Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke icily:
"It's simple—debts have their creditors, and wrongs have their culprits."
"I'll do everything possible to placate Kumogakure and avoid war, but if that proves impossible, I already know who I'm sending into battle!"
"The Uchiha clan, the Hyūga clan, and the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka—the Ino–Shika–Chō trio."
Naming them one by one, Sarutobi Hiruzen sounded utterly matter-of-fact.
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances.
"You're seeking revenge…"
"It's not revenge; it's their own choice."
"The Hyūga clan—that pair of brothers had the gall to conceal their switcheroo plan from me, acting on their own, clearly showing no respect for me as Hokage.
"Plus, that Hyūga Hiashi from the start kept hemming and hawing, reluctant to sacrifice himself, harboring resentment toward me in his heart. So naturally, they have to go to the front lines."
"This is what you'd call 'They sought it, so now they have it.'"
"The Uchiha clan is the same logic. And it's also killing two birds with one stone: dealing with Kumogakure while wearing down the Uchiha's strength."
"What about Ino–Shika–Chō? They've always been allies of the Sarutobi clan…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a cold snort.
"They only help themselves.
"Yamanaka Inoichi took part in the investigation about Uchiha Chiyu, openly taking a stance.
"Even Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Chōza backed Uchiha Chiyu in my son Shinnosuke's incident!
"Time to knock them down a peg…"
Though Koharu and Homura found this somewhat off-putting, they did not outright oppose him.
Besides, if they really needed formidable manpower against Kumogakure, who else would they send? Certainly not themselves or the other top-level decision-makers.
After pondering a moment, Homura nodded,
"Even if the Raikage is furious, he still won't bring his entire army. With the Uchiha clan, the Hyūga clan, and Ino–Shika–Chō going to war, that should hold them off.
"But for the Uchiha, will they really obey so easily?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said frostily,
"If they comply, great. They'll suffer on the battlefield.
"If they don't, they stay in the village, and I'll naturally have ways to handle them."
"Besides my own Anbu, I have one more idea…"
"I plan to unify the Sarutobi and Shimura clans under you two."
Koharu and Homura gaped,
"Hiruzen, what do you mean?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen replied gravely,
"After that idiot Sarutobi Nichio died, the Sarutobi clan is directly under me. But I'm Hokage, with no time to manage them.
"As for the Shimura clan… If I entrust them to you as well, you can both oversee them and keep Danzō in check."
Realizing his plan, they nodded.
"Ah, so that's it… So you had thought this through, Hiruzen…"
For Koharu and Homura, it was actually beneficial. Though each already had loyal subordinates, neither originally led a great or ancient clan. Gaining the Sarutobi and Shimura families would greatly strengthen their power base.
"Alright. Leave the Sarutobi clan and Shimura clan to us.
"Your Anbu plus our command of those two clans is more than enough to suppress the entire Uchiha clan.
"As for Chiyu, we'll leave him to Danzō.
"And on the Kumogakure front, as you said, those other clans can hold it down…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.
"That's it, then. So long as the fronts against Kumogakure and the Uchiha both hold out for now, once Danzō kills Uchiha Chiyu, everything returns to our control!"
The death of Uchiha Shisui caused a mighty uproar across the Konoha.
Though outwardly calm, the undercurrents surged within.
Everyone understood Shisui belonged to the Hokage's camp.
And now, after Shisui's final showdown with Uchiha Chiyu ended in Shisui's defeat and death, it meant Chiyu and the village leadership had effectively ripped away all façades—the conflict lay fully in the open.
Everyone also knew Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't let it rest.
But Chiyu did not care.
In the Uchiha district, at the Police Force Headquarters…
Officially succeeding as Commander of the Police Force, Chiyu promptly set about reorganizing the unit.
Though Uchiha Fugaku was still around, he no longer served as Commander. In effect, he merely observed from the side, wearing the mantle of clan patriarch.
The Uchiha clan effectively split its strength in two halves: Half for the Police Force, Half for protecting the clan settlement.
Currently, Chiyu and Fugaku each commanded comparable power.
Even so, the Police Force was mostly composed of younger members, brimming with vitality and potential.
In short, Chiyu's leadership wholly determined how the Police Force would act going forward.
He swiftly revised the Police Force's codes and regulations—making them stricter, heavier-handed, more extreme and zealous.
In a chaotic age, harsh laws are needed.
To correct deviations, one must go to excess.
And since the Police Force had mostly younger ninja—like Uchiha Tekka, Uchiha Inabi, plus Chiyu's personal subordinates, Aoki and Yamakaze—they were all now loyal to Chiyu, becoming fervent believers in his cause.
Moreover, both Yamakaze and Aoki, after suffering that previous entrapment, had ironically awakened deeper Sharingan powers. Their strength also grew significantly.
Hence, they pledged their lives to follow Chiyu.
As a result… Get full chapters from NoveI[F]ire.net
The entire Konoha, now under the watch of the Police Force led by Uchiha Chiyu, became notably grimmer but more orderly.
Criminal elements felt the hammer of punishment heavier than before, forcing them to lie low.
Meanwhile, ordinary ninja and villagers enjoyed an unprecedented sense of security and stability.
Together with Chiyu's prior iron-handed executions—like the Sarutobi Nichio father–son fiasco—his renown soared day by day, reaching its zenith.
Now in the village, the name Uchiha Chiyu was second only to Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen in stature.
Naturally, that only made Hiruzen more wary, more hateful.
Yet he had little time and energy to spare…
News soon reached the Raikage that his entire Kumogakure delegation had been wiped out. Furious beyond measure, he vowed retribution. Despite his advisor Dodai's pleas, the Raikage insisted on war with the Konoha.
At length, Dodai reasoned that with Onoki of Iwagakure still eyeing Kumogakure, the Raikage grudgingly remained behind. Instead, he sent a force led by Dodai, plus Two-Tails Jinchūriki Yugito Nii, Darui, C, and other young shinobi to the front.
Thus, war flared again, trouble looming once more!
In the Hokage's office, tension thickened as Sarutobi Hiruzen gathered Konoha's major figures.
He deliberately avoided looking at Uchiha Chiyu.
Yes… despite having killed the Hokage's Anbu Commander, Shisui—Sarutobi Hiruzen's strongest champion—Chiyu now joined this "Hokage Conference" as the newly appointed Police Force Commander!
It was the greatest irony, the utmost humiliation for Hiruzen.
Formally, the Konoha claimed Shisui vs. Chiyu had been a "personal dispute," a "fair duel," without pressing charges on Chiyu.
After all, Hiruzen had no grounds to charge him.
At the assembly, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly exhaled a mouthful of smoke, speaking gravely:
"Kumogakure's army is on the move, war is unavoidable.
"Hence, we must dispatch our elite to counter them!
"By the authority of the Hokage, I am mobilizing the following ninja:
"The Hyūga clan, the three clans of Ino–Shika–Chō… and—
Instantly, the clan leaders' names all turned grim.
They weren't stupid—clearly, Hiruzen was punishing them for the Kumogakure fiasco.
Though they knew it was payback, the Hyūga or Ino–Shika–Chō had no choice but to accept.
Everyone's hearts skipped.
Uchiha Chiyu was openly challenging the Hokage's orders?
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened sharply.
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