In the Hokage Building, I Don't Ask for Trust

At Chen Hour the next day, Uchiha Gen followed Fugaku into the Hokage Building.

It was not his first time seeing this place.

But it was his first time standing before Konoha High Command as the architect of the Uchiha Reform.

Inside the meeting room, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the table.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura sat on either side.

Shimura Danzō still stood in the shadows, his cane planted against the floor like a nail.

Fugaku walked ahead, his expression composed.

Uchiha Gen followed half a step behind.

He knew perfectly well that Fugaku was the one truly qualified to speak with the village leadership today.

Being allowed to stand here did not mean they acknowledged him.

It only meant they could no longer ignore him.

"Uchiha Gen."

Danzo was the first to speak.

His voice was hoarse and probing.

"After the Nine-Tails' Attack, the Uchiha made their rescue lists, Resettlement Zone records, and Post-Disaster Assistance Daily Reports public. Do you know what effect these actions will have?"

Uchiha Gen did not answer immediately.

He glanced at Fugaku.

Fugaku gave a slight nod.

Only then did Uchiha Gen speak. "They will let more people check the facts."

Danzo sneered. "They will also let the Uchiha exploit a disaster to win public support."

Utatane Koharu frowned but did not object.

Mitokado Homura was also watching Uchiha Gen.

The question was dangerous.

Admitting it would mean admitting to political manipulation.

Denying it would sound disingenuous.

Uchiha Gen lowered his head. "You are right, Lord Danzo. Making the records public will indeed affect public opinion."

Fugaku's gaze shifted slightly.

Danzo's gaze darkened as well.

Uchiha Gen continued, "But if we don't make the records public, rumors will affect public opinion just the same."

The meeting room fell silent for a moment.

"The Sharingan in the Nine-Tails' eyes will affect public opinion."

"The Konoha Military Police Force remaining in the Clan District will affect public opinion."

"Claims that the Uchiha used violence while enforcing the law in the Resettlement Zone will also affect public opinion."

He raised his head.

"If both silence and speaking out will affect public opinion, then I believe we should at least let verifiable facts come first."

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched him with an inscrutable gaze.

Danzo said coldly, "Are you teaching the village how to handle public opinion?"

"No."

Uchiha Gen's answer was steady.

"I simply want the Uchiha to stop having to prove their innocence through silence."

He paused.

"I don't ask the village to trust the Uchiha immediately."

Those words made Utatane Koharu lift her eyes.

Uchiha Gen continued, "I only ask that every accusation be backed by evidence."

The room grew even quieter.

There was nothing aggressive about that statement.

Yet it was very difficult to reject outright.

Because rejecting it would mean admitting that the Uchiha could be punished without evidence.

Fugaku spoke then.

"That is also the core of the Konoha Military Police Force Reform we are proposing."

He placed a scroll on the table.

"Lord Third Hokage, please review the initial proposal."

An Anbu delivered the scroll to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi unrolled it.

The contents were brief but exceptionally clear.

First, make law enforcement records public.

When handling major disputes, conflicts over supplies, and incidents involving post-disaster order, the Konoha Military Police Force must record the time, location, participants, and witnesses.

Second, make post-disaster assistance a regular duty.

Until the village's reconstruction is complete, the Konoha Military Police Force must publish a daily assistance report detailing debris clearance, escort duties, supply distribution, missing-person registration, and conflict mediation.

Third, establish a non-Uchiha witness system.

All matters involving civilian disputes, supply distribution, treatment priorities for the wounded, and major conflicts must have the signed attestation of at least one non-Uchiha ninja or villager representative.

Fourth, cross-file records of major conflicts.

The Konoha Military Police Force must retain one record and file another with the Hokage Building, with the Hokage's Anbu conducting parallel verification when necessary.

After reading it, Utatane Koharu looked displeased.

"This amounts to laying part of the Konoha Military Police Force's authority bare for everyone to see."

"Yes," Fugaku said gravely.

Mitokado Homura asked, "Are you certain your clan will accept this?"

Fugaku did not answer immediately.

Of course he knew the clan would not readily accept it.

Public records, outside witnesses, cross-filed reports-some clan members would see every measure as undermining the Uchiha's prestige.

But if that prestige rested only on distance and fear, it would turn into an even deeper divide when suspicion arose.

"There will be resistance."

Fugaku spoke.

