Hyuga Hiashi turned and gave quiet instructions to the clansmen behind him.
"Go have those young men from the branch family who aren't on missions sign up."
"The Uchiha pay well. We'd be fools not to take the money."
Shikaku also turned and exchanged a meaningful glance with Choza and Inoichi.
"Our three clans should send a few people too. Claim some security positions on South Street."
"Chikage has special funding from the Daimyo's Residence. Stick with him, and we'll all eat well."
"Looks like we'll need a new way of dealing with the village leadership's policies."
After their whispered discussion, the leaders of the Three Clans all clasped their hands toward Hiruzen.
"Lord Hokage, since the Konoha Military Police Force is part of the village establishment, our clansmen would still be serving Konoha by working there."
"We have clan matters to attend to. We'll take our leave."
With that, Hyuga Hiashi led the other clan leaders out of the office without looking back.
The cordon the higher-ups had once used to isolate the Uchiha was torn to shreds by Chikage's gleaming silver.
Rather than shunning the Uchiha, the major shinobi clans were scrambling to get their members onto the Konoha Military Police Force's payroll.
Hiruzen slumped in his chair, staring at the empty office as though he had aged decades in an instant.
Beneath the great archway on South Street, Chikage picked up his sour plum drink and drained it.
He glanced down at his watch.
Four fifty-five in the afternoon.
All thirty security positions had been snapped up, and young people from the various clans had pressed bright red handprints onto their contracts.
Chikage stretched and handed the megaphone to Yashiro.
"Yashiro, keep the contracts safe. Have the Ministry of Internal Affairs stamp and file them tomorrow."
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