Minato Namikaze told Uchiha Fugaku directly that he had come today because he wanted to have an honest and open talk with him.
Uchiha Fugaku gazed at Minato Namikaze and asked: "Then, what does the Fourth Hokage want to ask me? Do you just want to ask about the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha?"
Minato Namikaze also looked straight at Uchiha Fugaku and said: "Not just that; it's about various issues. I have discovered that the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha is quite complicated, intricately intertwined with power, trust, and misunderstandings."
"Clan Leader Uchiha Fugaku should be very clear about this as well. Therefore, as the Hokage, I want to resolve this complex relationship. If there are any problems, we can solve them together instead of letting gaps and misunderstandings grow between the two sides, eventually leading to intensified conflicts that become uncontrollable."
Uchiha Fugaku remained silent. Minato Namikaze was not in a hurry; he waited quietly, waiting for Uchiha Fugaku to speak again.
A while later.
Uchiha Fugaku finally spoke again: "How does the Fourth Hokage view our Uchiha Clan?"
Minato Namikaze replied: "Actually, I have quite a good impression of the Uchiha Clan. Mikoto is a good friend of Kushina, and my student Obito is also a member of the Uchiha Clan."
Hearing Minato Namikaze say this, Uchiha Fugaku's stern and stiff expression softened slightly.
Minato Namikaze continued: "I have studied this deeply. From a historical perspective, during the reign of the Second Hokage, the Konoha Military Police Force was established, and the police force and the prison were built together to maintain order in the Village."
"The Uchiha Clan had strong objections to this, believing that the Second Hokage had isolated and marginalized the Uchiha Clan, and that this was because he disliked the Uchiha and was targeting the Uchiha Clan."
"However, I believe that the Second Hokage did not dislike the Uchiha, nor was he targeting the Uchiha."
"Because before this, many Uchiha clansmen were very dissatisfied with the Second Hokage's administration. They believed that Konoha was jointly founded by the Uchiha and the Senju, and therefore the second Hokage should have been elected from the Uchiha Clan. They had carried out many power-seizing actions, and even during the period of the Konoha Military Police Force, there were incidents of inciting Uchiha clansmen to rebel and cause trouble."
"If the Second Hokage had disliked the Uchiha, he would not have refrained from holding the Uchiha accountable. He also established the Konoha Military Police Force and cultivated Uchiha clansmen. During the Second Hokage's reign, he personally trained many Uchiha clansmen; among the members of the Second Hokage's elite guard, there was an Uchiha member."
"Therefore, I believe that the Second Hokage's original intention was not to target the Uchiha, but to consider all ninja clans. That is to say, no matter which ninja clan it was, as long as it could threaten the Village, the Second Hokage would pay attention and make corresponding arrangements."
Uchiha Fugaku spoke up: "Now that the Second Hokage has passed away, delving into historical issues is meaningless. Since the Fourth Hokage has studied it deeply, you should also know that our Uchiha Clan's situation in Konoha is not good and that we have been targeted."
Minato Namikaze nodded and said: "Indeed, but this was not the intention of the Sandaime. The Sandaime has always hoped to improve the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan, but Danzo, who was the former Hokage assistant, misunderstood the Second Hokage's meaning and carried out relatively extreme targeting of the Uchiha. Even though the Sandaime wanted to improve things, he had no way to do so."
Uchiha Fugaku frowned: "Why was there no way? The Sandaime only needed to stop Danzo, right?"
Minato Namikaze shook his head: "Change requires the efforts of both sides. As the Konoha Military Police Force, the Uchiha Clan has been biased in handling some disputes, and violent law enforcement is a common occurrence. Clan Leader Uchiha Fugaku, as the captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, should be aware of this."
"Because only people from the Uchiha family can work in the Konoha Military Police Force, the Konoha Military Police Force has become a private department of the Uchiha Clan. This unfair way of handling things has intensified the villagers' dissatisfaction with the Uchiha Clan."
"This left the Sandaime with the desire to improve things but no way to do so. As the Hokage, the Sandaime could not speak up for the Uchiha Clan under such circumstances. Clan Leader Uchiha Fugaku, am I right?"
Uchiha Fugaku lowered his head slightly, his expression looking a bit ugly.
It was indeed as Minato Namikaze said; some members of the Konoha Military Police Force were arrogant and condescending, still immersed in past glory and unable to move on.
Minato Namikaze stood up and said: "Clan Leader Uchiha Fugaku, I really hope to improve the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the Village. I hope that there will be no gaps or estrangement between the two sides, and that we can work together for the development of the Village."
"Just as I said, improving this complex relationship requires us both to work hard together. It is difficult for me to do it alone, so I need your support and for you to give me an opportunity to improve the relationship."
"It is getting late today, so I will head back first. I hope Clan Leader Uchiha Fugaku can think about it carefully. I will wait for your reply."
Minato Namikaze left the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
Uchiha Fugaku sat on the tatami in the same posture for a long time, thinking in his mind.
Improving the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha—this was something Uchiha Fugaku dreamed of.
But before, Uchiha Fugaku had no way to do so because of Danzo's existence, which made it difficult for him to communicate with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
But now...
The appearance of Minato Namikaze gave Uchiha Fugaku hope.
Because Minato Namikaze had no prejudice against the Uchiha Clan; his wife was a friend of Minato Namikaze's future wife, and Obito was Minato Namikaze's student.
Obito was currently doing incredible things within the Uchiha Clan; his status was rising rapidly because he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Uchiha Fugaku had originally wanted Obito to join the Konoha Military Police Force, but Obito had refused.
Because Obito wanted to be with Kakashi, Rin Nohara, and Kamishiro.
Moreover, Obito was somewhat unable to stand the arrogant and domineering behavior of his own clansmen.
From the fact that Minato Namikaze wanted to get closer to him from the very beginning, it could be seen that his sincerity was very strong. Minato Namikaze wanted to invite him to solve the problems of the Uchiha Clan together.
But Uchiha Fugaku still had a headache because he knew very well what kind of temperament some of his clansmen had—radical, arrogant, extreme...
Minato Namikaze had already made it very clear that improvement required both sides to work together, so the Konoha Military Police Force would definitely have to change.
Just as Minato Namikaze said, the Konoha Military Police Force had become a private department of the Uchiha Clan. If it were to change, there would definitely be actions taken against the Konoha Military Police Force, and then there would certainly be some clansmen who would fiercely oppose it.
Uchiha Fugaku's eyes flickered, and he murmured: "If this is an opportunity this time... it must not be missed."
...
Kamishiro was at Minato Namikaze's home, and sitting on the sofa opposite Kamishiro were Pakura, Kushina, and Obito.
Kakashi asked suspiciously: "Kamishiro, what is the matter that made you call us over in such a rush?"
Kamishiro shook the paper in his hand: "This is the speech I just wrote. Listen to it and give me some advice."
Pakura asked puzzledly: "A speech? What are you going to give a speech about?"
Kamishiro said spiritedly: "Of course, it's a speech for the charity event! I'm going to go on stage too, and have the villagers donate some money to me as well!"
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