"What kind of person is Lord Third?" Senju Chen continued to guide his thoughts, "He is an ultimate 'balancer'. In his eyes, Konoha is like a scale. If the weight on either end is too heavy, he cannot tolerate it. Forbearance. In the past, you Uchiha were the excluded party, the sacrificed chess pieces on his balancing chessboard. But now, you have become the heaviest weight on the balance by virtue of your merits and popular support. His subconscious suppression of you is just the political inertia developed over decades."
"What you have to do now is not to confront him head-on, as that would play into his hands. What you have to do is continue our previous strategy, and intensify it!"
Senju Chen's eyes sparkled with the light of insight into people's hearts.
"Isn't he trying to marginalize you? Then you have to go among the villagers! Nine-Tails' Attack, how many people's homes have been destroyed? Do those orphans and widowed mothers who have lost their loved ones need help? Are the ordinary people who are rebuilding their homes short of manpower? Konoha Military Police Force, you can definitely organize to help them repair their houses, send them rice and noodles, and soothe those injured hearts!"
"Uncle Fugaku, you want to make 'If you have difficulties, find Konoha Military Police Force', become the consensus of all Konoha people! When your Uchiha reputation is no longer established When it is based on military exploits but on the bond with every villager, the hearts of the people are your strongest armor! At that time, if Lord Third wants to touch you again, you must first ask the tens of thousands of ordinary people in the village if they agree!"
Fugaku's breathing became rapid unknowingly.
Senju Chen opened a new door for him.
Fight political suppression with the support of the people!
If your senior management doesn't recognize me, I will make the whole village unable to do without me!
This... this is simply...
"As for my sister..." Senju Chen changed the topic, with a helpless smile on his face, "Uncle Fugaku, you may not know her very well. Do you know what you hate most about my sister?"
Fugaku shook his head.
"It's troublesome. Especially dealing with documents, meetings, and intrigues with people. She would rather go to the front line and fight a hundred enemies than stay in Hokage's Office for one more hour."
"The reason why she is willing to come back to take over Hokage is firstly because the village is in danger, and secondly because of my request. But she will never be a micro-manager Hokage. What she needs is a right-hand assistant who can handle all the affairs in the village for her, so that she can gamble with peace of mind... well, patrol the village."
Senju Chen coughed slightly to cover up the slip of the tongue.
"What do you think it means to Konoha Military Police Force, who is efficient, honest, deeply loved by the people, and can perfectly handle the security of the village and fight crime?"
Fugaku's eyes suddenly brightened up in a frightening way!
It means... indispensable!
"So, what you have to do now is not to worry about the future, but to seize the precious window period before Lord Third leaves office and completely weld the bonds between Uchiha and the villagers! When my sister comes back, she sees a Such a harmonious and stable Konoha, and seeing such a deeply loved Konoha Military Police Force, she will only praise you greatly, and even delegate greater power to you, so that she can be at ease."
"At that time, our blueprint will not be blocked, but will be on a fast track that no one can stop because of Hokage like my sister!"
With Senju Chen's guarantee, all the confusion, anxiety, and uneasiness in Uchiha Fugaku's heart were completely washed away.
He looked at the talkative young man in front of him, and there was only endless awe and admiration in his heart.
It turns out that in his eyes, all difficulties are just stepping stones to the next step of his plan.
"I understand..." Fugaku let out a long breath. He stood up and saluted Senju Chen solemnly again, "Thank you Chen-kun for your guidance."
At the same moment, Hokage's Office.
The rain outside the window still hasn't stopped.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was sitting alone behind his desk. The desk was filled with scrolls about the reconstruction of the village, but he could not read any of them.
What he held in his hand was the report on the Uchiha Clan's achievements in Night of the Nine-Tails that he had suppressed.
The report is densely recorded:
"Uchiha Yulan, led the third team and rescued thirty-seven civilians from the fire, including three trapped children..."
"Uchiha Inabi, cast Fire Release continuously during the battle, opening a safe passage for the follow-up troops, and fell into a coma from exhaustion..."
"All Konoha Military Police Force quickly assembled after Nine-Tails went berserk and arrived at the core battlefield. Their rescue efficiency and reaction speed far exceeded that of Anbu..."
Every word was like a needle pricking his heart.
Of course he knows that Uchiha contributed a lot.
But he is even more aware of the terrifying power behind this achievement.
He was shocked when he saw Uchiha Clan's quick response and coping strategies that night. Now that he saw these more detailed reports, he was even more shocked.
That amazing mobilization and execution power, that extraordinary calmness and tacit understanding in the face of disaster... This is no longer an ordinary ninja family, this is clearly a well-trained army with a unified will!
The leader of this army, Uchiha Fugaku,'s recent performance shocked him even more.
The man who once only knew how to use toughness to maintain the dignity of the family has now become restrained and calm, knowing how to take advantage of people's hearts and using a soft way of "serving the people" to continuously expand the family's influence.
This transformation is so terrible.
In Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, another figure appeared involuntarily.
The figure that once stood side by side with First Hokage, but eventually went into darkness, is the figure of Madara Uchiha.
He took a strong drag on his pipe, and the smoke he exhaled covered the fear deep in his eyes.
Uchiha Clan must not dominate the Konoha family, especially at this critical moment when the war has just ended a year ago, and Fourth Hokage suddenly died in battle, surrounded by wolves from the outside world.
There must not be any problems within the village, so he must suppress Uchiha Clan.
Even if he knew it was unfair, even if it chilled people's hearts, he still had to suppress Uchiha, the flame that was about to start a prairie fire, within a controllable range.
This is his "way of balance" as Hokage, and it is also his way of protecting Konoha.
It's just that he doesn't know.
What he faced was no longer the Uchiha Fugaku who was wavering between the village and his family.
Rather, there is Senju Chen, who stands behind Fugaku and regards the entire Konoha and even the entire Shinobi World as a chessboard.