The Mission Desk was a business. If an employer was rich, even a prideful ninja would swallow their ego to find a lost cat because, at the end of the day, ninjas had to eat. But for the villagers with empty pockets? They went to the Police Department.
For years, the Uchiha had been treated as a free, 24-hour convenience store for every petty grievance in Konoha. If a dog went missing or a neighbor was too loud, the Uchiha were expected to fix it. If they didn't, the villagers made a scene. If they did, they were still hated. It was a cycle of wasted potential that gave Hiko a literal migraine.
"I disagree," Shisui said, standing up. His voice was soft, pleading. "These 'trivial' tasks are our best bridge to the people. It's an opportunity to show the villagers that the Uchiha are part of this community. We can't throw that away just because it's inconvenient."
"Shisui is right," the Sixth Elder added, still nursing his bruised ego from the night before. "We cannot risk further isolating the clan."
The Great Elder let out a sharp, displeased snort, but he kept his temper in check, looking at Hiko with genuine curiosity. He wanted to see how this young man would handle the "Doves."
Hiko didn't argue. He leaned back and began to laugh.
It started as a chuckle and grew into a harsh, echoing bark of amusement. Shisui frowned, his brow furrowing with hurt. The Sixth Elder's face turned a violent shade of red.
"Uchiha Hiko!" the Elder roared, his finger trembling as he pointed. "What is so funny? Are you mocking me?"
Hiko wiped a tear from his eye, trying to catch his breath. "Mocking you? No, Elder. Please, remove the ambiguity—I am flat-out laughing at you."
The silence that followed was deafening. It wasn't just a snub; it was Hiko taking the Elder's dignity, dropping it on the floor, and stepping on it.
"Hiko," Shisui intervened, his voice pained. "Even if we disagree, there is no need to humiliate the Elders. We are family."
"You call that an 'idea'?" Hiko finally stopped laughing, his eyes turning cold as ice. "I don't think you have ideas, Shisui. I think you are just hopelessly, dangerously stupid."
Shisui recoiled as if he'd been slapped.
"The villagers' bad impression of us started with the Night of the Nine-Tails, not because we didn't find enough lost cats," Hiko snapped. "The Police Department is a security force. We are supposed to do the things that offend people—that's what law enforcement is! And you want to waste our elite manpower on chores? Why waste resources on people who hate us when you could use those resources on our own kin?"
Hiko turned to the room, his voice projecting. "Shouldn't we use that budget to increase our own wages? To improve our own benefits? Or does Shisui believe the Uchiha clan isn't worthy of enjoying the fruits of their own hard work?"
"I never said that!" Shisui turned anxious. Hiko had just trapped him. If Shisui argued further, he would be seen as the man trying to take money out of his cousins' pockets to give it to strangers.
"The Great Elder agrees with Hiko!" the old man shouted, slamming a fist on the table. "Finally, a youth who considers the blood in our veins before the dust in the streets. I support this move!"
The team leaders, even those who leaned toward the Doves, remained silent. In the world of ninjas, ideology was fine, but a pay raise was better. No one was going to argue against their own wallet.
Fugaku massaged his temples. Hiko was a force of nature, turning every meeting into a battlefield. And the worst part was, Hiko was right.
"Hiko," Fugaku interrupted, trying to maintain order. "The Nine-Tails is a taboo subject. Do not bring it up so casually. But regarding the villagers... if we stop these services, how will they react?"
"Who cares how they look at us?" Hiko shrugged. "Uchiha is based on our own strength, not the fickle 'good impressions' of the public. If they want their cats found, let them pay the Mission Desk. As for the complaints, hire a few low-level civil servants to play 'administrative football' with them. My squad is done being the village's maid service."
Hiko's tone sharpened as he looked at Fugaku. "And while we're talking about efficiency, Patriarch, let's talk about the Personnel Department. They're a group of uncles acting like kings. I requested a new recruit half a month ago. The assessment is still sitting on a desk somewhere. If they can't handle a simple hire, they should go home and raise pigs."
Fugaku's face darkened. He was in charge of the civilian staff. Hiko was effectively calling the Patriarch's administration incompetent to his face.
"I will personally see to it," Fugaku said through gritted teeth.
The meeting ended abruptly. The Hardliners left with chests puffed out, feeling a victory in the air. The Doves left numb, feeling the ground shift beneath them. And Shisui stood in the center of the courtyard, staring at Hiko's back, feeling like the "bridge" he had spent his life building was being dismantled, brick by brick, by a man who didn't believe in crossing over.