Early the next morning.
Uchiha Jin had just returned from the training ground when Uchiha Tekka walked over respectfully. "Lord Jin, the Anbu have arrived!"
"Mm, I expected as much." Uchiha Jin spoke casually. "Invite Elder Setsuna over."
Uchiha Tekka left respectfully, while Uchiha Jin returned to his home.
Ten minutes later.
Uchiha Setsuna and an Anbu Ninja entered at the same time. The Anbu Ninja spoke directly: "Uchiha Jin, Hokage-sama summons you!"
Bang!
Before Uchiha Jin could even speak, Uchiha Setsuna slammed his hand on the table.
"Show some respect! Lord Jin is now an Elder of the Uchiha!"
The Anbu remained silent and did not reply.
He represented the Third Hokage; he could never bow his head to the Uchiha.
However, he had no intention of being provocative either, because he knew that the Uchiha Jin before him was absolutely the most brutal and dangerous existence within the Uchiha.
"That's enough, Elder Setsuna."
"He is just an Anbu following regulations. There's no point in making things difficult for him."
"I am heading to the Hokage Building now. Elder Setsuna, take the elites of our faction and head to the Sarutobi Clan's territory immediately to stand by."
"Everything will proceed according to plan!"
Uchiha Jin spoke with a smile.
He didn't hide anything from the Anbu present. After speaking, he headed straight for the Hokage Building... Twenty minutes later.
By the time Uchiha Jin arrived at the Hokage Office, that Anbu had already finished his report and respectfully left the office.
Glancing indifferently at the departing Anbu, Uchiha Jin spoke with a seemingly respectful tone.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Assistant Danzo, Elder Utatane, Elder Mitokado, Advisor Nara..."
"Greetings, everyone!"
Uchiha Jin had a smile on his face, giving off a quite gentle impression.
With his handsome face, he even gave everyone the illusion of seeing the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
But at the thought of this guy's ruthlessness, everyone's scalp couldn't help but tingle.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was deep. After taking a puff of smoke, he set down his pipe. "May I ask, Lord Jin, why you had Elder Setsuna lead a team to my Sarutobi Clan's territory?"
There was a hint of gloom on his face, but his tone remained as gentle as possible.
"To protect the Sarutobi Clan, of course!"
"There have been too many enemy village spies lately. Not only have many Uchiha gone missing, but even the Anbu and Root have suffered significant losses."
"As the Konoha Police Force, we naturally must intensify our patrols."
"Hokage-sama works tirelessly for Konoha; my Police Force must naturally ensure you have no worries about your own home!"
Uchiha Jin's tone was flat.
Since he dared to give the order in front of the Anbu, he naturally wasn't afraid of Hiruzen Sarutobi's questioning.
And indeed, that was the case!
Following Uchiha Jin's words, everyone present was stunned. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi was left speechless, feeling quite stifled and uncomfortable.
What could he say?
Tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha were only high in secret; on the surface, they still maintained a semblance of harmony. Could he say right now that he didn't trust the Uchiha?
"Uchiha Jin, how dare you!"
Danzo was furious and spoke coldly: "The Sarutobi Clan does not need your Uchiha protection!"
"Oh, I see." Uchiha Jin's expression remained unchanged. "I think I understand."
"In other words, if the Sarutobi Clan suffers any damage, no matter how many clansmen die, it has nothing to do with the Uchiha Police Force, right?"
"In that case, I ask Hokage-sama to issue a statement. I will have the Police Force withdraw immediately!"
Everyone present fell silent once again.
There was no need to think about it; such a statement could never be issued.
Because they feared that the moment the statement was released, this bastard Uchiha Jin would dare to hunt down Sarutobi clansmen at any cost!
'Uchiha!'
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was profound.
His eyes were obscure and flickering. He simply started smoking to himself, with no intention of speaking.
Danzo's face was extremely grim, a murderous light flashing in his eyes, but he was no fool; he knew such words couldn't be said aloud.
