Chapter 76: Indifference

"What proposal?" Homura furrowed his brows.

Taking a deep breath, Fugaku calmly announced in front of everyone, "The Uchiha clan has decided to collectively resign and withdraw from the Police Force."

What?!

The moment these words were spoken, it was as if a bomb had exploded in the meeting room, causing an uproar. The expressions on everyone's faces were priceless, including the Third Hokage's.

The old Hokage, who had just picked up his pipe to take a puff, put it down again, his eyes full of surprise. The Uchiha were actually planning to give up the Police Force entirely. Were they planning to... throw in the towel?

The Third Hokage squinted his eyes, considering a possibility. But based on his years of understanding of Fugaku and the Uchiha, this decision didn't seem like something the Uchiha would do.

Homura came to his senses, his face darkening as he questioned Fugaku again, "Why didn't you say this earlier?" He felt like he had been played.

"You didn't ask me," Fugaku replied nonchalantly.

"Captain Fugaku, are you sure about this?"

The Third Hokage interjected, trying to persuade Fugaku with a serious face, "The Police Force was personally entrusted to the Uchiha by the Second Hokage. It is both a power and a responsibility..."

"Hokage-sama!"

Fugaku interrupted the Third Hokage's insincere persuasion, reaffirming his decision with a firm attitude and tone, "The Uchiha clan is now lacking in talent and ability, and can no longer handle the work of the Police Force. Returning the Police Force to the village is a decision passed by a collective vote of the Uchiha clan."

I see.

Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage fell silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Do you have any demands?" He didn't believe that the proud Uchiha would hand over the lucrative Police Force without any conditions.

However.

"No."

Fugaku answered decisively, and selflessly suggested, "I only hope that the future Police Force will be handed over to those truly capable clans. Only then will the village become better."

After saying this, his gaze swept over the clan heads of the Hyuga, Inuzuka, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans.

Take over the Police Force?

Everyone heard this and was taken aback. Ever since the Senju clan disappeared, the Uchiha had become the largest clan in Konoha. The establishment of the Police Force had brought the Uchiha's reputation and power to its peak.

Now.

Whoever took over the Police Force would be replacing the Uchiha's position and become the new largest clan in Konoha.

For a moment, everyone was a bit restless.

After hearing Fugaku's clear stance, Homura leaned over to discuss with the Third Hokage, with Koharu and Danzo joining in.

Below, a group of clan heads were whispering to each other, all thinking about getting a piece of the Police Force pie.

Fugaku watched everyone's reactions, sneering inwardly.

He finally experienced the fun of playing monkey.

Fight, all of you fight. From now on, the Uchiha won't play with you anymore.

In the waiting room next door - "Why hasn't it ended yet?" Dan opened his eyes, asking Shisui beside him.

"Just be patient. These clan leader-level meetings usually last at least half an hour. It's normal even if it goes on until noon," Shisui explained.

But he was actually more anxious than Dan, eager to know the progress of the meeting.

Dan thought for a moment.

If it were the cunning and extremely shrewd Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, he would definitely not agree to the Uchiha giving up the Police Force.

Instead, he would use the Police Force as a pillar to firmly bind the Uchiha.

Could the current Konoha higher-ups, realize this?

And his cheap brother-in-law, if he wet his pants after entering the meeting room and couldn't stand up, and was controlled by the Konoha higher-ups.

Then wouldn't today's trip be in vain?

This stupid waiting won't work.

He needed to find an excuse to go into the meeting room and see the situation.

Just as he was thinking, a whiff of smoke suddenly came over, causing Dan to frown.

On the sofa opposite.

A man with a goatee, seemingly impatient from waiting too long and craving a smoke, took out a lighter from his pocket and lit a cigarette.

"This is a public place," Dan reminded.

"Ah, sorry, I'll put it out right away."

Asuma smiled awkwardly. Although he said this, he took another deep puff, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.

Then, with a sense of regret, he threw the cigarette butt into the trash can next to him.

Dan waved his hand to disperse the smoke, his expression becoming increasingly displeased:

"Do you know the harm of secondhand smoke? You're trying to harm me, and this patient beside me."

Asuma was taken aback at first, then his face turned displeased:

"What do you want? I've already apologized."

If it weren't for accompanying his girlfriend Kurenai, he wouldn't have attended such a boring meeting.

As the son of the Third Hokage and the rightful heir of Konoha, Asuma had been rebellious since childhood and was once a delinquent.

His temper wasn't the best and as the young master of Sarutobi clan, Asuma had no good feelings for the Uchiha, a tumor in the village.

