Konoha Notes

Chapter 150 Change
On the third day after the Chunin Exams ended, the Daimyo of various countries began to leave Konoha. Konoha arranged for a Jonin squad to escort these dignitaries from the small countries next to the Land of Fire. After all, these were the clients with whom they had just negotiated a deal, and it would be troublesome to negotiate again if they died.

The only remaining members of Konoha Village are the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

With the decrease in outsiders, the village's early warning barrier has resumed its daily operation.

Logically, with the flow of people in the village stabilizing, the daily tasks of the police force should have decreased accordingly. As the captain, Fugaku Uchiha could have taken this opportunity to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet in his courtyard, feeding the fish…

If it weren't for the Ninja Academy incident.

Since the ninja academy was confirmed, clan members have been coming to inquire about the details. Fugaku therefore made a special trip to the administration department to ask for the recruitment process and standards of the ninja academy in previous years.

Even so, people continued to come to the door in droves.

As a powerful clan, the Uchiha needed to maintain a certain level of dignity, and Fugaku couldn't simply shut out his clansmen. He had no other choice but to deal with the situation perfunctorily, and he had no real control over the matter.

Perhaps Itachi has more say in this matter than he does.

The reason he had this thought was because he had once again set foot in the old house of the Thousand Hands on the western outskirts of the village today.

Itachi delivered a message that Shuuji wanted to meet with him.

As the head of the Uchiha clan and captain of the Konoha Police Force, he was the one who had to take the initiative to come to the door when faced with a request for a meeting from an ordinary Jonin. This was the second time this had happened.

The reason was simple: Shuji had accomplished what Shuji couldn't. Whether it was opening up a significant number of positions in the Anbu to the Uchiha clan, or granting Uchiha members access to other departments within the village. Faced with this reality, Fugaku had no choice but to humble himself.

“Itachi has applied for a position in the Anbu. After speaking with him, I think it’s feasible,” the Senju boy said.

Why didn't Itachi tell me first? Fugaku looked at his eldest son sitting next to him with a puzzled expression.

But as his son, it was only natural for Itachi to join the Anbu, since other members of the clan needed to do so.

Fugaku simply nodded silently, indicating that he understood.

"As for the other three spots for entering the Anbu at the same time," Shuji continued, "I think Itachi will be in charge of making the selection."

"Itachi will choose? Does that mean Itachi will be the captain of a squad?" Fugaku thought for a moment. Given his eldest son's talent and strength, this made sense. He nodded again.

"Shouldn't Chief Fugaku have already informed the clan about the ninja academy teaching positions?" Shuji changed the subject.

"Yes, it has been conveyed..."

Fugaku wanted to take this opportunity to ask about some more specific details, such as the specific format of the assessment and whether the Uchiha clan had any right to make recommendations. These were the issues that the clan members were most concerned about.

Shuji didn't give him a chance to speak: "The administration department has already compiled more detailed materials on the specific recruitment process and the scope of the written test. When the time comes, just have Itachi go and pick them up."

"I..." Fugaku was about to say that he had already gone to the administration department to find out some information.

As if anticipating his reaction, Shuji immediately added, "It's about the newly finalized supplementary section of the written test scope, as well as the specific scoring criteria for the practical assessment. This part hadn't been finalized before."

Fugaku swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He felt an invisible pressure; the rhythm of the conversation and the direction of the topic seemed to be completely controlled by the other party.

"Finally, there's the issue of the four non-Uchiha positions within the police force."

"Can this be guaranteed to be implemented?"

Fugaku remained silent for a long time before slowly nodding.

"I hope this won't cause any internal strife within the Uchiha clan," Shuji said calmly. "Please make sure you do so. Lady Tsunade and I have already put in so much effort for the future of the Uchiha."

"Now is the time for you, as the head of the clan, to show your courage and take action." "If you feel that you cannot ensure the stability of the clan, or foresee insurmountable difficulties, please tell me honestly now."

"I will arrange other solutions to ensure that the reforms can proceed smoothly."

In an instant, crimson three-tomoe Sharingan appeared in Fugaku Uchiha's eyes, his gaze sharp as if it were tangible, shooting straight at Shuji.

He was met with a pair of deep, yet calm, black eyes.

"At a time when reform has shown promise, I do not want you to become an obstacle, Fugaku Uchiha."

"In a week, four members of the Hyuga clan will be officially transferred to the village and placed in the police force. Please be prepared to receive and settle them."

After finishing speaking, Shuji got up and left.

A long silence fell over the room. Fugaku's Sharingan faded, and he looked at his son with a complicated expression.

"Itachi, you..." He was about to say something, to ask his son's opinion on what had just happened, or to hear his reasons for choosing the Anbu, but he stopped speaking.

Because he saw that the eldest son, Uchiha Itachi, raised his head, and in his eyes, there were also clearly visible three-tomoe Sharingan.

The son's gaze, calm and resolute, fell upon him.

The father and son communicated silently, separated by a short distance.

Fugaku took a deep breath and finally asked, "Have you decided to follow the path they have indicated?"

Itachi calmly replied, "Everything I've seen tells me that what Shuuji-senpai is doing is, at present, the most correct and most advantageous choice for the Uchiha."

“You have already seen what most of our people truly desire.”

This was the first time in Fugaku's memory that his son had so clearly expressed a different stance.

The village's goodwill, the pressure it exerted, and Itachi's attitude... all of this made Fugaku realize that he seemed to have no other choice.

If words fail to persuade those stubborn compatriots, then perhaps the only way is to speak through the power of these eyes.

Fugaku Uchiha said no more. He stood up and silently left the Senju mansion alone. Itachi, however, stayed behind.

The atmosphere in the kitchen of the old house was completely different from that in the reception room. Shuji, who had just put pressure on the head of one of the largest clans in the village, seemed unaffected and was busy with Mitarashi Anko.

During the Chunin Exams, many wealthy and powerful merchants visited, and the village's traders purchased a lot of rare and high-end ingredients, including precious snow crabs from the northern Land of Snow. Shuji bought a few and is now preparing to make snow crab hot pot.

Itachi quietly walked into the kitchen, skillfully rolled up his sleeves, and began to help prepare the ingredients.

Red Bean was chopping tofu and shiitake mushrooms when, after a while, she couldn't resist asking, while fiddling with the ingredients, "Itachi, are you really sure you want to join the Anbu?"

“Yes, Anko-senpai,” Itachi replied without stopping his work.

"So, will our Class 5 disband?" Red Bean asked, looking at Shuuji who was preparing the hot pot broth.

“It will be retained,” Shuji replied.

They will remain until Anko is promoted to Special Jonin; they will simply be added temporarily for subsequent missions.

This is actually a common practice in Konoha Village for teams led by Jonin. The growth and turnover of members is an integral part of a ninja's career.

(End of this chapter)