Orochimaru, the Jonin Team Leader

Uchiha Fugaku looked toward Hokage Rock beyond the doors.

Only then did Uchiha Ling realize that the hall Fugaku had chosen faced Hokage Rock. One glance up was enough to see Konoha's three Hokage... each worse than the last.

As the Uchiha Clan saw it, Konoha had lured them in to kill them.

They were supposedly one of the two clans that had founded the village. In reality, their standing was no different from the Hyuga Clan's.

Perhaps Fugaku dreamed of becoming Hokage. For now, at least, he was still full of ambition.

Fugaku said, "Students from three consecutive year groups will graduate at once: the nine-year-olds, the eleven-year-olds, and the twelve-year-olds.

"The village is under tremendous pressure. For now, it's only maintaining a facade of peace.

"Among those three groups are nine children from the Uchiha Clan.

"Uchiha Ling, when the nine Uchiha Genin graduate, the Family won't assign a Uchiha with Three Tomoe to guide them as a Jonin.

"I've already asked the village to place all of you on ordinary Ninja Teams, where you'll work alongside other Konoha Ninja and carry out missions."

"Clan leader, what do you need me to do?" Ling asked.

Fugaku nodded in approval. Ling had not complained or asked why he could not train under a Uchiha with Three Tomoe like the other Uchiha Genin. He had gone straight to asking what was required of him. His resolve was clear.

"The Military Police Force is the foundation of the Uchiha Clan," Fugaku said. "Defending it has been difficult over the years, but we haven't given the village an excuse to interfere with it, let alone dismantle it.

"The best defense is a good offense. I'm going to try extending the Uchiha Clan's reach beyond it.

"If adult Uchiha with Three Tomoe seized