https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-546-Different-Ways-of-Interacting/12558812/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-548-Naruto-Side-Story-Naruto-Master-of-the-Sun-s-Breath-Arrives/12558820/
Chapter 547: Jiraiya Takes Notice of Nagato
Chapter 547: Jiraiya Takes Notice of Nagato
"Uncle Fugaku, have you formed any new ideas about the reform of the Police Force?"
In the study room, Itachi once again brought up the topic of reforming the Police Force.
Fugaku Uchicha rubbed his eyebrows. Although he had expected this, now that Itachi was indeed bringing up the topic again, he still felt mentally exhausted.
He realized that sometimes maturity wasn't a good thing. The more mature Itachi had his own considerations for the development of the Uchiha clan, while Obito was much more honest and seldom spoke up even during clan meetings.
While Itachi's ability to think critically was commendable, he tended to be a bit too extreme, even more so than the radical faction. He wanted to start by making changes to the Police Department.
"Uncle Fugaku, I think you may have misunderstood my intentions. We can take a gradual approach to the reforms. In the beginning, we might not even need to change anything about the current Police Force. We could simply add a few non-Uchiha clan ninja members." Itachi continued.
Itachi was aware that there would be significant resistance from within the Uchiha clan regarding the reform of the Police Force, so he didn't plan to start with a full-scale overhaul.
After all, most Uchiha didn't have ill intentions; they just lacked the necessary understanding.
"This isn't a decision to be made lightly. It needs to be reported to the Third Hokage, and we'll require his approval before proceeding," Fugaku shook his head and replied.
As a special department, the Police Force was under the leadership of its captain, Fugaku Uchiha, who had the authority to appoint and dismiss all personnel. However, he did not have the right to create new positions.
To increase the number of positions within the Police Force, he would have to make a request to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Moreover, Itachi's suggestion went against a rule established by the Second Hokage, so it was even more crucial to obtain the current Hokage's approval.
"So, Uncle Fugaku, what do you think of this idea?" Itachi asked calmly, looking at Fugaku.
Regardless, Itachi was determined to push for the reform of the Police Force. If he couldn't even take this necessary first step, how could he hope to bring about change to the entire Uchiha clan?
Even adding just one non-Uchiha ninja to the Police Force would, in Itachi's opinion, hold significant meaning.
Because it would signify the Uchiha clan giving up their monopoly over the Police Force.
"It's not that simple. The elders will most likely disagree," Fugaku shook his head.
Most of the Uchiha clan's ninja were easily swayed. As long as they were assured that there would be no changes to the existing positions, most of the Uchiha ninja currently holding those positions wouldn't object.
However, the Uchiha elders were a different story. They were shrewd individuals, and the strategy of slowly boiling a frog might not work on them.
"Uncle Fugaku, if I'm not mistaken, there's a clan meeting in a week, right?" Itachi asked after some thought.
Since Fugaku felt that this matter would be difficult to handle, Itachi decided to bring it up during the clan meeting and see how things unfolded.
As the Uchiha clan's current rising star and a renowned genius, Itachi had a lot of leeway when it came to making mistakes. He had plenty of opportunities to try out different approaches.
"Yes, do you want to bring this up during the clan meeting?" Fugaku nodded in response.
"If it's during the clan meeting, I won't be able to voice my support for you there," Fugaku reminded him.
As the clan head of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku usually played the role of the final decision-maker during clan meetings.
He would take into account the level of support among the Uchiha ninja for a proposed plan, as well as whether the plan would benefit the Uchiha clan, before deciding whether to approve it or not.
"Uncle Fugaku, it's alright. Obito and I will attend the clan meeting together," Itachi said.
Because Obito didn't particularly like attending clan meetings, Itachi rarely invited him along, except for the first time.
Now, however, Itachi needed more support from within the clan, so even if Obito disliked the atmosphere of the meetings, Itachi could only apologize and ask him to join him anyway.
Given their relationship as master and apprentice, clanmates, and friends, it would be remiss of Itachi not to utilize this connection and instead face everything alone, which would truly mean that he hadn't taken Mu Yue's words to heart.
"Obito, then. I hope everything goes well," Fugaku nodded.
The combination of Obito, the second-place finisher in the Budokai, and Itachi, one of the top four, was indeed a formidable Uchiha super-genius duo that deserved attention.
In fact, Fugaku's thoughts had already been influenced somewhat by Itachi.
Initially, when Itachi first suggested reforming the Police Force by replacing Uchiha ninja with outsiders, the first word that came to Fugaku's mind was "treason."
