When the announcement was made, a ripple of surprise passed through the audience, but no one asked questions. All eyes turned to Uchiha Sanzō, waiting for him to continue.
Sanzō scanned the crowd and gave a small sigh.
"The position of Captain of the Konoha Military Police Force will now be taken over by Uchiha Naraku. I have already informed Sandaime Hokage and Sarutobi Hiruzen. The appointment will be formalized soon. Are there any objections?"
A tense silence followed.
Everyone exchanged glances. It had already been reported to the Hokage—objecting now would be meaningless. Worse, it might be seen as a challenge to the new captain, who was also the clan head. No one was willing to take that risk. The room remained quiet.
In reality, appointments within the Military Police Force were handled internally by the Uchiha. Reporting to the Hokage was little more than a formality. Ever since Sandaime took office, the village administration had rarely interfered with the Police Force.
Seeing no response, Naraku cleared his throat and stood.
"I believe the position of Captain should be filled through a fair and open process," he said. "If any among you believe they can lead, I welcome them to put their names forward. The Military Police Force is an important part of both Konoha and the Uchiha clan. Those with the strength and wisdom to lead should step up."
His words were humble, but calculated. The role was already his, but it wouldn't serve him to appear power-hungry. If he looked like he had seized power unilaterally, it would cause internal strife—something he couldn't afford.
"No objections here!"
"I support Captain Naraku!"
"With the Clan Head leading us, we won't lose our path."
Ironically, his humility had the opposite effect. The members responded with enthusiasm, and some even tried to curry favour.
"As expected… once you step away, they forget who you are," Sanzō muttered under his breath. "This son of mine is anything but humble."
Naraku realized his words had been misinterpreted. But at this point, any explanation would only make things more awkward.
"Come, sit here," Sanzō said, gesturing to the seat beside him. "From now on, this will be your place."
When Sanzō had assumed the captaincy, he, too, had sat beside the former leader, listening and preparing. This symbolic gesture marked the passing of leadership.
"Yes, Father," Naraku said respectfully, taking his seat beside Sanzō.
"Let's begin the status reports," Sanzō said, still serious despite this being his final day. One by one, team leaders began presenting their reports.
Naraku quickly grew bored.
The First Division reported first—Naraku's direct jurisdiction. He was already familiar with their operations. Thanks to his leadership, their work in patrol, civil management, and law enforcement had been standardized, reducing conflicts with villagers.
But the Second and Third Divisions were another matter. Though they tried to mimic the First Division's practices, they lacked the structure and discipline to execute them properly. Even routine matters like salary distribution remained unresolved due to unclear leadership.
With Sanzō still officially in charge, Naraku couldn't make major changes. But internally, he was already preparing.
"I'll begin the restructuring tomorrow when I call the first strategy meeting," he thought.
The Criminal Investigation Division was also underperforming. The 17-member unit from Division One was mostly idle.
Naraku planned to assign them to focus on high-profile crimes within the village. They would report directly to his office.
Meanwhile, the Public Safety Division dealt with daily matters involving villagers. Previously, each of Konoha's three districts had a 17-man team. Naraku had already trimmed the force significantly, cutting back on both personnel and costs.
For administrative duties, Naraku designated three zones, each overseen by a four-man team. These small teams replaced what had once required seventy shinobi.
They would receive slightly higher pay and be required to recruit civilian volunteers to assist with non-combat duties.
Naraku intended to keep Uchiha's involvement in civil affairs limited—less interference meant fewer tensions. Still, they wouldn't completely relinquish control. Civilian Genin or villagers would be brought in for minor tasks, preserving the clan's authority while reducing friction.
However, when it came to guarding the village's barrier weak points, the Uchiha would not relinquish their hold.
These key areas allowed movement in and out of the village—a necessity for secret operations. Shimura Danzō, for example, regularly exited the barrier to visit his hidden bases. Naraku planned to adopt a similar strategy.
The Military Police had three main districts, each guarded by a 70-man force—210 shinobi in total.
In addition, the village barrier had fifteen identified weak points. Each was manned by rotating four-person teams working three shifts. Sometimes, a team leader rotated in or two shinobi would be on duty together. Altogether, this required about 60 personnel.
Konoha's prison was run by 60 staff members—five teams of 20 shinobi, working shifts.
Another 20 administrative staff handled logistics, including secretaries, advisors, and clerical workers.
Altogether, the Military Police Force numbered over 350 members. Field operatives earned around 600,000 ryō annually—a decent wage by shinobi standards.
However, many others earned far less. Some joined the Police Force merely to avoid being dispatched to the front lines or battlefields. Their livelihood depended on odd missions or occasional support from the clan elders.
Unfortunately, the department's budget was a mere 150 million ryō—paltry when compared to other village departments. ANBU, the Medical Corps, and regular shinobi divisions received far more funding. Even D-rank missions from the Mission Assignment Desk offered more reliable pay.
The truth was, many Uchiha had grown complacent. In the past, elders had equipped them with tools, explosive tags, and rations—plus commissions for secret missions. Survival wasn't a concern.
But nearly forty years after the founding of Konoha, those resources had dwindled. Clan elders no longer had deep pockets. Now, many Uchiha were struggling.
Despite that, competition to join the Military Police remained fierce—anything to avoid being sent to war.
Suddenly, Sanzō reached over and tapped Naraku on the shoulder.
"Naraku, what do you think of this issue?"
"Huh? What issue?" Naraku asked, caught off guard. He had completely tuned out the reports.
Sanzō's face darkened slightly. "What do you think about the complaints regarding low pay?"
Naraku blinked, then said casually, "If the pay is low, why not just take missions from the Mission Assignment Desk?"
A shinobi in his thirties immediately frowned.
"Lord Naraku, we Uchiha are one of the most prestigious clans in the village. Isn't it beneath our dignity to perform D-rank missions like pulling weeds or chasing cats?"
Naraku's brow furrowed slightly.
---