I, Uchiha: Split Konoha

Chapter 227 What are the roots?

Konoha, the Inuzuka clan.

"What! That's outrageous!"

The Inuzuka clan has always maintained neutrality; even their investments are merely gestures of goodwill, designed to avoid offending anyone. Moreover, the clan's overall strength is not particularly formidable.

The Inuzuka clan is considered the weakest of Konoha's secret technique clans in terms of overall strength, but they have developed extremely rapidly due to their advantage in training ninja dogs.

However, things were tough during the battlefield. As an indispensable tracking ninja, he was also a target of enemy ninjas.

Therefore, before each major ninja war, the Inuzuka clan's strength rapidly increased until they were no longer the weakest of the secret technique clans, resulting in heavy casualties after the war ended.

Having the essential tracking ability but lacking the power to protect it, the Inuzuka clan has always been troubled by this. They originally wanted to contact the Aburame clan to see if they could take their relationship a step further in the future.

Like the three races of Pig, Deer, and Butterfly, the long-standing Ironclad Alliance has also fostered a complementary tactical approach to secret arts.

He understood the principle of sticking together for warmth, but just when his relationship with Aburame had reached a crucial point, the Aburame clan and the Uchiha alliance came into play, which was so embarrassing that they had to stop their plans.

But right now!

Inside the Inuzuka clan's living room, Inuzuka Tsurugi, exuding a wild beauty, revealed his anger, slamming his fist on the table and roaring, "How much did the Inuzuka clan suffer in the Third Shinobi World War! Doesn't the Hokage know? And now the Root is still so presumptuous!"

The most senior and mature middle-aged Jonin, Inuzuka Jax, calmly looked at the clan members in the living room, who still couldn't gather ten people, and couldn't help but shake his head.

"The Root has already explained everything. Personnel from the Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara, and even the Sarutobi clan have been transferred. Our Inuzuka clan cannot use this as an excuse."

Despite this, the hot-tempered Inuzuka Tsurugi couldn't help but angrily say, "For the sake of the village, if it weren't for the Third Hokage's misjudgment, our clan wouldn't have suffered such heavy losses in the Third War!"

"Inuzuka Tsuru!" When Inuzuka Tsuru mentioned the mistakes of the Third Shinobi World War again, Inuzuka Jaw couldn't help but show a solemn expression and directly slammed the table to stop the topic.

The fact that the Third Shinobi World War could lead to the resignation of the Third Hokage shows how serious the mistakes were; otherwise, why would the Hokage have to step down?

Knowing she was being impulsive, Inuzuka Tsuru took a deep breath, but she still couldn't suppress her anger. "My dog ​​was seriously injured in the Third Shinobi World War, and he didn't survive the second year of the Nine-Tails' Night. Now I only have one son and one daughter, and I absolutely disagree with sending them to Root!"

At this point, Inuzuka Tsuru revealed a fierce protectiveness towards her offspring; she was none other than Inuzuka Hana and Inuzuka Kiba's mother.

The other members of the Inuzuka family also showed grim expressions. Unlike other families, the Inuzuka clan, although known as a family of secret techniques, was actually a ninja family.

Each of them had their own family, and when something happened, the strongest ninja from their respective family would come to discuss it. Anyway, at its peak, the Inuzuka clan only had about fifty families, and the number of ninjas had just exceeded one hundred.

There are only nine families at present, which means that the so-called Inuzuka clan is probably lucky to have twenty or thirty members now.

Inuzuka Jacques looked at everyone, whose faces were all extremely ugly. Whose child isn't their own? Besides, given their already small population, who could bear to part with their child?

"Well, I have two illegitimate sons who both have ninja talent. One of them can join Root, but before that, they must return to the Inuzuka family."

Inuzuka Jacques finally sighed and offered a solution: powerful and influential people in large families often have lovers or illegitimate children outside of marriage.

However, due to long-standing traditions in the ninja world, especially in conservative aristocratic families, illegitimate children are not recognized, let alone allowed to inherit the family business.

At most, allowing you to inherit the surname is already a favor. Most families turn a blind eye to this, as long as you don't cross the line.

After Inuzuka Jacques spoke, everyone's minds started working. The matter of an illegitimate child should never be brought up in public. As for inheriting the family's secret techniques? If you dare to teach them, you'll be kicked out of the family the next day. Some stricter families even dare to execute you internally.

Unless it is through recognition, and this time Inuzuka Jacques also used this opportunity to exchange for the two illegitimate children returning to the Inuzuka clan, receiving the treatment of ordinary clan members, and even being able to cultivate the clan's secret techniques, but definitely the ordinary kind, until the next generation has a sense of belonging will be qualified to learn deeper levels of secret techniques.