Now, however, Fugaku's thinking had evolved. He believed that if Itachi could truly gain support during the clan meeting, he would back the reform of the Police Force.
This wasn't because Itachi was a silver-tongued speaker, but because Itachi's persistence had made Fugaku realize something—Itachi was serious about this, and it wasn't just a passing fancy or a sudden impulse.
The performances of Itachi and Obito could be described as the future of the Uchiha clan, and that was no exaggeration.
When they grew up, they would undoubtedly have a significant voice in the Uchiha clan. And given Itachi's tenacity, he would definitely push for the reform of the Police Force.
Rather than waiting for Itachi to make drastic changes when he came into power, Fugaku preferred to let the current Itachi showcase his capabilities and gradually reform the Police Force.
"Thank you for your time," Itachi said as he stood up to express his gratitude.
"It's fine. Feel free to come to me with any problems. And Itachi seems to like you a lot, too," Fugaku stood up and smiled as he saw Itachi out.
When Itachi stepped into the courtyard, he saw Sora lying on the ground, enjoying a belly rub from Mikoto Uchiha.
Noticing Itachi's gaze, Sora quickly flipped over, pretending that nothing had happened, and walked over to Itachi's side.
"Itachi, are you leaving?" Kakashi asked, looking at Itachi.
Itachi hadn't had a private conversation with Kakashi during this visit.
"Yeah, I still have some training to do," Itachi nodded in farewell to Kakashi.
"Then, see you."
Kakashi was a little reluctant to see Itachi go but didn't try to keep him from leaving.
"Itachi, feel free to come by and hang out again," Mikoto waved goodbye with a smile.
"With such exceptional talent and dedication, perhaps he really can make the Uchiha clan different," Fugaku said, his expression complex as he watched Itachi's departing figure.
He was sure that Itachi could bring about change in the Uchiha clan, but he didn't know if that change would be for better or worse.
After returning to his small courtyard home, Itachi began his training in fire-attribute chakra nature transformation and the Fire Breath technique.
As Mu Yue had made clear that the next jutsu she would teach him was fire-style ninjutsu, Itachi wanted to spend the next couple of days reviewing his fire-related abilities. That way, learning the new jutsu might be faster.
"Itachi is truly outstanding. Just thinking that Obito is also an Uchiha like you makes me feel like Obito is taking advantage of the clan," Sora, who was watching, cheered for Itachi like a supportive cheerleader.
Bang!
In an instant, Itachi appeared behind Sora and delivered a chop to his neck.
"Don't play favorites."
Zhi Shui smiled helplessly. Given Charizard's close relationship with Daotu, he knew that Charizard would agree with anything negative about him.
Daotu often argued with Kakashi, and Lycanroc, being good friends with Kakashi, naturally disliked Daotu. So their agreement was to be expected.
"Focus on your training. You often play with Charizard, and it's evolved twice already, while you haven't even evolved once yet," Zhi Shui gently tugged on Solrock's face, encouraging him to work harder.
Although Zhi Shui wasn't in a hurry for Solrock to evolve, he wanted to give him more motivation to train.
"What's so great about evolving? Then I'll become so big that I won't be able to stand on Zhi Shui's shoulders anymore," Solrock pouted.
Zhi Shui smiled and didn't take his words to heart. "You should be more aware of your weight. You're not light anymore, and you still like to stand on my shoulders."
Solrock currently weighed fifteen kilograms. Only someone with Zhi Shui's ninja training and breathing exercises could handle such a weight; an ordinary nine-year-old child would likely stumble under Solrock's weight.
"Hey, I just got dazed from a head knock. What did Zhi Shui just say? I didn't quite catch that," Solrock feigned ignorance.
Zhi Shui rubbed Solrock's head affectionately and continued his training.
They trained until 9 pm, after which Zhi Shui took Solrock to visit Daotu's home.
Any later, and Zhi Shui worried that they might disturb Daotu's grandmother.
"Daotu, there's going to be a clan meeting in a week. Will you be available then?" Zhi Shui asked directly, as there was no need for preambles between them.
"A clan meeting? Do you need my help? I should be available unless there's an urgent mission," Daotu replied.
An urgent mission was an unpredictable factor, so Daotu couldn't guarantee his availability fully.
"In that case, I'll be counting on you then," Zhi Shui nodded.
Daotu was an indispensable member of his plan for the clan meeting.
