Toki's Plans and Uchiha Red

As the saying goes, good news travels fast.

And in the case of Toki Uchiha, reincarnated into the world of Naruto, he wasn't about to miss an opportunity to turn the tide of public opinion in favor of the Uchiha clan.

In the original timeline, the Uchiha clan rebelled due to their waning power and the growing strength of the Hokage faction, which had absorbed various ninja clans under its banner during a period of recuperation.

Moreover, since the Nine-Tailed Fox attack, Konohagakure had been constantly monitoring the Uchiha clan with its Anbu forces. The Uchihas were well aware of this, but they were powerless to do anything about it.

As Konohagakure's intentions towards the Uchiha became increasingly clear, the pressure within the clan grew.

It was like two air forces facing off in battle, with the enemy's fire control system gradually locking onto them, but they were completely unable to fight back.

This immense pressure, like waiting for death, led the Uchiha clan to decide on a coup d'état.

A coup d'état was not a rebellion against the village, but simply a way to reshuffle the power structure within Konohagakure.

The Uchiha clan never intended to betray Konohagakure; they only wanted fair treatment.

Therefore, although the Uchiha clan had always been fair and just in their law enforcement, offending many villagers, people were only angry at their lack of leniency.

But now, Toki had shifted the internal conflict onto the shoulders of Kumogakure. The Uchiha's repeated victories had gradually brought back the sense of security that the Uchiha clan had provided to the people during the early days of Konohagakure's founding.

Yuuhi Kurenai, still a genin, looked at the newspaper with glowing eyes and the archer on the back of the fire-breathing dragon.

She turned to Mitarashi Anko and asked,

"Hey, how about we go to the Ministry of Defense too? I heard they're recruiting there."

Anko shook her head and pouted,

"Not me, I still have to learn forbidden jutsu from my teacher. I tell you, my teacher is amazing. I have a summon too, and my summon contract is signed with Ryūchidō, one of the three sacred sites!"

Kurenai widened her eyes and instinctively moved away from Anko. She was most afraid of snakes.

Then she looked at the fire-breathing dragon again on the news about the victory report, her eyes filled with stars.

"Oh, a dragon! If I rode one, wouldn't I be a princess?"

Anko scoffed and teased,

"You could marry into the Uchiha clan. Then you'd be Kurenai Uchiha, and they'd definitely get you a fire-breathing dragon. I think the current Uchiha clan head is only in his early twenties, and he's quite handsome too."

Kurenai's face flushed red,

"What are you talking about, you silly girl!"

"Haha~ didn't hit you, Kurenai Uchiha, Kurenai Uchiha~!"

"Ah~!!!"

The two village flower kunoichi ran off bickering.

Behind them, Asuma Sarutobi, looking dejected, opened his mouth and said with a pained expression,

"So, Kurenai wants that fire-breathing dragon as a summon? We only have monkeys in our family. Should I go to the Uchiha clan and ask? Even if it doesn't work out, I could join the Ministry of Defense and earn some war merits. Then I'm sure I'll be able to sign a contract with a fire-breathing lizard, right?"

Asuma Sarutobi's eyes gleamed with intelligence,

"That's it! Join the Ministry of Defense, earn some war merits, and apply to sign a contract with a fire-breathing lizard for Kurenai! I'm already a chunin, so I'm sure I can become a hero on the battlefield!"

The more Asuma Sarutobi thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. So, he rushed to the recruitment office of the Ministry of Defense in the Hokage Tower.

The Uchiha clan's consecutive victories and the promise of high benefits had lured in many struggling civilian ninjas, all hoping to snag some war merits. Earning enough merits could potentially elevate them to chunin rank, freeing them from the bottom rung of Konohagakure's hierarchy – assigned menial tasks like sweeping garbage, cleaning sewage pits, or catching stray cats – all for meager wages.

These tasks were typically doled out to groups of three genin, who then had to split the already pitiful rewards. Even under these harsh conditions, many genin barely had enough to eat, let alone afford basic necessities. Take Might Guy, for example, a perpetual genin who was forced to beg on his knees for teammates.

Furthermore, participating in the Chunin Exams required a recommendation from a jonin, essentially shutting out any chance of advancement for these Konohagakure lowlifes. Without sucking up to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, civilian genin were destined for a lifetime of drudgery.

But now, things were different.

The Ministry of Defense's recruitment posters had ignited a fire in the hearts of the common folk. Not only did they offer substantial disability compensation and the ability to exchange merits for jutsu, but more importantly, they allowed ninjas to use their accomplishments to apply for the Chunin Exams!

This was a golden opportunity to ascend the ranks. Becoming a chunin meant taking on solo missions, often of a more prestigious nature. It was a clear path to social mobility.

The prospect sent a wave of excitement through the civilian ninjas. Unlike the forced conscription under Hiruzen's rule, everyone now clamored to join the Ministry of Defense and defend the peace of the Fire Nation.

Shikaku Nara, overwhelmed by the stacks of registration forms piling up on his desk, couldn't help but cast a contemplative glance at a portrait hanging on the wall. It was a picture of his old friend, the ever-talkative Minato Namikaze. Shikaku murmured to himself,

"Was this all part of your plan too?"