I Never Expected It to Be You

Inside the Hokage's office.

Fugaku Uchiha agreed to hand over the list of Uchiha members who wanted to stage a coup and, within seven days, bring them into the Root to undergo Root training.

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "Fugaku, there is also the matter of the Konoha Military Police Force. This force needs to be reformed as well. Other ninja will be assigned to serve in the Konoha Military Police Force in the future. Do you have any objections to this reform?"

"Of course not! I will leave everything to Lord Hokage!"

Fugaku Uchiha answered without the slightest hesitation. He dearly wished for other ninja to join the Konoha Military Police Force.

Although the establishment of the Konoha Military Police Force had once brought the Uchiha Clan's prestige and authority in Konoha to their peak,

the Konoha Military Police Force later made the Uchiha Clan's situation increasingly difficult.

This was because the Konoha Military Police Force's primary duty was to maintain public security and stability within the Hidden Leaf Village, formulate village regulations, strengthen and maintain the village's order and security, and arrest people and ninja with criminal intent.

This job was therefore the easiest way to offend people.

Those who were arrested would not resent the Konoha Military Police Force. They would resent the Uchiha Clan instead.

Because the Uchiha Clan was synonymous with the Konoha Military Police Force.

But if other ninja joined, the Uchiha Clan could be separated from the Konoha Military Police Force.

That way, once the Uchiha Clan relocated to the center of Konoha, they would also be able to integrate into Konoha more effectively.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile, "It's good that you understand, Fugaku. Then today's meeting will end here."

Fugaku Uchiha stood and deeply bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo. "Thank you immensely, Lord Hokage and Lord Danzo, for being willing to give the Uchiha Clan a chance to integrate into Konoha. I guarantee that the Uchiha will forever be Konoha's Uchiha!"

Danzo snorted coldly. "I don't need your gratitude. Everything I do is for Konoha. If you want to thank someone, thank yourself for giving birth to that brat Sasuke Uchiha."

Fugaku Uchiha was completely bewildered.

How had this suddenly gotten dragged back to Sasuke?

Still baffled, Fugaku Uchiha left the Hokage Building.

After returning to the Uchiha Compound,

Fugaku Uchiha immediately gathered his clansmen and told everyone that Hiruzen Sarutobi had agreed to designate an area in central Konoha for the Uchiha Clan to relocate to and reintegrate into Konoha.

Upon learning this good news, everyone was overjoyed.

Being isolated and targeted like this had truly been unbearable.

Itachi and Shisui, standing among the crowd, were also delighted.

They had not expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to find a way to change the Uchiha Clan's circumstances so efficiently.

After announcing the good news,

Fugaku Uchiha also openly revealed that those clansmen who had voiced desires for a coup during the previous Uchiha Clan gathering would need to enter the Root for training.

There was no point in concealing it. The clansmen would find out sooner or later, so it was better to say it now.

The Uchiha clansmen who had previously spoken of a coup underwent a drastic change in expression.

Would entering the Root not be the same as entering it as criminals to be punished?

Fugaku Uchiha explained, "I know this may be difficult for you to accept, but it is a prerequisite for our Uchiha Clan to return to the center of Konoha. Moreover, Lord Hokage promised me that you would only join the Root temporarily, and that Lord Hokage would take you over afterward.

"Furthermore, those of you clansmen who voiced desires for a coup have long since been identified by Lord Hokage and Lord Danzo. The list of names is in Lord Hokage and Lord Danzo's hands.

"Lord Hokage and Lord Danzo want to see the attitude of our Uchiha Clan, so they asked me to make another record and submit a list of names.

"I do not want to force any clansmen. There is a sheet of paper and a pen here. If you are willing to temporarily join the Root and suffer for a time for the sake of the Uchiha Clan, then sign your name. If you are unwilling, I will not force you. It is entirely voluntary.

"But please remember that Lord Hokage and Lord Danzo have a list compiled through their own investigation. This is a prerequisite for our Uchiha Clan to return to the center of Konoha. If the lists do not match, you should be able to imagine the consequences. The Uchiha Clan will lose this opportunity."

After saying that, Fugaku Uchiha closed his eyes.

Of course, he would never allow the Uchiha Clan to lose its chance to return to the center of Konoha.

Fugaku Uchiha wanted to do this in order to screen them.

The clansmen who signed their names would prove that they were willing to sacrifice for the Uchiha Clan.

Therefore, no matter what, Fugaku Uchiha would do everything in his power to ensure they survived and pull them out of the Root.

As for everyone else... Fugaku Uchiha could only say he was sorry.

Very soon,

the first person stepped forward and signed his name.

With the first person taking the lead, a steady stream of people came forward to sign their names.

Fugaku Uchiha revealed a gratified smile.

The vast majority of his clansmen were still willing to sacrifice for the Uchiha Clan.

An hour passed.

No one else stepped forward to sign. After putting away the list, Fugaku Uchiha bowed and said, "In the name of the Uchiha Clan's patriarch, I thank you. At the same time, I promise you that I will do everything in my power to bring you out of the Root!"

After the crowd dispersed,

Fugaku Uchiha sat alone in the room, staring blankly at the list.

As far as he knew, most of the people who had spoken of launching a coup during the gatherings of this period were already on it, but a small number had still not signed their names.

At the same time, Fugaku Uchiha was considering whether clansmen who had vaguely voiced thoughts of a coup should be included as well.

Just as Fugaku Uchiha was deep in thought, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened. Fugaku Uchiha looked up and found Itachi and Shisui standing there.

"Itachi? Shisui? What do you two need from me?"

Itachi took out a sheet of paper and handed it to Fugaku Uchiha, then he and Shisui knelt before Fugaku Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha picked up the paper from the table in confusion. When he unfolded it, his pupils suddenly contracted.

It was a list of names that overlapped heavily with the list of signatures in his hand.

Fugaku Uchiha had previously suspected there was a spy among the Uchiha Clan. Now he understood everything.

Fugaku Uchiha gave a bitter laugh. "I guessed there might be a spy, but I never expected it to be you, Itachi."

Itachi pressed his head to the floor and said apologetically, "This list of names is the one Shisui and I gave Lord Hokage. Father, you can directly hand this list to Lord Hokage.

"Shisui and I truly did not wish to see the Uchiha Clan walk down the wrong path of a coup. We are truly sorry, Father."

After remaining silent for a long time, Fugaku Uchiha shook his head and sighed. "Forget it. At least the outcome is good."