Uchiha's personal opinion

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaned back in his chair, puffing out smoke, his eyes glazed over.

"How could the Uchiha clan, which is usually so single-minded, produce such a strange person..."

The Third Hokage was referring to Uchiha Tokumitsu.

In the stereotype of the Naruto lineage, the Uchiha clan is indeed strong, but it is riddled with internal conflicts and factions. Although the radicals openly express their dissatisfaction with the Hokage, they have never committed any excessive acts of rebellion.

Moreover, the Uchiha conservatives, who harbored the Will of Fire, would occasionally and intentionally or unintentionally pass on various intelligence to the village. So, although they had always been wary of the Uchiha clan, they didn't actually take them very seriously.

Therefore, in the past, it was only necessary to arrange for Danzo to monitor and suppress him.

However, Uchiha Tokumitsu was quite different.

By withdrawing from the Konoha Ninja Academy, forming an alliance with Sakumo Hatake, controlling border troops, expanding the police department, and expelling dissidents from within the clan, the Hokage's influence within the Uchiha clan has been completely eradicated.

Especially after the Uchiha conservative faction leaders who were biased towards the village were exiled, the Hokage lineage completely lost its source of intelligence within the Uchiha clan.

"Humph!"

Koharu Utatane also had a lot of opinions about Tokumitsu Uchiha, and snorted coldly as she replied, "After all, he's a born evil brat!"

"Being emotional is not advisable; our goal is still to thwart the Uchiha clan's conspiracy!"

Mitokado Homura, on the other hand, remained relatively calm. "Moreover, the most urgent task is how to deal with the demands of the ninja clans. We can't just let them be won over by the Uchiha clan like this."

"The village can't spare the funds, it's really difficult to handle..."

Xiaochun shook her head as she turned to leave.

"Our topic is not how to aid the ninja clans, nor how to counterbalance the Uchiha clans, but rather to find out the purpose of the Uchiha clan's aid bonds to the ninja clans!"

As the topic drifted further and further away, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had no choice but to speak up again: "The struggle against the Uchiha clan will be long and continuous. Don't be impatient for quick results; be patient!"

"Now it seems the only reason is that the Uchiha clan wants to expand their influence..."

Koharu Utatane continued, repeating the same old tune, "And after redeeming the ninja bonds, we can also get some interest on the difference..."

"It's that simple?"

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was particularly dissatisfied with this assessment.

He still felt there must be something fishy about this.

"Hiruzen... there's really no need to be too nervous about this."

Mitokado Homura said, "Compared to that, I think it's more important to focus our next plan on how to eradicate Uchiha Tokumitsu, this cancer."

Why?

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, turned his gaze to Homura Mitokado.

"Even if the Uchiha clan resolves the ninja clan bond crisis, the ninja clan may not necessarily be grateful to the Uchiha, much less switch their support to the Uchiha!"

Mitokado Homura confidently stated, "Given the extent to which our interests are intertwined with those of the ninja clans, they cannot be shaken by a single instance of financial assistance, especially since the Uchiha clan also benefits from this!"

"But...it might soften the ninja clan's attitude towards the Uchiha..."

Koharu Utatane thought Mitokado Homura's words made sense, but she was still unwilling to just sit idly by and watch the Uchiha clan profit from the crisis.

"...Have all the spies Danzo planted in the village before his death been taken over?"

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, suddenly spoke, turning his gaze to Homura Mitokado, who was in charge of the matter.

"These personnel have already been taken over according to the top-secret documents."

Mitokado Yan nodded reservedly.

Inheriting Danzo's hidden power in the village is one of the reasons why he speaks with increasing confidence.

"Then let's spread rumors in the village that the Uchiha clan is trying to control the ninja clans through bonds..."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, tapped the embers in his pipe and said calmly, "Since we can't think of anything else, let's just cause trouble for the Uchiha clan. We'll deal with the rest as things unfold."

"But……"

Xiaochun, who was switching dorms, was a little unwilling to let things end so abruptly.

“No need to say more, we should still be patient. The Uchiha clan is currently at the height of its power, we should wait until they make a mistake first…” The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stopped Koharu Utatane from speaking. “Besides, there’s no use thinking about things you can’t figure out.”

"In that case, I will go and make the arrangements."

Upon hearing this, Mitokado Homura also prepared to leave the Hokage's office.

Spreading rumors in the village secretly is a skill, and Mitokado Homura is not as proficient as Danzo. He needs to carefully consider the specific operational details.

Especially after the police department added three regional branches, its control was greatly strengthened. If they were not careful, the source of the rumors could be caught by the Uchiha ninjas of the police department, which would put them in a very passive position.

"...The Sarutobi clan will also buy back some of the ninja clan bonds. You can decide what to do with them yourselves."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu walked to the office door and were about to leave when they heard the voice of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, behind them.

"Understood……"

Mitokado En and Utatane Koharu exchanged a glance but said nothing more.

……

Under the guise of escorting three newly joined border troops, the Uchiha clan chief arrived at the command post of the Eastern Border Defense Force, where Uchiha Tokumitsu was stationed.

This also means that the Uchiha clan has once again completely controlled another border force, following the Northwest Border Defense Force, which is indeed of great significance to the Uchiha clan.

