Lawful, Legal, and Compliant

Nagato frowned. "What should we do now?"

Uchiha Obito said in a deliberately low voice, "The old way. Just accept commissions from the shinobi villages."

At this point in time, Uchiha Obito still controlled Kirigakure's Mizukage, disrupting the development of the entire village.

To start 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.

Starting a war required only two things.

First, Konoha had to look weak and easy to bully at some point.

Second, there had to be a shinobi village that took 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 made his heart feel sweet.

"Alright, I agree."

Nagato was thinking of reviving the Ten-Tails, becoming its Jinchūriki himself, and using absolute power to intimidate the Shinobi World, thereby achieving peace.

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

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

In a single day, every shop along the Three Great Streets reopened. Most already had their existing furnishings, so they only needed to take over and restock.

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

The Uchiha Clan had been around for so many years. Their connections outside were beyond what small clans could even imagine.

Take the Senju Clan, for example. Even though it had practically vanished by now, its connections were still enough to let Senju Tsunade live very comfortably.

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

However, there did not seem to be any customers on the Three Great Streets. Looking down an entire street, all one could see were shop owners sitting in front of their stores, yawning boredly.

The Uchiha Clan's reputation had long since been ruined in Konoha by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo. Once people learned that these three streets were filled with Uchiha-owned shops, practically no one would come inside.

"None of the villagers are willing to come now. What should we do?"

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, looking at Fugaku speechlessly.

"You can't even handle such a small matter?"

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

Uchiha Kyu waved over Uchiha Ying and had him notify Huo Uchiha, the vice-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 have the ability to solve this problem.

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

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

"Yes."

Uchiha Itachi hurriedly set 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 piece of pork cutlet and joked with a smile.

"You need to know when to work and when to rest. Otherwise, your wife 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 kept a stern expression. "Have you been listening 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 rest, Huo Uchiha hurried over.

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

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

"Thank you, Clan Head."

Only then did Uchiha Kyu speak slowly. "You can take action on the matter I assigned you before."

Huo Uchiha became extremely excited upon hearing that. "I was wondering on my way here whether it was because of this."

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

Huo Uchiha patted his chest confidently. "I understand, sir. Rest assured, I will handle this matter lawfully, legally, and compliantly."

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

"I'll get right to it." Huo Uchiha bowed and took his leave.

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

"Alright, you should go too. Wait for Huo Uchiha's good news."

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

For example, Uchiha Itachi had been by his side, yet he had not taught him too many things. Much of it required Itachi to see and observe for himself.

All he could do was guide him so that Uchiha Itachi's thinking would not stray from its proper course.

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 merely your side of the story. Don't force me."

"Hmph. I am Konoha's Root. If there are things you find inconvenient 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 kept puffing out clouds of smoke to numb 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 was truly beset by troubles these days.

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

As for the things left behind, their purpose was to continue deceiving 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 Elite Chunin of the Uchiha Clan 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 head down.

"The Clan Head is already waiting for you in the underground laboratory."

"I do not have the qualifications to enter. Please forgive me, Lord Orochimaru."

"Mm." Orochimaru answered indifferently. After he walked 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 at Hyuga Hiashi without any politeness.

"Brother Hiashi, I'll leave Orochimaru's matter to you. We're all grasshoppers tied to the same rope now, so we need to give it everything we have."