Hold Fast to the Police Department, Let the Third Hokage Carve Uchiha with a Soft Knife!

"Lord Hokage, although I can understand the village's difficulties, the Uchiha have been continuously improving our law enforcement standards. We receive far fewer complaints than before, and just a few clerks would be enough to handle them.

"I hope Lord Hokage can also understand the Uchiha's difficulties, especially as the village continues to prosper under your leadership."

"The areas the Uchiha must patrol are growing larger and larger. The Police Department has already expanded its manpower several times, and we truly have no way to handle these matters as well."

Fugaku lightly flattered the Third Hokage, then played up their hardship.

In truth, it was not really an act, because the Uchiha truly faced such a situation.

After all, not every Uchiha ninja joined the Police Department. Many chose to join squads and carry out missions.

With the clan's ninja scattered everywhere, even a major clan like the Uchiha could find itself short on manpower.

Everyone liked hearing praise, and the Third Hokage was no exception. Even though he knew Uchiha Fugaku was saying it deliberately, he still felt somewhat pleased.

Because under his leadership, Konoha had indeed grown prosperous.

"You have a point. The Uchiha are indeed somewhat short on manpower."

What did that mean?

Hearing the Third Hokage say this, Fugaku's heart skipped a beat. He thought the man was going to try persuading him again to expand the Police Department and stuff ninja from other clans and civilian ninja into it.

So he decisively said:

"Lord Hokage, the Uchiha may be somewhat short on manpower, but we can still ensure the Police Department operates properly. Please have faith in us."

If Yan had been here, he would definitely have cursed: Idiots!!

What benefit was there in clinging so desperately to the Police Department?

Didn't they want to send people in?

Agree to it, and put forward a few conditions while they were at it!

As an exchange, what was wrong with allowing ninja from other clans—even civilian ninja—to join the Police Department?

The Police Department was Uchiha territory. As long as the core backbone remained unchanged, these ninja who joined could do nothing more than become underlings.

They could throw all the dirty, exhausting work at them. Wouldn't that be great?

Just as expected, Fugaku still clung tightly to the Police Department and refused to yield even a little. The Third Hokage let out a faint sigh.

"Since that is the case, I will select some people to handle complaints. But you also know that the village's finances..."

"The Police Department will cover these people's salaries."

If he would not allow people to be sent in, then he had to bleed money.

That was inevitable!

Fugaku hurriedly agreed. To him, as long as the complaints were no longer dumped on the Uchiha, everything else was negotiable.

The Uchiha could afford to support a group of employees.

As long as those people focused on dealing with the trouble of complaints, that was enough.

That also meant he had fulfilled his promise to the clansmen.

That kid really knows how to make trouble for me.

After finishing all the bargaining with the Third Hokage, Fugaku walked out of the Hokage Office Building and let out a heavy breath.

The process had been somewhat troublesome, but fortunately, it was all over.

From now on, the Uchiha only needed to manage the Police Department. As for complaints, a specialized department would handle them.

A heavy weight lifted from Fugaku's heart.

The Third Hokage had also indirectly eased quite a bit of pressure on the village's finances.

Although he wanted to slowly boil the Uchiha like a frog in warm water, he did not want to push them too hard.

Once there was no way out behind them, even rabbits would bite in desperation, let alone the ninja world's number one clan.

At least, the number one clan on the surface.

"Uchiha Yan? It seems his surveillance needs to be strengthened."

Yan's choice to show up at the Ninja Academy gates had already displeased the Third Hokage. Now, he was beginning to stand out within the clan.

That was not something the Third Hokage wanted to see.

Even if Yan had no intention of joining the hardliners.

He might not now, but what about later?

To prevent more variables from arising, the Third Hokage decided to raise Yan's surveillance by one level.

After returning to the clan, Fugaku immediately summoned people and convened a simple clan meeting. There were not many attendees—only himself as clan head, several elders, and the Police Department's squad captains.

After receiving the notice, Yan also put aside what he was doing and came to the clan head's compound.

The elders were still among the last to arrive.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on Fugaku. Clearly, they could not wait to learn the outcome of the clan head's negotiations at the Hokage Office Building.

Even Yan was curious whether the Third Hokage would agree to the Uchiha's proposal.

Would he reject it forcefully, or continue carving away at the Uchiha with a soft knife?

Once everyone had arrived, Fugaku did not waste time with pointless formalities to keep them in suspense.

"Everyone, I went to the Hokage Office Building and presented the wishes of our Uchiha Police Department to Lord Hokage. After discussion and negotiation, the final result is that from now on, matters involving complaints against the Police Department will no longer be handled by the Police Department. Instead, a specialized department will manage them.

"However, the village's finances are tight, so the expenses of this department must be paid by the Uchiha through the Police Department."

It was equivalent to the Uchiha paying out of their own pockets to support a group of people to handle complaint cases.

The price could not be called small.

But did the Uchiha lack that bit of money?

Of course not. What the Uchiha feared was trouble, especially all kinds of persistent complaints.

When faced with people who endlessly nagged and argued, and when they could not simply beat them up, the arguing alone could make one's head explode.

And if the matter was not handled properly, they would face the village's reproach and even punishment.

"Wonderful."

Whether they were squad captains or elders, they all revealed delighted smiles. Even Shisui, the spy, wore a happy smile.

For the Uchiha, this was unquestionably excellent news.

"This is absolutely a victory won by the Uchiha!!!"

Seeing the First Elder's excited expression, Yan secretly rolled his eyes.

You could say it was good for the Uchiha. I could accept that.

But calling it a victory? What nonsense were you spouting?

This was clearly the Third Hokage using a soft knife to carve away at the Uchiha.

Looking at the smiling First Elder and the others, Fugaku knew perfectly well what they were plotting, and he would not give them the chance.

"Yan."

Fugaku called him out directly.

"You were the one who proposed handling complaints this way. Do you have any other thoughts regarding the clan and the Police Department?"

Everyone's gaze fell on Yan.

They had ill intentions.

Even though he knew Fugaku was deliberately directing everything onto him, Yan had no intention of backing away. Pretending to think for a moment, he answered:

"I think the Police Department's field assignments should be reorganized. Our Police Department is responsible for public security across all of Konoha, and we may even participate in important missions such as capturing criminals and spies."

"As for all those trivial matters, like catching cats and finding dogs, we can refuse them entirely. Let the villagers post missions at the mission office and hire ninja to search for them."

You heard right—catching cats and dogs.