Homura and Koharu arrived with an imposing air.
Upon hearing the reason why Hiruzen had called them, they were terrified.
"Let the Mitokado Clan serve in the Police Force?!"
"Let the Utatane Clan serve in the Police Force?!"
The two shook their heads and refused in unison.
"No, absolutely not!"
Hiruzen saw their reaction and guessed something.
First, they might have seen the destruction of the Shimura Clan and the Sarutobi Clan backing down, and they didn't dare to take it.
Second, they might have sensed Hiromi's malice.
Regardless, the village cannot be without a clan to serve in the Police Force.
"How about letting civilian ninjas take over?" Koharu suggested.
"No."
Hiruzen had already thought of this idea but there were two problems.
First, the number of civilian ninjas was small, and their strength and character were uneven.
Second, there was no jinja in the village who could lead them.
The first point wasn't a big deal. With more effort in guidance, it would be fine.
What was important was the second point: there was no ninja capable of leading all of them.
No, there was one.
Hiromi's image popped into Hiruzen's mind.
Fugaku, Itachi, Shisui, all Uchiha trusted his words. If it were him, even if they were unfamiliar ninjas, he would probably be able to lead them, right?
It's just that he didn't think Hiromi would obediently listen to him.
Refusing would be fine but if he agreed, he was afraid he would pull some tricks.
Or maybe just ignore those civilian ninjas?
Hiruzen had a headache.
The Police Force had quite a lot of power, and if not controlled well, it could easily cause major problems.
For example, corruption, bias, failure to follow regulations, etc.
At that point, the villagers would lose confidence in the Police Force, an institution of the village, and would also lose confidence in him as Hokage. Then the problem would be truly serious.
Homura and Koharu, upon hearing this, understood Hiruzen's trouble.
For a time, the Hokage Office was filled with sorrow.
After several minutes, Homura tried suggesting, "How about handing it to the Hyuga Clan?"
"Hyuga Clan?" Hiruzen said slowly, and the more he thought, the brighter his eyes became.
What a good idea!
There had always been two clans in Konoha competing to be the strongest clan in Konoha, and those were the Uchiha clan and the Hyuga clan.
The Hyuga clan already had the intention to compete with the Uchiha clan, so if they were given the Police Force now, they would definitely seize the opportunity, distance themselves from the Uchiha clan, and completely become the strongest clan in Konoha.
And with their Kekkei Genkai, the Byakugan, their observation skills were even more formidable than those of the Uchiha clan, making them very suitable for this position.
As for the dissatisfaction in the hearts of the villagers, he believed the Hyuga Clan would be able to solve it perfectly to showcase the style of the strongest clan in Konoha.
This proposal made Hiruzen, Homura, and Koharu, who had just been full of sorrow, all reveal relaxed and smug smiles.
With the Hyuga Clan as the gatekeeper, it would not implicate the Sarutobi, Mitokado, and Utatane Clans behind them.
—
Hiruzen called for the head of the Hyuga Clan, Hiashi, and informed him of this matter.
Hiashi couldn't help but be stunned. "Let the Hyuga Clan serve in the Police Force?"
"What? Are you unwilling?"
Hiruzen felt uneasy in his heart, and countless words about the "will of fire", "contributing to the village", and "building a beautiful village" immediately popped into his mind, intending to persuade Hiashi properly.
But before he could speak, he saw Hiashi bow slightly, and say seriously and respectfully, "The Hyuga Clan is willing to serve in the Police Force."
"Is... is that so?" Hiruzen hurriedly suppressed his joy. "The village thinks very highly of the Hyuga Clan."
"Yes." Hiashi's expression remained serious, showing no trace of joy or dissatisfaction.
Hiruzen, as if speaking from the heart, gave a few more instructions about how highly the village thought of the Hyuga Clan, as if saying: "I'm counting on you, please don't let me down."
"Yes." Hiashi's serious expression remained.
Hiruzen smiled happily and felt relieved.
—
Hyuga Clan Compound.
Hiashi returned from the Hokage Building, feeling as though he had returned to his own palace. Everywhere he went, people stopped and bowed respectfully: "Clan Head."
He nodded slightly, his expression remaining stern.
"Father." Hinata bowed and called out.
Hiashi maintained the same stern appearance, nodded once, and walked forward.
As Hinata watched that tall back, her lips pursed, and her shoulders hunched. She was just a tiny thing, timid, as if curling herself into a ball to form a hard shell, firmly guarding the most beautiful thing in her heart.
...
Meeting room.
On the tatami, three men knelt, the atmosphere oppressive.
In the main seat sat an old man, the Grand Elder of the Hyuga Clan.
To the left sat the head of the Hyuga main family, Hiashi.
To the right sat the man who looked identical to Hiashi, with the Caged Bird Cursed Seal carved on his forehead—the Branch Family Head, Hizashi.
"What did Hokage-sama want with you?" The Grand Elder asked, almost like an interrogation.
Hiashi sternly recounted everything that had happened at the Hokage Office.
***
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