The clan meeting ended without a single result, leaving only chaos in its wake.
As Uchiha Jin and the radical faction departed, Fugaku had no face left to remain. He had fobbed everyone off with a few words and quickly announced the dissolution of the meeting.
Shisui watched Fugaku's retreating figure, disappointment etched deep in his eyes. Even with the help of the Hokage, could he truly suppress Uchiha Jin?
Yet, recalling Jin's words before leaving, Shisui drew a deep breath and spoke with solemnity.
"Clan Leader, I must go see the Hokage. I need to inquire about the Mangekyō Sharingan in Danzo's possession. I need to know exactly what is going on."
Without waiting for Fugaku to respond, he used a Body Flicker Technique and vanished.
Fugaku's face darkened. He had been simmering with frustration over Jin's earlier audacity, and now even Shisui did not show him the respect he expected. A nameless anger welled up in him, yet he suppressed it, letting out a cold snort before returning home.
Not long after, a Uchiha entered, kneeling respectfully on one knee.
"Clan Leader, there's trouble!"
"Members of the radical faction, both ninja and civilians, have relocated near Uchiha Jin's residence. The area has been reinforced with defensive barriers, and patrols and hidden scouts have been redeployed."
The Uchiha reported this with sweat on his forehead.
Indeed, the radicals' actions were effectively a "state within a state" something entirely unacceptable. While the Uchiha clan was internally factionalized, no one could fully sway another, yet on the surface they maintained unity. Without outside interference, the clan could collapse on its own.
Now, Jin's behavior had shattered that fragile order.
Bam!
Fugaku, who had just lifted his tea cup, froze at the news, then angrily hurled it to the ground.
"Damn it! That wretched kid!"
"What is Uchiha Jin trying to do? Is he attempting to forcibly split my clan?"
Fugaku's face was stormy, his eyes flashing with lethal intent.
He could not accept this. After all these years of painstakingly maintaining Uchiha stability, tiptoeing through internal politics to prevent catastrophe, he had managed only by extreme caution.
And now?
That damned Jin, who he had at least tolerated for minor mischief, dared to divide the clan?
The kneeling Uchiha merely lowered his head, offering no protest. His gaze, flickering with uncertainty, betrayed his inner turmoil.
He had heard every word Jin spoke at the clan meeting. Observing Fugaku's attempts to assert authority, he realized that while Fugaku had a formidable reputation on the battlefield, he was timid before the Konoha high command.
Previously, he had not considered it, but in retrospect, Jin had a point.
During the Nine-Tails' Night, the Uchiha had wanted to rescue the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, yet were intercepted by Danzo.
At the time, young Jin had suggested ignoring Danzo's orders. After all, the sitting Hokage was the Fourth, Minato.
Fugaku had rejected the plan, and no one had thought much of it.
The result? Minato died tragically, and the Uchiha were ostracized, forced to abandon their ancestral lands.
Since that night, Jin had become invisible within the clan once more, until awakening his Mangekyō and joining the radical faction. A few days ago, he became the faction's leader.
It was clear why Jin would not pledge loyalty to Fugaku. In some ways, Fugaku was too indecisive.
So what should he do?
Uchiha Inari's eyes reflected his inner confusion. He now faintly sensed Fugaku's incompetence, but Jin's radical nature made any action difficult.
Sighing, Inari decided to wait.
"Inari!"
Fugaku suddenly called, his voice cold.
"Yes!" Inari responded respectfully, his eyes flickering with a hint of hope. Could it be that Fugaku had finally resolved to take action?
He agreed that Jin had some valid points, but splitting the clan was unforgivable. He was ready to follow Fugaku's orders.
But sadly, Fugaku's indecision returned.
"No, forget it!"
"The Uchiha cannot endure more turmoil. That Jin… we will find a way to deal with him later."
"Return now. The matter of the radical faction is to be ignored."
Inari's eyes darkened with disappointment. Their clan leader's indecision left him speechless. Reluctantly, he left.
Within the Uchiha lands, rumors and debates spread like wildfire. Some credited Fugaku for Konoha's concessions, while others insisted it was Jin's doing. Arguments erupted, with few capable of discerning the truth.
Meanwhile, the radical faction had begun forming its own enclave, creating a "village within a village" among the Uchiha.
Jin's speech at the clan meeting had circulated widely: Konoha's retreat was his doing, and the high command would surely retaliate.
Some clan members scoffed at this, while others believed it and moved closer to the radicals. Unsurprisingly, the radicals welcomed them all Uchiha were family.
At the radical faction's base, Uchiha Jin's residence, late at night:
Jin sat cross-legged on his bed, his Mangekyō Sharingan glowing as he used his ocular powers at the minimum.
Ten no Tokotachi!
By chance, he had discovered a clever trick: maintaining minimal use of his dōjutsu, one unit of chakra could gradually regenerate into two.
The process was slow, far less convenient than the Eternal Mangekyō, but for a boy without systems, cheat codes, or access to weakened Hashirama cells, it was excellent news.