"But the Uchiha cannot continue facing the current situation with our old methods."

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke. "You want to use the Konoha Military Police Force Reform to secure a delay in relocation?"

Fugaku looked at him.

"Yes."

He did not hedge.

"The Uchiha are willing to accept observation and verification of our records. But I ask the village to postpone relocating the entire clan, at least until the initial phase of post-disaster reconstruction is over, and then reassess."

Danzo said coldly, "You are using reconstruction to hold the village's decision-making hostage."

Uchiha Gen looked at Danzo.

"Lord Danzo, if the Konoha Military Police Force Reform proves ineffective, the records will show it."

Danzo's lone eye narrowed slightly.

"And if it proves effective?"

Uchiha Gen answered, "The records will show that too."

For a moment, Danzo had no reply.

Uchiha Gen had not claimed that the Uchiha were necessarily innocent.

Nor had he said the village had to believe them.

He simply brought every argument back to evidence.

That was precisely what Danzo hated most.

Because once the rules began demanding evidence, many of the hands hidden in the shadows would find it harder to reach out.

After a moment of silence, Utatane Koharu said, "Third Hokage, we can try the proposal, but we cannot allow the Uchiha to use this opportunity to expand the Konoha Military Police Force's influence."

Mitokado Homura nodded. "There must be an observation period."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the scroll, his fingertips resting lightly on his pipe.

His exhaustion was plain to see.

Minato's death, the wounds left by the Nine-Tails, the village's resentment, the suspicions surrounding the Uchiha-each weighed heavily on him.

He could not trust the Uchiha completely.

But neither could he deny that the proposal before him would do more to ease the current chaos than simply relocating them.

"The relocation of the entire Uchiha clan will be postponed."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly.

Everyone in the meeting room turned to him.

"The Konoha Military Police Force Reform will enter an observation period, provisionally set at one month."

"During that month, the Konoha Military Police Force will continue assisting with post-disaster reconstruction. All public records must also be submitted to the Hokage Building for filing. The Anbu will verify them without interfering with normal rescue efforts or the restoration of order."

Danzo's voice sank. "Hiruzen."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him.

"If the Konoha Military Police Force abuses its authority, stirs up public sentiment, or conceals records during the observation period, the relocation issue will be reopened immediately."

He turned back to Fugaku.

"Fugaku, this is an opportunity, but also a constraint."

Fugaku bowed his head. "The Uchiha understand."

Uchiha Gen lowered his head as well.

At that moment, a system notification sounded.

[Implementation of the Relocation Order has been postponed.]

[The Uchiha Konoha Military Police Force Reform proposal has entered an observation period.]

[Mission progress: 50%.]

[Stage reward issued: understanding of fire release nature transformation.]

A surge of heat rose from deep within his chakra pathways.

It was different from the searing pain of his Sharingan's advancement.

This time, what Uchiha Gen felt was fire.

Not flames released through ninjutsu, but a subtle understanding of how chakra transformed, compressed, burst, and clung within his body.

He let none of it show.

Here, even the slightest abnormality could give Danzo something to seize upon.

When the meeting ended, Fugaku led Uchiha Gen out of the Hokage Building.

As they stepped through the entrance, sunlight fell across the steps.

Uchiha Gen did not relax.

The Relocation Order had only been postponed.

The observation period was not a victory either.

It was more like a taut rope.

If the Uchiha kept their footing, they could continue forward.

One wrong step, and someone would drag them back into the abyss.

Deep inside the Hokage Building, Danzo stood in the shadows, listening to a Root ninja's report.

"The relocation has been postponed."

"The Konoha Military Police Force Reform will have a one-month observation period."

"Uchiha Gen has received the Third Hokage's permission to participate in subsequent briefings on the filed records."

Danzo tapped his cane lightly against the floor.

"What about Shisui?"

"Fugaku has placed him on the clan's protection list. Approaching him alone has become more difficult."

Danzo was silent for a moment.

"Then don't watch him alone."

The Root ninja bowed his head.

Danzo said slowly, "Initiate Dual-Track Surveillance."

"Shisui Uchiha."

"Uchiha Gen."

"Watch one's eyes and the other's mind."

The Root ninja vanished silently into the shadows.

Danzo looked out the window toward the Uchiha Clan Compound, his voice as low as a dull blade.

"During the observation period, let them prove for themselves that the Uchiha cannot be trusted."