Chapter 44

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The ancestors knew how to uplift people with good news.

How could Toki, who was reborn, let go of this opportunity to reverse the reputation of the Uchiha clan?

In the original timeline, the Uchiha clan rebelled because their power weakened, while the Hokage faction, composed of various other clans, grew stronger after years of recovery. After the Nine-Tails attack, Konoha's ANBU began constant surveillance of the Uchiha, which they couldn't ignore but felt powerless to act against. With Konoha's motives becoming increasingly clear, the internal pressure on the Uchiha escalated.

It was as if two forces were facing off in the sky, but Uchiha found themselves locked in the enemy's sights with no way to fight back. The tension of waiting for destruction finally pushed the Uchiha to attempt a coup, though it was not meant to destroy the village, but to shift power within Konoha. The Uchiha clan, even to the end, never intended to betray Konoha but only sought fair treatment.

Now, Toki had cleverly diverted these internal tensions toward the enemy, Kumogakure. The Uchiha clan's continuous victories had begun to bring back memories of the days when they provided protection to Konoha's citizens at its founding.

Even Kurenai Yuhi, still a Genin at this point, stared at a newspaper with shining eyes. The paper showed Uchiha Toki riding a fire-breathing dragon into battle.

She turned to Anko Mitarashi and said, "Why don't we also join the Defense Ministry?"

Anko shook her head, pouting. "Nah, I'm busy learning forbidden techniques with my teacher. He's super strong, you know. I've even got my own summon contract, and it's with the Ryūchi Cave—one of the Three Great Holy Lands!"

Kurenai's eyes widened, and she instinctively took a step back. She wasn't fond of snakes at all.

But as she looked back at the Charizard in the newspaper, her eyes filled with excitement again. "That dragon... If I rode one, wouldn't I look like a princess?"

Anko burst into laughter. "If you marry into the Uchiha, you'll be Uchiha Kurenai, and they'll definitely match you with a fire-breathing dragon! I heard their patriarch is in his twenties and quite handsome."

Kurenai's face flushed red, and she yelled, "What are you saying, you brat!"

"Haha, Uchiha Kurenai, Uchiha Kurenai~!" Anko teased as the two Genin chased each other around.

Meanwhile, Asuma Sarutobi stood off to the side, his face filled with frustration. "So Kurenai wants a fire-breathing dragon as her summon? All I've got are monkeys... Maybe I should join the Uchiha clan's Defense Ministry. If I rack up enough achievements, I'll definitely be able to get a Charizard contract for her, right?"

A gleam of determination shone in Asuma's eyes. That's it—join the Defense Ministry, earn battle merits, and get her a fire-breathing dragon! Fired up, Asuma rushed toward the Defense Ministry's recruitment office in the Hokage building.

At the office, a large number of civilian ninjas were already gathered, all eager to join the military. The Uchiha clan's recent victories and the generous benefits of the Defense Ministry had inspired many of these civilian ninjas, who struggled to make a living, to dream of rising through the ranks by gaining battlefield achievements.

If they could earn enough merits to be promoted to Chūnin, they would no longer have to scrape by doing low-paying jobs in Konoha, like janitorial work or pet-catching missions. These were the kinds of tasks normally assigned to Genin, who often worked in teams of three and shared the meager rewards.

Despite their struggles, many still barely earned enough to cover living expenses. Even someone like Might Duy, who had been a Genin for decades, often found himself without a team.

What made it even worse was that taking the Chūnin Exam required the recommendation of a Jōnin, effectively blocking many civilians from ever rising beyond the level of Genin. Those who didn't curry favor with the Hokage's faction could only look forward to a lifetime of menial work.

But now, things had changed.

The Uchiha Defense Ministry's recruitment poster promised high disability allowances, access to a wide array of ninjutsu, and, most importantly, the chance to apply for the Chūnin Exam through merit. This was a golden opportunity, and civilian ninjas flocked to it, eager for the chance to leap to a higher social class.

This was a far cry from the days when Hiruzen Sarutobi had to conscript people by force during his reign.

Nara Shikaku stood at the recruitment office, glancing at the pile of enlistment forms in front of him. A complicated expression crossed his face as he thought of his talkative friend and muttered to himself, "Did you foresee all of this as well?"

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