"Dan, let it go."

Shisui sensed the tense atmosphere and quickly tried to defuse the situation. He recognized from the voice that the other party was the son of the Third Hokage, someone the Uchiha couldn't afford to provoke.

But it was too late.

Dan's eyes turned cold, and he suddenly stood up, grabbing Asuma by the collar.

He lifted him up from the sofa.

In the room, there was a sudden outcry.

In the meeting room.

"Homura, what are you hesitating for? Quickly seize this opportunity to initiate a clan leader vote and completely take back the Police Force from the Uchiha," Danzo urged.

"Don't rush, I still feel something is wrong. The Uchiha handing over the Police Force may not necessarily be a good thing," the Third Hokage slowly said, his brows furrowed in thought.

As the Hokage, he had to consider not only the village but also the Uchiha clan to some extent.

This is called a big picture perspective.

Koharu and Danzo, who were next to him, also fell into thought: "Could it be that the Uchiha really have some kind of plot?"

Just then.

Boom!

A dull thud suddenly came from the room next door, startling everyone.

The clan heads looked in the direction of the sound.

Crack.

A large crack appeared on the wall opposite the conference table and quickly spread. In less than a few seconds—

Boom.

Under everyone's astonished gaze, the entire wall collapsed.

The meeting room and the waiting room were connected, becoming one room.

What's going on?

Before anyone could react, a figure was seen flying backwards, crashing onto the conference table.

Upon recognizing the figure, a cry rang out, "Asuma!"

A woman with black hair and red eyes rushed forward in panic. Her name was Kurenai Yuhi, a member of the renowned genjutsu family, the Yuhi clan, of Konoha. Since the death of her father, Yuhi Shinko, she had taken over as the head of the clan.

She was also Asuma's girlfriend and the Third Hokage's prospective daughter-in-law.

What on earth... was happening?

Who would dare to lay a hand on the Hokage's son in such a place? Apart from the Uchiha, who else in Konoha would dare to do such a thing?

The crowd guessed correctly.

Under everyone's shocked gaze, Dan strode over the broken wall and into the meeting room.

In an instant, all the clan heads present stood up, their eyes fixed on Dan.

The guards in the waiting room also surrounded him, weapons drawn.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor outside, and a large number of Anbu ninjas flooded into the two connected rooms, further tightening the encirclement around Dan.

In just a few seconds, he was completely surrounded.

Dan calmly brushed off the dust on his clothes, then looked around.

At this moment.

Directly across from him at the conference table were the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had ruled Konoha for forty years and was known as the strongest Hokage in history, along with Homura, Koharu, and Danzo.

On both sides were clan heads like Hyuga Hizashi, Akimichi Chouza, Inuzuka Hana, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and more than twenty other Konoha clan heads.

Behind him were Nara Suzaku, Akimichi Dōtō, and more than thirty elite guards.

In addition there were also over forty Anbu members wearing various masks of hawks, tigers, bulls, cats, elephants, and kirin, ready to attack Dan at the Third Hokage's command.

Dan even saw Kakashi, with his white hair, standing far away at the door, seemingly joining the crowd.

Nearly a hundred people.

Almost all of Konoha's elite ninjas were gathered here at this moment.

No one spoke.

Everyone's gaze was locked directly on Dan.

The heavy atmosphere was like a mountain pressing on Dan's head, the invisible pressure came in waves, and the gazes of the crowd were like swords piercing him.

All of this made Dan feel an unprecedented...indifference.

Not only because he was Asuma's father, but also because he was holding a pipe in his hand.

As the supreme Hokage of Konoha, the Third Hokage was rarely seen without his pipe. Regardless of the occasion, he always had to take a puff, and no one had ever complained.

Because no one dared.

Was this a case of the beam being crooked and the column slanted?

Dan's words were undoubtedly a criticism of both the Third Hokage and his son.

In response to everyone's gaze, the Third Hokage's face darkened. He discreetly put his pipe back into his sleeve, then sternly scolded his son:

"Asuma, haven't you embarrassed yourself enough? Get out!"

Under his gaze, Kurenai, half coaxing, half dragging, led Asuma out through the side door.

Then, the Third Hokage slowly spoke, addressing Dan: "Over a minor dispute, you escalated it to this extent. That's not appropriate, is it, Uchiha Dan?"

His tone was leisurely, giving the impression of a kind and amiable old neighbor.

But this old man, with a mere flick of his finger, could determine the fate of anyone in Konoha.

In front of him, from the clan leaders to the ordinary Genin, everyone was walking on thin ice.

