"The Third Hokage must be involved. He's the one coordinating everything," Fugaku said, understanding what Masashi meant.
"And the other clans? Just the usual favorites, I assume?"
"Sarutobi, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi. The regular inner circle," Fugaku confirmed.
This preferential treatment was a source of deep dissatisfaction among the excluded shinobi clans. Their ANBU members' participation wasn't enough—not when it came to matters of this magnitude.
Nobody intended to disrupt anything, but when a jinchūriki was giving birth, what if something happened? Would everyone just wait passively for the unexpected?
If this was standard procedure, fine— but why did only those close to the Third Hokage merit involvement, while others were kept at arm's length?
Since the days of Hashirama and Madara, no one in Konoha had been able to face a tailed beast bomb head-on.
Everyone's lives were on the line; tailed beast bombs didn't differentiate between social status.
"Hm... The ANBU is still under the Third Hokage's command," Masashi nodded and let the topic drop. No point pushing further when the decision's already made.
As previously mentioned, while Hiruzen being Hokage certainly benefited the Sarutobi clan, it wasn't excessive.
This was shown by the number and quality of the Sarutobi clan's jonin; their advantages were limited and not over the line.
To give credit where it was due, Hiruzen was a qualified Hokage, though their perspectives were different.
"This matter will be discussed at tonight's clan meeting. Come over after dinner; the meeting starts promptly at 8," Fugaku rubbed the bridge of his nose, clearly finding the situation troublesome. "Don't keep skipping meetings. Since you're back, attend properly."
"For something this important, I'll be there," Masashi agreed.
At the very least, the clan needed a unified stance to deal with any contingencies.
Relying solely on improvisation in emergencies was a bad idea—Uchiha leaders often lacked quick decision-making outside the battlefield.
"Try not to go out in the coming days. I have a bad feeling," Fugaku added.
The two exchanged a look, confirming they were both thinking of the same person.
Regarding Obito, Masashi hadn't told anyone besides Fugaku, who had decided to keep it a secret.
It wasn't appropriate to make it public—Obito's name was already etched on the memorial stone. Instead of exposing him as a traitor, it was better to let him 'die' as a hero.
The Obito everyone had known was already gone. If he now claimed to be Madara, so be it.
After agreeing with Masashi on how to present this matter, Fugaku informed the Hokage's office.
Whether they believed it or not didn't matter; this level of openness was the Uchiha's greatest gesture of trust toward the Hokage's office.
The conversation between them ended there. Afterward, Fugaku handed Masashi a check, instructing him to train diligently, rest more, and drink less tea!
Masashi readily agreed, pocketed the money, and left.
That left Shisui for Fugaku's second talk.
The third would likely be Itachi?
Masashi didn't care about the latter meetings; he had no time.
Being a clan leader was tough. Being a father was tough. Fugaku, a mature man, didn't need his concern.
But the young ladies did.
Returning home, Masashi stored the check and counted his little stash of savings.
Perfect. There was still plenty of cash at home.
There was no rush to cash the check—after all, it was from the clan's bank. Internal checks could be cashed anytime as long as they weren't damaged.
If damaged, they could be reissued as long as the funds hadn't been withdrawn.
Satisfied with his fuller wallet, he changed into casual clothes, pocketed his wallet, and cheerfully went out.
Strolling through the commercial district, he admired the pretty girls passing by, marveling at how lovely Konoha's streets were.
When it was time for dinner, he ducked into a small food stand, had a good meal, and headed back to the clan area.
Times have changed, he mused, walking toward the main hall. In the original timeline, Uchiha clan meetings were held secretly in the Naka Shrine, as depicted in the story.
Secret meetings, naturally, indicated things had reached a point where the clan was completely isolated. Even holding a regular meeting invited suspicion.
The Uchiha clan wasn't at that stage now. Meetings were held in the clan's main hall as usual.
Upon entering the hall, he glanced around and quickly spotted his target.
"Inoka," he approached and patted his comrade.
"Masashi! You're back?" Inoka's face lit up with joy. "This time, you've really hit the jackpot!"
"Of course. The usual rules," Masashi winked. "You know what to do!"
"Got a new trick?"
"Absolutely. Stagnation isn't my ninja way."
