Chapter 22

"If I insist on blocking the Uchiha reforms, I'll be setting myself against all those people."

"When that happens, we'll only embarrass ourselves."

Public support was something he could not afford to lose.

The office door was shoved open, and Danzo strode in, picking up the thread. "Hiruzen is right. We can't stop this, and there's no need to!"

"Not only must we let it happen, we need to get involved and reap the benefits!"

"We can also use this opportunity to plant our people in the Police Force and lay the groundwork for gradually taking it over."

"The Uchiha used to cling so tightly to their power that we couldn't find a way in."

"But now they've opened the door themselves. The Police Force will no longer be their clan's private property!"

"Even if we can't take full control right away, we'll find opportunities later."

Once they pried open that gap, the Uchiha would no longer get to decide how it all ended.

Hmph!

"Danzo? You actually think so too?"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura turned toward Danzo at the same time, surprise written all over their faces at his words.

Still, they had to admit that Danzo had a point.

This was indeed an opening.

The Police Force at this point was nowhere near as crippled as it would become under Fugaku.

Trials, detention, arrests, patrols around Konoha... it still retained every one of those duties.

Of course Danzo and the others coveted it.

"Of course!"

Danzo said with complete conviction, "As Hiruzen said, this is an overt scheme. We can't fight it head-on, so we'll have to go along with it and look for a chance to seize the initiative!"

"I've already sent plenty of Root ninja and members of the Shimura Clan to apply."

"They should be able to secure some positions."

"You should have your own ninja try as well."

"Ideally, we should take every position in the entire division."

"Then we'll be the ones calling the shots in that division."

"Not only can we use that unit to gradually undermine the Police Force, we can keep smearing the Uchiha under the Police Force's banner and ruin their reputation even further."

Didn't they want to clean up their image?

Well, I won't let them get their way.

"We can't take every position."

The Third Generation shook his head, rejecting the idea. "Word has already spread. Plenty of civilian ninja and ninja from small and medium-sized clans have applied."

"For one thing, the Uchiha might not be willing to accept only our people."

"Even if they were, we couldn't do that."

"Otherwise, anyone could tell we were pulling the strings behind the scenes."

"The civilians and smaller clans who didn't get a place would turn their anger on us."

Danzo had always been careless about the details.

He had no intention of inviting that kind of trouble upon himself.

"They're just ordinary ninja and insignificant little clans. What's the big deal?" Danzo curled his lip dismissively.

"We can just pin the blame on the Uchiha and say they deliberately tried to curry favor with us. Wouldn't that solve it?"

The Third Generation and the others froze at those words, staring at him speechlessly.

"Do you even believe that yourself?"

Mitokado Homura could not help retorting, "Who in Konoha doesn't know the Uchiha and we are sworn enemies? Them currying favor with us? Who would believe that?"

"Besides, Hiruzen just made it perfectly clear that the Uchiha control the selection. We can't interfere, so stop dreaming."

"Exactly."

Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement.

Danzo always managed to come up with terrible ideas that hurt everyone, himself included. They were long used to it.

Danzo frowned and turned to the Third Generation. "Hiruzen, couldn't you summon Uchiha Chisato as Hokage and ask her to make a concession?"

He still refused to give up.

This was a perfect opportunity to weaken the Uchiha's power while strengthening his own Root and influence.

Letting it slip away would be such a waste.

His true goal was not merely to suppress the Uchiha, but to replace the Third Generation and take the Hokage's seat.

In his view, that position would surely have been his if he had not spoken up a moment too late back then.

The Third Generation felt even more helpless. "We're talking about Uchiha Chisato. And she's already recovered her peak strength."

"I don't believe you haven't received that news."

"Do you think she'll listen to us?"

"Hasn't she cleaned up every little trick we've pulled against the Uchiha lately? Don't you understand that?"

"Get a grip."

"Send people over to try their luck. Even getting one or two selected would be a gain."

"We have plenty of time. Take it slowly."

"Uchiha Chisato is old, and her health isn't good. Even if she's temporarily regained her peak strength, I don't believe she'll outlive us."

"Once she's dead, things will be much easier."

"In the meantime, we can secretly support an obedient Uchiha and help him become clan head in the future."

They did not need such a forceful Uchiha Clan Head.

Someone weak, someone who knew how to compromise, would suit them best.

"I suppose that's our only option."

Danzo frowned and agreed reluctantly.

"Then that's settled for now. I'll be going."

With that, he hurried out again.

The Third Generation and the others were left exchanging looks.

"We should get moving too. Have our clan members submit their applications as soon as possible. Every person selected counts."

The Third Generation turned to Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

"All right."

They immediately got to work.

The next day arrived.

At Police Force headquarters-

The Third Elder placed the compiled list of applicants before Uchiha Chisato and said quietly, "Lady Jiri, they're all here."

"Over a thousand people have applied. There are members of both Hiruzen Sarutobi's and Danzo's clans, along with quite a few people from Anbu and Root."

"What should we do with them? Reject them all?"

Uchiha Chisato waved a hand. "No need."

"Choose primarily from civilian ninja and small and medium-sized clans."

"Divide them by neighborhood and select people who live nearby."

"Have them take responsibility for the areas where they live."

"Since they're neighbors, mediating local disputes should come naturally, and it will prevent unnecessary trouble."

"Clearly define each squad's patrol area and sort out their responsibilities."

"As for squad leaders and platoon leaders, we can give most of those positions to people from the Shimura, Sarutobi, Mitokado, and Utatane clans."

"Put them on the front lines of civil disputes and let them take the abuse."

"This is an overt scheme."

"Even if the Third Generation and the others see right through it, they'll have to grit their teeth and accept."

"After all, this is their chance to get their hands into the Police Department. They won't want to let it go."

This was precisely the outcome Uchiha Chisato wanted.

After listening, the Third Elder frowned and asked hesitantly, "But they'll still be members of the Police Force. What if they act recklessly under the Uchiha banner to deliberately smear our reputation?"

Uchiha Chisato's lips curved into a faintly contemptuous smile. "It won't be that easy."

"Without Sharingan or the Uchiha crest, who would believe they're Uchiha?"

"Who would believe they're acting on the Uchiha's behalf?"

"Who in the village doesn't know how bitterly we're at odds with those four clans?"

Such petty tricks might fool a few muddleheads.

Most civilians knew perfectly well what was going on.

People's hearts were the hardest thing to control.

"Besides, we can establish an oversight department within the Second Division to watch how the Third Division enforces the law and secretly keep records."

"At the same time, keep discreetly spreading word of their true identities and redirect public resentment toward them."

"If they're caught on camera breaking regulations, post it straight on the noticeboard and publicly reprimand them."

"Remember to make it clear which clan they come from."

You have your schemes, and I have my methods.

Let's see who comes out ahead.

The Third Elder nodded repeatedly and gave her a thumbs-up. "Brilliant as always, Lady Jiri! I'll get right on it!"

"Good. Go ahead."