Chapter 28: The Next Move; Shisui and Fugaku Arrive!
Hearing Jin's words, the irrelevant personnel excused themselves one by one.
The Radicals were already used to this.
The Moderates and Neutrals raised no objections either, as they had already caught on to Jin's style.
Small matters, big meetings. Big matters, small meetings.
For general mobilization or public announcements like the previous one, Jin would address the crowd. But for actual planning and strategy, Jin would only discuss it with a core group. The rest only needed to execute their orders.
In the past, they would have hated this, believing that clan matters should be discussed openly by everyone.
But now, things were different.
Jin's repeated successes had proven that his method worked. They trusted him.
Ten minutes later.
The courtyard was mostly empty. A dozen elite Three-Tomoe Uchiha scattered to the perimeter, setting up a defensive net so tight that not even a fly could pass through.
Inside the house.
Jin invited the key elders inside and personally poured tea for each of them. Before anyone could speak, he took the initiative.
"Everyone."
"There are new faces here, and there are old ones."
"Since you are all sitting here, it proves you trust me, Uchiha Jin. So, I won't waste time with pleasantries."
"As per the old rules, I will outline the objectives for the next phase. If anyone has questions, I will explain afterwards."
Jin's tone was serious.
Setsuna and the veteran Radicals had no objections.
Yashiro and Amano, the newcomers, found this novel. The Radical leadership style was completely different from the endless, circular debates of the Clan Meetings.
However, they nodded in agreement.
The Radicals' previous successes were proof enough of this method's superiority.
"Agreed. No problem."
"I accept. Jin-kun, please speak."
Seeing everyone nod, Jin took a deep breath and laid out his plan.
"For the next phase, we have two primary objectives."
"First, utilize the authority of the Police Force. Raise the banner of the 'Will of Fire' high and plunge the entire village into bureaucratic chaos."
"We need to give the High Command something to do so they stop staring at the Uchiha all day."
"My plan is to appoint Chunin clansmen as squad captains and Genin as officers. Their specific task will be to 'handle' the trivial matters of the village—by dragging them out as long as possible."
"Second, win over the other ninja clans!"
"Of course, winning them over directly is impossible. The Uchiha's reputation is too damaged; they don't trust us."
"So, my plan is to force their hand."
"Although many of the Police Force's powers have been stripped by the Anbu over the years, those powers were originally granted by Tobirama Senju. Reclaiming them is legally sound."
"Here is the specific operation: We will find a spy from another village, control him with the Sharingan, and force him to run directly toward the Root headquarters."
"Using the pretext of 'capturing a spy,' the Police Force will mobilize all our elites and launch a raid on Root!"
"Danzo will likely assume I am launching a rescue mission for my parents. He will use his best men to move and secure them."
"That means the rest of the Root base will be left with weakened defenses."
"The Police Force will have two goals during this raid."
"One: Seize as many mission scrolls and research documents as possible. Two: Kill as many Root personnel as possible."
"Especially the Root Jonin. Kill as many as you can!"
"Danzo dreams of becoming Hokage. If he loses a significant portion of his elite forces, he will become desperate to replenish his strength. He will inevitably force the other ninja clans to hand over their talented youth to Root."
"The more Root elites we kill, the more crazed Danzo will become in pressuring the other clans."
"That is when we will have the opportunity to win them over!"
Hiss!
As Jin finished, the faces of everyone in the room were filled with shock.
At this moment.
They truly realized the difference between Uchiha Jin and Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku held meetings constantly but solved nothing.
Jin?
He cut through the nonsense and laid out concrete, actionable plans.
Crucially, his actions were grounded in reason and rules. unlike the old Radicals who just shouted about rebellion, Jin was wrestling with the High Command within the rules of the game.
He was striking the High Command while simultaneously creating an opportunity to ally with the other clans.
It was... brilliant!
"I agree!"
Uchiha Amano, the Grand Elder, voiced his support immediately.
Although he was a Moderate, he was first and foremost an Uchiha. He hadn't supported the Radicals before because their rebellion had zero chance of success. But Jin's strategy of "Conflict without Rupture" gave him real hope.
"I support this as well. Fully!"
Uchiha Yashiro raised his hand.
After realizing the High Command was untrustworthy, he had been ready to rebel outright.
But Jin's approach was surprisingly more measured—and far more likely to succeed. It made him trust Jin even more. This was an Uchiha who truly used his brain!
The others voiced their agreement one after another.
Almost unanimously, they supported the operation without needing further explanation.
Setsuna sighed with emotion.
"Like him... you are just like him."
"Jin-kun, your calculations and strategies remind me of Uchiha Izuna."
"The only Uchiha who could match Tobirama Senju in wits!"
Hearing Setsuna's comparison, the others nodded in agreement.
They were all old men from the late Warring States period. Though they hadn't seen Izuna personally, they had grown up hearing stories of his brilliance from the clan elders.
And now.
They saw Izuna's shadow in Uchiha Jin!
The atmosphere in the living room relaxed. Jin didn't say much more about it. Since business was concluded, he began to chat casually with the elders.
Just then.
Uchiha Inabi walked in. "Elders. Fugaku and Shisui have arrived."
"They are demanding to see Elder Jin!"
The room went silent, the elders exchanging surprised glances.
Jin remained calm. He didn't need to guess to know why they were here.
Thinking for a moment, he said, "Let them in."
"Yes!" Inabi bowed.
Two minutes later.
Shisui and Fugaku entered the living room. Upon seeing Amano and Yashiro sitting comfortably with the Radical elders, their faces instantly turned ugly.
They weren't stupid.
The security outside was tight, meaning a serious meeting was taking place.
And the presence of the two Moderate leaders here proved one thing: they had made their choice.