"That's true... We can help you come up with ideas; at least the Police Force can still be kept!"
Uchiha Kinya nodded, feeling a bit proud when he looked at his son.
His son was indeed a genius.
If he were to take charge of the Police Force, Uchiha Fugaku would definitely not agree. But now it was different; his son was the nominal leader of the Police Force, which meant it wouldn't be such a big threat to Fugaku.
However, he could still offer some ideas.
"My son is really smart!" Uchiha Kinya praised his son in front of the clan members, boasting as if he had come up with the idea himself.
The other clan members smiled appreciatively.
"Alright, tonight we'll gather at the Merchant Association; everyone enjoy the food and drinks, it's on me!" After saying this, Uchiha Kinya turned to Uchiha Shin and instructed, "Tomorrow, when you start your official work, make sure to reserve fifty people every day for patrols!"
In fact, at the current level of the Merchant Association, sending out so many clan members would be a waste; they could rotate.
Some people returning from escort missions could stay in the Police Force and patrol during their free time. If things got too busy, he planned to hire some civilians to handle less important tasks.
These people were basically just resting in the Police Force, occasionally going out to patrol.
If Genya knew what his father was thinking, he would definitely give him a thumbs up. This was like a city management role; the Police Force only handled important matters while delegating the trivial tasks.
If word got out, many people would likely want to join the city management team.
Uchiha Fugaku was just unwilling to spend money; otherwise, they wouldn't have been left with such a small, struggling group.
Uchiha Fugaku returned to the Police Force with the remaining Uchiha clan members and Itachi. No matter what, the Police Force still had to be on duty today.
"Father, why did you agree to let a child like Uchiha Genya take charge of the Police Force for the Merchant Association?" Itachi couldn't understand his father's thoughts; wasn't this essentially handing over control of the Uchiha Police Force to Uchiha Kinya? It was just nominal, letting a kid take over.
"What other choice do we have? We don't have the energy to manage such a large area!" The Third Hokage had assigned the hardest area to the Uchiha Police Force, and they had been exhausted these days.
"But... the Police Force is a symbol of the clan leader!" Itachi was still puzzled.
"No, the leader of the Uchiha Police Force is still me. Uchiha Genya is just a child. If we ever need to, we can find a reason to remove that child. Even Uchiha Kinya won't be able to say anything!" Fugaku was confident; a child was not enough to threaten his position as clan leader.
"I understand now!" Itachi nodded, his eyes flickering with thought. After returning to the Police Force, he said, "Father, I have some things to take care of, so I'll leave first!"
Hokage Office.
The Third Hokage was relaxing, smoking his pipe, leaning back comfortably against the desk.
In front of him was a crystal ball showing a scene from a women's bathhouse, where he could even see the graceful figures.
If Genya were here, he would definitely shout about how shameless this is and make sure to learn this telescope technique someday. This jutsu is the best way to observe the enemy.
Yes, it's all about observing the enemy and patrolling the area! Using the telescope technique along with his Dual Pupil ability, the exploration technique would surely be stronger.
Creak~~
Just then, the office door was gently pushed open.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was quick to react. He swiped his hand across the crystal ball, making the image inside vanish instantly.
Hiruzen's expression returned to calm.
"Itachi, you just took a break. Why are you back? Is there something you need?" When he saw Itachi enter, a false smile appeared on his face as he casually asked.
"Lord Hokage, there is indeed something!" Itachi nodded slightly and shared the agreement his father had reached with Uchiha Kinya today, including all the details.
"The Uchiha Police Force has actually split?" Hiruzen was aware of the situation but chuckled afterward, "You guys really thought to let a kid lead the Police Force!"
"Lord Hokage, should we intervene?" Itachi asked quickly.
"This is your clan's decision; you don't need to ask me!" Hiruzen shook his head but then added with some frustration, "However, the Uchiha are indeed restless. They want to divide even a Police Force and dare to go against the clan leader's wishes. Such things would never happen in the Hyuga clan!"
His words were clear: Genya and the others were restless and thought they could negotiate with the clan leader, using the Hyuga clan as a comparison.
Ridiculous.
He wasn't unaware that the Hyuga branch clan was submissive because they were like birds in a cage with Caged Bird Seal.
Controlling clan members through cursed seal methods—how good could that be? It was just a facade of peace.
However, Itachi completely agreed with the Third Hokage's words and nodded seriously, feeling even more disgusted with the Uchiha clan members, especially those in the merchant association.
"Is there nothing else?" The Third took a deep breath, exhaled a smoke ring, and asked.
"Nothing else!" Itachi shook his head.
"Then go back and rest. If the Uchiha clan makes any moves, remember to come and report to me anytime!" Hiruzen waved his hand, signaling Itachi to leave.
Itachi didn't say much, just nodded to the Third and exited the room.
As soon as Itachi left, Hiruzen's smiling face darkened, and he seemed to be lost in thought.
After a moment...
Sarutobi Eisuke appeared in the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama, what is it now?" Although Sarutobi Eisuke and Sarutobi Hiruzen are from the same clan, he still had to address him as Hokage-sama in the office.
"The Uchiha Police Force is now divided into two factions to manage!" Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe and relayed what Itachi had told him to Sarutobi Eisuke.
"Heh... it seems our efforts are paying off; the Uchiha clan has now split into two factions!" Sarutobi Eisuke smiled, a grin both sinister and dismissive.
In his view, the Uchiha Police Force would eventually belong to the Sarutobi clan.
"No, now there are three factions!" Sarutobi Hiruzen added.
"Three factions?" Sarutobi Eisuke was taken aback, unsure why Sarutobi Hiruzen would say that.
"Itachi and Shisui are about to accept the Will of Fire. With a little guidance, they will become a sharp sword aimed at the Uchiha!" The Third Hokage took a puff of smoke. Confident of his hold over Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, he felt assured.
"Ha ha, the Uchiha clan would never expect that these two talented Uchiha would have their minds set elsewhere!" Sarutobi Eisuke couldn't understand how two top-tier geniuses, skilled in fighting and tactics, could be so easily brainwashed.
Joking aside, he knew that Sarutobi Hiruzen had called him for a reason, so he continued to ask, "What should we do next?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, leaning back comfortably in his chair, and blew out a smoke ring. "Since the Merchant Association has taken over, send someone tomorrow to check on the situation. It's normal for a big civilian area to have a few minor incidents."
"I know what to do!"
Sarutobi Eisuke understood and revealed a sly smile on his face.
With a new leader in place, it was time to send someone to celebrate, though he wondered if a little kid could handle it!
****
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