I, Uchiha: Split Konoha

Chapter 238 Head-on Confrontation

Konoha, Hokage's office building conference room.

At the Jonin meeting, after the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stated two things, Danzo Nakashimura, a member of the Konoha F4, simply sneered.

"First, let's talk about the police department. In recent years, the police department has been overusing its power, which has brought huge security risks to the village. Is this still the same police department established by the second generation?"

Looking at everyone, Shimura Danzo's sinister gaze finally landed on Uchiha Yoru, and he said coldly and directly, "The Second Hokage ordered the Uchiha to establish the police department for the stability of the village, but what has happened now?!"

"Leaving aside the police department's abuse of power, the following actions alone pose a huge security threat to the village."

"First, what is the Police Department trying to do by secretly and continuously purchasing various military supplies using its authority? Second, is the Police Department secretly contacting Orochimaru to conduct private transactions? Third, is the Police Department secretly receiving supplies from Kumogakure and Iwagakure?"

Danzo Shimura's opening remarks hit the nail on the head, and all three incidents were equally incisive, instantly drawing everyone's attention to Yoru Uchiha.

Despite the stares of everyone, Uchiha Yoru remained calm, staring intently at the Third Hokage.

"Uchiha Yoru! Do you have any objections to the above three matters?"

Faced with Shimura Danzo's stern questioning, Uchiha Yoru only gave a disdainful snort, "Who do you think you are?"

Looking around at the F4 seated upright, Uchiha Yoru directly sneered at the Third Hokage, "Three old fogies who rely on their seniority. They were just advisors appointed because the Third Hokage lacked prestige and power at the time. Since when have advisors become indispensable to the Hokage?"

In short, it directly points out the issue of identity, first belittling the fact that the Third Hokage was not good enough in terms of prestige or ability when he took office, which is why he established an advisory group to consolidate his power.

This also illustrates that the so-called advisors were merely a product of the Third Hokage's regime, meaning that future Hokage may not necessarily need them.

Uchiha Yoru's direct and clear words immediately caused Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura to change their expressions drastically, all three of them barely suppressing their anger.

While these points are valid, over the years, the three of them have become accustomed to their positions, and they are indispensable to the Third Hokage.

Danzo Shimura, in particular, narrowed his eyes, his killing intent boiling. The Uchiha were indeed ambitious, and they had actually pulled a stunt to undermine their own power.

Facing Uchiha Yoru's unwavering gaze, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, said in a deep voice, "Chief of the Police Department, head of the Uchiha clan, when I first took office, I was indeed lacking in ability, which is why you all worked together to achieve what Konoha is today."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, being a straightforward man, directly admitted what Yoru Uchiha had said, a scene that made all three of them look rather unpleasant.

Don't underestimate this simple acknowledgment; it also implies that they are all products of the Third Hokage's regime, meaning that the future Fifth Hokage has the right not to use them.

"Old fox," Uchiha Yoru cursed inwardly, but remained calm as he said, "So, the Third Hokage, who resigned after the Third Shinobi World War, is now being questioned by you as the acting Hokage? Or is today's so-called Jonin meeting nothing more than a trial?"

Uchiha Yoru surveyed the crowd with his arrogant gaze, and no one dared to meet his eyes directly. This alone showed just how great his reputation had become over the past three years.

"Uchiha Yoru, this is a Jonin meeting, and also the answer that all Konoha ninja want to know!"

Just then, the noble Tsunade turned her head and looked at Uchiha Yoru calmly, finally saying in a deep voice, "This is also a question you need to answer before you want to become the Fifth Hokage."

After the three Sannin spoke up, the atmosphere in the Jonin meeting room instantly calmed down, and countless eyes turned to look at them.

Uchiha Yoru's lips slowly curled into a smile. "Konoha was founded by our ancestors, so naturally! Here, apart from you, Tsunade, no one has the right to speak of judgment to the Uchiha, not even the acting Hokage!"

The arrogant and unruly Uchiha Yoru looked down on everyone, but he treated Tsunade the same way, which was a blatant way of telling everyone that Konoha was founded by the Senju and Uchiha, and who did they think they were?

"First, what is the police department trying to do by secretly and continuously purchasing various military supplies using its authority?"

