Chapter 39: Inuzuka Clan! Loyalty!
The next day, Uchiha Douhuan went to the Police Force to make some arrangements, and seeing that it was almost time for the scheduled meeting, he took some gifts and headed toward the Inuzuka Clan compound.
Inside the Inuzuka Clan's territory, everything was meticulously prepared. One had to admit that the cohesion of the Inuzuka Clan was remarkably strong. After the clan leaders made the decision to support the Uchiha Clan the previous night, the whole clan mobilized at dawn to prepare for Douhuan's arrival.
At the entrance of the Inuzuka compound, the path was covered with yellow soil mats, and the street had been freshly washed.
When Uchiha Douhuan arrived, he saw the Inuzuka Clan leader, Inuzuka Jaw, along with three other elite Jonin, including Inuzuka Kotsu, the clan elder, all waiting at the gate to greet him.
Seeing this scene, Douhuan couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu, reminiscent of a leader's inspection from his previous life, complete with a ceremonial atmosphere—just lacking a couple of welcoming banners.
Douhuan immediately understood the Inuzuka Clan's stance. It was clear that they had grown tired of being a marginalized clan and were looking to rise to prominence.
As Douhuan approached, Jaw led the others to greet him without hesitation.
Douhuan smiled and said, "I apologize for the intrusion and any trouble I may have caused."
Jaw chuckled, "No need to be so polite, Lord Douhuan. Your visit brings great honor to our Inuzuka Clan."
Douhuan greeted each of them with a firm handshake. When it was Inuzuka Wind's turn, he laughed and said, "Last time on the mission, I was treated like a guest by Lord Douhuan. Now that you're visiting our Inuzuka Clan, you must give me the chance to return the favor."
"Lord Douhuan, please come in."
They led him into the Inuzuka Clan's reception hall, where they had just sat down when the servants brought tea.
After a few pleasantries, Jaw opened the conversation, "May I ask the reason for your visit today, Lord Douhuan?"
Douhuan took a sip of tea and explained, "Recently, the Police Force recruited a batch of new members. Though their strength is passable and they are diligent in training, they lack the abilities that our clan's Sharingan provides. This becomes a problem when pursuing criminals or searching for contraband. During the mission, Wind mentioned that your clan was considering selling some trained ninja dogs to the Police Force. Hence, I came to inquire about purchasing some well-trained ninja dogs."
Jaw waved his hand dismissively, "The Police Force is responsible for maintaining peace and order in the village, and as members of the village, it's only right for the Inuzuka Clan to assist. There's no need to speak of purchases or sales. Tomorrow, we will select a batch of elite adult ninja dogs and personally deliver them to the Police Force."
"That would be greatly appreciated," Douhuan replied with a smile. "Rest assured, the Police Force will officially incorporate these ninja dogs as part of the Police Dog Unit. Each dog will receive a monthly allowance of 30,000 ryo, provided in the form of high-quality food. We guarantee that every ryo will be used directly for the dogs' well-being."
"Thirty thousand ryo?" Inuzuka Retsu, one of the attending Jonin, was taken aback. "Even within our clan, only the most talented ninja dogs paired with family members receive that level of care. Ordinary ninja dogs don't even come close."
Douhuan nodded and added, "I am quite fond of dogs myself. I understand that caring for them properly requires commitment and resources."
Elder Kotsu smiled and spoke, "I was originally worried about our ninja dogs not being treated well at the Police Force. Now it seems my worries were misplaced."
However, Wind spoke up, "But does the Police Force have anyone capable of taking care of these dogs? Training and maintaining ninja dogs isn't as simple as looking after some noble's pet."
Douhuan acknowledged the point, "That's true. Most of my clan members are better at handling cats than dogs, let alone well-trained ninja dogs. Therefore, I was hoping that the Inuzuka Clan could go one step further."
Jaw feigned confusion, "What does Lord Douhuan mean by that?"
Douhuan saw through the pretense but didn't mind. The Inuzuka Clan had already shown enough sincerity with their grand welcoming ceremony. Besides, being the first clan to support the Uchiha in this way meant that Douhuan needed to reciprocate their goodwill.
"I would like to hire some professional dog trainers, veterinarians, and dog handlers from the Inuzuka Clan to work at the Police Force. Since professional work should be handled by professionals, I can't think of anyone more suitable than the Inuzuka Clan."
"As for salaries, trainers and veterinarians will be classified as technical personnel, receiving 18,000 ryo per month, comparable to Police Squad Leaders. Dog handlers will be categorized by their ninja rank—Chunin receive 18,000 ryo per month, while Special Jonin receive 30,000 ryo per month."
Before Jaw could respond, kaze chimed in with a laugh, "What about Jonin, Lord Douhuan?"
Douhuan glanced at him and smiled, "Jonin will receive a base salary of 40,000 ryo, and with mission allowances and bonuses, they should average around 60,000 ryo per month. I trust kaze's abilities completely."
"Ahem." Elder Kotsu cleared his throat and intervened, "Lord Douhuan, let's get back to the main topic. The Inuzuka Clan is willing to cooperate fully with the Police Force. We will prepare the dogs today and deliver them tomorrow. As for the clan members who will work at the Police Force, they will report for duty the day after tomorrow."
"No rush," Douhuan reassured. "Since the Inuzuka Clan is willing to contribute to the village's safety, the Police Force will naturally show our gratitude. You'll see tomorrow when the dogs arrive."
"Then from now on, we'll be counting on Lord Douhuan," Jaw said with a respectful bow.
Douhuan smiled, waving his hand dismissively, "No need for such formality. It's all for Konoha and the Will of Fire!"
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Douhuan left the Inuzuka compound with a satisfied smile.
The first alliance had been secured, and it was only the beginning.
The Inuzuka Clan had made their choice—loyalty to Uchiha Douhuan.