The expressions around the room darkened, the air heavy and stifling.
The Uchiha were proud and sharp-tongued, but none of them were fools. It was nearly two in the morning. Who called a clan council at a time like this?
There was only one answer.
This meeting was aimed straight at them.
"Fugaku has gone too far."
"We just wiped out Root, and Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo haven't even spoken yet. Fugaku is already panicking."
"If someone didn't know better, they would think Fugaku worked for Sarutobi."
Voices rose in anger, one after another.
The resentment was obvious. Thinking back on how they had once personally chosen Fugaku as clan head only made it feel worse now, like swallowing something foul they could never spit out.
Uchiha Jin frowned slightly. His speech had been interrupted, but he did not lose his temper.
Instead, he raised a hand to quiet the room, his tone calm and even.
"Until we possess power on the level of Clan Head Madara, strength that can dominate the entire shinobi world, a little arrogance is acceptable. But we still have to play by the rules."
"Let's go."
He took the lead toward the Naka Shrine, with the others following closely behind.
Many of the Uchiha were stubborn and hot-blooded. They did not fully understand his words. But Jin had already proven his ability. He was a Mangekyo Sharingan user, a true top-tier combatant. That alone was enough.
In the language of the shinobi world, he had shown his capacity to lead.
Ten minutes later, at the Naka Shrine.
The Moderate faction and the Conservative faction had arrived early. Their expressions were grim, their eyes burning with barely contained fury.
The reason was simple.
In their view, the Uchiha were already standing on the edge of a cliff. Jin's sudden rise as a Mangekyo wielder had not stabilized the clan. Instead, it had become the greatest source of instability.
And tonight, another strike against Root?
The previous extremist actions had barely been suppressed thanks to the Hokage's intervention.
Now this again?
The Moderates and Conservatives, finally pushed past their limit, had joined forces for the first time in years.
They intended to use this council to put Jin firmly in his place.
At that moment, the Extremists arrived.
Led by Jin, they ignored the near murderous glares from the other two factions and calmly took their seats.
"All right. The clan council is now in session."
Fugaku frowned slightly before speaking directly.
"Tonight, Root lost three squads, and ANBU lost one jonin unit. Elder Setsuna, do you have anything to say about this?"
He went straight to the point.
They all knew each other too well for politeness.
Shisui followed up immediately.
"The Hokage is reaching the limit of what he can suppress from Lord Danzo. Even so, he is still willing to give the Uchiha a chance."
"Elder Setsuna, the situation of the clan is extremely dangerous."
"I hope you can hand over the culprits. Otherwise, even if the Hokage wishes to help us, there will be nothing he can do."
Others chimed in, almost all of them directing their accusations at the Extremist faction.
They longed for stability. Years of life in the village had softened them, and like most Uchiha, they were straightforward to the point of rigidity. They genuinely trusted Hiruzen Sarutobi.
This was the Uchiha mindset.
Once they believed something, it was almost impossible to change. Even Shisui and Itachi, who appeared gentle on the surface in the original timeline, were no exception.
This was why Jin, despite living in the clan for so many years, had never considered trying to recruit Shisui or Itachi.
Before his rebirth, he had thought changing the Uchiha would be easy. After all, he arrived early in the timeline. But after truly living among them, he discarded that illusion completely.
It was pointless.
Those who appeared the most gentle were often the most extreme. That was why they awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Jin himself was no different.
With memories spanning two lifetimes, he too was an extremist at heart.
The difference was that his broader perspective allowed him to see more paths than most.
That was also why, after his parents were taken by Root, he never sought help from anyone else. Even after awakening the Mangekyo and taking control of the Extremist faction, he still kept that truth to himself.
Because only extremists awakened the Mangekyo.
"Apologies," Elder Setsuna said with a soft chuckle.
"I am already retired. If there is business, take it up with Jin."
"After a unanimous internal decision, Jin will serve as the leader of the Extremist faction. He will also inherit my position as a clan elder."
With that, Setsuna leaned back, clearly uninterested in further discussion.
The room exploded into stunned silence.
Fugaku stared at him in disbelief.
"Elder Setsuna, you are retiring?"
"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" Setsuna replied calmly.
Fugaku fell silent.
Shisui's expression darkened as he spoke.
"Jin may be strong, but he is far too young."
"And clan elders are meant to be nominated and approved. How can this be decided privately?"
Setsuna's expression did not change. A faint, amused smile tugged at his lips.
"All members of the Extremist faction support Jin. Would you like to hold a vote right here?"
Shisui went quiet.
He knew a vote would be meaningless.
He disliked Jin. Deep down, he even resented this troublemaker. But he could not deny Jin's overwhelming influence within the Extremist faction.
Even if the Moderate and Conservative factions objected, the Extremists alone were enough.
After all, this was not an election for clan head.
Taking a deep breath, Shisui finally looked directly at Jin.
"Elder Jin."
"Let's return to the main issue. This matter concerns the survival of the Uchiha. I hope you can give me an answer as soon as possible."
"Hand over the culprits. Do not put the Hokage in an impossible position."
All eyes turned to Jin.
Everyone wanted to see how the new Extremist leader would handle this dilemma.
Refuse, and he would provoke the village.
Comply, and he would lose the loyalty of his own faction.
Jin, seated beside Setsuna, remained calm and unhurried.
He had been silent since entering the hall. Only now did he raise his head.
"Hand over the culprits?"
"Shisui, what are you talking about?"
"I am completely in the dark. Root and ANBU were killed, so why am I being asked to produce these so called culprits?"
"You seem to have already decided that the Extremists are responsible. Where is your evidence?"
"If accusations alone are enough, then any death in the village can be blamed on the Extremists."
"That is not justice. That is slander."
"Or are you planning to condemn us based on accusations without proof?"
"I know there are tensions between the Extremists and the Moderates. But do not trample all decency just to secure more influence for your side."
"Framing us like this is shameless."