The conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha's other clans, especially its ruling elite, had grown sharper with time.
That relationship, marked by both conflict and unity, had begun in Konoha's earliest days, with the battle between Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
But under his tenure, tensions with outsiders had reached their peak, and emotions within the clan were running high.
Some extremists believed that Madara Uchiha's clan had shed sweat and blood in Konoha's founding and development, and therefore deserved greater power.
Responsibility for the Konoha Military Police Force alone was nowhere near enough to compensate for their enormous sacrifices.
From the First Shinobi World War to the recently concluded Third Shinobi World War, the Uchiha had lost countless prodigies and clansmen.
Yet everyone in Konoha, from top to bottom, remained wary of them, preventing them from gaining greater power. Even in the recent contest for Hokage, they had not been eligible for nomination.
That only made the clan angrier.
"Is that why you came to see me?"
"But perhaps Lord Hokage should look within Konoha itself for the reasons behind this."
Uchiha Fugaku's expression quickly settled, and he spoke calmly.
"Clan Head Fugaku, I won't beat around the bush."
"The growing conflict between the Uchiha Clan and certain people in Konoha can no longer be ignored."
"The hints of instability beneath it have already drawn certain people's attention."
River spoke with a faint smile.
"Is that so?"
Uchiha Fugaku smiled slightly.
The leadership understood many of the things happening within Konoha very well. From choosing the next Hokage to distributing power among the great clans, and even deciding who would go to war, everything was complicated.
"At the very least, as things stand, Minato Namikaze, a commoner, has become Hokage."
After a pause, River continued with unabashed frankness.