"The Seventh Elder is here!" Uchiha Kin said indifferently, his tone completely different from the united front the Uchiha Clan had shown during the morning meeting.
After the alcohol exploded like thunder, the other elders of the Uchiha Clan awoke as if from a dream, only then realizing that a finished product, originally only worth a few dozen taels, had been hyped up to an exorbitant price of tens of thousands of taels.
The astonishing profit, hundreds of times over, instantly clouded their minds like a fog, causing them to one after another secretly negotiate with Uchiha Tenxiu, attempting to make Uchiha Tenxiu hand over the true profits that should have been given.
Uchiha Tenxiu directly refused.
Are you kidding? How could wealth that has entered my, Uchiha Tenxiu's, hands be given away so easily?
Besides, ever since Konoha was established...
...and the Uchiha Clan parted ways with Uchiha Madara...
...the nine elders of the entire Uchiha Clan had already divided up most of the family's property.
Essentially, they were already nine major branches, occupying ninety percent of the profits.
The remaining Uchiha commoners, who did not belong to the nine major branches, received only a small amount of property besides their houses and land.
However, it was considered fair, with limitations only on future development.
That is, on the improvement of a Ninja's strength.
Even a genius like Uchiha Tenxiu had to try every means to gain fame in order to receive family cultivation.
Peerless geniuses like Uchiha Chiri could only learn on their own and did not receive specialized training.
Uchiha Tenxiu admitted that each of these elders would sacrifice their lives for the Uchiha Clan, and each of them hoped to develop and strengthen the Uchiha Clan.
However, the Uchiha Clan for which they would sacrifice their lives, the Uchiha Clan they hoped to develop and strengthen, was only their own and their Uchiha Clan.
Although the current Uchiha Tenxiu was also a member of these elders, and a part of the vested interests...
...these were all gained through Uchiha Tenxiu's own schemes.
Their support for him at the time was merely to turn the so-called inheritance sequence into a custom, in order to protect their own interests.
Therefore, although Uchiha Tenxiu was grateful to them, he would not treat it as something to be extremely thankful for, where he must obey these elders and sacrifice his own interests to repay their kindness.
Uchiha Tenxiu would absolutely not do any of that.
Therefore, facing the elders' repeated attempts to negotiate and take away the profits from the alcohol, Uchiha Tenxiu directly refused.
Because each of the nine elders had their own businesses, the profits they actually handed over were decided based on their personal mood, no matter how much, and were not required by the family; it was merely for appearances!
Why should he, Uchiha Tenxiu, be the one to strictly adhere to family rules, while others did not?
Uchiha Tenxiu was not someone who followed rules.
Moreover, Uchiha Tenxiu's ideas for the future arrangement of the Uchiha Clan were contrary to those of these elders.
What they wanted was for the Uchiha Clan to develop and grow stronger in Konoha Ninja Village and seize power in Konoha.
What Uchiha Tenxiu wanted, however, were Uchiha Clan members who would completely submit to him after becoming utterly disillusioned with Konoha, rather than merely treating him as a fellow clansman and an ally.
There was a world of difference between the two.
Otherwise, once he casually brought them to the Great Zhou, they would consider themselves co-managers of the Great Zhou.
In the history of his previous life, which emperor, after ascending the throne, would make his own clansmen part of the imperial family?
At most, they would become members of the imperial clan.
Even so, they would not have succession rights to the imperial throne.
But these elders of the Uchiha Clan were different; give them an inch, and they'd take a mile.
Therefore, this was also why Uchiha Tenxiu did not interfere with their Uchiha Clan Military Police Force, but simply went about his own business.
Essentially, he was relying on Konoha to continuously psychologically torment the Uchiha members who remained in Konoha, to make them completely awaken.
Such clansmen were the ones he needed.
And handing over the tens of billions of taels earned from the alcohol to the Uchiha Clan would be like throwing money away, with no returns.
Perhaps, by consuming this part of the profit, it would even make the Uchiha Clan members who remained in Konoha feel that Konoha was even better, and they wouldn't suffer!
Not to mention, Uchiha Tenxiu had already invested all that money into the development of the Great Zhou at that time, so how could he possibly take it out and hand it over to the Uchiha Clan!
Therefore, he naturally refused outright.
Thus, under Uchiha Tenxiu's stubbornness, the various elders immediately began to discuss him.
Some felt that Uchiha Tenxiu, as a genius, was blinded by money, and truly felt a sense of disappointment.
Such as Uchiha Yue and Uchiha Enmon.
Some felt that while Uchiha Tenxiu's actions were excessive, they were exactly the same as what many other family elders did, and there was no need to pursue it to the end.
For example, the First Elder, Uchiha Feng, also had many businesses outside that he entrusted to his son, and likewise did not report them.
However, some felt that Uchiha Tenxiu had developed such profits solely through the family, and therefore needed to hand over a large portion to the family.
This idea belonged to Uchiha Kin.
Because of various internal family matters, his faction and Uchiha Tenxiu's faction were constantly clashing.
Naturally, except when dealing with external families, he would put on a pretense; most of the time, he was hostile towards Uchiha Tenxiu.
