Chapter 107: The Burden of the Hat
After hearing Akatsurugi's words, Kato Dan quickly replied, "Not at all, Teacher! It is my honor to be of service."
Akatsurugi unsealed a scroll and handed it over. "This contains my insights on soul cultivation and the absorption of natural energy. Dedicate yourself to its study. Your clan's Mind-Body Switch Technique gives you a natural advantage for this path. Do not abandon it. There may yet be a chance for you to live again."
Kato Dan thanked him profusely. After Dan had absorbed the contents, Akatsurugi resealed the scroll. "Train well. Also, I am departing for the Daimyo's palace. You will accompany me, but remain unseen. I would not want the Shinigami to grow bold and attempt to claim you in my absence."
Dan acknowledged the order. He was well aware of the risk without being reminded. As a soul that refused to pass on, he would be a prime target for the death god if not for Akatsurugi's formidable spiritual pressure shielding him. The Shinigami had indeed come sniffing once before, but upon sensing the Blaze God's presence, it had retreated without a word.
By the time Akatsurugi reached the village gates, Hatake Sakumo and Tsunade were already waiting. The Uchiha clansmen on gate duty immediately snapped to attention, their respect for the new Hokage palpable. They might afford others casual indifference, but never him.
The journey was uneventful. Any potential trouble—usually just desperate refugees—was handled with quiet efficiency by Hatake Sakumo long before it could reach the Hokage. By evening, they had arrived in the capital.
The meeting with the Daimyo was cordial and productive. The feudal lord warmly received Akatsurugi, promising a ten percent increase in Konoha's annual funding as a show of support for the new administration.
It was a mutually beneficial partnership. Akatsurugi was satisfied; a stable relationship with the Daimyo was the bedrock of the village's prosperity. He inwardly scorned the future, where a fool like Danzō would threaten this very balance, forcing the Daimyo to create the Twelve Guardian Ninja and driving a wedge between the capital and the village. The current Danzō, though ambitious, was not yet that reckless, allowing this vital alliance to flourish. One only needed to look at Sunagakure to see the alternative; after a falling out with their Daimyo, the Fourth Kazekage was forced to mine for gold in the desert just to keep his village afloat.
After concluding their business, Akatsurugi, Sakumo, and Tsunade returned to Konoha under the cover of night.
Back in the Hokage's office, the envoys from Iwagakure and Kumogakure had already arrived. Akatsurugi paid them little mind for now; their negotiations could wait. They had surrendered, and they would agree to his terms, one way or another.
"Orochimaru," Akatsurugi began, not looking up from his desk. "Has the transition of Root been completed?"
Orochimaru offered a thin smile. "Hokage-sama, Senior Danzō is not causing trouble. All registered Root operatives have been successfully integrated."
"Good." Akatsurugi finally glanced up, his gaze piercing. "What is your business here?"
"It is regarding funding, Lord Hokage. My new department requires significant resources for its research initiatives." Orochimaru presented a detailed scroll. "I request your approval."
Akatsurugi scanned the list without a change in expression. "Approved. You will have what you need, Orochimaru. I have only one requirement. I trust you know what it is. Do not disappoint me."
Orochimaru's expression turned solemn. "I understand perfectly, Lord Hokage." With a bow, he retreated from the office.
Once alone, Akatsurugi called out, "You may enter."
The door slid open to reveal the aged Uchiha Tai, who walked in slowly. "Hokage-sama," he greeted with a respectful nod.
"Grand Elder," Akatsurugi replied, gesturing for him to sit. "I asked you here to discuss the future of the Uchiha clan."
Uchiha Tai's posture straightened immediately. "We are at your command, Lord Hokage. The Uchiha will not fail you." They had waited generations for a Hokage who did not inherently distrust them, and their support was absolute.
"Grand Elder," Akatsurugi began, leaning forward. "In your opinion, why do the common villagers of Konoha resent the Uchiha?"
The question caught Uchiha Tai off guard. He pondered for a long moment before answering with a bitter smile. "Because of the Security Division. Our duties inevitably create friction with the populace."
It was the unvarnished truth. The Uchiha, as Konoha's police force, were the ones who made arrests, broke up fights, and enforced the law. A pair of stern, blood-red Sharingan was often the last thing a lawbreaker saw before incarceration. It was a thankless job that bred resentment, resentment that was easily stoked by those in power who had their own reasons for keeping the Uchiha isolated. While most Uchiha were deeply loyal and passionate, their aloof reputation was a prison of their own making. No one spoke ill of the Hyūga, for instance, because their noble status rarely intersected with the lives of commoners.
"Since you recognize the problem," Akatsurugi said, his voice calm but firm, "are the Uchiha willing to relinquish control of the Security Division?"
Uchiha Tai hesitated. The division, for all its headaches, was a symbol of the Uchiha's authority and a significant source of their power within the village structure, even if it had been systematically weakened over the years.
"Grand Elder," Akatsurugi said, not unkindly. "I will give you three days. Return to your clan, hold a council, and bring me your answer. Know this: whatever you decide, I, as Hokage, will not suppress you for it. But you must also be prepared to accept the full consequences of your choice, whatever they may be."
Uchiha Tai nodded gravely. Even with his authority as Great Elder, a decision of this magnitude required the consensus of the entire clan.
After the elder departed, Akatsurugi watched the door close. He shook his head slightly. "The opportunity is yours, Uchiha. Whether you seize it is up to you."
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