Lawful, Legal, and Compliant

Nagato frowned. "What should we do now?"

Uchiha Obito said in a deliberately grave tone, "The old way. We just need to accept commissions from the shinobi villages."

At this point in time, Uchiha Obito still controlled Kirigakure's Mizukage and had thrown the entire village's development into disorder.

To launch a full-scale war, Kirigakure only needed to take the lead. The other three great shinobi villages would surely be unable to resist their greed and swarm in.

To start a war, only two conditions were needed.

First, Konoha had to appear weak and easy to bully during a certain period.

Second, there had to be a shinobi village willing to take the lead in attacking Konoha.

As it happened, the most important first condition for starting a war had already been met.

Then he could unleash the Infinite Tsukuyomi and see Rin again in the Tsukuyomi World.

Uchiha Obito had already begun fantasizing endlessly. Just thinking about it filled his heart with sweetness.

"Alright, I agree."

Nagato wanted to revive the Ten-Tails, become its Jinchūriki himself, and use absolute power to intimidate the Shinobi World, thereby achieving peace.

Nagato's idea was the most realistic and easiest to accomplish in the original story.

Konan did not say much from the side. Since Nagato had agreed, she would simply carry it out.

In one day, all the shops on the Three Great Streets reopened. Most already had their renovations in place, so they only needed to be taken over and restocked.

For the Uchiha Clan, obtaining supplies was simply too easy.

Do not underestimate the Uchiha Clan, which had been passed down for so many years. Their connections outside were beyond what small clans could imagine.

Take the Senju Clan, for example. Even though the Senju Clan had all but vanished, their connections still allowed Tsunade to live very comfortably.

She basically never had to worry about food or drink. Otherwise, she would not have had money to keep gambling despite losing every bet.

However, there seemed to be no customers visiting the Three Great Streets. Looking down an entire street, all one could see were shop owners sitting outside their stores and yawning boredly.

The Uchiha's reputation in Konoha had long been ruined by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo. As long as people were told that these three streets were filled with Uchiha-run shops, practically no one would enter.

"The villagers refuse to come. What should we do now?"

For a moment, Fugaku Uchiha had no idea what to do and could only ask Uchiha Kyu for his thoughts.

Uchiha Kyu was eating lunch as well. He set down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at Fugaku speechlessly.

"You can't even handle something this small?"

Fugaku Uchiha could not refute him and could only stand silently to the side.

Uchiha Kyu beckoned Uchiha Kage over and had him notify Huo Uchiha, the deputy captain in charge of Security Force affairs.

Fugaku Uchiha did not understand what Huo Uchiha had to do with this matter. From what he knew of Huo Uchiha, the man did not possess the ability to solve this problem.

Seeing Fugaku standing there foolishly, Uchiha Kyu said, "Perfect. Sit down and have something to eat."

"Itachi, go prepare a set of bowls and chopsticks for your father."

"Yes."

Uchiha Itachi hurriedly put down his bowl and chopsticks and ran toward the kitchen.

Fugaku Uchiha did not stand on ceremony. He had been so busy that he had not even had time for a sip of water, so he sat down and poured himself a cup.

Uchiha Kyu picked up a pork chop and teased him with a smile.

"You need to balance work and rest. Otherwise, your sister-in-law will blame me for keeping you from going home."

"Not at all, not at all." Fugaku Uchiha waved his hands awkwardly.

Uchiha Itachi came jogging over with a bowl of rice. "Father, eat first."

When facing his son, Fugaku Uchiha instinctively maintained a stern expression. "Have you been listening properly to the clan head lately?"

Uchiha Itachi was about to answer when Uchiha Kyu directly interrupted the father and son. "Alright, eat first."

Only a few minutes after their post-meal break, Huo Uchiha hurried over.

Seeing this, Uchiha Kyu had Itachi pour him a cup of water. "Don't rush. There's still plenty of time."

Huo Uchiha took the cup Uchiha Itachi handed him and drained it in one gulp.

"Thank you, Clan Head."

Only then did Uchiha Kyu slowly say, "You can act on the matter I assigned to you earlier."

Huo Uchiha immediately became extremely excited. "I was thinking on my way here whether it was because of that matter."

"Remember one thing." Uchiha Kyu raised a finger at him. "Lawful, legal, and compliant."

Huo Uchiha patted his chest confidently and promised, "I understand. Rest assured, I will make sure this matter is handled lawfully, legally, and in compliance with the rules."

Uchiha Kyu smiled in satisfaction. "Don't worry about the Hokage's reaction. We are simply doing everything according to the rules."

"I'll handle it right away." Huo Uchiha bowed and took his leave.

Fugaku Uchiha sat there dumbfounded. Since when had the Security Force possessed such authority? Why did he not know about it?

"Alright, you should leave too. Just wait for Huo Uchiha's good news."

Uchiha Kyu could not be bothered to explain too much. Some things had to be realized on one's own.

For example, even though Uchiha Itachi stayed by his side, he had not taught him too much. Many things required Itachi to see and observe for himself.

All he could do was provide guidance, ensuring Uchiha Itachi's thoughts did not stray from the course they should follow.

Hokage Office.

"Danzo, don't go too far."

"I'm going too far? The evidence is right here. Are you trying to shield him?"

"That is only your side of the story. Don't force my hand."

"Hmph. I am Konoha's Root. If there are things inconvenient for you to do, leave them to me."

Bang!

The door slammed shut. Behind it, Danzo revealed a sinister, smug smile.

Sarutobi, Sarutobi, let's see whether you will lay a hand on your own disciple.

Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi continuously puffed out smoke, numbing himself.

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, found it difficult to interfere in this matter. After all, it concerned the Third Hokage's disciple.

Orochimaru was also his teacher's closest friend.

Minato Namikaze continued processing documents with exhaustion written all over his face. Konoha truly was going through troubled times.

Meanwhile, with the Uchiha's help, Orochimaru secretly transferred all the important experimental documents and equipment.

As for what was left behind, its purpose was to continue misleading Danzo.

And Orochimaru, who should have been in the laboratory, unexpectedly appeared in the Hidden Leaf Police Force headquarters.

"Lord Orochimaru, please follow me."

An Uchiha Elite Chunin respectfully led Orochimaru from the front.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes as he observed the surroundings, then suddenly asked, "Where is your clan head?"

The Uchiha Elite Chunin pressed a mechanism. A door slowly opened in the floor, and he gestured respectfully for Orochimaru to go down.

"The clan head is already waiting for you in the underground laboratory."

"I am not qualified to enter. Please forgive me, Lord Orochimaru."

"Mm." Orochimaru answered indifferently. Once he had gone down, the mechanism above his head slowly closed.

The staircase was roughly ten meters deep. As soon as Orochimaru finished descending it, he saw Uchiha Kyu waiting for him across the passage.

However, Orochimaru noticed someone standing beside Uchiha Kyu who greatly surprised him.

When Uchiha Kyu saw Orochimaru arrive, he smiled openly at Hyuga Hiashi. "Brother Hiashi, I'll leave Orochimaru's matter to you. We are all grasshoppers tied to the same rope now, so we need to give it everything we have."