Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu explicitly expressed their opposition to this proposal, and their reasoning was quite pragmatic: "As a special operations unit directly under the Hokage, the Anbu is already burdened with various external espionage, assassination, and intelligence activities. They simply don't have the energy to take on the Village's internal security as well. Internal and external responsibilities should be kept separate..."
"Elder Homura believes that the Anbu's methods are too extreme. If they were used to target the Village and maintain its normal operations, it would cause significant trouble."
"Elder Utatane deeply agrees, believing that the Public Security Division should not be abolished just like that..."
Inoichi Yamanaka relayed the opinions of the Hokage and Danzo's side versus Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu's side during the meeting.
Beneath these high-sounding reasons, the reality was that one side wanted to seize and centralize power, while the other side did not want the Hokage to have highly centralized, absolute power. All the "reasons" were merely tools used to support these underlying philosophies.
Ino said, "So, the problem now is—the two Advisor Elders are explicitly opposed, but they haven't provided a corresponding solution, whereas the Hokage's side has a clear plan..."
Inoichi Yamanaka nodded and said, "Daddy wants to know your thoughts."
"Let's prepare a plan for the two Elders—this plan doesn't need to be detailed, it just needs to provide them with a direction..." Ino gave a suggestion and continued, "Of course, just one plan isn't enough. We also need something that will make the Hokage take the initiative to compromise... Daddy, what do you think that something is?"
"..."
Inoichi Yamanaka had a face full of question marks. Don't ask why he looked so confused; even his mind was filled with question marks right now.
"Clan!"
Ino didn't make Inoichi Yamanaka wait long before revealing the answer.
It was just that this answer was somewhat baffling—
Clan?
A question popped into Inoichi Yamanaka's mind as he asked himself: "What does Ino mean by 'clan'? Does she mean all the clans should unite to push this matter, or that the Yamanaka Clan should take the initiative to volunteer?"
Inoichi Yamanaka thought of two possibilities, but neither was correct. He certainly never expected that the "clan" Ino mentioned was actually the Hokage's own clan!
The Sarutobi Clan.
"The Third Hokage has been in power since the First War, and it is now Year 53 of Konoha. In those decades, how much convenience do you think the Sarutobi Clan has gained because of it? Subtly leak some information to the two Advisors, let them investigate and take action. Problems certainly exist, without a doubt... Once the problems are found, that becomes the bargaining chip to make the Third Hokage compromise!"
This was a brilliant move of 'Engaging with the orthodox and winning with the unorthodox.' Beneath its simplicity lay a perspective and mindset that set Ino apart from others in the Ninja World.
It was a way of thinking based on the harmony of Yin and Yang, avoiding extremes—one Yin and one Yang, complementing each other. The plan left plenty of room for adjustment.
Inoichi Yamanaka didn't quite understand how Ino could make the judgment that "the Sarutobi Clan definitely has problems!"
But the framework of this strategy was undoubtedly stunning. At the very least, he knew his old friend Shikaku Nara wouldn't have come up with such a framework—Shikaku Nara could make a plan detailed enough to fit together like the gears of a clock, but he lacked this kind of Yin-Yang vision and perspective, which required a specific environment to cultivate.
However, Inoichi Yamanaka also trusted Ino's judgment.
Only... Inoichi Yamanaka still had some doubts: "But, as followers of the Hokage's faction, if we do something like this, then the Hokage..."
Ino looked at Inoichi Yamanaka in surprise and asked, "Elder Homura Mitokado and Elder Utatane Koharu proposed the solution for the Public Security Division; what does that have to do with the Ino-Shika-Cho? Elder Homura discovered some abnormal financial situations in the Sarutobi Clan, or the use of resources, misappropriation of Village funds, and so on; what does that have to do with the Ino-Shika-Cho?"
Inoichi Yamanaka was left speechless. Following Ino's logic carefully, it really seemed to have absolutely nothing to do with the three clans... Advisors Homura and Utatane had been busy these past few days, visiting various households, and thus, during casual conversation, they developed a direction for the plan regarding the Public Security Division.
The Public Security Division could not be abolished, and the Anbu was not suitable for managing internal security; the internal and external must be kept distinct—under this perfectly correct premise, the two proposed some measures and a plan, and began holding meetings for discussion. Most people also approved of such a plan—perhaps at first they hadn't realized the horror of this "Anbu-style rule," but they couldn't resist Ino telling stories and analyzing them for Inoichi Yamanaka.
Inoichi Yamanaka was also very good at dropping subtle hints from time to time without drawing attention, making people realize the problems within.
And so... the subsequent question naturally shifted from whether to abolish the Public Security Division to how to reform and carve it up.
When things reached this stage and Inoichi Yamanaka once again asked his daughter for advice, the answer he got was just one word—
Wait!
At this time, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans didn't need to do anything or say anything; they just had to wait.
On the eve of the approaching "dawn," Inoichi Yamanaka's heart was filled with a mix of anticipation, tension, unease, and anxiety, making it difficult for him to sleep. In contrast, Ino, who had masterminded it all from behind the scenes, was quite carefree—eating well and sleeping until dawn. Every day, she practiced her flexibility, curling herself up, then trained her focus... she played the zither, read books, and wrote down some insights and reflections, and the day would pass.
Inoichi Yamanaka mocked himself for having a mindset that was actually inferior to a child's, unable to remain composed in the face of such matters.
After about a week, a result was finally argued out. After all parties engaged in verbal sparring and haggled over every detail, the dust finally settled.
The Ino-Shika-Cho, who hadn't fought or scrambled for anything, ended up as the biggest winners in this carving up of the Public Security Division.
The Hokage himself spoke up to secure the greatest benefits for the three clans—because the Hokage needed his own people to control the Public Security Division.
As for his own clansmen... Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like crying when he thought of them. Homura Mitokado had just come to talk to him, and after a series of guarantees and oaths to severely punish the clansmen for the various "good deeds" they had committed using his status as Hokage, and promising to strictly manage and restrain them in the future, Hiruzen Sarutobi simply couldn't arrange for his clansmen to join the Public Security Division.
Therefore, he could only appoint as many registered personnel as possible from the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka Clans, who were close to the Hokage.
At this point—
Inoichi Yamanaka's heart finally settled back into his chest.
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