Everyone present froze, stunned into silence.
They had been silenced by those words, so righteous and precise. Was this really something Uchiha Jin, the radical leader, would say?
Not only the moderate and neutral factions, even the radicals themselves were taken aback.
Only one person was quietly seething.
Fugaku.
He had mentally prepared for some awkwardness, since the timing of all this had indeed been too coincidental. But having called this clan meeting, he had naturally planned for contingencies that was the source of his confidence.
Yet, damn it, he had not anticipated that before he even opened his mouth, Lin Mo's seemingly generous comment would hit him like a thunderbolt.
What now?
Lin Mo didn't care about credit and was willing to give it to Fugaku. If he tried to insist otherwise, wouldn't he appear petty?
But if he said nothing, wouldn't it seem like he was letting others take credit for his work, undermining his reputation as clan leader?
Fugaku was suspended in uncertainty, trapped between pride and protocol.
Although Konoha's higher-ups were praising him, the reality was clear not only did people within the Uchiha clan see through it, but even many perceptive figures in Konoha could guess most of the truth. Fugaku immediately realized he was in trouble.
His original plan had been simple: let Jin take the credit, show Fugaku as magnanimous, and in the process, curry favor with many clan members. It could even have swayed some radicals to his side.
But Jin was not bound by such traditions. This young man had no respect for "honor" or protocol. Jin's words cut like a whip.
"Uchiha Jin, what nonsense are you saying?"
"This was all Clan Leader Fugaku's achievement. Why are you pretending to defer credit?"
Shisui could not hold back, shouting in anger.
Jin barely lifted an eyelid, shrugging calmly. "Whatever you say, Shisui. How could I ever compete with the clan leader for credit?"
Shisui's scalp tingled.
He was frozen, a vague sense of danger creeping over him.
And he was right to feel it.
Jin's statement threw the entire shrine into uproar.
Fugaku's face darkened to iron. He knew Shisui was strong, but in political maneuvering, he was no match for Jin.
Even Fugaku himself did not know how to respond. To argue would make him appear petty; to agree would be to admit defeat and damage his authority severely.
What could he do?
His mind raced, pounding with a headache. Jin was unbelievably difficult to handle. How had he not noticed this before?
Fugaku's gaze sharpened on Jin, then froze as he realized something else.
Where were the other radicals?
The thought sent a chill down his spine. He could not help but ask, "Jin, where is the rest of the radical faction? Why are they not attending the clan meeting? What scheme are you plotting?"
At his question, confusion rippled across the crowd. Eyes flicked to the radicals' usual positions, now empty. Only then did it hit them.
Where were they?
Everyone looked to Jin, realizing something was wrong. The clan meeting was a major event; those qualified to attend would never skip it.
The radicals shared a glance, a smirk forming on their lips.
Lin Mo remained composed, rising slowly.
"Impressive, Clan Leader Fugaku, you caught on," he said. "But by now, the timing has come. There is no need to waste more time. For the sake of the clan, I will give everyone a reminder."
"The withdrawal of Root and ANBU was not because Hiruzen Sarutobi had mercy. It was because I nearly killed Danzo!"
"That man had transplanted a Sharingan onto his arm. He can even use Hashirama Senju's Wood Release. Most importantly, he has mastered the forbidden Uchiha technique Izanagi!"
"Clan Leader Fugaku, pay attention."
"He lost the forbidden technique, countless Sharingan, and the right eye under his bandages transplanted with a Mangekyo Sharingan. If I'm correct, that must be Uchiha Kagami's."
"Only a few Uchiha can awaken the Mangekyo, and of those who died mysteriously, only Kagami fits the profile."
"Konoha suffered huge losses at my hands. The leadership will definitely retaliate in secret."
"So this is no time to hold a feast. Instead, strengthen patrols and defenses. Otherwise, if more people die, don't say I didn't warn you."
"I'm leaving."
With that, Jin turned and departed. Naturally, the radicals followed.
Explain? He had no interest.
As the leader of the radicals, he was no longer a small fish. The clan leader could not control him.
At the same time, as he left, he ensured Fugaku would face disruption. Under Fugaku's leadership, clan members had bled and died on the battlefield, returning without even a memorial. So much sacrifice for nothing.
The Uchiha's reputation worsened. Their ancestral lands were lost. Konoha monitored them closely through Root and ANBU.
Jin had barely regained the upper hand, yet Fugaku was poised to claim credit?
Now, clan members were disappearing daily. Danzo had an arm with a transplanted Sharingan and even mastered Uchiha forbidden techniques.
The blame fell squarely on Fugaku.
And, just as Jin anticipated, chaos erupted at the shrine immediately after the radicals left.
Danzo had an arm with a transplanted Sharingan? His right eye held Kagami's Mangekyo? He could even use the forbidden technique Izanagi?
These revelations inflamed the Uchiha clan. Even the moderates and neutrals were shocked.
"Silence!" Fugaku commanded, trying to regain control.
"This is only Jin's account. Do not believe everything so quickly."
"I will provide clarification, but I need time."
"That is all. Meeting dismissed."
Fugaku's headache was intense. He could only offer feeble explanations.
True to his indecisive nature, he could not fully resolve the issue. In the end, he resorted to his last resort: bluffing.
The Uchiha were easily manipulated. Though anger simmered, they eventually let Fugaku's excuses slide.
It was unsurprising. Even in the original history, just before the clan's near-destruction, the radicals had planned armed rebellion, and Fugaku had managed to placate them somehow.