The top floor office of Hokage building is always filled with the smell of old paper and tobacco.
The afternoon sun shines through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting mottled light and shadow on the floor, but it cannot dispel the fatigue on the brows of the owner of the room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned on the large chair, took off his Hokage bamboo hat, and revealed his face covered with traces of time. He rubbed his swollen temples and glanced at the mountains of documents on his desk.
Although Konoha was a passive participant in this war at the beginning, it has to be said that the results achieved by Konoha on the Shinobi World battlefield this time were huge. For Konoha, it can be said that the victory of this Shinobi World war is close at hand.
But one of the files he put aside alone gave him a headache.
--About the evaluation of the Uchiha Clan's meritorious service in killing Third Mizukage on the Kirigakure battlefield.
This matter is like a hot potato.
Konoha High Command has held several meetings on this matter, but each time there was endless debate. Now the whole Konoha is looking at what kind of solution it will make in the end.
If the reward is too light, it will not stop the public from talking, and it will intensify the already tense relationship with Uchiha. With Uchiha's arrogant temperament, he will definitely think that this is the village's deliberate suppression, and the conflict will only deepen.
But if the reward is too heavy...Hiruzen Sarutobi's fingertips tapped on the table unconsciously. Uchiha Fugaku is now the captain of Police Force, holding the power of public security in the village, and there are many strong men in the clan. Add to him such a great achievement that can be recorded in history, and Uchiha's reputation and influence will expand to an extremely dangerous situation.
This is what most people in the village don't want to see, and it's also what he doesn't want to see.
The two consultants Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura meant to "treat it coldly", wait for the limelight to pass, and then give some material rewards as appropriate. But Danzo... the old guy's attitude was more radical. He believed that the credit itself was doubtful, and even advocated not only not to reward it, but to take the opportunity to investigate Uchiha to see if they had sought personal gain during the war.
Every choice comes with huge risks.
"Alas..." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed longly, picked up the pipe, filled it with shredded tobacco, but did not light it for a long time. He felt as if he was walking a shaky tightrope, and he had to be careful every step he took.
At this moment, there was a gentle knock on the office door.
"Lord Hokage." A Anbu Ninja knelt down on one knee, and Body Flicker Technique appeared, "Police Force captain, Uchiha Fugaku sir, please see me."
Uchiha Fugaku?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes narrowed slightly. Say Cao Cao, and Cao Cao will be there.
It seems that this matter has been dragging on for so long, and the Uchiha Clan patriarch has become anxious.
At this juncture, is he here... to raise an army to accuse someone, or is he here to ask for a reward?
"Let him come in." He said calmly, put the pipe back on the table, sat upright, and restored the dignity that Hokage should have.
The office door was pushed open, and Uchiha Fugaku, wearing the uniform of Police Force, walked in slowly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes twitched imperceptibly.
The Uchiha Fugaku in front of him today seems to be a little different from the clan leader he always remembered with a sense of alienation and arrogance. His steps are steady, his eyes are calm, and there is no aggressive aura on his face. Instead, he carries a kind of... humility and respect from the heart.
"Lord Hokage." Fugaku walked to the desk and bowed deeply to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
This move made Hiruzen Sarutobi's guard slightly loosen.
"Fugaku, sit down." He pointed to the chair opposite, "What do you want from me?"
"Thank you Lord Hokage." Fugaku sat down as instructed, with his back straight but his posture very low. "The reason for disturbing me today is for a private matter and an official matter for the village."
"Oh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi became interested. He wanted to hear what kind of medicine was sold in Fugaku's gourd.
Uchiha Fugaku took a deep breath, and the words Senju Chen prepared for him flashed through his mind again, and then he said in an extremely sincere tone, "Lord Hokage, I am here to kill Third Mizukage on the front line."
Sure enough, I came here for this matter!
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a chill in his heart, and the hand holding the pipe tightened unconsciously.
Just listen to Fugaku continue to say, "I know that the senior officials of the village have been in a dilemma about how to evaluate this credit. As a member of Konoha, and as the captain of Police Force, Fugaku kills enemies on the front line and protects his companions. This is his duty and it is a responsibility engraved in the bones of every Konoha Ninja."
"That credit is insignificant to me personally. I just did what I should do." His voice was low and sincere, "As for those tribesmen who sacrificed their lives, they died for the village and are Konoha heroes. They deserve it." Police Force and Uchiha Clan will never have any objection to the pension and honor. But other than that, regarding me personally, and Uchiha Clan's additional achievements and rewards..."
Fugaku paused, raised his head, looked directly at Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly, and said word for word, "I have decided, on behalf of the Uchiha Clan, to give up!"
"..."
There was a long silence in the office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned. His hand holding the pipe stopped in mid-air, his mouth was slightly open, and his eyes were full of disbelief.
Did I hear wrongly?
Give up?
Give up voluntarily?
He had imagined countless possibilities, thought that Fugaku would argue with reason, thought that he would ask for an exorbitant price, and even thought that he would use this credit in exchange for some sensitive rights. But he did not expect that Fugaku would choose... for nothing.
This... this is what the arrogant Uchiha Clan patriarch who never takes any loss can say?
Uchiha Fugaku Did you drink fake wine today?
Or is it because Uchiha Fugaku saw that the village has not responded to their matter for so long, and came to me to retreat?
"Fugaku, don't worry, you will lead Uchiha Clan to disintegrate Kirigakure's plan this time, hold back and kill Kirigakure Third Mizukage, Konoha will never forget this contribution, and will never treat Uchiha Clan badly." Hiruzen Sarutobi said to Uchiha Fugaku.
When Uchiha Fugaku heard what Third Hiruzen Sarutobi said, he immediately revealed a wry smile, "Lord Hokage, I know what you are thinking. Uchiha Clan did... somewhat ignorant in the past. But now, the village has just experienced a war, and everything is in dire need, and internal unity is more important than ever. As the patriarch, I don't want to cause you or the village any more trouble because of these false names."
"Fugaku, you..." Uchiha Fugaku said this, and Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know what to say for a moment.