Chapter 75: Monkey Business

Faced with Danzo's show of authority, Fugaku remained impassive. As he walked towards his seat, he used his peripheral vision to observe the clan heads attending the meeting.

The heads of the major clans, such as the Sarutobi and Hyuga, were present. The medium-sized clans, including the Shimura, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Nara, Inuzuka, and Aburame, were also there. There were even more representatives from the smaller clans, such as the Kazamatsuri, Ise, Kurama, Tsukigakure, Yūhi, and Umino... they were all there. Some of them, Fugaku was meeting for the first time.

They had even brought in unknown individuals to make up the numbers. Was this all just to create a grand spectacle? They were really going to great lengths to deal with the Uchiha clan. Fugaku felt disdain in his heart as he walked to the chair in the corner and sat down.

Interestingly, despite knowing that the higher-ups were planning to sanction the Police Force and that he was about to face a storm, Fugaku felt no panic at all. He calmly looked at the Third Hokage at the head of the conference table and the clan heads with hostile gazes, and suddenly remembered something.

Three days ago, Fugaku had taken time out of his busy schedule to visit his brother-in-law, Dan, at the gym. The two of them had strolled down the streets of Konoha, chatting casually. During this time, Fugaku had curiously asked Dan about his hobbies, wondering if he really had no interest in anything other than working out.

At that moment, a mischievous wild monkey had stolen food from a nearby child and had run up a tree, making faces at the people below. Seeing this, Dan had bought a bunch of bananas from a fruit stand. Under Fugaku's puzzled gaze, Dan had walked to the base of the tree and offered the bananas to the monkey. When the monkey had come over to take the bananas, Dan had turned his hand, and the bananas had disappeared as if by magic. The monkey had been so surprised and confused that it had started scratching its head. Then, Dan had slapped the monkey, sending it flying. Watching the monkey flee in a sorry state, Dan had laughed in delight.

"My hobby is monkeying around," Dan had said, smiling at Fugaku. What a strange hobby, Fugaku had thought at the time.

It was only now that Fugaku realized that Dan hadn't been talking about playing with monkeys, but... playing with people. His brother-in-law actually took pleasure in teasing others. Although it was wrong to tease people, if the other party was like that monkey that had stolen the child's food, it was a different story.

Just like now.

The Uchiha were like the child whose food had been stolen. And the Konoha higher-ups, led by the Third Hokage, were like that wild monkey. Coincidentally, as far as Fugaku knew, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had been nicknamed "Monkey" when he was young. If that was the case, then he might as well play along with them.

Fugaku had originally planned to get straight to the point and announce that the Uchiha had decided to give up the Police Force, so as to end the meeting as soon as possible. But now, he wanted to see what tricks and tactics the Third Hokage and the others had prepared to sanction the Uchiha. Watching a monkey perform was a pleasant thing, wasn't it?

With this in mind, Fugaku gave a slight smile, crossed his arms, and sat back in his chair. His posture surprised everyone present. It seemed that the Uchiha clan leader had come prepared today and had no intention of backing down easily.

"Hmph," Danzo grunted, not bothering with any more pleasantries. He slammed his hand on the table and confronted Fugaku in front of everyone: "Fugaku Uchiha, as the captain of the Police Force, what do you have to say about the prison riot caused by the Uchiha's negligence? This riot resulted in fifteen deaths and sixty-seven injuries in the village, as well as significant damage to many buildings. All of this is the fault of the Police Force!"

Faced with this aggressive questioning, Fugaku simply nodded in agreement, "Yes, it's all the fault of the Police Force," he said, making no attempt to defend himself. This unexpected submissive attitude left Danzo momentarily stunned, as if he had misheard.

In his mind, Fugaku should have argued that there were many suspicious points about the riot, possibly orchestrated by someone with ulterior motives, and provided some seemingly plausible evidence to try to absolve the Uchiha clan of responsibility. What was going on now?

Regaining his composure, Danzo didn't bother to figure out what Fugaku was up to and immediately pressed on: "In that case, I will announce the village's punishment for the Police Force on behalf of the village. Do you accept?"

"Of course I accept. Please specify what the punishment is, Danzo-sama," Fugaku replied, his face full of sincerity, as submissive as a lamb. His behavior left Danzo somewhat at a loss.

Danzo had prepared all night to preside over this meeting. His goal was to make an example of the Uchiha, to establish his own authority in front of all the clan heads in the village. But before he could even throw a punch, Fugaku had already surrendered.

To the others, it seemed less like Dan was capable and more like Fugaku was too weak. But as long as he completed the process and dealt with the Uchiha clan, all the credit for this would belong to Dan from beginning to end. No one could take it away from him.

So, Danzo picked up a document from the table and announced to Fugaku with a cold face: "Listen well, there are three punishments for the Police Force. First, the riot has proven that the Uchiha are incapable of managing the Police Force's prison, so it must be taken back by the village. However, considering the face of the Police Force, the location of the prison can remain the same, but the village will send someone to manage it, who will be fully responsible for the detention, interrogation, and release of prisoners; Second, in order to invest more funds into the Konoha Hospital, the Ninja Academy, and the Anbu, among other infrastructure, the annual budget of the Police Force will be cut by 30% starting from now; Third, in order to rectify the bad atmosphere in the Police Force and alleviate the public's dissatisfaction with the Uchiha's violent law enforcement, the Anbu's Inspection Team will be stationed in the Police Force and will have the power to suspend, demote, and dismiss the Police Force's personnel."

After these three points were announced, even the clan heads present couldn't help but gasp in surprise. These three punishments were like three sharp knives, each one cutting into the major arteries of the Police Force, seemingly intent on making the Uchiha bleed out.

The meeting room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The clan heads exchanged silent glances, all inwardly marveling at how the Konoha higher-ups were set to consolidate their power even further after suppressing the Police Force. If the Third Hokage managed to neutralize the Uchiha threat, he might remain Hokage for decades more, dying in that position.

To curry favor with the higher-ups and for the future of their own clans, these clan heads would undoubtedly raise their hands and vote in favor of sanctioning the Uchiha. Fugaku lowered his gaze and shook his head with a smile. Only now did he truly realize that neither the radical proposals of the elder Shana nor the Police Force reform plan proposed by Itachi could possibly pass in this meeting.

Because the strategy of the Konoha higher-ups was to put extreme pressure on the Police Force, but not to truly drive the Uchiha to death. They would leave you hanging by a thread. According to the punishment conditions proposed by Danzo, after this meeting, the higher-ups would seize the major powers of the Police Force, but on the surface, the Police Force would still be in the hands of the Uchiha, allowing the Uchiha to maintain basic dignity.

That was all. Fugaku finally understood how correct Dan's decision to have the Uchiha give up the Police Force was. "Let's start voting now. Those in favor of the above three punishments for the Uchiha, please raise your hands. If more than half agree, it will take effect immediately," Danzo urged everyone to vote, eager to get on with it.

Just then, "Wait," Fugaku suddenly raised a hand, his gaze burning into Dan as he said loudly, "I have a better proposal."