The Konoha Military Police Force was established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and placed entirely under the management of the Uchiha Clan. Its duty was to strengthen and maintain order within Konohagakure, uphold public security, and arrest civilians or shinobi suspected of criminal behavior.
Simply put, the Military Police Force functioned as a combination of police officers and municipal enforcement authorities.
However, aside from the Police Force, Konoha also had many other departments—such as the ANBU, the Torture and Interrogation Force, and the Intelligence Division—which shared or outright took over many of the responsibilities that theoretically belonged to the Police Force.
As a result, much of the Police Force's authority existed in name only.
Furthermore, when shinobi committed crimes, those incidents often involved deeper issues such as espionage or defection from the village. Cases like these were usually handled by higher-level departments rather than the Police Force.
Therefore, the Police Force's authority was mostly exercised among ordinary civilians within the village, far less powerful than it appeared on the surface.
Ironically, because they mostly dealt with trivial disputes—petty conflicts where both sides claimed to be right—combined with the Uchiha Clan's naturally proud temperament, the Police Force did not enhance the Uchiha's reputation.
Instead, it became a burden.
It gradually turned into a cage that locked the Uchiha Clan firmly in place.
Yet most members of the clan were blinded by this hard-won authority in their hands and failed to see the reality clearly.
Uchiha Ren sighed before asking again:
"Why do you think the Uchiha Clan's reputation in the village is so poor?"
Fugaku frowned.
"Isn't it because of the clan's arrogance? When our people handle disputes, they aren't very tactful."
As the Chief of the Konoha Military Police Force, Fugaku knew better than anyone how many people the Uchiha had offended while performing their duties.
Although the Uchiha enforced the law impartially, law cannot be separated from human sentiment.
There were rarely major incidents within Konoha, and serious conflicts were uncommon. Even the village's regulations were often quite rough and ambiguous.
Under strict enforcement, the Uchiha easily appeared cold and inflexible.
Over time, their reputation naturally deteriorated.
Ren glanced at Fugaku.
"Since you understand the cause, have you ever considered changing it?"
Fugaku gave a bitter smile.
"If it were that easy, I would have done it already. I've tried persuading the clan many times, but their personalities are like that. And besides, they're following the rules. I can't punish them for enforcing the law, can I?"
Ren spoke in a deep voice:
"So you already realize that the Uchiha Clan isn't actually suited to serve in the Military Police Force, don't you?"
Fugaku fell silent.
He knew that much was true.
But what could he do?
Because of the Police Force, the village restricted how many Uchiha shinobi could form teams and leave the village to take missions.
Meanwhile, the clan itself regarded the Police Force as the symbol of Uchiha honor, and many members took pride in joining it.
Under such circumstances, what could even the clan head accomplish?
Ren said coldly:
"That inherently evil Tobirama Senju merely tossed out a tiny bit of bait and trapped the Uchiha firmly inside a cage."
"And yet you're still proud of it."
"Tobirama truly understood the Uchiha temperament perfectly."
Fugaku was stunned.
"You mean… all of this was planned by the Second Hokage?"
Ren nodded.
"Tobirama regarded the Uchiha as a potential danger. To reduce uncertainty and limit the number of Uchiha leaving the village, he came up with this arrangement."
"His original intention may not have been to damage relations between the Uchiha and the village."
"But it was undeniably a calculated move."
Fugaku's expression darkened, and he didn't know what to say.
Was the Uchiha Clan truly that unwelcome?
Ignoring Fugaku's heavy mood, Ren continued:
"Falling into the water won't kill you."
"Staying in the water will."
"The Uchiha Clan must change."
"And the Konoha Military Police Force must also change."
"The authority held by the Police Force is tempting—but for the Uchiha, it is also a set of shackles."
"If you hesitate when it's time to cut something off, it will only create greater chaos."
"It's time to abandon the Police Force."
Ren's eyes gleamed sharply, his tone unwavering.
Fugaku shook his head.
"It won't be that easy. The hawk faction within the clan, led by Elder Uchiha Setsuna, already has many complaints about me."
"If we give up the Police Force, even more clan members may become divided."
"The clan could even risk splitting apart."
Ren, however, remained completely calm.
"What if I told you that after Minato becomes Hokage, I will serve as Commander of the ANBU, and I'll recruit a number of Uchiha shinobi from the clan into the ANBU?"
Fugaku suddenly raised his head in disbelief.
"You… you're serious?"
"Of course."
Ren nodded firmly.
"Once Minato takes office, he'll need many capable people to truly control the village."
"And the Uchiha Clan, which has been confined inside the Police Force for years, will undoubtedly be his strongest support."
After hearing this confirmation, a blazing light ignited in Fugaku's eyes. Even his breathing became heavier.
Seeing this, Ren added:
"Of course, the premise is that the Police Force must first undergo reform and release Uchiha personnel from its ranks."
"And the clan itself can't continue to be filled with so many conflicting voices."
"So we must clean up the clan internally first and unify our position."
"This is the Uchiha Clan's opportunity. I will make it happen no matter what."
"Whether you join me or not… that's your choice."
In Ren's view, although Fugaku possessed strength, his personality was too soft.
Ironically, that made him the greatest obstacle to unifying the clan's will.
If Fugaku could be persuaded, the rest of the clan would be far easier to handle.
Ren simply didn't believe that under the watch of three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, any reckless Uchiha would still dare to cause trouble.
Under the gazes of Ren and Shisui, Fugaku activated his three-tomoe Sharingan.
Then the pattern changed.
The three tomoe transformed into a design resembling three strange yin-yang magatama connected end to end.
Fugaku had activated the special ability of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Ren and Shisui had already anticipated this and remained completely calm.
A moment later, a tear of blood streamed down from Fugaku's right eye, and he slowly closed it.
But the determination in his left eye had become absolutely resolute.
Covering his right eye with his hand, Fugaku looked at Ren.
"When do we begin?"
Ren smiled slightly, clearly intrigued.
"Looks like you saw a promising future."
Fugaku didn't deny it.
"Sometimes pruning away dead branches allows a tree to grow stronger."
"In the past, I was simply too hesitant."
"Good."
Ren's smile faded as his voice turned serious.
"The sooner we act, the better."
"But before that… we still need to deal with Hiruzen Sarutobi first."
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