"You're the best! Watch—everything will be set up perfectly for you," Inoka responded with fervor.
"Meeting time! Everyone, find a seat! The Fugaku-sama and the elders are arriving soon," someone called out.
"Yeah, right! You say that every time!" another clan member grumbled.
"This time it's true! Hurry and sit down; let's finish quickly and go home early."
The last comment resonated with everyone, and the seating process sped up noticeably.
Before long, everyone was seated. Fugaku and the elders entered together.
The elders of the Uchiha clan wielded less power than those of the Hyūga clan and served more as advisors. That didn't mean the clan leader was an absolute authority, though. The Uchiha clan just didn't have a significant internal hierarchy.
"We had no choice but to call this meeting now, so let's keep it brief," Fugaku began, adjusting his posture for effect and clearing his throat. "This concerns the jinchūriki's childbirth."
"What is the Police Force's role in this?" a clan member immediately asked.
"Sadly, none," Fugaku replied. "This will be handled entirely by the ANBU. Other departments won't be involved."
"Is that appropriate?" another member questioned. "The jinchūriki giving birth isn't a small matter; the last time this happened was during the First Hokage's era."
"Still, it shouldn't be a big deal, right?"
"That's true, but not knowing anything feels strange."
The clan members began discussing their opinions, their voices mixing together in controlled disagreement.
As Masashi had anticipated, the Uchiha clan didn't consider this issue too significant overall.
At the end of the day, thanks to their past alliance with the Uzumaki clan, Konoha's tailed beast sealing techniques were unmatched in the shinobi world.
While other villages dealt with periodic tailed beasts rampages, and jinchūriki deaths, Konoha had no such issues.
Because of this, the status of jinchūriki in Konoha wasn't as awkward as it was elsewhere.
In other villages, a jinchūriki was merely a container—property of the village. Their individual will was seen as insignificant and irrelevant.
However, in Konoha, while it was still believed that a jinchūriki's self-control might be influenced by their tailed beast, it didn't go so far as to dehumanize them entirely.
Of course, this didn't mean there was no risk of losing control. Childbirth, for instance, was a classic example.
But it had been a long time since Konoha last experienced such an event. The long-standing stability of its jinchūriki had given everyone a misplaced sense of confidence.
This overly optimistic attitude was one of the reasons Konoha suffered severe losses in the original timeline.
Thus, he decided to speak up.
"I have a proposal!" he said loudly, drawing everyone's attention.
"What is your suggestion?" Fugaku asked, his sharp eyes studying Masashi's face.
"I think, regardless of whether something happens, the Police Force should prepare for the worst-case scenario."
"What do you mean by worst-case scenario?" Fugaku, understanding the weight behind Masashi's words, asked. However, he doubted Obito's abilities. The boy was barely chunin level when he disappeared.
The Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't omnipotent, especially if it was only in one eye.
But the value of the Mangekyō was undeniable. Fugaku was already considering retrieving Obito's eye from Kakashi.
Personal feelings were insignificant compared to the clan's interests.
"For example, if the Nine-Tails breaks loose and appears in the village, what should we do then?" Masashi asked.
Several clan members shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
By saying this, he hoped to prepare the Uchiha in advance. Even after the Hiruzen era, the Hokage was Minato, and the Police Force had no departmental leadership. The only superior officer was the Hokage—not just anyone could issue orders.
"In that case, we'd naturally follow the Hokage's instructions. The Police Force is a department of Konoha," Fugaku replied.
"The Hokage's office has many people," Masashi said, leaning forward slightly. "Not just anyone should be able to give orders to the Police Force. Besides, at that point, it wouldn't just be a Police Force issue—it'd be about what the Uchiha clan should do."
"The Uchiha clan is the Police Force," Fugaku disliked the direction of this conversation and decided to move on.
But Masashi wouldn't let it go.
"Fugaku-sama, with all due respect, the Uchiha have never just been the Police Force. The Police Force can exist without the Uchiha, but the current Uchiha rely on the Police Force to maintain their position. That distinction needs to be clear."
Several older clan members exchanged meaningful glances.
"What are you trying to say, Masashi?"