Everyone wanted to hear how Dan would explain himself.

However, Dan simply crossed his arms, looking directly at the Third Hokage across the conference room, and uttered two words: "So what?"

Arrogant.

It was an arrogance that no one present had ever seen before.

Dan was openly admitting his crimes - I, Uchiha Dan, did it. What are you going to do about it?

Even the Third Hokage hadn't expected Dan to be so audacious.

Heh.

It seemed that after all these years, the six-year-old Uchiha brat who publicly beat up his Chunin teacher hadn't changed at all.

Back then, you forced me to expel you from the Ninja Academy, and today, are you trying to force me to lock you up in Konoha's prison?

So be it.

With that thought, the Third Hokage sighed, preparing to order Dan's arrest.

He was a kind and generous elder, but his kindness had its limits.

Just then, "Dan!"

After understanding the situation, Fugaku shouted, walking directly in front of his brother-in-law and placing his hand on Dan's shoulder, "For your disruption of the clan leaders' meeting, I will arrest you in the name of the Police Force!"

Then, Fugaku turned to the Third Hokage and said, "I apologize, Lord Hokage. I will punish him severely and will not show favoritism."

After speaking, he turned to Shisui and ordered, "Shisui, take Dan away."

Fugaku did this to save Dan.

He knew Dan was strong, but to go against all the elite ninjas here, even if Uchiha Madara were to resurrect, he wouldn't have the confidence to do so.

So Fugaku wanted to downplay the situation, using the authority of the Police Force still in his hands to protect his brother-in-law.

Everyone present was astute and naturally saw Fugaku's intention.

"Hmph."

Danzo even sneered, pointing out to Fugaku, "Uchiha Dan intentionally injured people, destroyed the Hokage building, and barged into a confidential meeting, committing three serious crimes. He should be handed over to the Anbu to be imprisoned in the special prison for serious criminals. As for the Police Force, I'm afraid they don't have the authority to arrest serious offenders."

Fugaku's face turned grim at these words.

However, Dan appeared relaxed, not at all like someone facing a major crisis. Instead, he glanced at Danzo and said: "Oh, isn't this Danzo? The four Root members you sent to assassinate me last time were quite cheap. I only got ten million Ryo when I sold them at the exchange. The bodies of Ino-Shika-Cho were worth some money, but nobody wanted the Hyuga's. They even almost charged me for cremation fees. Next time you want to kill me, remember to send some higher-priced ones."

As his words fell, everyone was stunned.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Danzo retorted, vehemently denying it.

He wasn't worried at all about Dan using the assassination attempt to accuse him, the Hokage's advisor, because the latter didn't have sufficient evidence.

Instead, it would only result in a charge of slander against the higher-ups.

But what Danzo hadn't expected was that Dan, this madman, would blatantly tell everyone that he had sold the bodies of the Root ninjas for money.

In the face of such self-exposure, Danzo's denial seemed somewhat weak and powerless.

On the side, the four clan heads of Hyuga and Ino-Shika-Cho came back to their senses, all showing angry expressions.

Among them, Hyuga Hizashi was so furious that he pointed at Dan and publicly accused him: "Uchiha Dan, you actually killed Konoha ninjas and sold their bodies at the exchange. This is a serious crime!"

Dan glanced at Hyuga Hizashi and calmly responded: "Danzo wanted to take my nephew, Uchiha Itachi, and brainwash a ten-year-old child in Root. After my refusal, he outrageously sent people to assassinate me. I, Uchiha Dan, was protecting my family, what's wrong with that? You're blaming me instead of Danzo, is there something wrong with your brain?"

These words left Hyuga Hizashi trembling with rage. If it weren't for the occasion, he would have already unleashed his Gentle Fist on Dan.

But it was undeniable that... Dan was actually right.

Over the years, Danzo had used his power to forcibly recruit a large number of talented ninjas from various clans into Root. Once they went in, they disappeared, as if they had vanished.

On this issue, the clan leaders present had long held grievances.

But due to Danzo's tyranny, they dared not speak out.

Until today, it was Uchiha Dan who openly criticized Danzo in front of all the clan leaders, highlighting this contradiction.

If this matter were to continue, Danzo might not necessarily be in the right.

Therefore, Danzo's gaze flickered, urging the Third Hokage, "Hiruzen, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and arrest Uchiha Dan, don't let him confuse the crowd here. Act quickly!"

At his command, before the Anbu could react, the Root ninjas had already moved.

Several Root members emerged from the crowd, approaching Dan from all sides, intending to subdue him by force.