Even after doing so much, the Uchiha Clan still stood alone and unsupported in the Hidden Leaf Village. More importantly, the Uchiha Clan itself had far too many problems, as could be seen from their reaction to Shimura Danzō's death this time.
Even though everyone knew that taking this opportunity to build closer ties with the other ninja clans was the right move, unfortunately, no one could make that call. The Uchiha Clan would still keep itself tightly bound to the Police Force out of habit.
As long as the Konoha Police Force remained the Uchiha's private property, the Uchiha would never have true allies in Konoha.
Which ninja clan did not both resent and envy that? And which Hokage would not find it irritating?
What was more, the Uchiha Clan's higher-ups actually wanted to win over Root. Those people had all once been followers of Uchiha Madara, and Madara's influence on them ran too deep.
Before leaving the village, Uchiha Madara had been a textbook clan-first nationalist.
That was just ridiculous. The times had changed, but the people had not.
Uchiha Shingen had to consider whether he should leave himself a way out.
The Hyuga Clan might also play with eyes, but that clan had been famous for its methods of ensuring family survival ever since the Warring States era. Expecting the Hyuga to stand or fall alongside the Uchiha was wishful thinking.
The other Konoha ninja clans were even less likely to do so.
On the other hand, these people from Kirigakure were much more open to cooperation.
"We can," Terumi Mei suddenly said.
Hozuki Mangetsu and the others froze. They looked at Terumi Mei, then at Uchiha Shingen, and gradually revealed expressions that said, "So that's the angle."
"Then I have no objections either," Hozuki Mangetsu said.