As Minato finished speaking, everyone's attention in the meeting room turned toward Uchiha Ren.
"As for the Senju Clan Head's accusations, the Uchiha clan naturally has something to say!"
Ren remained completely composed as he looked at Tsunade.
"Just now, the Senju Clan Head said that because of the Uchiha clan's 'overly rigid' temperament, we are unsuited to take on this responsibility. I can provisionally accept your use of the term 'rigid.' But I would like to ask you, Senju Clan Head: exactly why does being rigid make us unsuitable for such an important responsibility?"
Tsunade did not overthink it and answered directly.
"The Konoha Military Police is responsible for maintaining public order and stability within the village. And everyone knows that your Uchiha clan's approach to law enforcement is far too... strict!"
"Take something as minor as street vendors obstructing the roads, disputes between neighbors, or even domestic quarrels. Your Uchiha clan insists on escalating even these trivial matters and turning them into major incidents!"
"Even the victims themselves sometimes feel that your methods are too severe, which causes them to fear you."
"Law must take human circumstances into account. Your Uchiha clan's cold and rigid temperament simply isn't suited to this kind of work!"
"I believe you won't deny that, Elder Uchiha?"
As Tsunade spoke, her tone became somewhat strange, as though she were trying to hint at something to Ren.
Ren, however, seemed not to understand the implication at all.
"No. I have reservations about your assessment."
Tsunade froze, then angrily said, "How can you go back on your own words?! Last night, you yourself said that the Uchiha clan wasn't suited for work in the Konoha Military Police!"
"Did I?"
Ren glanced at Tsunade.
"As I recall, I only said that the Konoha Military Police was a trap someone had set for my Uchiha clan, binding our clan to it. I never said that the Uchiha clan was incapable of performing the duties of the Konoha Military Police!"
Tsunade's brows furrowed.
She had spent far too long trapped within Izanami's loop. She remembered Ren expressing something along those lines, but she could no longer clearly recall his exact words.
Left with no choice, Tsunade turned toward the other two people who had been present that night, Orochimaru and Jiraiya, seeking confirmation.
Orochimaru merely nodded, confirming that Uchiha Ren had not said anything of the sort the previous night.
Jiraiya thought carefully for a moment before giving an awkward answer.
"Elder Uchiha didn't say that."
Tsunade's face darkened.
She began to wonder whether Uchiha Ren had deliberately laid a trap for her in advance!
"Heh."
Seeing her expression, Ren chuckled softly.
"The Senju Clan Head says that my Uchiha clan's approach to law enforcement is too strict. I know this isn't merely her personal opinion."
"But I would like to ask everyone here: In your eyes, what are rules? What are regulations? And what is the law?"
Most of the people in the meeting room looked at one another.
They were accustomed to being tools. Most of the work they did involved killing and destruction. When had they ever seriously considered questions like these?
Ren had never expected them to provide an answer.
He simply continued.
"Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Whether it is a family, a village, or a country, prosperity and development inevitably require laws!"
"Law is the bottom line of morality. It explicitly tells everyone which things cannot be done and which things can be done. As members of the law enforcement apparatus, what is wrong with my Uchiha clan enforcing the law strictly and ensuring that every violation is punished?"
"Are you saying that knowing someone has broken the law and choosing not to pursue it is what makes a good law enforcement officer? If so, then what is the purpose of establishing rules and laws in the first place?"
Everyone in the meeting room fell silent.
They knew that what Uchiha Ren had said was correct.
That was precisely why people had always merely complained that the Uchiha clan was too cold-blooded and heartless, rather than actually accusing them of enforcing the law incorrectly.
Tsunade pursed her lips, still unwilling to concede.
"What you're saying does make some sense, but specific circumstances still have to be judged on their own merits."
"Take those vendors setting up stalls along the streets. If they had the means, they would certainly prefer to run proper shops. But they don't have that kind of capital, so they can only make a modest living through small-scale business to support their families."
"Yes, setting up stalls in the roadway violates village regulations, but your Uchiha clan doesn't need to confiscate all their goods every time and lock them up as well!"
"Isn't that punishment far too severe?"
Ren looked coldly at Tsunade and calmly replied,
"First of all, the punishment for obstructing the streets with unauthorized stalls wasn't established by my Uchiha clan. It was Second Hokage Tobirama Senju who introduced the regulation in Konoha's eighth year."
"At the time, the streets were packed with vendors, blocking several major commercial streets. There were also repeated fights over the best locations."
"The official document issued by the Hokage's Office clearly stipulated that anyone operating a stall on a commercial street in violation of the regulations would have all their equipment and merchandise confiscated, along with fifteen days of imprisonment and an appropriate fine."
"So the Konoha Military Police is merely enforcing the law as written. If the Senju Clan Head has a problem with it, you should take it up with Second Hokage Tobirama Senju!"
In Konoha's eighth year, First Hokage Hashirama Senju was still alive, and Konoha Village was undergoing a period of rapid development.
Large numbers of people were moving into Konoha every day, and several prosperous commercial streets were beginning to take shape.
Many of the villagers who had recently moved to Konoha did not yet have stable employment, so setting up street stalls and doing business became a good way to make a living.
At first, everything was fine.
The small stalls even helped bring more people to the commercial streets.
But as the crowds grew, conflicts naturally followed.
Competition for customers eventually caused several commercial streets to become completely congested. That was why Tobirama Senju issued a series of measures to regulate the situation.
Tsunade was rendered speechless.
It really was strange.
Every time Uchiha Ren argued with her, he somehow managed to drag her second grandfather into the discussion and use him to shut her down!
Ren paid no attention to Tsunade's expression and continued.
"Second, does being poor give you the right to break the law? Does poverty mean you can do whatever you want?"
"Today, because you're poor, you can violate village regulations by obstructing the street with your stall. Tomorrow, when you're cold, does that mean you can burn down your neighbor's house to keep warm?"
"To a law enforcement officer, wrong is wrong and right is right. Nothing can become a justification for violating the law or committing a crime!"
Although Ren's words were reasonable, they were almost too reasonable, making many people present uncomfortable.
Jiraiya frowned.
"Elder Uchiha, you can't put things quite so absolutely. I think everyone would rather not commit crimes. If someone isn't driven to desperation, who would willingly put themselves on the wrong side of the law?"
Ren shook his head.
"Jiraiya, I think you've misunderstood what I mean."
"I understand that every family has its own difficulties, and I know that everyone can find themselves in desperate circumstances."
"But as I said, the law is the bottom line of morality, and law enforcement officers guard that final line."
"If someone is driven by circumstances beyond their control into the hands of law enforcement, does that necessarily mean the person is the one at fault? Must the law enforcement officer be the one at fault?"
"Why can't the village be at fault?"
"Why can't the law itself be at fault?"
"Why do you insist on picking on the Konoha Military Police in particular?!"
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