Chapter 178

After much deliberation, Konoha decided to bestow a somber honor upon Uchiha Madara. If Madara were conscious, it would be a tremendous honor. His passing had sent shockwaves throughout Konoha.

To arrange his funeral, Konoha conducted numerous discussions within the Jonin class, the Elder's Group, the Hokage advisory group, and among the various Shinōbi Clans. Remarkably, all these discussions and decision-making were completed within a single day. Efficiency was clearly at its peak.

The timeline was as follows: Konoha received Uchiha Madara's remains on the first day, made announcements to Shinōbi World, held discussions on the second day, and conducted a grand burial on the third day. It was a truly remarkable funeral.

On the day of the Uchiha Clan funeral, the walls surrounding the Uchiha Clan's compound were dismantled, creating a path between their ancestral land and Konoha. Along this path, funeral banners were hung, bought by the Uchiha at great expense. Eight strong Uchiha men carried the coffin, while every Uchiha clan member, regardless of age or occupation, participated in the funeral. Even infants who couldn't yet speak were held in their parents' arms. Men and women, young and old, united in their mourning.

Sarutobi Hiruzen presided over the funeral as the master of ceremonies. Representatives from other Shinōbi Clans also attended. Meanwhile, within Konoha, shinobi bid farewell to Uchiha Madara one after another. In terms of funeral ranking, Uchiha Madara's funeral could be considered SSS+.

If Madara Springs were present to witness this spectacle, they would undoubtedly exclaim to Senju Hashirama, "Look, this is a funeral! Anything you've seen pales in comparison!"

The funeral of Uchiha Madara was a grand affair, and the Uchiha Clan reveled in the occasion. Why? Because a majority of Konoha's population turned out to pay their respects to their ancestral figure. Both the Uchiha Clan and Sarutobi Hiruzen were elated. Were it not for his role as the master of ceremonies, Hiruzen would have burst into laughter.

The Uchiha Clan had fully embraced Hokage's leadership. Even those who initially harbored doubts about his sincerity now wholeheartedly supported him after witnessing these operations. And what did Hiruzen have to give in return? A restoration of Uchiha Madara's glory and a solemn tribute to his memory.

Having conquered the Uchiha Clan, the two Great Clans responsible for founding Konoha now belonged to the Hokage lineage. How could anyone be discontented?

Additionally, the Uchiha Clan brought other smaller clans into the fold. Many Konoha clans had connections, though perhaps not obvious ones, with the Uchiha. One such example was the Kurama Clan.

These smaller clans rallied under the Uchiha, and now they belonged to them. Sarutobi Hiruzen contemplated how to handle the Hyuga Clan next, ensuring the Great Clans would fall in line. He already had an idea—starting with the caged bird.

This wave of actions arranged by the Uchiha Clan was truly a stroke of genius. They achieved their objectives effortlessly.

In the evening, after the funeral arrangements were made, Sarutobi Hiruzen convened a meeting in his office. Present were the Elder's Group, Shinōbi Clan Leaders, and the Uchiha Clan Leader.

"Uchiha Clan Leader, I assume you are not familiar with Sunagakure's police system," Hiruzen said with a smile.

"Lord Hokage, there is no need to say more. I understand that our territory is expanding, and the Uchiha Clan alone can no longer handle the police department. I suggest selecting members from other Shinōbi Clans. Let's expand together and contribute to Konoha," the Uchiha Clan Leader responded promptly and with righteousness.

"Very well. You grasp the situation perfectly. Now, tell me which Shinōbi Clans you believe would be most suitable," Hiruzen said, nodding in approval. His gaze shifted towards the silent Shinōbi Clan Leaders, conveying his intentions to the Uchiha Clan Leader.

Watching this exchange, the Elder's Group and other Shinōbi Clan Leaders wanted to retch.

"Damn it, just tell us you want us to accept it. No need to beat around the bush," they thought.

Under Hiruzen's gaze, the Uchiha Clan Leader's mouth curled into a wicked smile as he replied, "I believe the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, the Inuzuka Clan's dogs, the Aburame Clan's insects, the Kurama Clan's paintings, and so on would all be suitable. The Ino–Shika–Cho clans are also a good choice, and the Gekkō Clan's tracking abilities would prove quite useful..."

The Uchiha Clan Leader eloquently listed each Shinōbi Clan and their unique specialties, essentially stating that all of them were excellent options for consideration.

"Very good, very good. The Uchiha Clan has a keen sense of the bigger picture. When I return, I will assign a group of people to you. You can make adjustments, provide training, and get them working," Hiruzen declared, highly satisfied. Yes, this plan was truly excellent.

This arrangement would not only expand the Uchiha's sphere of influence but also involve numerous other clans. It would prevent the Uchiha Clan from expanding unchecked.

Shinōbi Clan Leaders seethed internally. Sarutobi Hiruzen had presented them with a cake from the police department, and they had no choice but to accept it. They understood that Hiruzen aimed to expand the police department's authority within Konoha. To achieve this, he needed personnel from various clans stationed throughout the village. As long as there were permanent police officers, there would be positions of real power. The Shinōbi Clan Leaders were not immune to greed.

However, entering the police department came with a condition—to restrict the Uchiha Clan and prevent their unchecked growth. The Uchiha Clan understood this and was willing to bear the consequences. Just as an emperor would not allow the same clan to hold all positions in the central guard army, the same principle applied here.

Despite their lower rank, the Shinōbi Clan Leaders understood the implications. If all police chiefs and officers in various locations hailed from the same clan, chaos would ensue.

After all, the police officers of Shinōbi World constituted the third force alongside the Ninja Army and the Anbu. They wielded considerable power.

In the original work, the demise of the Uchiha Clan was likely due to their control over a significant armed force in Konoha. It was akin to a clan controlling the central guard army—it invited disaster.

In conclusion, it was a fruitful day for Konoha and Sarutobi Hiruzen. Uchiha Madara had met his end, the Uchiha Clan had been successfully assimilated, and the police department was now a mixture of various clans. From that day onward, no single family would reign supreme.

Hiruzen's power as Hokage had soared, and his control over the Shinōbi Clans in Konoha had strengthened. Moreover, he had provided his dear friend with a new problem—Shimura Danzo's disdain for the Uchiha. Hiruzen wanted the Uchiha to remain a constant thorn in Danzo's side. If Danzo couldn't rid himself of the Uchiha, how would he react? Hiruzen believed that conflict was essential. Without conflict, how could he govern Konoha effectively? How could his family maintain their dominance?

The Uchiha Clan could counterbalance the Senju Clan and challenge Shimura Danzo. The police department could handle the grassroots issues, and conflicts among the Shinōbi Clans would serve as a check and balance.

Shimura Danzo despised the Senju Clan because of his aspirations for the Hokage position. Overall, it was a system of mutual restrictions.

After concluding the day's proceedings, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but exclaim, "I am truly content with how everything has unfolded."