"As expected, the Hyuga, Inuzuka, Aburame, and Kurama Clans have already brought their elites to the Police Force headquarters."
The morning mist had yet to disperse when the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was already seated at the head of his office. The two elder advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, sat on either side of him, all three wearing grave expressions. Dawn filtered through the blinds, casting mottled shadows across the floor. A faint aroma of tea mingled with the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
"Damn Uchiha!" Utatane Koharu slammed her teacup onto the desk. The crisp clash of fine porcelain was especially piercing in the silent office. Her wrinkled face twisted with fury. "They actually dared to sell off the village's authority behind our backs!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep draw from his pipe, and the smoke rings he exhaled slowly spread through the air. "Koharu, calm down." Weariness colored his voice. "Fugaku has long been fobbing us off with the excuse of 'temporary transfers.' As things stand, we truly have no legitimate reason to stop them."
Mitokado Homura adjusted his round glasses, calculation gleaming in his eyes behind the lenses. "Fortunately, quite a few of the people Kushina recruited were planted by us. We still managed to get a piece of the Police Force pie."
"Hmph!" Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly gave a bitter laugh, his knuckles unconsciously tapping the desk. "If Kushina were on the same side as us, would we need to go to such lengths? That girl... she's still far too willful and reckless."
"Hmph, aren't all Jinchuriki like this? And she still dares blame us for watching her." Utatane Koharu snorted disdainfully.
"Right!" Mitokado Homura abruptly straightened, a sharp glint flashing across his glasses. "Didn't Kushina send Minato to see Uchiha Chuan yesterday? She said it