In front of the Konoha gate, where the morning mist had not yet dissipated.
Wearing the Hokage robe and Hokage hat, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood solemnly at the front, flanked by three high-ranking advisors: Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado. The clan leaders of the Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans were also waiting further back.
They were standing on the street in front of the gate, and the street was packed with people. Even with the Konoha police maintaining order, they couldn't stop the villagers from gathering there. People were shoulder to shoulder, and the noise was deafening.
"Chieftain."
The Uchiha clansman named Uchiha Yatsuho instantly appeared behind Uchiha Fugaku. He frowned when he saw that Fugaku's position was slightly behind that of the other ninja clan leaders, and then lowered his head and calmly said, "It's all arranged."
Uchiha Hachiho wore a black tight-fitting inner garment, covered by a green sleeveless Jonin chainmail, with the Konoha Police Force emblem embroidered on his shoulders.
Fugaku Uchiha was wearing a dark blue robe with the Uchiha clan's fan emblem on the back, indicating that he was acting as the head of the Uchiha clan rather than the captain of the Konoha police force.
"Yes, we must maintain order at the scene and absolutely cannot allow any mistakes to happen, otherwise we will lose face for the entire family."
Fugaku Uchiha had a cold and serious expression. He turned slightly to the side, gave a few words of advice, and then turned back.
He glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was standing at the very front of the group, his eyes flickering as he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"After Konoha and Kumogakure formed an alliance, the Third Hokage's prestige in the village will surely increase. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing."
The Konoha Police Force was established by Tobirama Senju, and its members are mainly from the Uchiha clan.
The main job of the police force is to maintain security and stability within Konoha. They are responsible for formulating village regulations and strengthening and maintaining village order and security, as well as arresting people and ninjas with criminal tendencies, but excluding the Anbu directly under the Hokage.
Tobirama Senju's original intention in letting the Uchiha clan take control of the police force was good. Although he did feel that the Uchiha clan with Sharingan was a destabilizing factor, he always tried to integrate and guide the power of the Uchiha clan during his lifetime.
However, with the rise of Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Third Hokage, some of the functions of the Anbu, which was essentially a "spy organization," were replaced by "Root."
As a result, he began to interfere in some of the village's security affairs, which led to conflicts with the police force in terms of functions.
It can only be said that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, being longtime friends, both promoted their own "personal guards."
It's important to know that the full name of the Anbu is "Assassination Tactical Special Forces," which is only responsible for reconnaissance, assassination, protecting the Hokage, and preventing foreign invasion.
Unfortunately, most members of the Uchiha clan are straightforward and inflexible. Compared to the flexible and adaptable Anbu, the Konoha villagers who were punished generally disliked the outcome of the Uchiha clan's treatment.
Therefore, conflicts and disputes often arise between the secret service and the police force due to law enforcement issues.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's firm yet gentle approach to handling the conflict deepened the Uchiha clan's resentment towards the Third Hokage, even affecting the usually composed Eighth Hokage...
Thinking about these things gave Fugaku Uchiha a headache, and he even missed the time when Minato was the Fourth Hokage.
This was not only because he and his wife were friends with the Fourth Hokage and his wife, but also because the Uchiha clan admired the Hokage who came from a commoner background.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already abdicated, but after the Fourth Hokage's death, he returned to power without any intention of finding a successor. His behavior was truly disgraceful.
"I'll wait until the alliance is formed, and when the Third Hokage is in a good mood, before I offer my suggestion," Fugaku Uchiha thought to himself, glancing at Hiruzen Sarutobi ahead.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was indeed in a good mood. He was very pleased to hear the villagers behind him talking excitedly and praising him, completely ignoring Danzo who was standing next to him with a sour face.
However, he noticed the empty space behind him out of the corner of his eye, and he subconsciously frowned.
"Hasn't Hyuga Hiashi arrived yet?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked without turning his head.
Standing behind him, Nara Shikaku gave a bitter smile to himself, but could only pretend not to know and step forward in a low voice, "We sent someone to urge them half an hour ago, but..."
Before he could say anything good about the Hyuga clan, an ANBU ninja teleported to Hiruzen Sarutobi's side and whispered a report in his ear. Nara Shikaku only vaguely heard the words, "Today is the third birthday of the Hyuga main family's eldest daughter," and he sighed deeply.
The Hyuga clan's actions this time have been rather foolish.
The Hyuga clan may be better at self-preservation than the Uchiha clan, but neither clan actually possesses much political wisdom, as demonstrated by today's events.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze flickered slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing across his cloudy eyes.
As the father and clan head, Hyuga Hiashi could have chosen not to come, but if the Hyuga clan truly cared about this matter, they could have sent a respected elder from the main branch. Their current behavior simply shows that they don't care.
In their eyes, the third birthday of the main family's eldest daughter represents the future of the Hyuga clan, and its importance far outweighs "trivial matters" such as the alliance between Kumogakure and Konoha.
What Hiruzen Sarutobi hated most was that these ninja clans put their own interests above the interests of the village.
The Uchiha clan is like this, and so is the Hyuga clan.
"The Hyuga clan has important business to attend to and cannot come." Despite his displeasure, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained calm. "Make up for their place and prepare to receive the delegation from Kumogakure."
Upon hearing this, many people present were startled. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado frowned, and Danzo, whether unintentionally or intentionally, let out a slight sneer, which also made Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darken.
However, Danzo did indeed have merit this time, and since he took the fruit, he couldn't be angry with him, so he could only vent his resentment on the Hyuga clan.
"They're here! They're here!"
Among the villagers crowding the streets like a surging tide, a child who had climbed a tree to look into the distance suddenly shouted, and the already noisy crowd instantly erupted into a frenzy.
In the distance, several figures, led by Konoha ninjas, stepped into the gates of Konoha. The three leading figures, all from Kumogakure, wore Kumogakure headbands, their dark, rugged appearances contrasting sharply with the Konoha ninjas.
Seeing this, the women who were peeking out from the upper floors on both sides scattered the flower petals they had prepared in their baskets into the air outside the windows.
Among the crowd, Hinata Kumokawa watched this scene calmly, a cold smile playing on his lips.
What a magnificent scene of blazing fire and adorned flowers!
The happier you are now, the more terrified you will be later.
Peace through compromise?
There won't be such an opportunity again.
"The world is already a labyrinth, why build another one?" Hinata Kumokawa's eyes flickered slightly.
The ninja world holds too many secrets, enough for him to do many things.
However, only by stirring up the stagnant waters of the ninja world can he have the opportunity to fish in troubled waters.
Therefore, he wanted to bring the war to an early end.
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