MTL NOVEL Chapter 19: Major Clan Meeting
The old man sat in the reception room, while the three clan heads sat nearby, idly drinking tea.
One of them wore a traditional kimono, his long hair tied at the waist length, and a pair of white pupils reflecting an air of nobility. This man was Hyuga Tennin, the head of the Hyuga clan.
Another man, dressed in a black cloak and wearing dark sunglasses, had two insects crawling along his face. His presence was almost imperceptible—this was Aburame Shide, the head of the Aburame clan.
The third had an afro, red streaks painted on his cheeks, and wore a sleeveless windbreaker. This was Inuzuka Kira, the head of the Inuzuka clan.
Not long after, Hiruzen entered the room, followed closely by an Anbu.
The three clan heads immediately stood up, "Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen waved a hand dismissively as he sat down cross-legged, "No need for formalities. Sit down, let's talk."
Once everyone was seated, Hiruzen took a stack of documents from the Anbu behind him. After signaling for the Anbu to leave, he handed a copy to each clan leader and said, "I called you all here today to discuss about establishing of checkpoints at the borders of the Fire Country and increasing patrols within our territory.
"This document outlines a detailed plan. Please review it first." He then picked up his tea and quietly sipped it, saying no more.
The room fell into silence, the only sound being the soft rustling of pages as the clan heads flipped through the documents.
Hiruzen waited patiently, using the moment to study their strengths.
All three were elite jōnin, but only Hyuga Tennin had approached the threshold of Kage-level strength. His mastery of the Hyuga clan's gentle fist, coupled with the Byakugan, gave him power beyond an ordinary jōnin. With years of training and experience, he had reached a level similar to Uchiha Setsuna—though both had done so through different means.
As for the other two, while not on the same level as Tennin, they were still formidable in their own right. The Aburame clan's insect techniques and the Inuzuka clan's beast-based combat style gave them unique advantages that couldn't be underestimated.
Aburame Shide was the first to finish reading. He remained silent, merely setting the document aside and taking another sip of tea.
Inuzuka Kira followed shortly after, putting down the papers and exchanging a glance with Shide. How they managed to communicate through sunglasses was anyone's guess.
Finally, Hyuga Tennin set his document aside, glancing at the other two as if attempting to gauge their thoughts with his Byakugan.
It was Tennin who broke the silence, "The Hyuga clan is willing to cooperate with this plan". His eyes flicked toward Hiruzen, clearly waiting for an incentive in return.
Hiruzen, however, feigned ignorance and simply nodded, "The Hyuga clan's support is invaluable to Konoha. What about the rest of you? Do you have any thoughts on the plan?"
He turned to the other two clan leaders.
"As one of Konoha's clans, the Inuzuka naturally has a duty to assist in this effort," Inuzuka Kira said, though his tone carried hesitation, "However, our numbers are small, and our resources are limited. There's only so much we can contribute."
A roundabout way of asking for benefits while avoiding major commitments.
"And the Aburame clan?" Hiruzen shifted his gaze to Shide.
"Our Aburame clan is willing to follow the Hokage's orders," Shide responded slowly. "However, I have my doubts that the Uchiha clan will simply stand aside. Our numbers are far fewer than theirs. We cannot compare to the Uchiha or Hyuga in influence."
"You are overthinking things," Hiruzen replied calmly. "I spoke with Uchiha Setsuna recently, and he was very understanding. In fact, he departed for the Land of Iron just yesterday.
"Besides, with the expansion of the Guard Department, the Uchiha do not have enough members to handle all the responsibilities alone. That is precisely why I came to you three."
Hyuga Tennin wasted no time, "Then I want the Central District Guard Team and the position of Guard Minister."
Aburame Shide followed suit, "Then my Aburame clan will take charge of the Customs Guard Department."
Finally, Inuzuka Kira smirked, "In that case, the Inuzuka will handle the Patrol Guard Team."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly. So, the three of them wanted to divide the entire Guard Department amongst themselves? What exactly were they planning?
"Did none of you read the proposal carefully?" Hiruzen asked, his voice sharp as he tossed his own copy onto the table.
"Don't be upset, Hokage-sama," Tennin replied in a calm tone. "No matter how well-structured a plan is, adjustments must be made based on real conditions."
"Indeed," Inuzuka Kira chimed in.
"If you are dissatisfied, Hokage-sama, we can always discuss it further," Aburame Shide added smoothly.
Hiruzen exhaled, pressing his fingers together. "My dear clan heads, I am a member of the Sarutobi clan, but I have intentionally excluded my own people from this Guard Department restructuring to ensure fairness. I did not do this just to watch the three of you divide the department among yourselves.
The Guard Department is meant to serve Konoha as a whole—not to be dominated by a single clan or faction. The reason I sought out your clans is because reconnaissance-based shinobi are best suited for the duties required.
