Chapter 17: Fugaku's Right-Hand Man Defects; Hiruzen Sarutobi Fumes with Rage!
Uchiha Inabi didn't hide anything.
He laid out his reasons with complete transparency, even casually mentioning that he had once considered leading an armed assault against the Radical Faction's district.
This was the Uchiha way.
They disdained hiding their emotions. Whatever was in their hearts, they spoke it plainly.
Since Jin's actions had earned his approval, Inabi was prepared to offer his absolute loyalty. He didn't care if his past thoughts offended Jin; he was ready to lay down his life for the man who had the strength to lead the clan properly.
You could call the Uchiha extreme, arrogant, and haughty. But by the same token, if you truly possessed the means to make them submit, they would follow you to the ends of the earth without hesitation.
"So, that is how it stands."
"Then I congratulate you on making the correct choice. Fugaku indeed lacks the capacity to handle the complex political landscape of the village."
"I will show you that under my leadership, the Uchiha will rise from this decline."
Jin's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke.
Looking at Inabi, he felt even more confident in his strategy.
In his original estimation, he thought a large number of Uchiha would have to die before the survivors woke up to reality. He hadn't expected that after only a few deaths, the vast majority of the clan would defect to his side—including someone as high-ranking as the Clan Head's personal bodyguard.
Sure enough!
The Uchiha were a stubborn bunch who wouldn't turn back until they hit a wall. Only when they saw blood and felt true pain would they be willing to listen to reason.
The harvest was bountiful.
At this point, aside from the few remaining elders of the other factions and their immediate circles, almost the entire clan had rallied under Jin's banner.
As for whether any of these defectors were spies? Jin wasn't worried in the slightest.
The Uchiha didn't have the brains for espionage!
Even in the original story, geniuses like Shisui and Itachi—who were ostensibly working for the village—couldn't hide their emotions to save their lives. Every Uchiha knew those two sided with the Hokage. Their "undercover" status was a joke.
This was actually one of the perks of being born an Uchiha. You rarely had to worry about moles within the clan because their personality type made them incapable of such work. Even if someone wanted to be a spy, they'd act so suspiciously that they might as well tattoo the word "SPY" on their forehead.
"Elder Jin! The Anbu are here!"
Another Uchiha entered the room and knelt respectfully on one knee. His eyes were filled with worship and fanaticism, making no attempt to hide his admiration.
Jin smiled. "Ryugan, stand up."
"We used to be teammates. There's no need for such formalities with me. You know I don't care for these rigid rules. In the future, don't kneel every time you see me."
"I know you respect me, but keep that respect in your heart."
"Aside from formal occasions, let's dispense with the pageantry."
Hearing this, Uchiha Ryugan's admiration only deepened.
To have a leader with such strength, strategy, and temperament—who still treated his subordinates with such warmth—was a breath of fresh air compared to Fugaku's distant formality.
Inabi was equally shocked. His impression of Jin had been formed during the fierce confrontations at the clan meetings. This was the first time he had seen the man's private, charismatic side.
"Elder Jin, please be careful."
"Our members in the village have reported that Fugaku is currently in the Hokage Building. I believe this summons is hostile," Ryugan said in a low voice.
Because of Jin's rise to power, the Radical Faction was nothing like it was in the original timeline. Not only was their district heavily guarded, but they had also scattered spies throughout the village.
Whether it was the Hokage Building, Root, or the other clan compounds, Jin received intelligence the moment anything unusual occurred. This was why Ryugan knew about the meeting before the Anbu even arrived at the door.
Jin chuckled, unbothered.
"Relax. It's a small matter."
"I have a pretty good idea of what Hiruzen Sarutobi is planning. Ryugan, you don't need to worry about my safety."
"While I am gone, ensure the district's defenses are impenetrable!"
Jin's expression remained as calm as ever.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's political maneuvering was rudimentary at best. The "One Village, One Country" system had only been in place for a few decades. To Jin, who had the historical perspective of a modern education, Hiruzen's tactics were transparent. As the saying goes: The moment he drops his pants, I know what kind of fart he's going to let out.
Fifteen minutes later, inside the Hokage's Office.
Jin knocked on the door and entered only after hearing permission.
He wore a warm smile, though his eyes narrowed slightly as they landed on Hiruzen. "Hokage-sama, you summoned me? What are your instructions?"
His words were humble.
However, his posture was incredibly rude. He didn't kneel, he didn't bow, and his eyes held not a shred of respect.
This was normal.
They had already torn off their masks during their last encounter. If not for the fact that neither side could destroy the other without suffering heavy losses, they would have already flipped the table and started a civil war.
So, maintaining a bare minimum of superficial politeness was enough. Expecting genuine respect from Jin was a pipe dream.
Fugaku's face was ugly.
Watching Jin act with such blatant disregard for hierarchy, he desperately wanted to slap the arrogance out of him. But considering the terrifying power Jin now wielded, Fugaku could only sigh helplessly and pretend he didn't see it.
He was a Clan Head with no clan. He really couldn't do anything to Jin.
Although he, too, had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, his indecisive nature prevented him from revealing it. He feared provoking even greater hostility from the High Command. Now that he had lost his political power within the clan, he had even less confidence to challenge Jin.
So, he chose to Endure.
He had endured for this long; one more humiliation wouldn't kill him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched.
He was naturally displeased with Jin's attitude. Seeing the flash of anger in Fugaku's eyes, Hiruzen had felt a spark of hope. Is he finally going to stand up for himself?
That would be a good thing! Uchiha Jin needed to be taught a lesson. Even if Fugaku couldn't beat him, seeing Jin lose face would be satisfying.
But unfortunately...
Just as Hiruzen grabbed his popcorn and prepared to watch the show, Fugaku went limp again.
Motherfucker. He really is useless!
What can I possibly expect from you? In the end, I have to do everything myself!