"What is ?"
Both Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Shisui showed confusion in their eyes. Neither of them had ever heard of such a story.
"I told you to read more books in your spare time. Now look at you—completely lost."
Uchiha Ren teased them lightly before explaining:
"The story of is a real event from long ago. Because of the lesson it carries, it later became a well-known historical parable."
"It roughly dates back to the Warring States period. At that time, the world was in chaos. The ruler of a small state issued a decree: if citizens traveling abroad encountered fellow countrymen imprisoned or enslaved in other states, they were encouraged to rescue or ransom them. Once they returned home, the state would reimburse them and grant a reward."
"After the decree was announced, the response was very positive. People traveling abroad actively helped rescue their fellow citizens."
"Until Zigong appeared."
"He once ransomed a fellow countryman from captivity abroad—but when he returned home, he refused the state's reimbursement and reward in order to demonstrate his noble virtue."
"After that… very few people were willing to rescue captives from other states anymore."
Ren looked at the two of them.
"Do you know why that happened?"
Fugaku frowned deeply. He seemed to grasp something vaguely, yet couldn't quite identify the key point.
Shisui pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
"Brother Ren… I don't quite understand. Did Zigong do something wrong?"
"Of course he did," Ren said gravely.
"His mistake was elevating the matter to a moral standard it was never meant to reach."
"By refusing the state's reward, Zigong indeed showed personal virtue. But what about everyone who came after him?"
"If later people accepted the reward, wouldn't it imply their character was inferior to Zigong's?"
"But if they refused the reward like Zigong did… they would personally suffer a financial loss."
"Not everyone can live without worrying about money."
"Imagine someone whose income only barely supports their daily life. Originally, rescuing someone would bring both the satisfaction of doing good and compensation from the state—of course they'd be willing to help."
"But if rescuing someone meant losing money and risking their reputation, who would bother doing such a thankless task?"
Shisui immediately understood the crux of the issue.
Fugaku also came to the same realization—yet along with that understanding came a trace of relief in his eyes.
Ren continued:
"This is exactly the situation the Uchiha Clan is facing right now."
"The compensation our clan deserves isn't actually that much. We could refuse it and appear magnanimous."
"But what would the other clans think?"
"The Hyūga, Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans might not care much about that money."
"But what about the smaller clans? What about the civilian shinobi?"
"If the major clans set the example first, how are the rest supposed to choose?"
"Should they give up the compensation they rightfully deserve like the Uchiha?"
"Or should they accept it—only to be seen as morally inferior to the Uchiha and live in the village under that shadow?"
Ren's voice grew colder.
"I can guarantee that if you agree to Hiruzen Sarutobi's request and voluntarily propose this idea, the Uchiha Clan will become the target of everyone's resentment in Konoha."
"We'll be isolated and despised, unable to move a single step without hostility."
"And Sarutobi's faction?"
"They not only save a huge amount of money, but also shift all the resentment onto the Uchiha Clan."
Ren sneered.
"A poisonous move, isn't it?"
Shisui frowned.
Fugaku, however, had already turned red with anger.
"Sarutobi, you old dog! You've gone too far!"
No matter how hard Fugaku tried to suppress the rage boiling inside him, it finally burst out.
Just a little more—just one small step—and he would have dragged the entire Uchiha Clan into the abyss.
Ren continued calmly:
"Now the strange situation at the village gate this morning makes sense."
"They deliberately exaggerated the Uchiha Clan's achievements on the battlefield while downplaying everyone else's contributions."
"Using both tactics together, the Uchiha gain some fame—but lose the hearts of the people."
"As for letting Shisui and me enter the ANBU…"
Ren let out a cold laugh.
"Right now, the ANBU is Sarutobi Hiruzen's ANBU."
"If Shisui and I join, we'll be birds trapped in a cage. Every move we make will be under his control."
"After that, it'll be almost impossible for us to accomplish anything meaningful."
Fugaku's expression darkened further.
He had never expected that what seemed like a simple report meeting would actually be filled with so many hidden traps.
If not for Ren, he might truly have been sold off while still helping count the money.
Ren continued:
"You don't need to worry about the ANBU matter for now. Once Minato becomes Hokage, I'll naturally join the ANBU."
"As for Shisui…"
Ren shook his head.
"He won't be joining."
"He's going to take a position with the Fire Daimyō."
Shisui had already reached an agreement with the Daimyō of the Land of Fire and had joined the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
However, the news had not yet been made public. Only after the situation inside Konoha stabilized would Shisui officially assume the post.
"It seems… I'm truly no longer suitable to remain the clan head of the Uchiha."
Fugaku sighed softly before looking at Ren.
"Ren, how are things progressing between you and Minato? Is there anything you need me to do?"
Ren didn't hide anything.
"Once Minato takes office, Konoha will inevitably undergo reform."
"And the Uchiha Clan cannot remain unchanged."
"In fact, before Minato ascends to power, our clan must unify our understanding and become the vanguard of Konoha's reforms."
"Only then can we transform ourselves into the sharpest blade of that reform."
"And the first target…"
Ren's gaze sharpened.
"…is the Konoha Military Police Force."
"We will definitely need to hand over part of the Police Force's authority."
Fugaku's expression immediately changed, becoming extremely serious.
"Is this Minato's request?"
The Konoha Military Police Force was one of the few powers still firmly in the hands of the Uchiha Clan.
The less one possesses, the more tightly one clings to it.
To many Uchiha clan members, the authority of the Police Force was even more important than their own lives.
Ren shook his head.
"This is my request."
Fugaku froze in surprise.
"Why?"
He had assumed it was Minato Namikaze's condition. After all, once Minato became Hokage, even his close relationship with Ren couldn't override political reality.
From the Hokage's perspective, certain balances of power had to be maintained.
Fugaku thought Minato must have exchanged something with Ren in return for part of the Police Force's authority.
But he never expected this idea to come entirely from Ren himself.
Ren sighed helplessly.
"You think the Konoha Military Police Force is a good thing?"
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