The ninjas of the Uchiha clan can't rely solely on the Police Force for their livelihood; they need other sources of income. These words shocked the members of the Uchiha clan, as if they had heard something unbelievable.
Itachi, the heir of the clan, said this without considering how it would affect the others in his clan.
After he spoke, some members looked at Itachi with cold expressions.
Itachi is known as a genius of the Uchiha clan, and many see him as their hope for the future. But his words discouraged some of the clan members.
The fourth elder looked troubled and said, "Itachi, have you been misled? The Police Force is essential to us Uchiha. We can't abandon it!"
If the Police Force were abandoned, it would mean that the Uchiha clan would lose its influence in Konoha. In the future, they might face even more exclusion and injustice.
The Uchiha clan used to control the Police Force and faced hostility, but they shouldn't give up their power.
Itachi responded coldly, "I want the Uchiha to better integrate into the village. Only when the village accepts us can we have a better future!"
His words left the clan in silence. Itachi's statement was quite provocative.
Many turned to Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha clan, as if waiting for his response.
Fugaku could only manage a bitter smile. He felt conflicted, unsure if sending Itachi to the Hokage was the right decision.
Previously, Fugaku had sent the Uchiha geniuses, Itachi and Shisui, to the Hokage's office. Their goal was to improve relations between the Uchiha clan and the village, showing that the Uchiha had no ill intentions and were not planning a coup.
However, it seems that the relationship between the village and the Uchiha clan is getting worse. The time Itachi and Shisui spent in the Hokage's office did nothing to change the village's or the Hokage's attitude toward the Uchiha. The village had always been distrustful and hostile towards the Uchiha.
Fugaku remained silent, his smile bitter. He seemed to want to stay out of the debate and avoid expressing his own opinions.
At this point, the Great Elder, who had been silent until now, spoke up: "We cannot give up the Police Force. It is a legacy from our ancestors and our last stronghold. If we give it up, we may never get it back!"
The Sixth Elder responded, "I disagree. Giving up half of the Police Force might actually help us. It could reduce the village's suspicion and hostility toward us."
The Great Elder looked at the Sixth Elder and said, "Have you considered that if we give up half of our Police Forces, the village might just exclude us altogether? How will we survive then? Will the village provide for us?"
The Second Elder added, "The Great Elder has a point. But if we surrender some of our power, the village might start to trust us again and give us missions. Things could get back to normal."
The Fifth Elder agreed: "I support the Second Elder's proposal. The villagers are increasingly unhappy with us. It's not a bad idea to relinquish some of our rights."
As Genya listened to the elders argue, he felt a mix of disdain and ridicule. He wondered if the people in the Naruto world were naive or if the Uchiha clan was simply too naive.
If he were the Uchiha clan head, he would never give up the Police Force. Backing down would only lead to more oppression.
In his previous life, while watching Naruto, he had not learned much about the Uchiha clan's situation beyond the mention of their eventual destruction.
Since the Uchiha clan was wiped out, there hasn't been a clear explanation of what happened. However, it's evident that for the Police Force, Konoha must have another team ready to take over the Police Force once the Uchiha are gone.
"You should give it a try!"
"Maybe if we give up the Police Force, the Hokage might reconsider our Uchiha clan!"
"That's impossible. If they wanted to reinstate anyone from the Uchiha clan, they would have done it by now!"
"Clan Head, it's up to you to decide!"
"Clan leader, your choice will determine the future of the Uchiha clan. We can't fight against the village; we must compromise for now and follow their decisions!"
The elders debated but couldn't reach a conclusion, so the decision was left to the clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku.
An elder looked at the uncertain Fugaku, closed his eyes, and said, "Fugaku, giving up will only make the Uchiha clan's decline faster!"
Giving up power means losing the ability to balance the Hokage's decisions.
Without these means of balance, no matter how the Hokage decides to handle the Uchiha, the clan will be powerless, like meat on a chopping board.
The Sixth Elder added, "The Uchiha clan is in decline? Great Elder, you're exaggerating. Our strength comes from within; we don't need balance mechanisms!"
Some agreed with the Sixth Elder, while others pushed for reconciliation with Konoha.
The ninjas below discussed the matter, with some supporting the Second Elder and others backing the First Elder's views.
A Clash Between Conservatives and Radicals.
Shisui and Itachi, standing at the forefront, gazed with some confusion at the radical elders and the people below. Itachi's expression was particularly cold.
Uchiha Fugaku, caught in a complex mix of emotions, addressed the crowd after a long pause: "During the Nine-Tails incident a few years ago, Konoha's high-ranking officials suspected the Uchiha clan of being responsible. This suspicion caused the village to grow wary of us and distance themselves."
"If we agree to give up some of the power of the Police Force, it might show our goodwill towards the village. This could help improve our relationship with them."
Upon hearing Fugaku's proposal, Genya felt a sense of finality. The Uchiha were surrendering half of their power. It seemed Fugaku was also a conservative. No wonder he resigned to his fate when Itachi wanted to kill him.
Sasuke was the only Uchiha left. No one else was on missions; they had all been kept idle at home by the Third Hokage. Even the Police Forces were unremarkable. In the end, the Uchiha clan had been destroyed from within. It was a tragic situation.
Fugaku continued, looking at the silent crowd: "Additionally, I will send people to apologize to the villagers who complained about our Police Force and seek their forgiveness. This will help improve our clan's reputation."
With these words, chaos erupted among the clan.
The elder at the front looked dazed and eventually closed his eyes, his expression a mix of helplessness and despair. Meanwhile, the second elder, the sixth elder, and others nodded in approval. They believed they were acting for the future of the Uchiha clan.
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