Chapter 7: Bring Me Paper and Pen!

~/ Extra Chapter if we Reach 1000 Collection!!

~/ Extra Chapter if we Reach 200 Power Stones!!

...

Ordinary ninjas envy them, the villagers of Konoha detest them, and the higher-ups of Konoha grant them the "Police Force" honor. These three factors form a whirlpool that constantly drags the Uchiha clan deeper into the abyss.

Furthermore, since the founding of Konoha, there has always been a sense of vigilance against the Uchiha clan. This vigilance, like an ideological barrier, keeps the Uchiha clan outside the core power structure of Konoha. The perception of the "inherently evil Uchiha clan" acts as a wall of sighs, preventing the clan from fully integrating into the village.

Konoha needs the Uchiha, yet it never truly accepts them.

They do the hardest, most thankless work, considering it an honor, yet they never receive the respect that matches their contributions.

Who could possibly accept such treatment?

Gojo Kaigetsu sighed. He couldn't outright blame the Second Hokage for being wrong; after all, he wasn't Tobirama and couldn't fully understand the prejudices Tobirama held against the Uchiha clan at that time.

The closer they got to the Uchiha clan's district, the fewer villagers they encountered on the road. The few who did pass by couldn't hide the fear mixed with disgust in their eyes when they looked at Fugaku, who was dressed in the Police Force uniform. These looks did not escape the notice of either man.

"Gojo-kun, did you see that? The way those villagers looked at me."

"It's truly... hard to accept."

"As the head of the Police Force, I don't even know what exactly it is I'm protecting."

As they finally entered the Uchiha district, Fugaku, using his keen sense, confirmed that the annoying presence of Root operatives had stopped following them. It was then that he became more bold in his speech:

"Gojo-kun, you're a friend I trust."

"It's also because of your presence that I see a possibility of having an equal dialogue with Konoha's leadership."

"To be honest, recently there has been growing support within the clan to 'restore the honor of the Uchiha,' with some elders advocating for a coup to secure the Uchiha's rightful place in Konoha."

A coup!

In other words, a rebellion!

Using force to cleanse the oppression that had existed since the time of the Second Hokage.

From the perspective of the Uchiha's hawkish faction, only a coup could ensure the future prosperity of the clan. Otherwise, over time, they would perish under the persecution of the remnants of the Third Hokage's influence, just like the Senju clan had.

"Sigh, is it really okay to talk about this with me, the Deputy Commander of the Anbu, Uchiha Fugaku? Just from these words alone, the Uchiha could be annihilated."

Gojo Kaigetsu half-joked.

"So, do you have a way to solve the current situation, Gojo-kun?"

As they arrived at Fugaku's home, Uchiha Mikoto greeted Gojo Kaigetsu with a warm smile, inviting him into the reception room.

"If I said no, does that mean I won't get to enjoy Mikoto-san's cooking?"

"No, even as a friend, you should still have this meal."

Shhht. 

The paper sliding door to the reception room was pushed open by a little boy, about five years old. He carefully balanced a tray of tea in one hand as he entered the room. After placing the tray on the table, he quietly retreated.

Gojo Kaigetsu, with his Six Eyes, gazed at Uchiha Itachi through the black silk covering his eyes. "There's something you've lied to me about, Fugaku."

"What?" Fugaku was momentarily stunned, caught off guard by Gojo Kaigetsu's abrupt comment.

"If I said I couldn't help, you would probably consider having your son, Uchiha Itachi, join the Konoha Anbu, wouldn't you?"

"This would be the most direct, and in your view, the most effective way to integrate into Konoha."

"Whether as a spy for the Uchiha within the Hokage's ranks, or with the goal of becoming a 'Uchiha Hokage,' it would be the most logical course of action."

Gojo Kaigetsu sipped his tea and, with a maturity that belied his age, said, "You, Fugaku, are too indecisive. You think of sacrificing everything for your clan, yet you can't let go of your attachment to the village. How can you accomplish anything like this?"

"This child... he has great talent as a ninja. If I were you, I'd raise him to the point where the Hokage's faction would have no choice but to compromise."

"This..."

Uchiha Fugaku's pupils constricted.

His thoughts, his plans, were completely seen through by Gojo Kaigetsu.

Indeed, as Gojo Kaigetsu said, if he could not change the conflicting situation, he would have Itachi join the Konoha Anbu after graduating from the Ninja Academy, making him a spy for the Uchiha clan within Konoha.

This way, the Uchiha could clearly see and hear the voices of the higher-ups, allowing them to respond swiftly to any developments.

But now, all these thoughts were completely exposed by Gojo Kaigetsu.

What scary insight...

Uchiha Fugaku didn't dare to imagine what would happen if Gojo Kaigetsu stood on the opposite side. Could their Uchiha hawk faction's rebellion plan ever succeed?

Fugaku fell silent.

As a strategist, the best option was undoubtedly to find an opportunity to eliminate Gojo Kaigetsu. But as Gojo Kaigetsu pointed out, Fugaku was too indecisive to fully commit to any side.

Clap, clap. 

Gojo Kaigetsu clapped his hands, breaking the heavy and oppressive atmosphere.

"Alright, enough joking around."

"In fact, I've already thought of a way to change the Konoha leadership's prejudice against the Uchiha clan. Trust me, Fugaku, no one wants the Uchiha and the Hokage faction to coexist peacefully more than I do."

Are you kidding? If any real conflict broke out, the first one to be in trouble would be Gojo Kaigetsu himself.

"Really?!"

Uchiha Fugaku grew excited. "What kind of method?"

Gojo Kaigetsu habitually tapped the wooden table with his fingers. "As you can see, Fugaku, I'm just an ordinary Chūnin, a minor figure in Konoha's political landscape. But by chance, I happen to have some insight into this kind of issue~"

"There are many ways, the simplest of which is to divert the conflict, shifting the tension between the Uchiha and the Hokage faction to a conflict between the Uchiha and any of the major nations."

"Of course, Konoha can't afford the cost of war right now, so let's not consider that for now."

Gojo Kaigetsu waved his hand, stopping Fugaku from voicing his concerns.

"Another method is to dissolve the conflict. Let's start by addressing the misunderstanding that ordinary ninjas and villagers have about the Uchiha."

"Fugaku, let me ask you a question. How many people have a genuine prejudice against the Uchiha based on personal experience?"

"That... can't be many. Since I became head of the Police Force, I've issued strict orders to curb excessive use of force, but the stereotype of the Uchiha has never changed..."

Snap. 

Gojo Kaigetsu snapped his fingers. "So, most of the prejudice against the Uchiha is just people following the crowd."

"We need an article, something that can change the perception of the Uchiha both in the other major nations and within the Land of Fire."

"An article? What kind of article?"

Uchiha Fugaku furrowed his brow even deeper. He had tried similar methods before, like posting notices on the Police Force bulletin board, but hardly anyone paid attention.

"Bring me paper and pen!"

...

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