Early the next morning—
Uchiha Jin had just returned from the training ground when Uchiha Tekka approached respectfully.
"Lord Jin, the Anbu have arrived."
Jin nodded slightly.
"As expected."
"Invite Elder Setsuna."
"Yes, sir."
Tekka withdrew, and Jin calmly returned to his residence.
---
Ten minutes later—
Uchiha Setsuna entered alongside an Anbu operative.
The Anbu spoke without preamble:
"Uchiha Jin, Hokage-sama summons you."
Bang!
Before Jin could respond, Setsuna slammed his hand onto the table.
"Mind your tone!"
"Lord Jin is now an Elder of the Uchiha!"
The Anbu remained silent.
He neither apologized nor provoked.
As a representative of the Third Hokage, he would never bow to the Uchiha—
But neither would he act recklessly.
After all, the man before him—
Was widely regarded as the most dangerous figure within the Uchiha.
---
"That's enough, Elder Setsuna."
Jin waved a hand dismissively.
"He's just following orders. There's no need to make things difficult for him."
He stood up, his tone relaxed.
"I'll head to the Hokage Building."
"Elder Setsuna, take our elites and proceed to the Sarutobi Clan compound."
"Stand by."
"Everything proceeds according to plan."
Jin didn't bother hiding anything—even in front of the Anbu.
With that, he stepped out.
---
Twenty minutes later—
Jin arrived at the Hokage's office.
The Anbu had already delivered his report and taken his leave.
Jin glanced at the departing figure before turning his attention inside.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he greeted them politely:
"Hokage-sama."
"Danzo-sama, Elder Koharu, Elder Homura… Advisor Shikaku."
"Good morning."
His demeanor was calm—almost gentle.
With his refined appearance, he even gave off a fleeting resemblance to the late Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
But—
Everyone present knew better.
Beneath that calm exterior lay something far more dangerous.
---
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a slow puff from his pipe before speaking.
His tone was mild, but his gaze was sharp.
"Lord Jin… care to explain why Elder Setsuna has led a force to the Sarutobi Clan compound?"
A faint shadow passed through his eyes.
---
Jin didn't hesitate.
"To protect the Sarutobi Clan, of course."
He spoke plainly.
"There have been increasing reports of enemy infiltration."
"Uchiha are going missing. Even Anbu and Root have suffered losses."
"As the Konoha Police Force, it is our duty to strengthen patrols."
He met Hiruzen's gaze directly.
"You work tirelessly for the village, Hokage-sama."
"The least we can do… is ensure your home is secure."
---
Silence.
The room froze.
Even Hiruzen was momentarily speechless.
What could he say?
Publicly, the Uchiha and the village were still allies.
Could he openly declare that he didn't trust them?
---
"Uchiha Jin!"
Danzo's voice cut through the silence, cold and furious.
"The Sarutobi Clan has no need for your protection."
---
"I see."
Jin nodded lightly, his expression unchanged.
"Then let me confirm—"
"If anything happens to the Sarutobi Clan… no matter the casualties…"
"It has nothing to do with the Uchiha Police Force?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"In that case, I ask Hokage-sama to issue a formal statement."
"I'll have my forces withdraw immediately."
---
Once again—
Silence.
No one spoke.
Because everyone understood—
Such a statement could never be issued.
The moment it was, Jin would gain justification to act however he pleased.
---
Hiruzen's eyes darkened slightly.
He said nothing, simply continuing to smoke.
Danzo's expression grew colder, killing intent flickering in his gaze—but he remained silent.
---
"Uchiha Jin, you've gone too far!"
Koharu slammed her hand against the table.
"Disrespecting the Hokage—are you planning a rebellion?" Homura added sharply.
---
Jin shrugged.
"Is ensuring the safety of the Sarutobi Clan considered disrespect?"
Koharu: "…"
Homura: "…"
They were instantly silenced.
---
At that moment, a subtle shift in the atmosphere occurred.
Even beneath their anger—
There was shock.
Was this really an Uchiha?
Since when were Uchiha so… articulate?
If not for his Mangekyō Sharingan—and his even more extreme methods—
They might have suspected he was born into the wrong clan.
---
Hiruzen exhaled slowly.
His old comrades had failed to gain any ground.
Left with no choice—
He turned his gaze toward Nara Shikaku.
---
Shikaku felt a chill run down his spine.
Troublesome…
He had no desire to involve himself in this conflict.
But with the Hokage personally signaling him—
He had no choice.
"Ahem…"
"Lord Jin, let's return to the main issue."
"Regarding last night's deaths of Root and Anbu personnel…"
He paused deliberately.
"Many—including some within your own clan—suspect the Radical Faction."
"Do you have an explanation?"
---
Jin's eyes narrowed slightly.
A trap.
A classic burden-of-proof reversal.
Unfortunately for Shikaku—
Jin didn't even hesitate.
"Advisor Shikaku, that's incorrect."
"The burden lies with you to prove guilt—not with me to prove innocence."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Otherwise, I could just as easily accuse the Nara Clan."
"After all… you have motive."
---
The room stiffened.
Jin continued calmly:
"With Minato Namikaze's death, your Ino–Shika–Chō alliance lost its backing."
"Inoichi Yamanaka was removed from Intelligence."
"Akimichi Choza has been sidelined."
"And you—reduced to an advisor."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"So tell me…"
"Should I assume last night's incident was your doing?"
"Would you like to explain that first?"
---
Nara Shikaku froze.
For the first time—
The famed strategist was completely caught off guard.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the darkened expressions of the Konoha leadership.
Cold sweat formed on his forehead.
This guy… is dangerous.
He raised both hands quickly.
"Lord Jin, that's a misunderstanding."
"Inoichi and Choza are merely resting due to health reasons."
"Our Ino–Shika–Chō holds no resentment toward Hokage-sama."
---
But even as he spoke—
The tension in the room only deepened.