Fugaku's face was ashen, sweat trickling down his back.
He knew very clearly that if today's meeting went badly, his authority would suffer greatly.
But the problem was clear.
Every question Jin Uchiha raised, Fugaku had no answers for. After a long pause, gritting his teeth, he finally spoke through clenched teeth:
"Right now, the concessions within the clan are meant to help the Uchiha integrate into Konoha!"
"Results?" Jin shot back, his voice calm but cutting. "Have you integrated into Konoha?"
Fugaku went silent instantly.
Indeed, he hadn't achieved anything substantial. He had spent a lifetime trying and enduring, but all it had brought was increased targeting and hostility from the village.
He wanted to defend himself, to explain the burdens he bore, but his pride wasn't thick enough.
So, he drew a deep breath and spoke coldly:
"Jin, you are too young. You don't understand the complexity of the situation. But given your age, I won't waste time quarreling with you.
"Now, let's discuss the real matter."
Though gritting his teeth, Fugaku chose to back down. He realized he couldn't win against Jin Uchiha, so wisely he shifted the topic, presenting the clan's current difficulties and hoping for a collective solution.
Jin Uchiha's expression remained unchanged.
Seeing Fugaku yield, he naturally stopped pressing. He understood the principle of "don't chase a cornered enemy," so he sank into silence, showing no interest in participating in the clan council's discussion.
The radical faction followed suit.
Perhaps in the past, they might have enjoyed arguing at the council, but now, with Jin in command, their approach had completely changed.
They no longer cared about endless debates. Jin made the arrangements. They acted.
They had no interest in these tiresome, bureaucratic processes. If Jin hadn't personally attended today, the radicals likely wouldn't have bothered showing up at all.
Meanwhile, Fugaku began to lead the council. The moderates and centrists began offering their advice.
"I think we should consult the Hokage about this."
"Yes, we cannot act rashly."
"The Uchiha's situation is already delicate; moving forward, we must proceed cautiously."
"I agree. We should deliberate carefully."
The moderate and centrist elders voiced their opinions.
Without any input from the radicals, the council seemed unusually harmonious.
Everyone in the Naka Shrine felt the strangeness of it.
A clan meeting without bickering was unprecedented. They were momentarily disoriented by the calm.
Fugaku, at the head of the table, felt awkward. He cleared his throat slightly:
"Jin, what is the radical faction's opinion?"
"No opinion," Jin said calmly. "We agree."
Every mouth twitched.
They could hardly comprehend it. Just so casually agreeing? This was the radical faction?
Shisui frowned and asked plainly, "What exactly are you plotting?"
"Plotting?" Jin scoffed, his face full of disdain. "You seriously underestimate me.
"I, Jin Uchiha, have never dealt in scheming, nor do I waste time on trickery.
"But if you want to know, I don't mind telling you."
"The reason I don't intervene is simple. Our radical stronghold is impenetrable. No matter how chaotic the outside world becomes, it cannot affect us. So why would I meddle in your messy affairs?
"I'd rather watch you continue your foolishness and see more elite three-tomoe Uchiha die. Let their bodies be sent to Root for experimentation, their three-tomoe Sharingan transplanted into Danzo's arm.
"The more of your faction's elites die, the more fear spreads among your supporters. Eventually, they will naturally join my radical faction.
"That's beneficial. Why would I oppose it?"
Jin's expression remained calm, his tone even.
This was an open strategy.
He had no need for clandestine schemes. Born into a family that valued honor, he understood that secret plots could only take one so far. He always preferred direct, honest methods.
Even if the others understood his intentions, it made no difference. The moderates and centrists were foolish enough to follow their own plans, blindly trusting the village, defending nothing, and sacrificing more lives.
All Jin needed to do was wait for their factions to collapse. The remaining Uchiha would naturally flock to him.
And that was exactly what happened.
The moment Jin finished speaking, the faces of the moderates and centrists turned dark.
Shisui slammed his hand on the table. "Jin, you "
"Did I say something wrong?" Jin asked casually. "Are you planning to resist?"
"I'm not underestimating you. You lack the courage to truly resist. If you did, you'd be joining the radical faction yourself.
"And if you choose to trust Hiruzen Sarutobi, then you fall perfectly into my plan. I will quietly watch your faction's elites go to their deaths.
"No matter what you do, I cannot lose!"
With Jin's words hanging in the air, Naka Shrine fell completely silent.
Everyone had to admit the terrifying reality: Jin's methods were unstoppable. Even knowing his intentions, they had no way to counteract him.
Silence reigned.
After a long while, Shisui grit his teeth and said, "I trust the Hokage. Your plan will not succeed!"
"Do as you please," Jin shrugged.
Meanwhile, Fugaku sank into his own thoughts, his mind racing desperately.
But it was useless.
To emulate the radicals' proactive defenses? Impossible.
To maintain the status quo meant more elite deaths. The radical plan would proceed unchecked.
Unlike naive Shisui, Fugaku understood Root's ruthlessness and Danzo's cunning. Hunting Uchiha elites in secret would not stop. If Jin was telling the truth, the three-tomoe Sharingan were a necessity for Danzo.
Even negotiating with Hiruzen Sarutobi offered little hope. If it could have worked, the situation wouldn't have deteriorated to this state.
Worse still, the radicals were unaffected. Their stronghold was secure, and Root couldn't easily strike.
What could he do?
Fugaku realized he could no longer bluff.
Previously, he might have been able to smooth over a council meeting, but this time it would fail.
Jin's words made it clear: if Fugaku continued to feign control, more and more Uchiha would flock to the radicals. His position as clan leader was in grave jeopardy.
No. Absolutely not.
Jin was too extreme. He could not remain clan leader, or the Uchiha would be doomed.
Fugaku clenched his teeth, trying to force himself to think of a solution.