Reforming the Konoha Military Police Force

Uchiha En and Uchiha Yashiro walked side by side on their way back to the compound.

The streets were quiet.

But both walked with steady strides.

Uchiha Yashiro turned his head and glanced at Uchiha En, approval in his eyes.

"Clan Head, your performance at today's meeting... you have this old man's admiration."

His voice was low, tinged with excitement.

"You actually forced that old fox Hiruzen Sarutobi to suspend Danzo."

"In the past, I wouldn't even have dared imagine such a thing."

Uchiha En smiled.

"You flatter me, Elder Yashiro."

His tone was calm, as though he were discussing something trivial.

"All I did was seize on something they couldn't deny."

"Danzo's right eye is Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan. That's a fact."

"He didn't dare remove his bandages because he had a guilty conscience."

Uchiha Yashiro nodded, then sighed.

"It's just a shame... we couldn't bring that old bastard Danzo down for good."

"A mere suspension won't stop him. With his methods, he'll make a comeback sooner or later."

At those words, the corners of Uchiha En's mouth curved upward.

"There's no rush."

"You eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time."

"Today, we got Danzo suspended. Tomorrow, we can drive him out of Konoha."

"And the day after... we can kill him."

He said it as casually as if he were remarking, "Nice weather today."

Uchiha Yashiro froze for a moment.

As he looked at the twelve-year-old boy before him, he suddenly felt a chill run down his back.

This boy... was even more ruthless than he had imagined.

Neither spoke again as they quickened their pace toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.

The Uchiha Clan Compound.

The makeshift Meeting Hall was already packed.

More than fifty shinobi of the Uchiha Clan had gathered, with everyone present.

There were Jonin, Chunin, and Genin.

Every face held tension and anticipation.

They all knew the Clan Head had attended the clan assembly convened by the Konoha High Command today.

It was a moment that would decide the Uchiha Clan's fate.

When Uchiha En and Uchiha Yashiro entered the Meeting Hall, every gaze swung toward them.

"The Clan Head is back!"

"Elder Yashiro is back too!"

"Quick! Take a seat!"

Everyone rose, clearing the seat of honor.

Uchiha En dispensed with formalities and walked straight over to sit down.

Uchiha Yashiro sat beside him.

The hall fell silent as everyone waited for them to speak.

Uchiha Yashiro looked around and cleared his throat.

"Everyone."

His voice rang out, filled with excitement he couldn't contain.

"At today's meeting, our Uchiha Clan... won a resounding victory!"

His words sent an uproar through the hall.

"What?!"

"Are you serious?!"

"Tell us! What happened?!"

Uchiha Yashiro waved a hand, quieting the chatter.

Then he said, enunciating every word:

"Shimura Danzō has been suspended."

"Root has been brought under the Hokage's control."

"And as for our Uchiha Clan's compound..."

He paused, his voice rising sharply.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi has agreed to reopen discussions about its location!"

"We won't have to stay in this remote corner anymore!"

"We're moving back to the heart of Konoha!"

The instant his words fell, the entire Meeting Hall erupted!

"Holy shit! Is that true?!"

"Back to the center of the village?! Am I dreaming?!"

"This is great! This is wonderful! I can finally move out of this godforsaken place!"

"My god! I thought I'd be stuck on the outskirts for the rest of my life!"

Some leaped to their feet in excitement.

Some slapped the tables and roared with laughter.

Some covered their faces, unable to stop their tears.

Their excitement was hardly surprising.

Ever since the Uchiha Clan had been assigned a compound at the very edge of the village, resentment had simmered in all of them.

Buying groceries meant walking halfway across the village.

Their children had to walk halfway across the village to school.

Even their journey home from missions was twice as long as everyone else's.

And now.

They could finally move back!

Uchiha En watched the scene unfold with a faint smile.

He said nothing until their excitement had subsided a little, then slowly began to speak.

"Everyone."

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone fell silent.

Every gaze turned toward him.

Uchiha En swept his gaze over everyone present, then said:

"The matter of our compound is certainly worth celebrating."

"But today, I have something even more important to discuss with you."

Everyone froze at his words.

Something more important?

Wasn't moving the compound back to the heart of the village the most important thing?

Uchiha En didn't explain right away.

He remained silent for two seconds before speaking slowly.

"You should all know."

"What our Uchiha Clan's greatest source of authority is right now."

A middle-aged Jonin immediately replied, "The Konoha Military Police Force!"

"Correct."

Uchiha En nodded.

"The Konoha Military Police Force is the greatest source of authority in our Uchiha Clan's hands."

"It's also the foundation of our standing in Konoha."

He paused, his tone growing solemn.

"So, I've decided..."

"To reform the Konoha Military Police Force."

Reform?

Everyone froze.

Reform the Konoha Military Police Force?

Wasn't the Konoha Military Police Force the Uchiha Clan's domain? What was there to reform?

Uchiha En ignored their confusion.

He continued:

"I've decided that the Konoha Military Police Force doesn't have to recruit exclusively from the Uchiha Clan's shinobi."

"We'll also recruit from Konoha's civilian-born shinobi."

A deathly silence fell over the hall.

Everyone stared at Uchiha En with wide eyes, unable to believe what they had heard.

Then.

"What?!"

"Recruit civilians?!"

"Clan Head! Are you sure?!"

"The Konoha Military Police Force has always been our Uchiha Clan's domain! How can we let outsiders in?!"

"Exactly! Our Uchiha Clan paid for the Konoha Military Police Force's authority with blood! Why should we hand it over to outsiders?!"

"If civilians join the Konoha Military Police Force too, what will that make our Uchiha Clan?!"

"Aren't we weakening our own authority?!"

Everyone grew agitated.

They voiced their objections all at once.

Uchiha En sat in the seat of honor without speaking.

He offered no explanation.

He said nothing.

He simply watched them quietly, observing his clansmen's heated reactions.

He wanted to see.

Whether these people truly obeyed him as their Clan Head.

The arguing in the Meeting Hall grew louder and louder.

"No! I absolutely oppose this!"

"The Konoha Military Police Force is our Uchiha Clan's foundation! We cannot hand it over to outsiders!"

"Clan Head, you're still young! You don't understand what's at stake!"

"If we let civilians join, what say will our Uchiha Clan have left in Konoha?!"

"Exactly! We can't give an inch!"

Uchiha Yashiro sat to one side, his brows tightly furrowed.

He hadn't expected Uchiha En to announce such a decision out of nowhere either.

But he didn't speak.

He knew that if Uchiha En dared say this, he must have his reasons.

All he needed to do now was wait.

Wait until the people below had argued themselves out, until they calmed down.