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Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: The Key to Solving the Problem [Part 1]

Chapter 24: The Key to Solving the Problem [Part 1]

"Are there visitors?" Uchiha Fugaku stepped inside from outside, his eyes narrowing in slight confusion when he saw Naruto.

"Honey, come quickly—this is Kushina's child!" Uchiha Mikoto stood up and grabbed Naruto's hand, her voice filled with emotion.

"The child of Minato and Kushina?" Fugaku's eyes showed understanding, nostalgia, and a hint of guilt. "If I hadn't worried about the elders back then, Minato and the others wouldn't have…"

Naruto glanced helplessly at Sakura, silently asking for help. Why was this new uncle looking at him so strangely?

"Fugaku-san, won't you please invite us inside to sit?" Sakura broke the somber atmosphere with her voice. If Fugaku kept standing there lost in memories, the day would turn to night.

The group moved inside and sat down. Mikoto went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, while Naruto and Sasuke were sent by Sakura to help out. Now, only Uchiha Fugaku and Sakura remained seated facing each other in the living room.

"You didn't come just to tell us that Minato's child is alive, did you?" Fugaku wasn't foolish—he naturally knew Sakura wouldn't suddenly show up at the Uchiha estate just for a visit.

"Fugaku-san knows me?" Sakura was a bit puzzled. She didn't think she had ever met him before.

"Third Hokage mentioned you and told me you might hold the key to easing tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha clan." Fugaku didn't hide it; he openly revealed that the Third Hokage had spoken of her.

"There is indeed a way to ease the tensions. But I wonder, Fugaku-san—are you looking for a temporary peace or a complete reconciliation?" Sakura nodded. So it really was that old Third Hokage.

"If possible, I want a complete reconciliation!" Fugaku's eyes showed curiosity. Sakura didn't act like a child at all. "But I'd like to hear both options."

"If you want the Uchiha clan to integrate into Konoha temporarily, that's not too difficult—some changes here and there would suffice."

Sakura didn't hesitate and spoke directly, "The first issue is about attire. The Uchiha clan always prefers wearing their own distinctive clothes but rarely dons the standard Konoha ninja flak jackets. By doing this, they unintentionally set themselves apart from Konoha. No matter what achievements you accomplish, people only see them as the Uchiha clan's merits—not as the Uchiha of Konoha's contributions. As a result, the villagers don't feel a real sense of belonging toward you. No matter how much you sacrifice, in their eyes, you're outsiders fighting for Konoha, not insiders sacrificing for your own home. To change this, start with your clothing—have all Uchiha ninja wear the official Konoha flak jackets."

"The second point is about attitude. The proud nature of the Uchiha makes you unwilling to lower your guard and engage with others. Even when it's for everyone's benefit, your pride ends up making things worse. Take the clan's residential area, for example—Konoha placed the Uchiha compound in the most remote corner, and instead of protesting, you silently resented it in your hearts. This passive bitterness does nothing but worsen the situation. Therefore, the Uchiha's attitude must change. You need to actively reach out to the villagers, starting with small steps, like opening essential goods shops in Konoha. Over time, people will get used to having the Uchiha around and naturally won't reject you anymore."

"The third issue is image. The Uchiha come across as too serious. You should smile more, let the villagers see that you're actually warm and kind, not cold and distant. You have so much passion inside, but your habit of keeping a stern face isolates you. This definitely needs to change."

"As for the last point—security duty—that's honestly the most serious problem. The Konoha security force looks prestigious but inevitably offends many people by enforcing law and order. The relatives and friends of those offended develop negative feelings toward the Uchiha. So, even though the Uchiha do a lot for Konoha's safety, they don't get any goodwill—instead, they attract widespread resentment."

"Regarding this, Fugaku-san, you could consider sharing the security force's responsibilities with ninja from other clans and some civilian ninja. It's important to separate the concept of 'Uchiha' from 'the security force.' Although it seems like you're weakening the Uchiha's power in Konoha, this would distribute the burden and pressure. Even if the villagers dislike the security force, they won't dislike the Uchiha clan as a whole."

"To sum up, Fugaku-san, from now on you must have Uchiha ninja wear Konoha uniforms and encourage them to smile more in public. The non-ninja Uchiha should also actively engage with villagers, making their presence a familiar and accepted part of daily life. Then bring other clans into the security force, so the villagers know the security force does not represent the Uchiha alone. With these steps, relations between Konoha and the Uchiha can gradually improve. However, this method is only a temporary solution."

Sakura took a sip of her hot tea—after saying so much, her throat was starting to feel dry.

"Is it really that simple?" Fugaku frowned. "Just changing clothes and smiling more?"

"What else? The villagers' poor attitude toward the Uchiha boils down to misunderstanding. The Uchiha act like shut-ins who avoid contact with others. On top of that, rumors spread because of the security force's work, which naturally causes misunderstandings."

Sakura couldn't help but roll her eyes. The Uchiha were way too reclusive. It was like Ichiraku Ramen—the famous Ichiraku in Konoha where every clan's members went except the Uchiha. You rarely saw any Uchiha walking the streets.

"The Uchiha are kind-hearted but terrible at expressing it. You obviously want to care for others, but you insist on putting on a cold, aloof front. If you don't speak up, how can anyone know what you truly feel? If you try harder to show a warm, passionate side to everyone, people will understand your heart, and relations will naturally improve. Besides, the Uchiha are handsome and beautiful—your looks are definitely not a problem. Just smile more, and you'll win many villagers' hearts!"

Fugaku's mouth twitched. Did this mean the Uchiha were being told to basically 'sell' their smiles?!

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