Chapter 20: Jin Reclaims the Ancestral Land; Fugaku Embarrasses Himself!
Hiss!
As Uchiha Jin's words echoed in the office, the room fell into a silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze grew dark. He puffed on his pipe rapidly, his brain working overdrive to calculate the implications.
Jin remained calm, standing there with the relaxed posture of someone who couldn't care less about the tension he had just created.
Fugaku, however, was a mess of complex emotions.
He looked at Jin with eyes full of horror and disbelief. While he had dreamed countless times of reclaiming the Uchiha's ancestral land, he had only ever dared to think about it in the deepest recesses of his mind.
Because he knew it was impossible!
Once the "Konoha F4" had swallowed a piece of meat, how could they possibly be willing to spit it back out? The Uchiha weren't strong enough, and their reputation in the village was terrible. Achieving this goal was a pipe dream.
But now?
Uchiha Jin had thrown the demand right onto the table. Fugaku's first reaction wasn't joy, but a bone-deep terror.
What if the High Command flips the table?
The relationship between the clan and the village was already hanging by a thread. If this demand pushed them into open hostility, the Uchiha were finished.
Without thinking, Fugaku blurted out immediately.
"Hokage-sama, absolutely not!"
"The Uchiha have no intention of demanding our old land back! This is purely Uchiha Jin speaking nonsense."
"Please, you must not take him seriously!"
Fugaku's tone was resolute. In his view, maintaining the status quo with the village was paramount. The next step should be de-escalation, not making outrageous demands.
Uchiha Jin is too radical! I will never agree to this!
On the other side, Jin's expression didn't change.
He looked at the terrified Fugaku with eyes full of disdain and mockery.
However, he didn't argue. He simply chuckled and said, "Clan Head Fugaku is quite right. I am just a lowly Chunin; perhaps I truly cannot see the 'greater picture' of the village."
"In that case, I'm afraid I am powerless to convince the rest of the Uchiha to return to duty."
"After all, I'm just a Chunin. What can I do?"
Jin's logic was simple: Not my job, not my problem.
Since you won't give me the benefits, and I don't have the official rank, don't try to force me to work.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
He let out a soft sigh.
He was very pleased with Fugaku's submission. If only all Uchiha were like him, life would be so much easier.
But unfortunately, while he was satisfied with Fugaku's weakness, the man had absolutely no voice within his own clan.
As for the Uchiha Ancestral Land?
To be honest, that area was prime real estate. It was prosperous and had long since been taken over by the Sarutobi Clan.
However, Hiruzen didn't actually care that much about the land itself. After decades as Hokage, the Sarutobi Clan had become incredibly wealthy. Losing one district wouldn't bankrupt them.
The reason he had forced the Uchiha to move originally was to contain them. The old district was too close to the village center and the compounds of other major clans—especially the Sarutobi. He feared that if he pushed the Uchiha into a corner, they would strike out and destroy the Sarutobi Clan first in a fit of rage.
But things were different now.
Although the Uchiha were becoming more troublesome, Hiruzen could see that Uchiha Jin was a rational actor. He had a brain.
A man like that... unless pushed to absolute desperation, wouldn't lash out blindly.
In that case, returning the ancestral land to the Uchiha was an acceptable compromise.
Compared to that plot of land, Hiruzen was far more concerned with the village's public order. The chaos in the streets was already generating complaints directed at him.
So... fine. Let the Uchiha return to that cesspool.
Let them resume their police duties and continue to draw the hatred of the villagers.
Thinking this, Hiruzen nodded directly.
"Agreed. I accept."
"I will have the land vacated within three days. The Uchiha must restore the village's security immediately."
"Uchiha Jin, is that acceptable?"
Hiruzen was decisive. He didn't want to waste time haggling over details. Getting the Uchiha back into the "pit" of public service to attract hatred was his priority.
Jin nodded. "Since the Hokage-sama is so generous, I feel much more confident. The village's security will be restored in three days."
"Three days?" Hiruzen's eyes darkened. "Make it one day."
"I will have the land cleared in twenty-four hours!"
Jin shrugged. "Then I'll need only twenty-four hours as well."
Having concluded the deal, Jin didn't bother with further pleasantries. He turned and walked out.
Respect? Unnecessary. They had already seen each other's true faces. They were only maintaining a facade because neither could afford a total war.
Hiruzen ignored Jin's rudeness. Compared to watching Danzo die countless times, a little bad attitude was nothing.
Instead, he glanced at Fugaku, who was standing there with a look of shock mixed with disbelief. A flash of contempt crossed Hiruzen's eyes before he spoke. "Fugaku, if there is nothing else, you may go."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Fugaku bowed quickly.
He left the Hokage's office with a respectful demeanor, but his mind was in a fog. Even as he walked back to the compound, he couldn't process it.
It was that simple?!
He couldn't understand. In his eyes, Jin was being suicidally arrogant. How could the village tolerate such insolence?
Yet the result was baffling. Hiruzen hadn't even haggled; he just agreed. It felt like a dream.
Am I really that incompetent? Is Uchiha Jin really that superior?
No, absolutely not!
Jin may have gotten the land back, but he has deeply offended Hiruzen Sarutobi. This behavior is wrong. The Uchiha should be keeping a low profile, trying to mend fences. Jin is digging our grave.
Back at his home, Mikoto greeted him immediately.
"Fugaku, how did it go?"
"Was the Hokage angry? Is the matter resolved?"
Fugaku's face was dark, his mood irritable. He ignored her questions and asked directly, "Where is Inabi?"
"I haven't seen him," Mikoto replied, shaking her head.
Fugaku's expression worsened.
Inabi was his shadow. He was always by his side. Fugaku hadn't seen him all day.
Thinking for a moment, Fugaku said abruptly, "I'm going out."
Mikoto wanted to say something, but seeing his back already retreating, she could only sigh and return inside.
Fugaku searched the compound for a long time. Finally, he learned the truth from a Moderate elder: Inabi had taken his sister and defected to Uchiha Jin.
Hearing this news, Fugaku's face went rigid.
Anger. Frustration. Confusion. Grief.
Complex emotions flashed through his eyes. Finally, he turned to the elder and spoke with a heavy voice. "Notify our people. We will hold a brief meeting at my house."
"We... are in trouble."