Although Uchiha Tokumitsu has not yet been officially appointed as the commander of the eastern border defense forces, with the strong support of Hatake Sakumo, his military achievements in the Kirigakure War, and the fact that Uchiha Tokumitsu was the one who orchestrated the reorganization of the border forces, it is only a matter of time before he is officially appointed.

Regarding the composition of the three newly arrived squads, Uchiha Yomo, the clan leader, also transferred thirty graduates with civilian status from the police training school to join them, as requested by Uchiha Tokumitsu. The rest were members of the Uchiha clan and children from various affiliated ninja clans.

"...Although most of them are genin, it's barely enough for now."

Inside the central command tent, Uchiha Tokumitsu flipped through the ninja roster and casually remarked to Uchiha Yomo.

"There's no other way. Even within the clan, there are no eligible chunin who are currently unemployed."

Uchiha Yomo also had his own explanation for this: "Moreover, each clan's affiliated ninja clans are not many people to begin with, and the core strength that can be drawn out is even less, so it is not easy to be able to draw out so many people."

Originally, Uchiha Tokumitsu wrote to the clan head requesting that he organize five squads of new recruits to join the border troops. However, the current completion rate is only 60%.

Although there were indeed real difficulties, Uchiha Yomo still felt a little embarrassed.

"The family's population is a problem, but it can't be solved in the short term..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu sighed, "How about... the police training academy increases its enrollment?"

"This matter needs to be handled with caution... It would be best to convene another clan meeting to discuss it further."

Uchiha Yomo frowned and thought for a while before answering somewhat reluctantly.

"...It is impossible for a single clan to devour all the benefits. We must learn to take a long-term view."

Uchiha Tokumitsu offered a different perspective: "We've already recruited almost all the members of our affiliated ninja clans. If we don't bring in commoners as vassals, how can we secure the benefits we've gained?"

In Uchiha Tokumitsu's power structure, the Uchiha clan was naturally at the top of the pyramid, with affiliated ninja clans serving as supplementary forces, while civilian ninjas from the police training academy served as grassroots enforcers.

After all, while the Uchiha clan's casualties in this Fourth Shinobi World War weren't enormous, they were still heartbreaking. However, cannon fodder is indispensable in war, so training civilian ninjas to fill the gaps in the front lines was a viable option.

"But the training at the police training school can't keep up with the demand for ninjas..."

Uchiha Yomo defended himself.

Ultimately, it's because the Uchiha clan, having been away from the center of power for too long, is unwilling to share the rights they've gained with others.

"But we have to do it! Otherwise, what will we do in the future? Can the clansmen occupy all the positions of power?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu tapped the table impatiently and said, "Besides, is the clan limited to this and not allowed to improve?"

Although Uchiha Tokumitsu's tone was very disrespectful, perhaps due to the intimidation of the Mangekyou Sharingan, the clan leader Uchiha Yomotsu couldn't bring himself to refute him.

"The family must naturally progress!"

Uchiha Yomo nodded slowly but quickly and said, "I'll arrange for the police training school to expand its enrollment as soon as I get back!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu nodded in approval.

"Also, regarding the ninja bonds... there have been some unpleasant rumors circulating in the village recently..."

Uchiha Yomo hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up: "Legend has it that the clan attempted to control other ninja clans through bonds..."

"Does your clan have a thousand ninjas?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu asked a question out of the blue.

Uchiha Yomotsu was stunned for a moment, "There is..."

"That's good, the rumors will surely fall apart on their own."

Uchiha Tokumitsu put down the ninja roster and said with a contemptuous expression, "These petty tricks of spreading rumors have not caused any direct harm to the clan. We just need to have the police department investigate them thoroughly."

"Fame remains..."

Uchiha Yomo tried to make Uchiha Tokumitsu understand the seriousness of the matter.

“If they do anything wrong, the Uchiha ninja army will make them obey.” Uchiha Tokumitsu interrupted the clan leader. “In the face of strength, nothing else matters. Besides, we have two border troops under our control, so our clansmen will be safe in the village!”

The Uchiha clan was speechless.

"Chief, you are still too weak..."

Chapter 153 Special Border Trade

After being mercilessly mocked by Uchiha Tokumitsu, the clan leader Uchiha Shifu, looking dejected and full of resentment, left.

Although Uchiha Yomotsu's explanation made sense to him, he still couldn't help but complain to his Jonin attendant.

"No matter what, I am the head of the Uchiha clan. Deguang is really disrespecting me!"

The group of attendants and Jonin were all from the direct line of the Uchiha clan, but they did not know the details of the two's secret conversation, so they just looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

Under the clan chief's death stare, the head guard had no choice but to bite the bullet and reply, "What the clan chief says is true, but Lord Deguang has always been independent and headstrong, so it's understandable that he's a bit arrogant. I hope you won't hold it against him..."

Uchiha Yomo already felt embarrassed that his subordinates didn't immediately agree, and the captain of the guard's seemingly comforting but actually fueling-the-fire words made him even angrier.

Alright! Even my head bodyguard is starting to favor Uchiha Tokumitsu!

However, after sulking for a while, Uchiha Yomo gradually calmed down. "I'm not a petty person. Is it reasonable for you to talk like this?"

Uchiha Yomo immediately turned hostile and launched into another tirade against his servants.

The attendants and Jonin were already used to Uchiha Shifu's unpredictable temper and treachery, and they felt it was like a gentle spring breeze, taking it all in stride.