Instead, it was Utatane Koharu who slammed the table in anger: "Uchiha Jin, you are too insolent!"
"Disrespecting Hokage-sama—does your Uchiha clan want to rebel?" Homura Mitokado followed up.
Uchiha Jin shrugged. "Do the two Elders mean to say that caring for the safety of the Sarutobi Clan is disrespecting Hokage-sama?"
Utatane Koharu: "..."
Homura Mitokado: "..."
The two were instantly stuck, feeling extremely stifled.
Of course.
While angry, they were also quite shocked.
Is this guy really an Uchiha?
How could that bunch of single-celled Uchiha organisms be so sharp-tongued?
If it weren't for the fact that this guy had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan and his behavior was even more extreme than the average Uchiha, they would have suspected he was swapped at the Hospital at birth. After all, his silver tongue was more like someone from the Nara Clan, right?
And to this.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but sigh.
His two old friends were too useless, which made him feel helpless. He could only cast a glance at Nara Shikaku.
Nara Shikaku's scalp tingled.
He really didn't want to get involved in the mess between the Uchiha and the Konoha High Command, but now that Hiruzen Sarutobi had personally signaled him, he had no choice but to speak up despite his reluctance. "Ahem..."
"Well, Lord Jin, let's talk about the main business first!"
"Regarding the case of the Root and Anbu members being killed last night, many people—including some within the Uchiha—suspect this was the work of your Radical Faction. Do you have any explanation for this?"
Uchiha Jin narrowed his eyes slightly.
As expected of the Nara Clan, he's digging a hole for me!
A typical self-justification trap. If it were anyone else, they would likely fall right in.
But unfortunately.
It was useless against someone like him who had been exposed to compulsory education. Without even thinking, he spoke directly: "Advisor Nara, those words are incorrect. The correct approach should be for you to prove I am guilty!"
"Otherwise, our Radical Faction could also feel that this was done by your Nara Clan. After all, your Ino–Shika–Chō has a motive, don't you?"
"With the death of Minato Namikaze, your Ino–Shika–Chō's investment went down the drain. Inoichi Yamanaka was removed as the Intelligence Chief, Akimichi Choza seems to have been left idle at home, and even you lost your position as the Jonin Commander, now left with only the title of Advisor."
"I suspect last night's incident was the work of your Ino–Shika–Chō. How about you explain that first, Advisor Nara?"
Indeed.
Back during Minato Namikaze's time, the Ino–Shika–Chō were prominent: Nara Shikaku was the Jonin Commander, Inoichi Yamanaka was the Intelligence Chief, and Akimichi Choza controlled the Barrier Team while also serving as the Deputy Commander of the Anbu. Along with Kakashi Hatake, they were the nails Minato had driven into the Anbu.
And now?
The Intelligence Division and the Torture and Interrogation Force had merged, with Ibiki Morino becoming the head; the Barrier Team leader had also become a Civilian Ninja who relied on the Sarutobi Clan.
Inoichi Yamanaka and Akimichi Choza were now both idle at home. Only Nara Shikaku was still useful, so he was given the position of Advisor.
In the original story.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi was killed by Orochimaru, almost none of the Ninja Clans showed their faces. This in itself represented the general trend. To say the Ino–Shika–Chō had no grievances against Hiruzen Sarutobi was nonsense!
Nara Shikaku: "..."
He was completely stunned, his scalp tingling.
Especially after catching a glimpse of the ugly expressions on the Konoha F4's faces, a chill ran down his spine, and fine beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Uchiha Jin was too difficult to deal with!
Even as Konoha's number one strategist, he could only wave his hands repeatedly in awkwardness.
"Lord Jin, don't talk nonsense!"
"Inoichi and Choza are only resting at home for a while due to health reasons."
"Our Ino–Shika–Chō doesn't have even a shred of resentment towards Hokage-sama!"