Early the next morning.
Uchiha Jhin had just returned from the training grounds when Uchiha Tekka approached with a respectful bow. "Jhin-kun. ANBU is here."
"Mmh. Expected," Jhin replied casually. "Go invite Elder Setsuna."
Tekka withdrew at once, and Jhin headed back inside.
Ten minutes later, Uchiha Setsuna arrived together with an ANBU operative, who got straight to the point.
"Uchiha Jhin. The Hokage summons you."
Bang!
Before Jhin could even answer, Setsuna slammed a palm against the table.
"Watch your tone. Jhin-kun is an Uchiha elder now!"
The ANBU fell silent—no apology, no argument.
He represented the Third Hokage. He couldn't afford to bow to the Uchiha.
But he didn't answer back either.
Because he knew what stood in front of him: Uchiha Jhin was the most vicious, most dangerous kind of Uchiha.
"Enough, Elder Setsuna." Jhin's voice stayed light. "He's just following protocol. Making things hard for him accomplishes nothing."
He rose, smiling faintly. "I'll go to the Hokage residence now. Elder Setsuna—take our faction's elites and move to the Sarutobi clan compound. Stand by."
"Follow the plan. Every step."
He didn't bother hiding any of it, even with ANBU right there. After speaking, he walked out and headed for the Hokage residence.
…
Twenty minutes later, Jhin stepped into the Hokage's office, and the ANBU messenger had already finished reporting and left with a respectful bow.
Jhin watched him go with indifferent eyes, then turned back, expression polite enough to be convincing.
"Hokage-sama."
"Advisor Danzō… Elder Koharu… Elder Homura… Advisor Nara…"
"Good day to you all."
Jhin wore a gentle smile, the kind that softened his handsome face, so that it almost gave the impression of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
And yet the moment that thought crossed their minds, their scalps prickled.
Because everyone in this room knew exactly how ruthless this boy could be.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was deep. He drew on his pipe, then set it down with careful calm.
"May this be asked, Jhin-kun? Why did you send Elder Setsuna to lead a unit here?"
A shadow passed over his face, but his tone stayed as warm as he could make it.
"To protect the Hokage's residence, of course," Jhin said evenly.
"Enemy-village spies have been active lately. A lot of Uchiha are missing in numbers; even ANBU and Root have suffered losses."
"As the Uchiha Police Force, we need to tighten patrols."
"The Hokage works himself to the bone for Konoha. Naturally, the Police Force should ensure you have no worries behind you."
For a moment, the office went still.
Everyone froze—even Hiruzen, caught with words stuck in his throat.
What could he say?
The village and the Uchiha were tense in the shadows, yes—but on the surface, they still maintained a minimum veneer of harmony.
Could he openly say he didn't trust the Uchiha?
"Uchiha Jhin, you insolent brat!" Danzō snapped, voice like ice. "The Hokage's residence doesn't need Uchiha protection!"
"Oh? I see." Jhin nodded, face unchanged, as if he'd just been enlightened. "Then I understand your meaning."
"So, if the Sarutobi clan suffers any losses—no matter how many die—it has nothing to do with the Uchiha Police Force, correct?"
"In that case, please have the Hokage issue an official statement. I'll withdraw the Police Force immediately."
Silence again.
Everyone knew such a statement could never be released.
Because the moment they did, everyone here believed the same thing:
This bastard would absolutely dare to hunt Sarutobi clan members—at any cost.
'Uchiha…' Hiruzen's eyes darkened.
His gaze flickered between shadows and firelight as he quietly smoked, refusing to speak.
Danzō's face sank, killing intent flashing in his eyes, but he wasn't stupid enough to say more.
Koharu slammed her hand on the desk, trembling with anger. "Uchiha Jhin, you've gone too far!"
Homura followed immediately. "Such disrespect toward the Hokage—are the Uchiha planning rebellion?!"
Jhin shrugged. "Elders, are you saying that caring about the Hokage residents' safety is 'disrespecting the Hokage'?"
Koharu: "…"
Homura: "…"
They choked on their own accusation.
But beneath the anger, shock also surged.
Was this really an Uchiha?
Those single-minded hotheads—since when did they have a tongue this sharp?
If Jhin hadn't awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—and if his behavior weren't as extreme as any Uchiha—they might've wondered whether the hospital had handed the wrong baby to the clan all those years ago.
His mouth was more Nara than Uchiha.
Hiruzen sighed internally.
His two old comrades were useless in a situation like this—so useless it made his head ache.
With no better option, he flicked a look toward Nara Shikaku.
Shikaku's scalp went numb.
He wanted nothing to do with this mess—nothing to do with the Uchiha, nothing to do with Konoha's upper ranks, nothing to do with a conflict that could swallow entire clans.
But Hiruzen had given the signal.
Even if he hated it, he had to step forward.
"Ahem…" Shikaku cleared his throat. "Jhin-kun, let's discuss the matter at hand."
"Regarding last night's case—the killings of Root and ANBU—many people, including those within the Uchiha, suspect your radical faction."
"Do you have anything to explain?"
Jhin's eyes narrowed slightly.
'Typical Nara.'
A trap disguised as "reason"—force the other side to prove their innocence, and the moment they speak, you twist their words into guilt.
A self-proof pitfall.
It would catch most people.
But it didn't catch someone who'd lived through real education, real logic, real debate.
"Advisor Nara, that's incorrect," Jhin said without hesitation. "The correct procedure is for you to prove I'm guilty."
"Otherwise, the radicals can just as easily suspect the Nara clan. After all, Ino–Shika–Chō has motive too, doesn't it?"
He smiled faintly and then began cutting.
"After Minato Namikaze died, your Ino–Shika–Chō investment turned to dust."
"Yamanaka Inoichi was removed as Intelligence Division head."
"Akimichi Chōza seems to be sitting at home with nothing to do."
"And even you lost your position as Jōnin Commander—now all you have left is the title of 'advisor.'"
Jhin tilted his head. "Last night's incident looks like Ino–Shika–Chō to me. Advisor Nara, why don't you explain yourself first?"
Shikaku: "…"
His mind went blank.
Then colder than blank—because he felt the pressure shift in the room, and the temperature drop behind his spine.
When he stole a glance at Konoha's four elders—
Their faces were ugly.
Shikaku's back broke into a chill, and fine sweat beaded across his forehead.
Uchiha Jhin was too difficult to deal with.
Even as Konoha's top strategist, Shikaku could only force out an awkward laugh and wave his hands repeatedly.
"Jhin-kun, stop talking nonsense."
"Inoichi and Chōza are only resting due to health reasons. Temporarily."
"And Ino–Shika–Chō holds not even the tiniest resentment toward the Hokage. Not a bit."