"Since yesterday, the Uchiha clan has been buying up every scroll they can find, even blanks. And today they gathered again at the Naka Shrine. You heard those howls yourself. I believe they've gained a summoning beast—one with a whole clan behind it. Clearly it's not just one Uchiha making the summon," Mitokado Homura analyzed in the Hokage's office.
"Soon we'll know everything," said the Third Hokage, puffing his pipe. "The Uchiha leadership has kept out of sight since yesterday. All people know is that they were buying scrolls. By now, the truth should be clear. What we need to do is remain calm. From the bigger picture, this doesn't change much. And right now, relations are in their honeymoon phase. No rash moves."
At dawn, Konoha's civilians were stunned by what they saw. Every squad of the Uchiha Police Force now marched with a giant hound, each nearly two meters long. If not for the Uchiha crest on their uniforms, people would have thought the police had been replaced by the Inuzuka.
No one was more shaken than the Inuzuka themselves. Their own partners—their ninja hounds—trembled in terror, some refusing to leave their homes. If an Uchiha patrol passed by, a few hounds even lost control of their bladders. The Inuzuka fell into a mix of shame and despair.
This was their very foundation as a clan, a bond between shinobi and hound forged since childhood. Their dogs were not just pets but brothers. Now those same brothers wouldn't even step outside.
Some Inuzuka shinobi had tried to confront the Uchiha, but they couldn't even take a step forward. Their instincts screamed at them that these beasts were dangerous. When their eyes met, it was as if blood itself bowed.
The Inuzuka clan head realized their family's very survival was at stake. He gathered representatives at once and rushed to the Hokage's tower.
Meanwhile, Uchiha women were busy measuring their new partners for uniforms bearing the clan crest. Children, once nervous, were now clambering all over the giant hounds like toys.
Some hounds leapt onto rooftops, while younger ones, curious and playful, joined games with the children. Since they could speak, there was no barrier to communication. What had once been a quiet district of patrols and duties now rang with laughter.
Sharpened three-tomoe Uchiha began taking missions with their partners, training together in the field. Others stayed at the grounds, testing combination jutsu.
Every Uchiha with a hound grew closer to their partner. Soon the children discovered a secret—their companions loved sweets.
Within half an hour, the Uchiha had emptied the confectioneries and candy shops. One patrolman even asked a restaurant owner with a straight face, "Do you have spare sugar?"
The display was so blatant that no one in the village could miss it.
Some even joked about visiting the Inuzuka just to gloat. "You call yourselves the hound clan? Do your dogs speak? Do they use ninjutsu? How about Wind Release? Big breakthrough? Ha!"
The elders of the Uchiha were moved to tears. For the first time in years, they saw hope. They were no longer alone. They had true comrades, and together they were stronger than the sum of their parts.
Upon hearing the Inuzuka's reaction, many Uchihas sneered. "About time they realized who the real power is. Their clan is finished. What kind of ninja can't even leave their homes?"
Inside, the Uchiha high council held a secret meeting. Present were the elder council, the clan head, the captains and vice-captains of the Police Force, and a few three-tomoe elites.
The agenda:
Long-term cooperation with the Hellhound Clan.
Training methods and logistical support.
How to manage relations with the Hokage's administration and maintain the current honeymoon phase.
How to further increase the clan's prestige and influence.
How to handle the Inuzuka's response if the Hokage's office intervened.
On the first issue, all agreed this must be a permanent focus, requiring dedicated oversight. The Third Elder would lead the project, with Renji assisting. Everyone would follow orders—this was vital for the clan's future.
On the second, most supported maintaining the status quo. A few more all-Uchiha squads could be deployed for missions. With hounds, their power and scouting range had doubled. The Police Force could even free up shinobi for higher-paying outside patrols.
On the third issue, nearly all Uchihas simply laughed. "A whole ninja clan, crumbling by its own nature. Who's ever seen such a thing? Let's enjoy the show."
Renji, the youngest in the room, couldn't stay silent. As the summoner of the Hellhounds' leader, he had to be there.
He stood and spoke. "Honored elders, forgive me. I am young, but I have thoughts. Since the Second Hokage, Uchiha have been pressed down, isolated, smeared by propaganda.
We must grow stronger, because strength has always been the foundation of our survival. If we falter, we'll meet the same fate as the Senju.
But we also lack allies. Only today have we truly gained one—the Hellhounds. That is a blessing, but not enough.
The Hokage's loyalist clans are many: Sarutobi, Mitokado, Shimura, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Hatake, the Koharu line, and numerous small families. Add to that the mass of civilians.
What do we have? Only the half-broken Kurama, and our old allies the Kubo and Oda. Too few. We must draw in the neutrals. The greatest are Hyuga, Aburame, Inuzuka, and Shiranui.
If we can reach agreement with the Inuzuka, it will be like rain after a drought. A chance to break the high council's blockade.
I've spoken with the Hellhounds. They can pair unawakened hounds with Inuzuka mothers. The offspring may speak, some may wield wind chakra. They'll still be weaker than even the lowest of our contracts, but it binds the Inuzuka to us.
This ensures we maintain dominance while holding their lifeline. We can share logistics—let them produce feed, while we provide resources. Together we reduce costs, strengthen bonds, and tie them to us.
Only by drawing in every possible ally will we earn the glory that is ours by right."
At first, some smiled, thinking him just a child eager to show off. If not for his summoning, he'd never even be admitted.
But as he spoke, the room grew still. Elders leaned forward. Every word struck like truth.
By the end, they were nodding, recognizing a mind sharper than his years. The plan was approved. The elders left, some casting Renji long, thoughtful looks. The Third Elder told him directly to visit often, since they had projects together with the Hellhounds.
Nobunaga and Kenshi both looked on with pride. One saw hope for the clan's future, the other saw his son striving to integrate with the village.
Renji's teachers walked together afterward. Uchiha Sa chuckled, "Was this really my student? Compared to him, I feel like a child."
"Ha, our clan never lacked fighters like us. What we lacked were minds like his," Uchiha Ze said self-mockingly.
Kenshi said nothing, lost in thought. He remembered the boy as he had been at nine years old.
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