"The Root organization's demand for three spots this time is outrageous."

Some people couldn't help but grumble, saying that the "root" part was a place where once you went in, you could forget about getting out.

The main reason is that the Inuzuka clan doesn't have a single outstanding genius in this generation. Otherwise, the Root clan wouldn't want three mediocre people and would directly demand a genius.

"Let's draw lots. Everyone knows the situation of the Inuzuka Tsuru family, and we all know what each of us is up to in private. Taking this opportunity, I suggest we bring back all the outsiders. After all, the Inuzuka clan is at its lowest point in history."

As someone who has been through it all, Inuzuka Jacques understands even better that a clan needs people to grow, and Inuzuka's current situation is already very dangerous.

Although the Inuzuka clan now stipulates that even women cannot marry outside the clan and can only marry into the family, illegitimate children are the fastest way to increase the population.

Let these people return to the Inuzuka clan and bear the Inuzuka surname. Those with ninja talent can at most learn the Inuzuka clan's ordinary secret techniques. This is the fastest way to restore the clan's vitality.

Furthermore, ninja talent is very selective, and as for ordinary secret techniques? Ordinary level is enough for them to reach the Chunin level.

Chunin! That's the ultimate achievement for most ninjas.

"I agree."

I second that.

I second that.

As each family nodded in agreement, Inuzuka Tsuru couldn't help but snort. Although she was unhappy that these so-called illegitimate children could openly bear the noble Inuzuka surname, there was nothing she could do about it.

This problem is not only plaguing the Inuzuka clan, but also causing headaches for other major families.

Root wanted people, but they wanted geniuses, which nobody wanted. They didn't want to offend Root either, so they had no choice but to hand over a few decent kids with ninja talent.

These are the future of the family, but there's nothing they can do about it.

However, these are still better than others, at least there was a process of discussion. For ordinary ninjas, it was a tragic situation, as they had no choice at all.

Once selected, it doesn't matter how many children you have; you'll be transferred with a single order. Families unaware of Root's affiliation are fine; they excitedly celebrate for their children, thinking it's a top-secret department of the village. Even the children are flushed with excitement, anticipating becoming legendary ninjas.

Those whose parents were ninjas and had heard of Root all looked grim, but under Root's inescapable orders, they could only prepare a final, sumptuous meal and give their children all their love in their last few days.

Unable to refuse, they could only watch helplessly as they personally sent their child to the root.

Ninja families with two or more children are a little better off, as they can only offer comfort to the other children.

Some are happy, some are sad. Those who don't know the inside story may be happy, at least they won't despair. But those who do know can only accept it all.

……

Police Department, Conference Room.

The meeting room was packed with over a hundred Jonin sitting cross-legged on the floor, while sitting on the floor above were Hyuga Hizashi, Aburame Shiki, and Uchiha Yoru, who was in charge.

Below, the Uchiha clan made up half of the densely packed group, while the remaining half consisted mostly of Hyuga branch family ninjas, followed by ordinary ninjas and members of the Aburame clan.

However, the lowest-ranking person to be able to come here this time is a Special Jonin. It can be said that this meeting has gathered 80% of the high-end combat power of the Uchiha Yoru system.

The entire Hidden Leaf Village has only about six or seven hundred Jonin in combat formations, and more than half of them are Special Jonin, which shows how valuable Jonin are.

Of course, besides these, the greatest foundation of the five great ninja villages also includes a number of Jonin who have retired from combat due to injuries or old age. Although their combat power is no longer at its peak, they have rich experience and will pass on everything they have to the next generation.

Their responsibility is to supply fresh blood to the new generation, which is the biggest reason why the five great ninja villages have been able to stand for so many years.

"Gentlemen, you have all heard about what happened to Root, haven't you?"

Looking at the power he possessed, Uchiha Yoru felt a surge of pride. This power was the source of his confidence in intimidating the old guys in Konoha.

Although there may be some hesitant and wavering individuals when a true civil war breaks out, his force of nearly a hundred Jonin is enough to threaten Konoha. Even the number of supporters of the Sannin at their peak was only about the same.

Although they shamelessly relied on their family's power, this was also part of their strength.

"Lord Yoru, Root is preparing to recruit three Byakugan youths from the Hyuga clan." The first to speak was Hyuga Hizashi, a member of the Hyuga branch family, whose expressionless face revealed no emotion.

However, everyone could clearly see the anger on the faces of the Hyuga clan's Jonin below. Ever since the Caged Bird incident, what the branch family hated most was being controlled by this kind of cursed seal. The Root's actions were simply rubbing salt into their wounds.

