With Root's reorganization complete, the Military Police Force's restructuring plan had also been finalized.
Sakumo personally delivered the detailed proposal to Fugaku, who nodded in approval after reading through it.
Soon, Aburame Shikuro, personally appointed by Sakumo as deputy captain of the Military Police Force, entered the police headquarters wearing the Aburame clan's signature high-collared coat.
Most Uchiha clan members accepted the village's reforms.
After all, while outsiders had entered the Military Police Force, Konoha's other departments had opened their doors to the Uchiha.
Many clan members who hadn't wanted to join the police force during the Third Hokage's era, yet had no other departments willing to accept them, mustered their courage to take the entrance exams and received responses from various divisions.
Although some members' overall abilities didn't meet the requirements, under Sakumo's directive, they were all accepted through special consideration.
This left only a small group of radicals dissatisfied—those who valued clan honor above all else and considered the Military Police Force the Uchiha clan's sacred, inviolable private property.
Facing these radicals' complaints, Fugaku, as usual, patiently listened to their opinions within the clan, promised to consider their demands, then sent them away.
"Captain Fugaku."
After the last Uchiha clan member left, Aburame Shikuro, who had been listening from the shadows, emerged and looked at the Uchiha clan leader through his sunglasses, waiting for his final decision.
Fugaku clenched his fists, his expression conflicted.
"If I deal with them, will the other clan members...?"
Even at this crucial moment, Fugaku remained indecisive.
Aburame Shikuro's face was expressionless, but inwardly he gained new understanding of this clan leader.
No wonder Konoha's leadership during the Third Hokage's era could never see through this clan leader—his indecisiveness only made it impossible for all parties to understand his character and trust him with confidence.
"The reforms are already underway. If you let the opposition run unchecked, it will eventually lead to disaster, causing innocent Uchiha clan members to shed blood. Conversely, if you act now, the leadership won't seek to eliminate them completely."
Remembering Sakumo's instructions, Aburame Shikuro patiently analyzed the stakes for Fugaku.
Are the Aburame clan really this eloquent?
After hearing his words, Fugaku was somewhat surprised.
But he understood the other's meaning—if he continued hesitating, the Uchiha clan would ultimately suffer. For the greater good, these people had to be sacrificed.
Hopefully Sakumo was truly trustworthy.
After wavering for so many years, Fugaku was also weary. It was time to bring all this to an end.
Soon, Uchiha Yakume, the leader of the radical faction, received a message from Fugaku.
"Captain Fugaku has invited us to a meeting tonight in the forest outside Naka River."
Holding up the secret message and shaking it, Uchiha Yakume announced its contents to the other radicals.
"The forest outside Naka River? Why not the Naka Shrine?"
An elderly Uchiha frowned, puzzled why Fugaku would set the meeting location outside the shrine.
"Perhaps he's worried Sakumo will send people to monitor the shrine. I heard this Fourth Hokage worked in ANBU for a long time and probably knows our usual meeting spots well."
Another Uchiha spoke up, telling the others not to be so tense.
Even if it was outside Naka River, it was still Uchiha clan territory—no need to worry about safety.
"Since it's outside the shrine, we should bring weapons to prevent any accidents."
Some voiced different opinions, believing they should be prepared.
But they were quickly opposed by another faction.
"Even outside the shrine, it's still a sacred, inviolable place. Moreover, Clan Leader Fugaku called us for a meeting—why would we need weapons?"
In the end, with most people insisting, none of them brought weapons. That night, dressed in casual clothes, they headed to the location mentioned in Fugaku's secret message.
The weather that night wasn't very good, with light rain drizzling down.
"Should have brought an umbrella."
Exhaling a puff of warm air, one Uchiha looked up at the sky, regretting not bringing an umbrella when he left.
"What's the point of saying that now? We're already out—can't go back for umbrellas. Come on, let's go."
Another companion consoled him and led the way toward the forest.
When everyone arrived at the designated location at the appointed time, they immediately saw Fugaku in full battle gear, along with Aburame Shikuro beside him.
Something was wrong. Wasn't this supposed to be an internal discussion? Why was Aburame Shikuro here too?
More importantly, why were both of them in combat attire with ninja swords at their waists?
At this moment, facing Fugaku and Aburame Shikuro dressed like this, even a fool could see they hadn't come with good intentions.
"Is everyone here?"
Aburame Shikuro glanced at Fugaku beside him. Seeing that he was unwilling to speak first, he stepped forward to count heads.
"Looks like it."
Another sinister voice rang out, and the familiar yet strange tone made Yakume's heart leap to his throat.
Accompanied by the sound of a cane tapping the ground, Danzo's figure gradually emerged from the shadows.
Behind him were countless ANBU who had been lying in ambush.
"Uchiha Fugaku!"
Seeing this scene, Yakume immediately understood—his own clan leader had actually sided with Konoha and raised his blade against his own clansmen.
No amount of angry shouting could cover up the fact of their defeat.
"I'm very sorry. This is all for the Uchiha's future development."
Turning his head away, unwilling to meet Yakume's furious gaze, Uchiha Fugaku seemed to be comforting the other party as well as himself.
"Don't worry, Fugaku. The Fourth Hokage won't do anything to them—just isolate them so they can't interfere with what comes next."
Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared from somewhere and came to Fugaku's side.
"Third Hokage-sama..."
Fugaku was somewhat surprised, not expecting Sakumo to send even the former Hokage just to capture some radicals.
"I was too indecisive before, which is why these matters dragged on until now. Thinking about it carefully, all of this is my fault. I'm sorry."
Hiruzen took out his pipe, taking all the blame upon himself.
Hearing this, Fugaku said nothing, closing his eyes and feeling for the first time that his decision wasn't wrong.
As this batch of radicals was sent to the Tobirama Happy Little Black Room built during the Second Hokage's era, the emblem outside the Military Police Force headquarters—a shuriken with a fan at its center—was taken down. The fan inside was erased and replaced with Konoha's symbol.
However, below the new emblem, a simple fan symbol without any other decorations was hung up at Sakumo's direction. According to his explanation, Konoha should always remember the Uchiha's outstanding contributions during the Military Police Force's founding period.
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