Various nations' daimyos successively departed Konoha Village on the third day after the Chūnin Exam concluded. For these small nation dignitaries neighboring the Land of Fire, Konoha arranged jōnin squad escorts. After all, these were newly negotiated financial backers. If people died, renegotiating would prove troublesome.
Still remaining in Konoha Village was only the Land of Fire's daimyo.
As external personnel decreased, the village's warning barrier resumed daily operations.
Logically, as village personnel flow stabilized, Police Force daily affairs should correspondingly decrease. As captain, Uchiha Fugaku could take this opportunity to enjoy brief fish-feeding tranquility in his home courtyard...
If not for the academy matter.
Since the academy matter's confirmation, clan members constantly came inquiring about details. Fugaku thus specifically ran to the Administrative Department, obtaining previous years' academy recruitment processes and standards.
Even so, visitors still came endlessly.
As a prestigious clan, the Uchiha needed maintaining proper dignity. Fugaku also could not refuse clan members at the gate. Besides perfunctory handling, no other methods existed. He also held no initiative authority whatsoever.
Perhaps Itachi held stronger voice in this matter than himself.
This thought arose because today he again set foot in the village western suburbs' old Senju estate.
Itachi had conveyed a message. Shuji hoped for face-to-face talks.
With his identity as Uchiha clan head and Konoha Police Force captain, facing an ordinary jōnin's meeting request, he ultimately needed to actively visit. This was already the second time.
The reason proved singular. Only because Shuji accomplished what he could not. Whether opening considerable ANBU quota positions to the Uchiha or opening doors for Uchiha clan members to enter the village's other functional departments, facing this reality, Fugaku had to lower his posture.
"Itachi has already applied for ANBU positions. After conversing with him, I believe it feasible," that Senju youth said thus.
Why did Itachi not first tell me? Fugaku, carrying doubts, looked at his eldest son sitting beside him.
However, as his son, since other clan members needed entering ANBU, Itachi entering ANBU also proved natural and proper.
Thus Fugaku merely nodded silently, indicating acknowledgment.
"Regarding the other three concurrent ANBU quota candidate selections," Shuji continued, "I want Itachi to handle selection."
Having Itachi select? This meant having Itachi serve as a squad captain? Fugaku quickly considered. Given his eldest son's talent and strength, this also proved reasonable. He nodded again.
"Regarding the shinobi academy teacher position matter, Clan Head Fugaku should have already conveyed it internally, correct?" Shuji shifted topics to another matter.
"Yes, already conveyed..."
Fugaku wanted to take this opportunity inquiring about more specific details, such as assessment's specific format, whether the Uchiha clan internally could have certain recommendation authority, and such. These were matters clan members most concerned about.
Shuji gave him no opening opportunity. "Specific recruitment processes and written examination scope, the Administrative Department has already organized more detailed materials. At that time, have Itachi go collect and return them."
"I..." Fugaku just wanted saying he had previously visited the Administrative Department understanding some circumstances.
Shuji seemed to predict his reaction, immediately supplementing, "This concerns the latest completely confirmed written examination scope supplementary portions plus practical assessment's specific scoring standards. These portions previously had not finalized."
Fugaku's words at his mouth could only be swallowed back again. He felt an invisible pressure. Conversation rhythm and topic direction seemed completely controlled by the opponent.
"Finally, regarding Police Force internal, those four non-Uchiha quota problems."
"Can this matter ensure implementation?"
Fugaku remained silent long before slowly nodding.
"I hope no noise emerges internally within the Uchiha due to this," Shuji's tone proved flat. "Please ensure this point. For the Uchiha's future, Lady Tsunade and I have already expended excessive effort."
"Now is when you as clan head should display courage and initiative."
"If you feel yourself unable to ensure clan internal stability or foresee insurmountable difficulties, please tell me honestly right now."
"I will arrange other solutions, ensuring reforms can proceed smoothly."
Within Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan instantly surfaced. His gaze, sharp as substance, shot directly toward Shuji.
Responding to him were deep yet completely calm black eyes.
"When reforms have already seen hope, I do not wish for you to become an obstacle, Uchiha Fugaku."
"One week later, the village will formally transfer four Hyūga clan members into the Police Force. Please prepare for reception and placement."
After speaking, Shuji rose and departed.
The room fell into prolonged silence. Fugaku's Sharingan faded. His gaze looked complexly toward his own son.
"Itachi, you..." He just wanted to speak, inquiring about his son's views regarding everything just now or wanting to hear his reasons for choosing ANBU. His words stopped.
Because he saw his eldest son Uchiha Itachi raise his head. Within both eyes were also incomparably clear three-tomoe Sharingan.
His son's gaze, calm and resolute, looked toward himself.
Father and son, separated by brief distance, silently communicated.
Fugaku took a deep breath, ultimately still asking, "You have already determined to proceed along the path they indicate?"
Itachi calmly answered, "Everything I have witnessed tells me what Shuji-senpai is doing represents the currently most correct and most beneficial choice for the Uchiha."
"What the majority of clan members truly desire, you have also already seen."
His son so explicitly expressing a different stance proved the first time in Fugaku's memory.
The village's released goodwill, applied pressure, plus Itachi's attitude... All this made Fugaku realize he seemingly no longer had choice room.
If words could not persuade those stubborn compatriots, then perhaps he could only speak with these eyes' power.
Uchiha Fugaku said no more. He stood, alone silently departing the Senju old estate. While Itachi remained behind.
In the old estate's side room kitchen, the atmosphere differed completely from the earlier reception room. Shuji, who had just applied pressure to one of the village's largest clan heads moments ago, currently seemed unaffected in mood, bustling alongside Mitarashi Anko.
During the Chūnin Exam finals period, because many dignitaries and wealthy merchants came, village merchants purchased considerable normally rare premium ingredients, including precious snow crabs from northern Snow Country. Shuji bought several and now prepared snow crab hot pot.
Itachi quietly entered the kitchen, skillfully rolling up his sleeves and beginning to help process ingredients.
Anko was cutting tofu and mushrooms. After a while, she still could not restrain herself. While handling ingredients, she asked, "Itachi, have you truly decided to join ANBU?"
"Yes, Anko-senpai," Itachi answered, his hand movements not stopping.
"Then our Squad Five," Anko looked toward Shuji preparing hot pot broth base, "will it disband because of this?"
"Will be retained," Shuji answered.
Until Anko promoted to tokubetsu jōnin, it would be retained. Merely subsequent missions temporarily adding people.
This actually also represented one norm for jōnin-led squads within Konoha. Members' growth and mobility were inherently part of shinobi careers.
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild