Konohagakure
Security Division Headquarters
Naraku sat in the captain's office, staring at the letter from Uchiha Akahei.
The Tea Country had already stabilized, and a formal treaty had been signed with its Daimyō. Every year, the Daimyō of the Tea Country would allocate 1.5 billion ryō in funds to strongly support the construction and development of the Tea no Shinobi.
Originally, Naraku had only envisioned establishing a Hidden Tea Village (Chagakure), but instead of allocating a separate land for Akagi and his men, the Daimyō directly handed over the Fire-Bearing Castle (Hiwojō) in the northern region of the Tea Country.
The Daimyō's intent—to entrust Chihuo and his men with defending the frontier and containing the threat from the Fire Country—was obvious.
Naraku hadn't expected such deep-rooted caution from this small neighboring country, but it worked in his favor.
The foundation of a shinobi village was built upon the alliance of individual shinobi and ninja clans. The residents were predominantly shinobi or descendants of shinobi.
These were mercenaries by tradition—not producers or craftsmen. They relied on missions for income. The more chaotic the world, the more conflicts and bandits there were, and the more prosperous shinobi business became.
In Konoha, most villagers were shinobi. Although Konoha's population wasn't the largest in the Fire Country, it was undeniably the country's military core and elite force.
The most renowned ninja clans—Uchiha, Hyūga, Nara, Akimichi, and others—were all concentrated in Konoha. The Fire Daimyō also maintained his own shinobi guard—the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
Despite the title, there were hundreds of personnel in the unit. The "Twelve" were just the top elites. However, within Konoha's standards, even the Twelve would be considered only mid-tier.
Any shinobi force that threatened Konoha's dominance would not be tolerated by Sarutobi Hiruzen or Shimura Danzō. If a threat arose, it would simply be erased—no title or official status could protect it.
This is why the Tea Country's shinobi development was allowed: it posed no threat to Konoha.
Fire-Bearing Castle was a large town, home to many civilians, samurai, and government officials. Its population exceeded Konoha's, but it had no structured armed force or shinobi corps.
If Chihuo and his forces could establish core institutions such as a Shinobi Academy, Medical Division, Police Corps, and ANBU-like covert units, and integrate them with administrative management, there was potential to grow.
However, without the support of long-standing shinobi clans, civilian shinobi wouldn't match up to true clansmen, much less match the power of the Uchiha or other major houses.
"Fire-Bearing Castle is large and full of villagers who rely on farming for survival. Our shinobi village is built on mercenary work, accepting missions. Grouping these two types of people together... the Daimyō of the Tea Country may be acting prematurely."
Naraku read Akahei's letter and reflected silently.
The purpose of Chihuo's letter—besides reporting the progress and support from the Tea Daimyō—was to request Naraku to dispatch medical-nin to form a medical unit and to send ninja instructors skilled in education to found a shinobi academy and assist in weapons development.
The title "Lord of Fire-Bearing Castle" felt somewhat weighty to Naraku.
He had lived in Konohagakure for so long and never seen anyone farming or trading. Everyone settled things with kunai and ninjutsu.
This Fire-Bearing Castle didn't resemble his long-term environment. The Tea Country was remote and a vassal of the Fire Country. There had been no known unrest for years. Would anyone even apply to a shinobi academy there?
Naraku finally gave the order to the seemingly empty room:
"Inahime, summon Fugaku, Yami, and Yashiro."
"Understood!"
A voice replied as a puff of smoke dissolved into the air—Uchiha Inahime, ten years old, promising talent, personally groomed by Naraku.
Besides acting as a guard, she had time to study and develop her own ninjutsu. Her main job under Naraku was to carry messages and orders.
Naraku's expansion into the Tea Country was known only to key Uchiha. Though the intent wasn't clear to all, the strict confidentiality protocols ensured no leaks.
A shinobi who can't keep secrets doesn't live long.
Naraku was still lost in thought when the door opened.
"Lord Naraku." (x3)
Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Yami, and Uchiha Yashiro entered together.
These three held major positions in both the Uchiha clan and the Konoha Military Police Force. In another timeline, they were Konoha's influential figures, but now they operated under the heavy shadow of Naraku.
"Please, sit."
Naraku passed the letter to Fugaku, who examined it carefully, frowned, then passed it to Yashiro. Yashiro nodded after reading, then handed it to Yami.
"Naraku-sama, is this necessary? The Uchiha already hold prominent positions in Konoha. Why do something that might displease the Hokage?"
Yami folded the letter and set it down.
Although Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen never allowed the Uchiha to join the frontline, postwar budget cuts only affected the Police Force. Other departments' funding returned to normal. Only theirs remained slashed.
Yet Sarutobi was generally seen as benevolent—even respected among some Uchiha.
"For a thousand-year clan like ours, having multiple strongholds is only wise. If you feel this way, perhaps we should also shut down our outpost at Granny Cat's?"
Naraku glanced at Yami and responded sternly.
Within the Uchiha, opinions on Naraku's expansion were split—some supported it as a survival measure; others thought Konoha was secure enough.
Yami remained silent under Naraku's rebuke.
"Lord Fugaku, are you concerned that something might happen in Konoha?"
asked Yashiro quietly. The Uchiha had been thriving—missions, wealth, control of the Police Force. On the surface, everything looked promising.
"Whether or not something will happen in Konoha, we cannot say. But the shinobi village system is no longer like the Warring States Era, where it was clan versus clan."
"Back then, our Uchiha clashed with the Senju, maybe 1,000 shinobi per side. But in today's wars—the First and Second Great Ninja Wars—tens of thousands of shinobi clash across nations."
"Even the Uchiha can't guarantee safety. As clan head, it is my responsibility to leave Uchiha with a future—no matter what."
The room fell silent.
"Fugaku, assign three of our med-nin from Konoha Hospital to head to Fire-Bearing Castle and establish the Medical Corps."
"Yashiro, select Chūnin and Jōnin instructors from our Clan Ninjutsu Academy to open the Shinobi Academy in Fire-Bearing Castle and train covert ops units."
"Yami, Fugaku—you both need to pay closer attention to the operations of the Police Force during this period."
Uchiha Fugaku served in the Clan Affairs Office and also as the captain's assistant in the Police Force—nominally the second-in-command.
Uchiha Yami was the Assistant Captain of the Police Force—effectively its third-in-command.
Uchiha Yashiro, Director of Clan Affairs, was the chief executor of Uchiha policy. Though technically third-in-command, he wielded more authority than Fugaku in daily operations and only answered to Naraku.
"Understood!"
The three men nodded in unison.
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