If one clan—or even a few—monopolizes the Guard Department, it will create dangerous loopholes. Clan-based shinobi rely too heavily on their family's secret techniques and bloodline abilities. From your perspective, these techniques are a source of pride but from my perspective, they are vulnerabilities.
Even the Uchiha, as diverse as their abilities are, have exploitable weaknesses. A single shinobi can specialize in one field, and a clan can excel in a particular technique—but the village cannot afford to have such gaps in its defenses.
The Guard Department will take on the vital responsibilities, and it must be structured accordingly. Its members must come from diverse backgrounds to ensure adaptability. Leadership positions will not be granted based on clan ties alone. Instead, selection will be transparent and merit-based.
For now, I will personally appoint the department head—Uchiha Kagami. But in the future, the Guard Department will follow a system where the competent rise, and the unqualified are replaced. That is my vision for this department."
Aburame Shide adjusted his sunglasses slightly before asking, "Then what exactly will be the powers of the Guard Department?"
Hiruzen thought back to the role of police in his previous life before speaking, "In my opinion, the police force should be responsible for the following:
"First, preventing, stopping, and investigating illegal criminal activities. For now, this responsibility will be limited to Konoha Village."
"Second, preventing and suppressing acts of sabotage by enemy ninjas. This will primarily be handled by the patrol units."
"Third, maintaining public order in the ninja world and stopping any activities that threaten it. According to the Five Kage Summit's agreements, Konoha's police force will be responsible for maintaining security within the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass."
"Fourth, ensuring security in border regions to prevent foreign ninjas from infiltrating the Land of Fire and engaging in sabotage."
Hyuga Tennin pondered these words before replying, "I understand Hokage-sama's intentions. As a Konoha ninja, I also hope for the village's prosperity. However, as the leader of the Hyuga clan, my priority is my family. If I openly challenge the Uchiha, it would be irresponsible of me as clan head."
Aburame Shide smiled wryly and added, "Yes, Hokage-sama, I fully support the village's plans, but I also have to consider my clan's interests."
Inuzuka Kira voiced a similar sentiment. While they acknowledged their duty as Konoha shinobi, their roles as clan heads meant they had to secure some advantages for their families.
Hiruzen's expression darkened slightly as he studied them, "I understand your concerns, but do you think Uchiha Setsuna did not consider his clan when he accepted his new role?"
He let his words sink in before continuing, "Did he not foresee that the village might need to restructure the Uchiha's role? Yet, he still accepted the mission to serve as an ambassador to the Land of Iron. As a result, the newly restructured Guard Department will be headed by Uchiha Kagami."
Truthfully, Hiruzen had no way of knowing whether Uchiha Setsuna had predicted this outcome, but that didn't stop him from using the situation to make his point.
The three clan leaders remained silent.
Hiruzen leaned forward slightly, "Konoha is the home to many clans and as you all know, in addition to secret techniques, there are other investigative ninjutsu available in the village. I'm sure many clans would be eager to take your places if given the opportunity."
Tennin responded, "Ninjutsu has its strengths, but so do secret techniques. Even if new investigative ninjas were trained now, it would take time before they became a capable force. The Hyuga clan belongs to Konoha, but I must also provide my people with a convincing reason to accept these changes. We are not trying to obstruct the Hokage's plans."
Hiruzen remained silent for a long time, reflecting on the challenges of dealing with the powerful clans of Konoha. Managing the village was already difficult, and with so many family-based factions, things became even more complicated. The Uchiha clan head had been reassigned, and Hiruzen had done everything he could to smooth over their concerns. Yet now, these clan leaders were using this opportunity to negotiate benefits for themselves. With a tired sigh, he finally spoke.
"Here's the final arrangement: Uchiha Kagami will remain the head of the Guard Department. The captain of the Central Security Team will be selected from the Hyuga clan. The Patrol Security Team will be led by the Inuzuka clan. The Customs Security Team will be under the Aburame clan's jurisdiction.
However, regardless of which team it is, your clans cannot hold more than 30% of the total positions. Additionally, to maintain the strength and credibility of the Guard Department, I expect each of you to assign your best members. Do not send weak, unfit, or unqualified shinobi just to fill those positions. That would be an embarrassment to Konoha.
Furthermore, the competitive selection process for leadership positions will not change. If your clansmen fail to secure a captain's position in the future, do not blame me.
Finally, the head of the Guard Department will not be a permanent position. The term will be five years. After that, all Konoha ninjas will be eligible to compete for leadership roles."
As he finished speaking, Hiruzen's exhaustion was evident.
The three clan leaders exchanged glances before turning to him with apologetic expressions.
"We apologize for troubling you, Lord Hokage. We will ensure that the Guard Department functions properly."
Hiruzen waved his hand tiredly, signaling for them to leave. No more words were spoken.