Chương 25: 25. Fugaku: I Am Sincere To Mikoto!
The Third Hokage was silent for a moment, considering the weight of the complaints against Uchiha's police department. The Shimura clan was growing rapidly under Danzo's influence, challenging the balance of power within Konoha.
"It's Chief Shimura! What happened to you?" he asked, maintaining a gentle expression despite his irritation.
"Lord Hokage, you must make a decision for us! We need manpower to rebuild our clan's land, but the police department keeps detaining our people. If this continues, we may as well move our entire clan to the police department..." Chief Shimura said, his face twisted with bitterness. Despite the Shimura family's usually aloof nature, the support from Danzo over the years had spurred their rapid development.
While they couldn't yet rival the Uchiha or Hyuga, their strength was still notable, especially in terms of ninja numbers. Only the Sarutobi family surpassed them, while the other elder families couldn't compare.
With so many ninjas, they thought reconstruction would be quick. But this had given the police department grounds to make arrests.
As with Shinobi, moving bricks or using jutsu to build was not the issue. But using ninjutsu in the village indiscriminately was. Konoha was a home, not a battlefield. Reckless ninjutsu could harm a villager.
What's that? It's your clan land, and everyone there is your clansmen?
That's still no reason to abuse ninjutsu! They may be your people, but they are also Konoha villagers. Who will be responsible for any accidents? That's not acceptable. Responsibility is yours, but order maintenance is the police department's concern.
Good grief! Uchiha hadn't given up targeting the Shimura clan after all.
The Third Hokage felt speechless. A confrontation between Itachi and Yagami had already decimated the Shimura tribe. He'd hoped that would end the feud.
But Uchiha was relentless, apparently intent on the Shimura clan's ruin, all under the guise of law and order. Even if he wanted to help the Shimura clan, disregarding the regulations was impossible. If he set that precedent, no one would respect the village's authority in the future.
"The police department is acting in accordance with law and order," he said calmly. "They haven't broken any regulations. There's no use appealing to me—they will release your people after due process, like the others who were previously detained. Most of them have already been released, haven't they?"
The Third Hokage knew the Cloud Shinobi mission would soon arrive in Konoha, and he wanted no disturbances before then. Compared to other incidents that threatened the village, the Shimura clan's troubles were minor.
Hearing this, Chief Shimura's face twisted with frustration once more.
"Lord Hokage, yes, they were released, but within a day, the police department arrested them again!"
Having witnessed Uchiha's power, Shimura Danzo no longer dared to provoke them. Though he knew Uchiha was targeting his family, all he could do was approach the police department. After all, the department was no longer exclusively Uchiha-run.
"Just tell your clansmen to be more cautious," the Third Hokage advised. "The police department is acting in accordance with public order regulations. If your people don't violate the law, the police department has no reason to detain them."
"It seems you Shimura clan members don't take law and order regulations to heart!"
Feeling entangled in trivial matters, the Third Hokage grew impatient. He grabbed a book of public security regulations from the shelf, tossing it to Shimura Danzo to handle the situation himself.
"My role as Hokage doesn't involve babysitting the Shimura family. Last time, I didn't request Uchiha Yagami to mediate, and although they are targeting you, it's all within the regulations. I can't just give Uchiha a blatant warning!"
Besides, the Hokage thought to himself whether Uchiha would even heed his warning was doubtful.
Since demonstrating their strength, Uchiha's status in Konoha has transformed dramatically. While the village's shinobi clans maintained their usual distance, many would now nod in acknowledgement when encountering a Uchiha. The villagers, too, who once regarded the clan with suspicion, now showed respect and admiration.
Uchiha's departure from the police department only seemed to increase this regard, and people respected strength more than ever in these turbulent times.
---
In Fugaku's home, Yagami flipped through a thick set of reports.
"This is the monthly performance data for the new Uchiha industries. The food sector has the fastest growth, but the service sector remains the most profitable. Other sectors are developing well but at a slower pace," he explained, scanning the documents. Although business wasn't his forte, he could still provide insights based on his past life experiences.
When he noticed the custom industry was the most profitable, Yagami couldn't help but twitch with a hint of amusement.
Naturally, Uchiha's pride prevented them from involving their own people in such services. Instead, they recruited locals, with the Uchiha handling management and funding. The industry's demand was steady, and customers ranged from civilians to shinobi.
"Patriarch," Yagami proposed, "since the service industry is profitable, why not expand its appeal? For instance, custom shops could offer more unique services, like themed costume play."
Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "You mean…?"
"Is there someone you particularly admire but can't reach?" Yagami teased.
Fugaku's face grew serious. "Of course not! I'm committed to Mikoto…" Yet, a hint of sweat betrayed his reaction.
"Fine, you're the Clan head, so it's up to you. I'll leave this adult stuff to you; I'm not experienced in that realm."
Fugaku, momentarily thrown off by the jest, quickly saw the potential. Yagami's idea was both clever and profitable. The service industry was one area where demand never seemed to fade, and he could envision its growth.
"As for the food sector," Yagami continued, "it's an essential industry, but to stand out, we need originality. Let's gather family members with culinary expertise to develop a few signature dishes. Unique tastes that customers will remember."
Yagami also suggested integrating service and dining, explaining that most establishments—restaurants, izakayas, and custom shops—operated independently. A combined model could enhance customer convenience, offering multiple services in one place.
The more Yagami thought, the clearer his vision became. With a chain hotel model, patrons could dine, relax, and enjoy themselves without venturing all over town. This one-stop experience would appeal to the natural tendency for convenience.
In time, the Uchiha chain could also offer tiered services and a membership system, appealing to the diverse social strata of the ninja world—commoners, shinobi, and nobles. Yagami noted that an added sense of exclusivity would attract clients across these classes.
He also considered how Uchiha's Sharingan might aid in discreet information gathering, which could be another revenue stream in the form of confidential information services included in the hotel's membership offerings.
As he continued refining these ideas, he realized training for recruits in customer service etiquette was crucial. Additionally, the hotel environment would need to be comfortable and highly secure, offering guests privacy and peace of mind.
After drafting a few pages of proposals, Yagami handed them to Fugaku for consideration.
Accumulating capital and developing new ventures would take time, so he wasn't in a rush. The hotel could develop gradually, with adjustments as needed.
---
"Clan head, Lord Hokage, sent someone to ask if you'd like to participate in the meeting with Cloud Shinobi."
Before Fugaku could finish reading the proposal, a clan member delivered the message from the Third Hokage.
"Cloud Shinobi talks?" Fugaku's gaze shifted to Yagami with a look of surprise. Uchiha had long been excluded from Konoha's political circles. For the Hokage to involve them now was highly unusual.
Yagami paused, recalling that this period marked a critical moment—the time when Hyuga Hizashi's sacrifice occurred.
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