"Please, Clan Head Seiryu, give us some guidance," Shibi said.
"I wouldn't dare call it guidance. Compared to an experienced clan head like you, I'm still new to leading the Uchiha," Seiryu replied with a smile. "But if I put myself in your shoes, I do have a suggestion."
"Please speak, Clan Head Seiryu."
"What the village and villagers want to see is simply an attitude," Seiryu said. "Even if you produce evidence proving you weren't involved with Danzo, they likely won't believe it."
"As for that stance…" Seiryu smiled at Shibi. "What could be more convincing than the Aburame personally helping to bring down Danzo's criminal gang?"
At this, Shibi fell silent.
After a long pause, he sighed. "I understand."
He turned to a nearby jonin and said, "Bring Tokon here."
Shibi felt helpless. Their clan's insect techniques were too useful for scouting and assassinations. Since the Warring States era, ambitious ninjas have never stopped targeting them. If not for the fact that only Aburame blood could bond with the insects, they'd have been wiped out long ago. That's why they were among the first to support the founding of Konoha.
But a few good years after the village's founding, with the First and Second Hokage gone, schemers like Danzo emerged and targeted the Aburame.
Now Danzo was dead, and Seiryu was likely after the same thing.
Over the years, the Aburame had developed a survival strategy: when faced with unavoidable demands, they'd send a talented child in exchange for a period of peace.
Soon, a boy of eight or nine, wearing sunglasses and a face mask so his expression was hidden, was brought in.
"What's this, Clan Head Aburame?" Seiryu frowned.
"Clan Head Seiryu, because of a bloodline mutation, Tokon has a unique affinity for nano-scale poisonous bugs. How about he represents our clan in the Police Department?" Shibi suggested.
Seiryu laughed helplessly. "I think you misunderstand. I just want Aburame ninja to serve in the Police, not to recruit child laborers who haven't even graduated from the Academy."
Shibi was stunned. Wait—don't all you ambitious types train death soldiers from childhood?
"Clan Head, you don't take me for a Danzo-type schemer, do you?" Seiryu's face darkened; the room fell silent.
"My apologies, please forgive me!" Shibi quickly bowed, then told Tokon to leave.
"You know, our Police positions often deal directly with villagers. Misunderstandings happen, and rumors spread, but we always serve the village with the Will of Fire in mind. It's a shame you misunderstood," Seiryu said.
"Clan Head Seiryu is the model of Konoha ninja; I was too petty," Shibi said, still unsure of Seiryu's true intentions but forced to apologize.
"Never mind, it's not your fault," Seiryu waved it off. "Blame that schemer Danzo—if he hadn't forced your clan to hand over prodigies, you wouldn't have misunderstood me."
Seiryu casually shifted all the blame to Danzo.
"Yes, yes, it's all Danzo's fault!" Shibi quickly agreed.
"So, consider my suggestion. The Police offer good treatment to talented ninjas. And, given the current situation, nothing would reassure the villagers more than an Aburame captain leading the charge against Danzo's criminal group."
"I understand," Shibi said. "I'll send a jonin and several special jonin and chunin to serve in the Police."
The conditions were good, and Seiryu was sincere. More importantly, the Aburame had no choice.
Then Seiryu added, "But if a captain is appointed without any achievements, the subordinates won't accept it. The Police isn't ruled by my word alone."
"We'll help our clan member earn enough merit as soon as possible," Shibi said.
"No need to go that far," Seiryu laughed. "For the sake of the village's stability, and as fellow ninja clans, we don't want to see the Aburame in trouble. I've already prepared merits for you—that's why I'm visiting privately."
Seiryu produced documents from Yamamoto Taro and placed them before Shibi.
Shibi looked through them, then looked up. Though his face was hidden, his trembling hands betrayed his unease.
These charges were even more severe than those concerning Torune, and they implicated the Nara and Mitokado clans. Cold sweat ran down Shibi's face. If the evidence only accused the Shimura, he'd have agreed without hesitation. With Danzo dead, the Shimura were like stray dogs now. But with two more clans involved...
Shibi understood: to escape the situation unscathed, the Aburame needed to present a sufficient pledge of allegiance. And that, he realized, was Seiryu's true goal.