"Tsk tsk…"
Uchiha Nobuhiko's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Kid, you're only five years old. What is your brain made of?"
"These strategies of yours—they're fully thought-out, layer upon layer!"
"If Fugaku had even half your brains, I'd be thanking the heavens."
He gave a long exhale, nodding.
"Alright, I get it. I'll do exactly as you've laid out."
"I'll cooperate fully. Whatever you need me to do, I'll back you up."
"Let's hope it works. If it does… then the entire dynamic between Uchiha and the village will be turned upside down."
Then Nobuhiko paused, as if thinking of something.
"By the way, what are your thoughts on the clan's long-term development?"
"Do you have any suggestions on how we should handle relations with the village?"
Ordinarily, Nobuhiko wouldn't have asked something like that from a five-year-old. But after hearing Ren's analysis earlier, he knew his son wasn't ordinary.
Some people really were just born monsters—as if they came into the world already knowing how it worked.
Nobuhiko himself didn't have a great plan for the clan. But maybe Ren did.
Even if he didn't, there was no harm in asking.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from upstairs—Fugaku had finished washing up and was coming down.
Nobuhiko quickly said:
"Never mind. Let's continue this in my study after breakfast."
"Fugaku doesn't need to hear any of this yet."
To him, Fugaku was still too immature for these kinds of talks.
"Got it."
Ren had no objections.
Nobuhiko dispelled the sound barrier in the dining room, and the family finished their breakfast as usual.
When Fugaku left on a mission, Nobuhiko brought Ren into his private study.
"Alright—now, let's hear it."
"What do you suggest for the future of the clan?"
Ren nodded firmly.
"Actually, even if you hadn't asked, I was already planning to talk to you about this."
"We need internal reform—starting now while you're still active as clan head, and while you still have the authority to carry it through."
"If we wait until after you're gone, things will only become more difficult."
Ren had been worried that Nobuhiko wouldn't take suggestions from a child seriously. But thanks to recent events, he had gained more credibility than expected.
He smiled inwardly and began:
"I've given this some serious thought. Let's break it down into two main fronts: internal and external."
"Internally, the clan is a mess."
"A clan with thousands of members has split into three or four factions, constantly bickering and backstabbing."
"It's ridiculous—especially when we're facing such severe pressure from outside."
"The first step should be to unite the internal voices of the clan."
"We need a single command, a sense of discipline, and shared purpose."
Nobuhiko nodded in agreement but sighed.
"Easier said than done."
"People have their own ambitions, their own interests. We've tried before, but nothing stuck."
"So what's your solution?"
"I do have one," Ren replied confidently. "But it'll take time."
"The key is to create a shared incentive—a goal that everyone benefits from."
"We need to restructure the clan's merit and reward system. Make it clear that loyalty and contribution are rewarded, no matter your faction."
"At the same time, we have to reform the way we educate our youth."
"And one more thing—the Police Force needs major restructuring too."
Nobuhiko's expression grew cautious.
"The Police Force, huh?"
"That's a sensitive issue. What do you have in mind?"
"We start by carving out an elite unit—a specialized task force selected from our most talented members."
"This squad won't handle daily patrols or minor village disputes. They'll focus on high-level missions: patrolling Konoha's perimeter, identifying spies, capturing infiltrators."
"Think of it as our version of the ANBU Black Ops."
Nobuhiko's eyes lit up.
"That… could work."
"The clan does need a trump card. Something with real muscle."
"But if we do this, we'll be understaffed in the regular force—especially since the village is expanding."
Ren raised a hand.
"Already thought of that."
"Step two—open up part of the Police Force to non-Uchiha."
"We form a public-facing Security Division within the department, led by a Uchiha captain, but with civilian and non-Uchiha ninja filling the lower ranks."
"They'll handle domestic patrols, resolve disputes, and mediate conflict—basically, everything that gives us a bad reputation."
Nobuhiko's face darkened immediately.
"Absolutely not!"
"The Police Department is the only authority the Uchiha still hold in this village."
"If we hand that over, they'll infiltrate it and dismantle our power from the inside."
"This department is the only thing the Second Hokage left us. Even if it's poisoned bait, we have no choice but to swallow it."
"The other departments are closed off to us. You of all people should understand this."
Ren didn't flinch.
"That's exactly what the Second and Third Hokage wanted."
"Think about it, Father—most of what the police do makes us the village scapegoats."
"We're the ones enforcing laws. We're the ones issuing fines. We're the ones breaking up fights."
"Do you really think they gave us that job out of goodwill?"
Nobuhiko grimaced and looked away.
"Of course I know that."
"The Second Hokage practically handed it to us. If it were a true position of power, they never would have let us have it so easily."
"But what choice do we have?"
"If we lose this department, the Uchiha lose our voice in the village. We'll be completely marginalized."
Ren sighed softly.
"I understand the fear. But if we keep clinging to this poisoned chalice, we'll only fall deeper into isolation."
"We can't win by defending a castle built on sand."
He paused, then added:
"We don't need to give everything away."
"We restructure. Keep the core authority and build a new public-facing unit."
"That's how we change public opinion, lower the heat on the clan, and build real influence."