"Have you eaten yet?" Charizard greeted Solrock warmly.
"No wonder you can't get Mew's attention. You really don't know how to talk to her," Solrock bluntly pointed out.
Charizard's eyes widened, and his body tensed up as he couldn't believe that his trusted partner would be so blunt today.
...
In the Grass Country.
Ever since the joint mission with the Grass ninjas to eliminate the Rock Village was mysteriously exposed, the battle situation in the Grass Country had strangely eased, and no large-scale war had broken out since.
However, overall, the Leaf ninjas still held the advantage. The activities of the Rock ninjas were gradually being suppressed, and the Leaf ninja forces were in a favorable position.
In this environment, Jiraiya, as the commander of the forces, was no longer as busy and had more free time.
Thus, Jiraiya took notice of the information circulating about the Budokai.
As the Grass Country shared a border with the Rain Country, news from the Budokai spread quickly, but Jiraiya, being the commander, often didn't have the time to pay attention to such things.
"The winner of the Youth Budokai and the strongest genius in the ninja world, Nagato?" Jiraiya was astonished when he saw the information about the Budokai.
He hadn't paid much attention to the Youth Budokai, only knowing that it was a ninja competition organized by the neighboring Rain Country.
But he was very familiar with Nagato. Wasn't he the disciple he considered to be the Child of Prophecy?
"A coincidence? Impossible. With that kind of strength, and the fact that he's still in the Rain Country, it must be him," Jiraiya thought.
Recalling the three years he spent in the Rain Country, taking care of Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, a nostalgic look appeared on Jiraiya's face.
"The strongest genius in the ninja world... If he can control the Rinnegan now, then that title is well-deserved."
In Jiraiya's heart, Nagato was the one who best fit the description of the Child of Prophecy.
After all, the eyes of the Sage of the Six Paths were sufficient proof.
"Nagato has become so excellent. I wonder how Yahiko and Konan are doing," Jiraiya wondered.
In fact, Jiraiya had always wanted to visit Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, but various matters kept him busy.
Ever since the war started and he returned to Konoha, Jiraiya had no free time, neither on the battlefield nor in the village.
On the one hand, there were the tasks that came with his position, and on the other hand, Hiruzen Sarutobi always wanted to give him more responsibilities, paving the way for him to become the Hokage.
Jiraiya couldn't help but feel exasperated. When he was young, Hiruzen often scolded him, and now he wanted Jiraiya to become the Hokage.
Jiraiya didn't care who became the Hokage; he had more important tasks to attend to.
Because of Nagato, Jiraiya ordered someone to collect more comprehensive information about the Youth Budokai.
It was then that Jiraiya discovered that not only had Nagato participated in the Budokai, but Yahiko and Konan had also joined, although their performances were average. Yahiko was eliminated in the first round, while Konan made it to the second.
"So this brat, Daotu, actually came in second. Did his strength increase significantly?"
Jiraiya was surprised to see that Daotu's ranking was higher than both Kakashi's and Might Guy's.
Jiraiya didn't think too much into it and continued reading the report, glad that the Leaf ninjas were performing well.
After carefully reading the report, Jiraiya decided to go to the Rain Country.
With no active battles in the Grass Country and the presence of his outstanding disciple, Minato Namikaze, in the forces, Jiraiya could afford to leave.
Jiraiya first summoned Minato into his tent to ask for his opinion.
"If it's not for too long, I should be able to manage," Minato replied after some thought.
Because of the two powerful Jinchuriki from the Rock Village who could achieve complete tailed beast transformation, Minato didn't think he could completely replace Jiraiya.
His abilities were mostly ineffective against them, and in battles against the Rock Village Jinchuriki, Minato mainly assisted Jiraiya.
"Haha, I won't make you cover for me for too long," Jiraiya said, patting Minato's shoulder.
He knew his limits and wouldn't make the same promise as before the war, when he assured everyone that he would return after traveling the world. This time, he would just check on Nagato's situation and then come back to rejoin the ninja forces.
Finally, Jiraiya sent a request to the Leaf headquarters.
As a commander, it would be irresponsible of him to leave without reporting his plans.
Although doing this might mean that he wouldn't have to become the Hokage, it was still a very impolite way of going about it.
PS: The extra chapter is almost done, and unless something unexpected happens, it will be published tomorrow.
It will mainly cover Long Mai Naruto's experiences after returning and the events involving Nagato and Konan.
Feel free to subscribe if you're interested, or skip it if you're not; it won't affect the main story.
(End of Chapter)
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