At dawn, the Uchiha clan convened a high-level meeting. Every three-tomoe Sharingan holder and jonin of the clan was present. Nobunaga stepped forward and addressed them.
"Today I've called you here because our clan has once again fallen into friction with Konoha. In the past, such matters wouldn't have mattered.
"But times are different now. We've only just crawled out of the pit. Do any of you wish to return to the way things were? Of course not. Then what must we do? Many of these problems weren't of our making.
"The recent repeated clashes with Anbu and Root have stained our clan's reputation in the village. The elders have deliberated. Here are the resolutions."
The Decisions:
Restructure of the Police Force. The First Division remains intact. For the other three divisions, captains remain; one deputy captain and two squad leaders per division remain. All other posts will be filled by non-Uchiha, prioritizing shinobi from the Guardian Twelve clans.
Civilian auxiliaries. Each street will have three civilian assistant officers. They will help patrol, conduct census checks, and handle registries. One chief assistant will be recommended by the clan, the other two elected by the civilians themselves.
Reassigned Uchiha. All Uchiha removed from the police force will be reorganized into small squads led by three-tomoe elites. Each squad must include at least one and at most two Uchiha. The rest will be drawn from civilian shinobi, entering the standard Konoha roster.
Graduates. All freshly graduated Uchiha from the Academy must serve in the Fire Daimyo's capital for two years. During that time, they will train under the Second Elder and Guardian Twelve instructors. Afterward, they will return and duel in clan trials. Winners join the regular shinobi corps. Losers enter the police reserve.
Police Reserve Corps. A new reserve corps under the Fourth Elder. He will train young Uchiha not yet in service. Graduates may join the Police Force proper.
Clan kindergarten. All clan children younger than Academy age must attend the Uchiha's own kindergarten. Curriculum will include ideological and history classes.
Women with medical talent. They will be stationed in the Fire Capital's hospital or clan-run kindergartens to ease family burdens. Five three-tomoe and five Guardian Twelve will rotate through the capital, priority given to shinobi whose wives or mothers serve there. The Second Elder will oversee these assignments.
Task Assignments:
The Grand Elder will negotiate with Konoha's leadership. Nobunaga himself will recruit allied clan shinobi.
Uchiha Mei (Ming) will oversee civilian auxiliary selection.
The Fifth Elder will manage personnel assignments, ensuring fairness.
Uchiha Sa will lead and remain stationed in the Fire Capital.
The Fourth Elder will act as Reserve Corps commander, with Uchiha Ze assisting.
Uchiha Miracle will design curriculum and select textbooks.
Uchiha Lisa will manage medics and teachers, with her husband Saka assisting the Second Elder in the capital.
Nobunaga concluded: "This is an order, not a negotiation. Carry it out without error. Anyone who defies will be branded a traitor to the clan and punished severely!"
The Uchiha reforms began with thunderous momentum. They didn't hide it. They flaunted it.
First shock: the civilians. Overnight, ordinary people were elevated. They donned uniforms and patrolled the streets. Civilians gawked — we can be leaders? This was true clan magnanimity. Uchiha weren't suppressing them — they were uplifting them. Better than those high-ranking elders who never saw civilians as human.
Second shock: Guardian Twelve clans and neutral families.What are you doing, Uchiha? Treating Konoha like it's the Fire Capital? You didn't even ask the Hokage. Don't drag us down with you. But after Nobunaga pressed with promises, threats, and persuasion, the Guardian Twelve agreed, and neutral clans soon followed. Uniforms were issued, rosters set, patrols launched. The First Division aided transition.
Third shock: the Daimyo. He was bemused. The Uchiha were clearly leaning closer to him. Why? To flatter him? That didn't fit. Truly, this clan always acts on whims.
In the Hokage's office, all reports landed before Sarutobi Hiruzen. Danzo raged, cursing endlessly. "Leave it to me, Sarutobi! The Uchiha are begging for death!"
Hiruzen felt sick. Damn it all. Once again they've countered perfectly — retreating to advance, step by step dismantling our teacher's old strategy. Brilliantly executed.
Who devised this? Truly a talent has emerged among them. And Danzo, what have you been doing all these years? Nothing but leaks and blunders.
Not only could they not stop it, they had to support it. Otherwise, everything would collapse. Hiruzen saw clearly: Water can carry a boat, or capsize it. Lose the people's trust and you command nothing.
"Danzo. Do not interfere. Not only must we not block this reform, we must actively support it."
Danzo's face twisted. "Have you lost your mind? This was our teacher's very strategy! We've upheld it for decades. Have you forgotten everything we did, everything we sacrificed? You would throw it all away?"
"You still don't understand," Hiruzen said quietly. "We are on the defensive now. That old strategy can no longer work. To continue would only backfire. Sheathe your fangs. You are harming the village."
"Backfire? Harming? You just want to collude with the Uchiha. You want your own path. And I'm in your way, is that it? Everything I've done was for Konoha! You'll regret this, Hiruzen. I will never allow it." Danzo stormed out, slamming the door.
Hiruzen muttered, his voice fading to a whisper. "Danzo, you fool… don't do something stupid. Don't let me down."
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