Uchiha Ryosuke sipped the tea Mikoto had handed him, its delicate aroma clearing his mind and lifting his spirits. The flavor was crisp and refreshing, a rare treat.
"Good tea," he remarked, genuinely impressed.
Fugaku, the Uchiha clan leader, smiled. "It's a specialty of our clan—rare and limited in supply. I'll send you some later."
"My thanks, Clan Leader," Ryosuke replied, nodding appreciatively.
Fugaku's expression turned serious, signaling it was time to discuss the real reason for their meeting. "That's a small matter. I called you here to talk about something bigger. Should the Uchiha clan take the next step and overthrow the Third Hokage's rule? When you killed Danzo, none of the other clans dared speak up. If we push now, resistance would be minimal. The Hokage's seat—it should be yours, Ryosuke."
Fugaku's words caught Ryosuke off guard. Him, the Fifth Hokage? The Fourth, Minato Namikaze, was long dead, leaving a void in the village's leadership. But the idea of taking the mantle himself? It was a bold proposition. Fugaku might have ambitions of his own, but he knew his limits—his strength and influence paled compared to Ryosuke's. The clan needed a leader who could command absolute respect, and Ryosuke, with his unmatched prowess, was the obvious choice.
Still, Ryosuke wasn't sold. The Hokage's power was immense, but so were the responsibilities. Endless paperwork, political games, and village disputes—hardly the free, exhilarating life he enjoyed now. He hadn't expected Fugaku to propose something so radical, so soon.
He spoke carefully, weighing his words. "It's not the right time. The Uchiha clan's strength gives us a shot at the top, no question. But a forceful takeover? That's too crude, too brutal. It'd only cement our image as tyrants."
Fugaku frowned, considering Ryosuke's point. A violent coup would paint the Uchiha as oppressors, further alienating them from the village. "You're right," he admitted, his voice heavy. "It'd be too heavy-handed. The villagers already fear us more than ever after Danzo's death."
He leaned forward, his tone laced with frustration. "The Leaf Village was founded by the Senju and Uchiha clans, yet not one of the first four Hokages was an Uchiha. Ryosuke, it's time we claimed that title. By seniority, by war merits, by sheer strength—we've earned it."
Ryosuke nodded, his eyes glinting with agreement. "Absolutely. As one of the founding clans, it's only natural an Uchiha should rise to Hokage. It'd be strange if we didn't. But we need to do this smoothly, naturally. If we force our way to power, the villagers might bow to our strength, but they'll resent us behind our backs. If we want to live comfortably in the Leaf, we can't afford to be seen as overlords."
Fugaku's expression softened, impressed by Ryosuke's foresight. "You're right, Ryosuke. These days, when villagers see an Uchiha, they shrink away. Danzo deserved his fate, no question—he was a snake. But his death has made the village fear us even more. Do they really think we'd harm them if they stay in line? We're not monsters."
Ryosuke hadn't anticipated the backlash would be this severe. The Uchiha's actions—his killing of Danzo, their capture of the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, their defiance of the Hokage—had deepened the rift between the clan and the village. The Uchiha were feared, not respected. If they were to lead, that perception had to change.
Fugaku leaned closer, his voice earnest. "Ryosuke, do you have a plan? How can we make the Uchiha rise without alienating everyone?"
Ryosuke paused, his mind sharpening. "There's a way, but it depends on whether the clan is willing to pay the price."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed. "What's the cost?"
Ryosuke laid out his idea. "The root of the village's resentment—both from civilians and other clans—lies with the Police Force. When the Second Hokage handed it to the Uchiha, I doubt he had our best interests at heart. The Police Force has too much power, but its duties—arrests, enforcement, judgments—breed resentment. We make decisions that don't always sit well with everyone because, frankly, we don't represent the whole village. The Leaf isn't what it used to be. It's not just the Uchiha and Senju anymore. There are countless civilian ninjas and smaller clans, each with their own voices."
Fugaku's brow furrowed as he grasped the implications. "You're saying the Police Force is the problem?"
"Exactly," Ryosuke said. "It's a double-edged sword. The Second gave us power, but it's made us the village's enforcers—hated for it. Our judgments, no matter how fair, are seen as biased because they come from the Uchiha alone."
Fugaku's eyes widened. "Are you suggesting we give up the Police Force?"
Ryosuke chuckled, shaking his head. "Give it up? No way. Power's too valuable to throw away—it's our leverage. But we can share it. Invite other clans and civilian ninjas to join the Police Force. Make it the village's force, not just ours. If judgments come from a broader group, they'll carry more weight, and the resentment will fade."
Fugaku's jaw dropped, the audacity of the idea sinking in. Danzo and Hiruzen had schemed to strip the Uchiha of the Police Force's authority, yet here was Ryosuke proposing to dilute it voluntarily. The Police Force wielded immense power—capable of judging even elder advisors like Danzo, rivaling the Hokage's authority if backed by enough strength. Abandoning it entirely would be foolish, but sharing it? That was a gamble.
Fugaku hesitated. "Bringing in others means giving up a lot of control. What if these clans band together and seize the Police Force from us entirely?"
Ryosuke shrugged, his confidence unshaken. "If we're inviting talent in, we have to give them some authority. Yes, we'll lose some control, but as long as the Uchiha remain the strongest, no one can displace us as the core of the Police Force. Our clan will always be its heart, its leader. That won't change."
Fugaku nodded slowly, the logic clicking. Power rested on strength, and the Uchiha's fist was unmatched. Ryosuke's plan was bold but effective. By opening the Police Force to others, they'd reshape the Uchiha's image from tyrants to collaborators. The villagers' fear would ebb, and their path to leadership—perhaps even the Hokage's seat—would become smoother, more legitimate. Resistance would dwindle, replaced by acceptance.
"It's a good plan," Fugaku said, his voice firm. "If we pull this off, the Uchiha's reputation will shift. No more whispers of oppression. When we rise, it'll feel natural, not forced."
He paused, a question lingering. "But which clans should we invite?"
Ryosuke leaned back, his mind already turning to the possibilities. The Hyuga, with their Byakugan and strained relationship with Hiruzen, were an obvious choice. Their refusal to back the Hokage against the Uchiha showed potential for alliance. The Nara, Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and other smaller clans could also be courted, their skills and loyalty balancing the force. Civilian ninjas, often overlooked, would add legitimacy, showing the Uchiha valued the broader village.
"We'll need a mix," Ryosuke said. "Clans with influence, like the Hyuga, to lend credibility. Smaller clans and civilian ninjas to show inclusivity. But we choose carefully—those who won't challenge our dominance."
Fugaku's eyes gleamed with approval. "I'll call a clan meeting. Some will resist, but they'll come around. Your vision carries weight, Ryosuke."
As they sipped their tea, the weight of their plan settled over them. The Uchiha were poised to reshape the Leaf Village—not through bloodshed, but through strategy. By reforming the Police Force, they'd disarm their critics and pave the way for their ascendancy. The Hokage's seat, once a distant dream, now felt within reach.
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