Immediately following, Aburame Shi, who had the lowest profile, lowered his head slightly and said in a deep voice, "The Aburame clan has also been ordered to transfer three young ninjas from the Root's conscription order."

Uchiha Yoru, who was at the head of the table, showed no reaction after hearing this. Instead, he looked towards the Uchiha group, where Uchiha Shisui took a deep breath and reported in a deep voice, "Clan head, the clan has also received orders to transfer two young ninjas from the Uchiha clan."

"The clan chief has been busy at the garrison recently, so we are only informing you now."

Everyone understood Shisui's excuse, but as the clan head, Uchiha Yoru wouldn't allow himself to be the first to know the news.

However, Uchiha Yoru looked at everyone with a strange smile on his face, slowly took out a transfer order from his pocket, and teased everyone, "Coincidentally, the police department also received a transfer order from Root, which bluntly asked the police department to transfer five civilian boy ninjas."

In an instant, the expressions of the ordinary ninjas below all changed. As ordinary ninjas, few of them could reach the level of jonin. They had thought this was a matter between the major ninja clans, but they did not expect it to involve them as well.

It's important to understand that a large part of their joining the police force was due to Orochimaru, but it was also for their own benefit; they practically brought their families with them. Moreover, their joining the police force was also based on their faction.

For example, if small family groups and civilian factions band together, and if this is ignored, then their so-called captains will not be able to hold their positions in the future, and the people's hearts will be scattered.

Seeing the changes in everyone, even the proudest Uchiha clan members, though angry, showed a hint of resentment on the surface, Uchiha Yoru shook his head, feeling slightly disappointed.

It seems that the prestige of the Hokage leadership over the years has been ingrained in their very being. While everyone's first reaction was anger, they were also filled with resentment, which indirectly confirms that although they felt resentful, they would ultimately accept it unless they had a strong reason to do so.

But Uchiha Yoru didn't think so. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wanted to use this as a test. If they tolerated it this time, they would only be able to pinpoint their weaknesses, just like the Uchiha clan in the past, and be slowly devoured again.

The slow, insidious erosion, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water—wasn't this how the Uchiha clan was brought down by the Third Hokage in the original timeline?

Moreover, he was not like Fugaku Uchiha, who only thought about compromising with the village and finding an opportunity for reconciliation. From the beginning, his goal was very clear: the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

"hehe."

After glancing around at everyone, Uchiha Yoru gave a self-deprecating smile, and the transfer order in his hand slowly burned amidst everyone's shocked gazes.

"When did a mere root derive such audacity?"

Looking at everyone, Uchiha Yoru wore a relaxed yet deeply sarcastic smile. "The Konoha Police Department was established during the Second Hokage's reign, and it was strictly mandated that the police department be the top priority in protecting Konoha, and Root!"

Uchiha Yoru couldn't help but sneer, "If I remember correctly, Root was a department that the newly appointed Third Hokage had no choice but to establish because he couldn't control the overall situation."

Uchiha Yoru's statement was still an understatement.

According to official records, because Hiruzen Sarutobi failed to effectively continue the basic policies of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, in governing the Uchiha clan after succeeding as Hokage, Danzo was burdened with the darkness of the village. As a result, Danzo gained the right to establish his own independent organization, "Root," under the name of the Anbu Training Department.

"You lowly Root members, when did you become qualified to bark at the police department? Are you the Third Hokage who resigned and then returned to power?!"

Uchiha Yoru perfectly embodied the arrogance and disdain of the Uchiha clan. The first half of his sentence directly showed his contempt for Root, because Root was a department established during the Third Hokage's time, while their police department was established by the Second Hokage.

The second half of the sentence is even harsher, directly reopening old wounds and providing a completely unvarnished critique of the current state of the Hokage.

"Hiss!"

Upon hearing this, the Jonin's expressions changed, and many of them gasped in shock as they stared at Uchiha Yoru.

This! This is simply blatant distrust and contempt for the current Hokage of the village.

It's obvious that you, the Third Hokage, resigned because you were responsible for a serious mistake, and now that you've taken office, aren't you going to step down?

However, Uchiha Yoru's attitude also drew fervent glances from many. These people were all martial arts enthusiasts, which at least proved one thing: Uchiha Yoru's ambition! He was aiming for the Hokage position!

If you, the Third Hokage, are unwilling to step down, then I will make it clear that my sights are set on the Hokage position!

Shisui's expression changed as he looked at the arrogant Night Brother. He sighed inwardly, knowing that Night Brother knew it was impossible, yet he still wanted to give the village a chance and force the village to elect the Fifth Hokage.

At this point, either Tsunade or Jiraiya could become the Fifth Hokage, but Uchiha Yoru's chances are the slimmest.

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(End of this chapter)