Uchiha Jin did not look the slightest bit flustered.
He had anticipated this moment long ago. In fact, he had been waiting for it.
"Cough."
He cleared his throat lightly, drawing every eye in the chamber.
Only after the noise subsided did he speak.
"Elder Koharu, I would appreciate it if you chose your words more carefully."
"This subsidy was personally entrusted to the Uchiha clan by the Fire Daimyō. How does the word 'seize' apply here?"
"If we had truly robbed it," he added mildly, "I doubt the three of you would be sitting here speaking to me so calmly."
The statement was blunt—but effective.
A ripple of realization spread across the hall.
Of course.
No matter how powerful the Uchiha were, they could not possibly rob the Daimyō's funds and sit comfortably in the Hokage Tower the next morning.
There had to be more to the story.
The mood in the chamber settled.
They waited.
Jin did not drag it out.
"Let me clarify."
"Yes—the recent thirty billion ryō subsidy allocated by the Daimyō's court is currently in the custody of the Uchiha clan."
"But we are merely safeguarding it. We do not claim exclusive ownership."
"And not only this batch—moving forward, all subsidies from the Daimyō to Konoha will be entrusted to the Uchiha for safekeeping."
A heavier silence followed.
That was no small matter.
Koharu snorted coldly.
"And what qualifications does the Uchiha clan possess to safeguard village funds? The Military Police's jurisdiction extends only to maintaining internal security."
Jin glanced at her calmly.
"You ask what qualifications we possess?"
"Very well. Let us examine that."
He paused, then asked quietly:
"Elder Koharu, do you know who owned the land beneath your feet before Konoha was founded?"
Koharu frowned.
"The Hokage Tower stands on village land. Naturally it belongs to the village."
"I am asking," Jin replied evenly, "before Konoha was built."
Understanding dawned too late.
Her lips parted—but no words came.
Jin's voice hardened.
"Since you seem reluctant, I'll answer for you."
"The land beneath your feet once belonged to the Uchiha clan."
"Not just this tower. Not just this district."
"The entire valley that became Konoha—along with dozens of surrounding hills—was Uchiha territory."
"Konoha was founded jointly by the Uchiha and the Senju. The land was contributed freely by our clan."
"The name 'Konoha' was proposed by Uchiha Madara himself."
"And the title 'Hokage' was coined by the First Hokage to honor the Uchiha's indispensable role in founding this village."
His gaze swept the hall.
"For this village, the Uchiha poured out wealth beyond counting."
"And blood beyond counting."
"You ask what qualifications we have?"
He gave a short, humorless laugh.
"To put it bluntly—even the sweat shed by the Uchiha is redder than your blood."
"And what gives you the right to question us?"
Koharu's face flushed scarlet.
The hall's atmosphere shifted.
Especially among the civilian-born jōnin.
Many of them had never heard this version of history.
The academy textbooks glorified the "strongest Hokage" and praised the Senju no Kami's power—but rarely elaborated on the clans' foundational sacrifices.
As for the Uchiha's contributions?
They were barely mentioned.
Now, hearing it spoken plainly—
Complicated expressions surfaced throughout the chamber.
Jin did not stop.
"Now, regarding the Military Police's authority."
"The Police's core duty is to preserve internal stability and protect the lives and property of Konoha's citizens."
"The Daimyō's subsidies are intended for internal reconstruction and welfare."
"They belong to all of Konoha."
"What issue is there in having the Police safeguard public property?"
"The Daimyō acknowledges it."
"And," he added casually, "two of Konoha's three current elders have acknowledged it as well."
That caused a stir.
Three elders.
Shimura Danzō.
Mito Menma.
Utane Koharu.
Danzō's stance was clear—he had aligned with the Uchiha.
Koharu was currently attacking them.
Which left—
Eyes slowly turned toward Mito Menma.
Jin smiled faintly.
"Elder Mito personally acknowledged this arrangement yesterday, in the presence of Elder Shimura."
"I trust he will not deny his own words?"
Danzō immediately spoke.
"That is correct."
"Elder Mito and I visited the Police Headquarters yesterday to discuss this matter."
"I can testify that Elder Mito agreed to the Uchiha's custodianship of the funds."
"And I have no objection to it."
Danzō understood perfectly.
Jin had stepped forward to draw fire away from him.
This was repayment.
The matter needed to be nailed down here and now.
"You—you…!"
Menma's breathing grew erratic.
His face shifted from red to ashen.
His vision blurred.
Before anyone could react—
He swayed.
Then collapsed.
"Elder Mito!"
"Father!"
"Medical-nin! Where are the medical-nin?!"
Hiruzen and Koharu rushed forward.
Members of the Mito clan surged from their seats.
The hall descended into chaos.
Some stood.
Some shouted.
Some stared in stunned disbelief.
A Konoha elder fainting mid-session—
Such a scene had never occurred since the village's founding.
And at the center of the storm—
Uchiha Jin remained seated.
Calm.
Watching.
Like a man observing the inevitable consequences of pressure finally breaking stone.
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