Looking around at everyone, Uchiha Yoru sneered and said, "This question is ridiculous. I can tell you right now that the Uchiha clan and the police department never need to procure military supplies in secret; they are always done openly and aboveboard."

"The reason is quite simple! It's because of the corrupt regime led by the village. They are sparing no effort in using the Anbu and Root to carry out surveillance, and the Uchiha and the police department are just trying to protect themselves!"

"Secondly, the police department secretly contacted Orochimaru to conduct a private transaction?" Uchiha Yoru stared intently at Jiraiya.

"Lord Jiraiya, what I want to ask is, Orochimaru, one of the Three Legendary Sannin, was expelled from Konoha! When did Konoha establish a rule prohibiting Konoha ninja from contacting expelled ninja? Or is it that the village is already preparing to classify Orochimaru as a rogue ninja?"

The resounding question caused everyone's expression to change instantly, especially Jiraiya, who snorted coldly and looked at Danzo with a clearly unpleasant expression.

At this point, would the Hokage leadership dare to declare Orochimaru a rogue ninja? Even if they did, he hadn't actually committed any wrongdoing before!

Looking at everyone, Uchiha Yoru's expression turned even more mocking. "As for the last point, it's even more laughable: the police department secretly receiving supplies from Kumogakure and Iwagakure?"

"Are the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Stone Village fools? Would they give us supplies for nothing? Elder Danzo, you should have called this a transaction."

"However, I remember that the Ino-Shika-Cho and Shimura clans have always been involved in this so-called transaction. It's just that in the past three years, because the Uchiha and the police department have excellent supplies, they have been valued by ninjas from other countries, and thus have gradually become the main items to be acquired and traded."

With just a few words, Uchiha Yoru refuted Shimura Danzo's so-called three points. In the face of all this, Sarutobi Hiruzen calmly exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Uchiha Yoru, for the past three years, you have incited ninjas to slander and rebel against the village government, while simultaneously contacting other countries. No matter how high-sounding your reasons are, Uchiha Yoru is merely a police chief! Even your position as the head of the Uchiha clan is insufficient!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the real expert, directly pointing out the issue of identity, as if in retaliation: since you keep bringing up identity, then I'll bring up identity in return.

"All of your current actions point to you as a traitor, someone who is creating chaos in the village!"

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, spoke calmly, his voice echoing in the room. Uchiha Yoru, however, took a deep breath and a confident smile appeared on his face.

"Before the Third Hokage's administration, Konoha's dominance in the ninja world was unshakeable, and its ninjas enjoyed the most abundant and superior environment!"

"But what about now?" Uchiha Yoru slowly rose and stared directly at the Third Hokage, calmly saying, "If a thief takes your money and you want it back, is that considered theft?"

The calm voice echoed, and for a moment, the countless ninjas in the conference room were stunned upon hearing it, then seemed to realize something, and many of them even showed excitement.

Uchiha Yoru, however, swept past the crowd, his gaze fixed intently on Tsunade. "I want to ask Tsunade-hime, do you still remember the old Konoha?"

"But ever since our Konoha has seen a leadership that's always talking about the so-called Will of Fire, always talking about the village while lacking real ability, these people claim it's all for Konoha! For the Will of Fire!"

"They ended the war! But what about Konoha now? The exorbitant housing prices in the central area mean that a Jonin who wants to buy a house in the village center has to spend his entire life paying off the loan, without being able to sacrifice himself, get seriously injured, or even rest!"

"During the time of the First and Second Hokage, the two Hokage led from the front, establishing Konoha as the strongest ninja in the world. They were truly deserving of the title of Hokage. The original intention of the Senju and Uchiha clans in founding Konoha was so that their children wouldn't have to go to the battlefield!"

"But what about the Third Shinobi World War? Children under ten years old rushed to the battlefield one after another, while a bunch of old guys sat comfortably in the village, reaping the benefits, claiming it was all for Konoha!"

Uchiha Yoru showed no respect for the Third Hokage, blatantly tearing off his pretense of decency in front of everyone, and coldly sneered at the so-called Konoha high-ranking officials as he stated the facts.

For a moment, many Jonin in the conference room secretly broke out in a cold sweat. How arrogant! To tear off the mask so brazenly, had the Uchiha already made preparations?

