This time it was Koharu who spoke, "Whether it's the Hyuga branch family or the main family, you are both Konoha villagers."
"This time, due to the mistake made by your Hyuga clan, too many died in vain and punishment must be enforced."
After Koharu spoke, she inconspicuously glanced at Fugaku and Rengoku.
But unexpectedly, neither of them reacted at all.
The Third Hokage then continued, "Hereby, the honorary elder titles of Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Sarumito are stripped."
Hyuga Hiashi's expression darkened, he wanted to say something but was stopped by Hyuga Sarumito beside him.
Although the Hyuga had obtained these two honorary elder titles, they actually hadn't been assigned any real position.
They were honorary titles; even though they had voting rights in meetings like this, the significance was minor.
Even if they could no longer attend high-level meetings in the future, it really had little impact.
Previously the Hyuga had worked hard to curry favor with Hiruzen, only to be betrayed; now that the honorary elder title was taken back, so be it.
Sarumito had previously worried that the Uchiha might fall for the trap, but now it seemed this Uchiha Rengoku was anything but simple.
In fact, this meeting was still led by Rengoku on behalf of the Uchiha clan.
Not a single one of Konoha's traps had been triggered.
Next would surely be a compromise to the Uchiha.
Sure enough, after announcing the punishment of the Hyuga clan—
The Third Hokage changed tone, "Because of Danzo's actions, the Uchiha clan has suffered great losses."
"Moreover, this time Uchiha Rengoku successfully intercepted the invasion of the Fourth Mizukage."
"The two vacant honorary elder titles of the Hyuga clan shall be succeeded by Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Rengoku."
Originally, Rengoku had planned to push the Hyuga clan to pressure Konoha into ceding two elder positions.
But the incident with Hyuga Koshin occurred, and the Hyuga were directly stripped of them.
Although the honorary elder titles were changed to Fugaku and Rengoku, these were trivial matters.
The Uchiha side didn't speak up, and the Third Hokage above continued reading, "The Uchiha Police Force shall be restored to the scale of 30 squads."
Hearing this, Fugaku glanced at Rengoku, 'Sure enough, just as Rengoku said, Konoha is trying to use this to bind us again.'
"Is that all?"
Seeing that everyone was waiting for the Uchiha to respond, Rengoku instead asked the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage slowly asked, "Rengoku, do you have any comments to offer?"
Rengoku tapped the table a few times, "It's not exactly a comment, just a small matter that I need to remind everyone of."
"I've said before, Danzo colluded with the culprit of the Nine-Tails chaos."
"Rengoku, we didn't find any related evidence," Mitokado Homura said in a low voice.
Danzo could fall, but he absolutely couldn't die, that was the final bottom line of their deal with Danzo.
Rengoku seemed to have expected this answer and wasn't surprised, "Our Uchiha clan isn't particularly interested in expanding the Police Force. After losing it for so long, we don't really want to pick it back up."
"But I think the Konoha Academy is missing a Uchiha principal."
Everyone present had a sharp change in expression, 'What is the Uchiha up to now?'
'They want the principal position of Konoha Ninja Academy?'
Although Konoha Academy wasn't on par with the Mission Center or Hospital System, its influence was still quite significant.
All the successors of ninja clans were in the academy, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was also in the academy.
Previously, the principal of the ninja academy was just an honorary elder from a minor ninja clan, basically not managing anything.
The position was essentially nominal; all teachers were directly assigned by the Hokage.
But if this position were handed to the Uchiha, who knows how many problems that would cause.
"Impossible! That position absolutely cannot be given to your Uchiha clan!", Koharu reacted strongly, thinking Rengoku was dreaming.
The Third Hokage also said seriously, "The Konoha Academy currently has a principal, he cannot be removed without cause."
Rengoku spread his hands in an innocent gesture, "Aiya, we Uchiha have so many children, and we're very willing to study and improve together with the successors of other ninja clans."
"But I'm worried that if we're not careful, our children might get kidnapped, you know? So we want to become the academy principal to ensure the children's safety," Rengoku's words, filled with deeper meaning, made the other ninja clan elders show thoughtful expressions.
Then he tapped the table, "May I ask, who is currently the academy principal?"
"It's me," A not-so-familiar honorary elder to Rengoku stood up, he was Tamura Takashi.
In Konoha, aside from a few famous large clans that had honorary elders, other small clans would often elect one from among themselves.
Tamura Takashi was one such honorary elder, generally a fringe figure who followed the tide.
"I think Elder Tamura Takashi has worked quite hard, he can retire early," Rengoku gave Tamura Takashi a look.
Tamura Takashi, as a fringe figure among the high-ups, had naturally survived this long due to his skill in reading the room.
He glanced around the entire venue. Aside from the elders of the Utatane, Mitokado, and Shimura clans who showed no expression…
The elders of the ninja clans led by the Ino–Shika–Cho trio all gave him subtle looks.
He, as an elder, was essentially a fence-sitter. Many times, what the Hokage said was final.
But now the situation had changed, even the Uchiha had nearly been exterminated.
If he continued to align with the Hokage faction, he'd probably be eaten clean to the bone.
Besides, he was just a nominal principal, who never managed anything.
After a moment of thought, he also said solemnly:
"What Elder Rengoku said is reasonable. I am getting old and no longer capable of fulfilling the duties of academy principal. I hereby resign from the position of academy principal and request the Third Hokage to find someone else."
Koharu's expression changed slightly, she hadn't expected Tamura Takashi to defect so directly.
The Third Hokage only frowned slightly and said, "Elder Takashi, have you thought this through? The position of academy principal is not easily obtained."
Tamura Takashi, having made up his mind, would not go back now.
He faked a couple of coughs, "Time spares no one, I hope the Third Lord understands."
This line was extremely mocking. Tamura Takashi wasn't even sixty yet, and "time spares no one."
While Hiruzen was already in his sixties and still tightly clutching power.
It could be said to be an extreme irony.
Everyone present had somewhat amused expressions.
Rengoku knocked on the table again, directly drawing everyone's attention.
"Since Elder Takashi has already resigned as academy principal, I, Uchiha Rengoku, wielder of Mangekyō Sharingan, of the strongest noble family in the ninja world, Uchiha Clan's Fourth Elder, Konoha Honorary Elder."
"Hereby request to run for the position of academy principal, does anyone object?"
Rengoku directly listed his string of titles and then stared at the elders of the Hokage faction.
Whether it was Utatane, Mitokado, or Shimura clan elders, they were all staring at each other now.
They never imagined that Uchiha Rengoku would play such a hand.
They all looked to the Third Hokage with pleading eyes.
But since none of the other elders cast opposing votes, even if they did, it would be meaningless.
And if they voted against it now, it would mean just two words.
MAKE ENEMIES.
The Third Hokage still held power in his hands and could overrule Rengoku.
But Rengoku's confident attitude clearly showed he wasn't afraid of the Third Hokage refusing.
The Third Hokage gave a look to several elders.
Those elders also just sat calmly, since the Third Hokage approved, what was the point of them opposing?
Rengoku, completely taking control of the meeting, announced, "Since no one objects, then I will be the new academy principal."
[T/N: I think MC is doing this because every strong character from Konoha passes through Ninja Academy, if he can build good relation with them, with his system, he can grow faster.]
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