Time moved quickly. Before anyone realized it, the night before the Fourth Hokage election had arrived.
Over the past few days, both Shimura Danzo and Minato Namikaze had been campaigning openly across Konoha, rallying support with unusual intensity.
Danzo had even begun openly visiting the major clans, soliciting votes without pretense.
During this period, he had visited Uchiha Jin multiple times to confirm the Uchiha clan's stance. Each time, Jin had reassured him.
Yet tonight—
At the final hour—
Danzo still came again.
Inside Uchiha Jin's reception room.
Danzo sat stiffly in the guest seat, face dark, his single visible eye fixed on Jin. Suspicion and calculation burned within it.
"Shimura Elder," Jin said after finishing his third cup of tea, clearly losing patience, "you've been staring at me in silence for fifteen minutes. If you have something to say, say it."
Danzo finally spoke.
"You know why I'm here."
"We're at the final moment."
"What exactly is the Uchiha clan planning?"
Jin sighed lightly.
"This is the third time you've asked me that question."
"And my answer remains the same."
"The Uchiha stand on your side."
"What exactly are you afraid of?"
"Or rather—what exactly are you suspecting?"
"If you distrust us to this extent, perhaps there's no point continuing this cooperation."
Danzo snorted coldly.
"Spare me the pretty words."
"This has always been a partnership of interests."
"There was never any trust."
"I've never trusted the Uchiha."
"And the Uchiha have never trusted me."
"We simply take what we need."
His tone dropped, icy.
"But we are partners."
"And you hiding things from me—does that seem appropriate?"
Jin raised a brow.
"Hiding what, exactly?"
Danzo's eye gleamed sharply.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"Hiruzen and Minato have already met with you, haven't they?"
For the briefest instant, Jin paused internally—
But outwardly, his expression remained still as water.
Danzo continued before Jin could respond.
"Don't bother denying it."
"I've already confirmed enough."
"Your meeting was discreet."
"But you left behind a fatal flaw."
Jin's thoughts moved swiftly.
A flaw?
Hiruzen and Minato had used Flying Thunder God. No physical traces. Very few witnesses.
What flaw?
Danzo answered his own question.
"These past days, Hiruzen has been canvassing every voting clan."
"As have I."
"Every faction with voting authority has been contacted by one side or the other."
"Except the Uchiha."
"That is abnormal."
"Even if you publicly declared support for me during the last jōnin assembly—"
"With Hiruzen's personality, he would never give up on pulling you back."
"Even if there was only one percent chance."
"He would try."
"If he didn't approach you openly, then he did so secretly."
"And the fact that he hasn't publicly courted you—"
"That is the flaw."
"He is avoiding suspicion."
"To lull me."
Danzo's reasoning was sharp.
Too sharp.
His understanding of Hiruzen's habits made even minor irregularities glaring.
Jin shook his head calmly.
"All speculation."
"I repeat—Hiruzen and Minato have not approached me."
"And since you yourself admit this is an alliance of convenience, there's no need for emotional explanations."
"Tell me what you want."
Danzo frowned.
Jin's composure unsettled him.
Could it be that Hiruzen truly hadn't contacted the Uchiha?
Impossible.
The Uchiha held over a hundred jōnin trust votes.
Hiruzen would never ignore that.
Jin suddenly hesitated deliberately, as if weighing whether to speak further.
Then he sighed.
"Since we've cooperated smoothly so far…"
"Let me offer you a reminder."
Danzo's eye narrowed.
"What reminder?"
Jin's voice lowered.
"If Hiruzen hasn't approached the Uchiha…"
"Isn't it possible…"
"…that he's found a way to counterbalance us?"
Danzo's pupil contracted sharply.
"Explain."
Jin leaned back slightly.
"These past two days…"
"There have been many unfamiliar faces in the village."
Danzo's breathing subtly tightened.
"Unfamiliar faces?"
"Yes."
"Our Konoha Police Force patrols the village day and night."
"We've detected nearly one hundred powerful 'strangers' entering the compounds of the Sarutobi, Mitokado, and Utatane clans."
"According to reports…"
"Each one is at least jōnin-level."
Silence fell heavily between them.
Danzo's mind raced.
Reinforcements?
External forces?
Secret mobilization?
If Hiruzen had quietly called in outside power—
Then tomorrow's vote…
Might not be decided by ballots alone.
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