Even Jiraiya's expression turned somewhat grim in the face of Uchiha Yoru's extremely sarcastic words. After all, the pyrrhic victory of the Third Shinobi World War was an undeniable fact, and the fact that the Third Hokage resigned in disgrace was enough to explain everything.

"I just want to take back everything that was stolen from me! The Sarutobi clan was once an insignificant little family, but now? They're the undisputed second most powerful clan in Konoha. But I dare say, in just ten more years, the Sarutobi clan will replace Konoha as the number one clan!"

Just then, Shimura Danzo slammed his fist on the table in anger, but the Third Hokage calmly raised his hand to stop his old friend's impulsive act.

Faced with the doubts of the crowd, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, his grip on his pipe tightening involuntarily, but he still managed to suppress his anger.

This is practically blatantly reopening old wounds, exposing the regime he has ruled for decades.

"Uchiha Yoru! Stop your nonsense! Hiruzen has already resigned to take responsibility for the mistakes of the Third Shinobi World War. This was known to all the ninja in Konoha back then!"

At this moment, Mitokado Homura suppressed his anger and brought up the matter from back then in a deep voice. Only then did everyone remember that the Third Hokage had abdicated because of this incident.

"Later, on the night of the Nine-Tails' death, after the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself, the Third Hokage Hiruzen had no choice but to return to the world."

As Mitokado Homura explained the reasons, Uchiha Yoru smiled and nodded, saying, "That's right. Ever since the Third Hokage returned to power under the pretext of temporarily assuming authority, you old guys who are unwilling to lose power have been reluctant to relinquish it all these years."

"The Fifth Hokage!" At this point, Uchiha Yoru gave a mocking laugh, then glared at the crowd and shouted sharply, "Without me, Uchiha Yoru! Who knows when the Fifth Hokage would have been born!"

"Ahem!"

Just then, the Third Hokage coughed, drawing everyone's attention. They saw Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly looking at them and gently taking off his pipe.

"Gentlemen, in my many years in power, I have never shied away from the responsibility for the losses of the Third Shinobi World War. As for the fact that I have not selected a Fifth Hokage since the Nine-Tails incident, it was indeed due to personal reasons!"

An uproar erupted instantly. Countless people stared at the Third Hokage, and many were secretly astonished. It seemed that the two sides were about to break off relations today.

Instead, Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly looked at Yoru Uchiha and said in a hoarse voice, "I don't want to find any reasons for the injustices suffered by the Uchiha. My selfish reason is that I don't want to leave a mess for future generations."

"One is the culprit behind the Nine-Tailed Fox's rampage, which the Anbu has been investigating. I don't want to leave such a mess for my descendants. The second reason is the influence the police department has had on the village over the past three years."

With a meaningful look in his eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to be giving a final warning, as if to say that the suspicion of the Nine-Tails' attack and the various arrows used against the Uchiha were enough to explain everything.

"What is the influence of the police department on the village?"

Faced with this question, Uchiha Yoru sneered and said arrogantly, "The police department dares not take credit for protecting the village. It is simply the police department's duty. But as for the impact, there is one."

"For the families of those who died or were wounded on the front lines, new accommodations were built outside the Uchiha clan's territory. They did not have to bear high rents, and suitable jobs were even arranged for these families around the police department."

"Perhaps it's not respectable, but jobs like setting up stalls, carving, and repairing can't provide them with a comfortable life. The police department can only do what it can to ensure that these people don't have to worry about food and clothing."

"For families with orphans, the police department provides substantial financial assistance to orphanages. At the same time, the police department also provides a series of support measures, such as helping the descendants of meritorious ninjas find employment."

Looking at everyone, Uchiha Yoru sneered, "Who among you dares to say there won't be any accidents? Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring, and as for the actions of the police department, I really don't know how badly they've affected the village."

"Could it be because the actions of the police department have affected the interests of certain people!" He looked at the Third Generation and his group with a pointed gaze.

Thank you all for your support. I shouldn't be considered a second-time positive case, because I didn't test positive last year, ┭┮﹏┭┮. I'm considered a first-time positive case. I hate COVID-19. (Updates will resume on June 1st. If I break my promise, I'll chop off my hands on live stream!)

(End of this chapter)