Because he was in charge of the Uchiha Clan's commerce, but after Uchiha Tenxiu took power, while managing the family's estates, he also established a large number of merchant teams.
This infringed upon his interests and rights, so Uchiha Kin himself was the most hostile towards Tenxiu within the Uchiha Clan.
Uchiha Tenxiu was well aware of this, but he had no intention of completely falling out with them.
Anyway, no matter what these people thought of him, it wouldn't threaten him, so he would just leave their fate to Konoha, letting Konoha arrange it for them!
"This is my son, Uchiha Tomimura.
He's over twenty years old, and can only handle simple tasks in the Uchiha Clan Military Police Force!" Uchiha Feng casually said, pointing to Uchiha Tomimura, who was serving tea to Uchiha Tenxiu, then introduced him, "This is Tenxiu, the Seventh Elder of the family.
This is your first time meeting him.
The Chidori Current you diligently practice was developed by Uchiha Tenxiu.
You should learn well from Tenxiu Elder!"
"Yes, Lord Tenxiu!" Uchiha Tomimura looked at Uchiha Tenxiu and bowed with a serious expression.
"Hmm!" Uchiha Tenxiu nodded, not paying attention to Uchiha Feng's mention of his son learning the Chidori Current.
Although according to the rules set for the submitted Ninjutsu, everyone who learned Chidori Current had to inform him, so that he could investigate the character of the learner to prevent leaks.
But the other party secretly learned it!
He had no way of knowing.
It was merely to guard against gentlemen, not against villains.
However, he had long anticipated this; the purpose of setting rules was merely to gain the legitimate right to punish.
After an somewhat unusual exchange of pleasantries...
...the First Elder also put forward a request.
"I hope you can change the current Uchiha Clan Military Police Force model of your West Gate Branch!" The First Elder, Uchiha Feng, said with a serious attitude.
"What, change the model of the West Gate Uchiha Police Force!" Uchiha Tenxiu asked lazily, leaning on the conference table, but a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.
Strange.
Why would the First Elder bring up this issue?
It's one thing not to learn from me!
But he also wants to mess with my West Gate Branch.
Could it be that someone is sowing discord?
"Indeed! The current Uchiha Clan Military Police Force, especially your West Gate Branch, has gone too far!
If this continues, it will inevitably provoke strong hostility from the entire Konoha Village towards the Uchiha Clan!"
"You must know that the duty of the Uchiha Clan Military Police Force should be to maintain the safety and peace of Konoha Village and protect the villagers from disaster.
However, the actions of your West Gate Branch run counter to this.
You only do things after receiving money, and refuse to deal with matters if no money is given.
You even allow prisoners in the jail to exchange money for survival, which is truly infuriating!" Uchiha Feng said with a serious expression, his words revealing deep concern about the current situation.
As the Uchiha Clan was now considered a strong candidate for the Third Hokage, this matter became increasingly important.
If someone from the Uchiha Clan were indeed successfully elected as Hokage, then the opinions of the Jonin class would be crucial.
After all, the Hokage not only had to lead Konoha Village but also had to gain the support and recognition of the villagers and the Jonin class.
However, if a person from the Uchiha Clan became Hokage in the future, but was opposed by everyone due to controversy from Konoha Village, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Even if the Uchiha Clan had already ascended to the Hokage's throne, they could very likely be impeached due to public opposition.
Such an outcome would undoubtedly become a huge joke, making them a laughingstock.
Therefore, to prevent such a situation from occurring...
...Uchiha Feng planned to clean up the current Uchiha Clan Military Police Force in Konoha and rectify these undesirable practices.
"Hmm, let's call this action the 'Integrity Uchiha Clan Military Police Force Policy'!" Uchiha Feng thought to himself, intending to treat the Uchiha Clan Military Police Force with high standards, making them correct their past bad practices, thereby making the villagers of Konoha look at them with new eyes.
"Are you sure you're not joking?" Uchiha Tenxiu straightened up, wide-eyed, and asked again.
He had thought he was called here to be consulted on how to plunder Konoha's wealth and increase the income of the Konoha Uchiha Clan Military Police Force.
But he didn't expect the other party to be here to stop him.
And even talk about bad influence.
Are you perhaps brainwashed by the fire will?!
My goodness!
You are the First Elder of the Uchiha Clan, who used to solemnly declare that you would be irreconcilable with the Senju!
Now, you're acting like this.
Just because you want to be Hokage!
"First Elder, are you perhaps drunk? Do you think the Uchiha Clan needs the recognition and praise of those ordinary people?
What good is their praise and recognition?!" Uchiha Tenxiu pointed out the conference room window and asked again.
"Those people are just a rabble!"
"The Uchiha Clan lost two Hokage not because of everyone's approval and recognition, but simply because of insufficient strength!"
"If Uchiha Madara had won, who would have dared to stand up and oppose him becoming the First Hokage?
When you humble yourselves to cater to their ideas, you've already lost!"
Uchiha Tenxiu looked coldly at the few people in front of him, inadvertently having his guard raised to the maximum, fearing that he might be ambushed with a 'Hongmen Banquet' at this moment, secretly preparing various defensive measures.