Chapter 22

"If I stubbornly block the Uchiha reforms, I'll be making enemies of all these people."

"When that happens, the only ones who'll look bad will be us."

He could not afford to lose the people's support.

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 should we not stop it, we should actively get involved and reap some benefits!"

"While we're at it, we can slip our people into the Police Force and lay the groundwork to gradually erode it from within."

"The Uchiha used to hold that bit of power in a death grip. We had no way to get involved."

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

"Even if we can't seize full control for now, we'll always find an opportunity later."

As long as they tore open this gap, the Uchiha would no longer have the final say in how things ended.

Hmph!

"Danzo? You actually think so too?"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura turned to Danzo at the same time. His words left their faces full of surprise.

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

This really was a breakthrough.

The Police Force at this time was nothing like the crippled institution it would become under Fugaku's leadership.

Judgment, detention, arrests, patrols throughout Konoha... it had not lost a single one of those functions.

Of course Danzo and the others coveted it.

"Of course!"

Danzo said righteously, "Hiruzen said it himself. This is an open scheme. We definitely can't withstand it head-on, so we can only go along with it and look for a chance to seize the initiative!"

"I've already sent quite a few Root shinobi, as well as members of the Shimura Clan, to sign up."

"We should be able to secure some slots."

"You should have your own shinobi give it a try as well."

"Best case, we take every slot in an entire unit."

"Then that unit will be ours to command."

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

Didn't they want to clear their name?

Danzo would make sure they did not get their wish.

"Taking all the slots won't work."

At that moment, the Third Generation shook his head and rejected the idea. "Word has already spread. Plenty of civilian shinobi and shinobi from small and mid-sized clans have gone to sign up."

"Not to mention the Uchiha might not be willing to take all our people."

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

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

"The civilians and small clans who fail to get a place will turn around and vent their anger on us."

Danzo had always been careless and rough in his dealings.

The Third Generation had no desire to invite a heap of trouble onto himself.

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

"When the time comes, we can just dump the blame on the Uchiha and say they deliberately tried to curry favor with us. Wouldn't that do it?"

Hearing that, the Third Generation and the others were all stunned, staring at him speechlessly.

"Do you believe that yourself?"

Mitokado Homura could not help but mock him. "Who in Konoha doesn't know that the Uchiha are at odds with us? Them currying favor with us? Who would believe that?"

"Besides, Hiruzen made it very clear just now. The Uchiha are handling the selection process, and we can't interfere. Stop fantasizing."

"Exactly."

Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement.

Danzo always came up with these terrible ideas that harmed both others and himself. They were used to it by now.

Danzo frowned and turned to the Third Generation. "Hiruzen, can't you summon Uchiha Chisato as Hokage and make her take a step back?"

He still refused to give up.

This was too good an opportunity—one that could weaken the Uchiha's power while strengthening his Root and his own influence.

It would be such a waste to miss it.

His true goal was never merely to suppress the Uchiha. He wanted to replace the Third Generation and take the Hokage's seat.

In his view, if he had not been half a beat slower to speak up back then, that position would certainly have been his.

The Third Generation grew even more helpless. "That is Uchiha Chisato, and she has already recovered to her peak."

"Don't tell me you haven't received that information."

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

"Which of the little tricks we've pulled in the Uchiha has she not cleaned up? Don't you know that?"

"Wake up."

"Send some people over and try their luck. If one or two get selected, that's already a gain."

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

"Uchiha Chisato is old, and she isn't in good health either. Even if she has temporarily returned to her peak, I refuse to believe she can outlive us."

"Once she dies, things will be much easier."

"In the coming years, we can secretly support an obedient Uchiha and have him become clan head in the future."

They did not need an Uchiha clan head who was that forceful.

Someone weak, someone who knew how to compromise—that was the most suitable kind.

"That's all we can do."

Danzo answered reluctantly, his brow furrowed.

"Then it's settled for now. I'm leaving first."

With that, he hurried off again.

Leaving the Third Generation and the others exchanging looks.

"We should move quickly too. Have our clans submit their applications as soon as possible. Every person selected counts."

The Third Generation turned to Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

"Fine."

They immediately began making arrangements.

The next day.

At Police Force headquarters—

The Third Elder handed the compiled registration roster to Uchiha Chisato and said quietly, "Lady Chisato, it's all here."

"More than a thousand people signed up. There are members of Hiruzen Sarutobi's clan and Danzo's clan among them, and quite a few Anbu and Root people have joined in too."

"How should we handle them? Reject them all?"

Uchiha Chisato waved her hand. "No need."

"Prioritize civilian shinobi and shinobi from small and mid-sized clans."

"Divide them according to neighborhoods and select people close to each area."

"Have them take charge of the areas where they live."

"Since they're neighbors, mediating neighborhood disputes will come naturally to them, and it will reduce unnecessary trouble."

"Each squad's patrol area must be clearly defined, and the division of responsibility must be properly sorted out."

"As for positions like squad leader and company commander, most of them can be assigned to people from the Shimura, Sarutobi, Mitokado, and Utatane clans."

"Put them at the forefront of civil disputes and make them the ones who get cursed at."

"This is an open scheme."

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

"After all, this is their chance to reach into the Police Department. They won't be willing to let it go."

That was precisely the effect Uchiha Chisato wanted.

After hearing this, the Third Elder frowned and hesitated. "But they'll still be members of the Police Force. What if they act recklessly under the Uchiha banner and deliberately tarnish our reputation?"

Uchiha Chisato's lips curled upward, her smile carrying a trace of disdain. "It won't be that easy."

"Without the Sharingan and without an Uchiha clan crest, who would believe they're Uchiha?"

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

"Who in the village doesn't know how tense things are between us and those four clans?"

Such little tricks might fool fools.

Most civilians understood perfectly well.

People's hearts were the hardest thing to control.

"Besides, the Second Unit can establish an inspection division specifically to monitor the Third Unit's enforcement activities and secretly record everything."

"At the same time, quietly keep spreading their true identities and direct public resentment back at them."

"If we catch them violating regulations, post it directly on the public notice board and publicly criticize them."

"Remember to clearly state which clan they come from."

You have your schemes, and I have my methods.

It all came down to who played the better move.

The Third Elder nodded repeatedly and gave a thumbs-up. "Lady Chisato truly is brilliant! I'll take care of it immediately!"

"Mm. Go."