle that 'blocking is not as effective as channeling'?"

Koharu Utatane rushed forward, leaning on her cane, her white hair disheveled from agitation: "Absurd! Is the Nara clan intending to collude with the Uchiha?"

"Collusion is too strong a word," Shikaku chuckled, "it is simply that Konoha is truly in need of a reform."

High on the platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a gloomy expression, lost in his own thoughts.

Uchiha Ao watched Hiruzen Sarutobi's shifting, uncertain complexion and revealed a faint smile.

Checkmate...