"Some matters can be resolved logically, while others cannot. If something happens and the Police Force fails, the Uchiha clan will bear the blame, not the Police Force. Survivors will harbor resentment, and public opinion will vilify us. "
"At that point, will we leave the Police Force or stubbornly stand against the entire village?"
"Absolutely not!" a clansman immediately responded, rising halfway from his seat. His face flushed with anger. "It would be the Hokage's office that arranged it!"
"How do you handle work every day?" Masashi glanced at him. "If someone loses their loved ones, are you going to argue procedures with them?"
"Wait, that's just hypothetical," the clansman retorted.
"It's a reasonable hypothesis," Masashi replied. "If it's doable, then it's valid."
"Who could pull that off?" the clansman was unconvinced, his voice rising with challenge.
"I can," Masashi's reply stunned everyone.
The silence that followed was deafening.
"Is it that hard? When a jinchūriki gives birth, the Nine-Tails' chakra is fully exposed, revealing its exact location. All it would take is a space-time ninjutsu to separate the Fourth Hokage from the jinchūriki using the newborn as bait. After that, the rest is easy."
"Ridiculous," the clansman grew angry, his Sharingan activating unconsciously. "That's nonsense! What kind of ninjutsu could do all that in such a short time? I could claim I can use Wood Release, too!"
"You certainly can't do that," Masashi said, disappearing from his spot and reappearing behind the clansman. "But I can use the Flying Thunder God. I can go anywhere I want—across the village, even into the forest."
Rustle—
Everyone in the hall stood up, stunned. The clansman turned around, utterly bewildered. Some reached for weapons instinctively.
"Masashi! When did you learn Flying Thunder God?" Fugaku was at a loss. The clan library had some of Tobirama's water techniques, but no Flying Thunder God—or at least not a workable version.
It's a support technique, sure, but one that had defeated Mangekyō Sharingan users in the past.
"After seeing it enough times, I figured it out. You know how I am," Masashi said. "As an Uchiha, it's only natural for me to master the Second Hokage's techniques. Why wouldn't I?"
"Can you use Edo Tensei then?" Setsuna suddenly asked, his eyes narrowing with interest.
"How could I? I've never even seen it." Masashi's casual dismissal carried just the right note of indifference.
"Is this why you're making such bold assumptions?" Fugaku took a deep breath, trying not to lose his temper. This boy! Why hadn't he said anything before?
No wonder he was worried about Obito causing trouble. If Obito didn't have the Flying Thunder God, he probably had something similar.
"You think... someone might exploit the Nine-Tails using a similar method?"
"Bold assumptions, cautious verification," Masashi said. "The ninja world is vast and full of strange possibilities." And some possibilities are closer than you think.
"Enough unnecessary words," Setsuna interjected, rising to his feet. "I propose that if the Nine-Tails breaks loose, the Uchiha clan must fight on the frontlines! Let's vote."
The clansmen debated briefly before voting.
"I agree!" a younger member called out, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.
"Same here!" Another voice joined in.
"Right, this is a chance to prove the Uchiha clan's strength!" The energy in the room was building.
"What chance? Watch your words!" An elder's sharp rebuke cut through the excitement.
After a round of voting, the consensus was clear: if the Nine-Tails breaks loose, they'll fight it—no exceptions.
"This concludes today's meeting. Everyone is dismissed," Setsuna announced.
The solemn atmosphere evaporated. As soon as the meeting ended, the crowd dispersed with gusto. Chairs scraped against the floor as members stood, their faces already turned toward the door.
The Nine-Tails was important, sure, but clocking out was even more important. It didn't conflict with their dedication to the clan. True love was subtle, after all.
Masashi regrouped with his trusted comrades, setting off for their next destination. A great battle was ahead, and they couldn't neglect relaxation and preparation to reach peak form.
The jinchūriki was in the village, meaning there was still time. It wouldn't happen today.
And tonight, under the full moon, it was time to brew some fine tea, listen to music, and let oneself go in the quiet of the moment, while savoring the warmth of life.
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123/100: First bonus chapter reached!
220/200: Second bonus chapter reached!
220/400 reached for next bonus chapter.
If we somehow reached the top 10, which is so unlikely: 3 chapters/day for 1 week.
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