Hiss!
As Uchiha Jin spoke, the entire Hokage Office fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze darkened as he took deep drags from his pipe, his mind racing madly.
Uchiha Jin's expression remained unchanged.
He still stood calmly where he was, looking utterly unconcerned about everything before him.
Fugaku's expression was complicated.
The way he looked at Uchiha Jin was filled with shock and fear. Though he had dreamed of reclaiming the Uchiha Clan Compound, he had only ever dared to think about it in private.
Because he knew it was absolutely impossible!
Once meat had entered the Konoha F4's mouths, how could they possibly be willing to spit it back out?
The Uchiha were not strong enough, and their standing within Konoha was terrible. They could never accomplish such a thing in this lifetime.
But now?
Uchiha Jin had brought the matter out into the open. His first reaction was not joy, but a fear that seeped into his bones.
What if the Konoha Higher-ups turned hostile?
The relationship between the Uchiha and the village was already extremely delicate. If this matter pushed them into outright opposition, it would be over.
Therefore.
Without thinking at all, he immediately spoke up.
"Hokage-sama, absolutely not!"
"The Uchiha have no intention of reclaiming the Uchiha Compound. Uchiha Jin is merely talking nonsense."
"Please do not take him seriously!"
Fugaku's tone was resolute.
In his eyes, maintaining the relationship between the Uchiha and the village was the most important thing. They should even find a way to ease those tensions afterward.
Uchiha Jin was far too radical!
He absolutely could not agree.
On the other side.
Uchiha Jin's expression remained unchanged.
Looking at the terrified Fugaku, his eyes were filled with disdain and mockery.
However.
He did not refute him. Instead, he smiled and said, "Clan Head Fugaku is right. I am merely a lowly Chunin, so perhaps I truly cannot see the village's bigger picture."
"In that case, I am afraid I am incapable of persuading the Uchiha."
"It cannot be helped. I am only a Chunin, after all!"
Uchiha Jin's thinking was simple: if you were not in that position, you should not concern yourself with its duties.
Since they could not offer him any benefits, and he held no office, there was no need for them to keep forcing him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."
He let out a quiet sigh.
He was quite pleased by Fugaku's submission. If all Uchiha were like this, how wonderful would that be?
Unfortunately.
Though he was extremely satisfied with Fugaku's weakness, Fugaku, as the Uchiha Clan Head, had virtually no say within the Uchiha.
As for the Uchiha Ancestral Land?
To be honest, that area was indeed prosperous, and it had long since become the property of the Sarutobi Clan.
But likewise.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had never truly cared much about that place. Having served as Hokage for decades, the Sarutobi Clan had long become enormously wealthy.
The main reason he had made the Uchiha relocate back then was to restrain them.
That land was too close to Konoha's prosperous districts, as well as the Major ninja clans—especially the Sarutobi Clan. What he feared was that if the Uchiha were driven into a corner and rose up, they would wipe out the Sarutobi Clan first.
But now, things were different!
Though the Uchiha were becoming increasingly troublesome, Sarutobi Hiruzen could tell that Uchiha Jin was a very intelligent man.
A person like that...
Unless driven into a corner, he would not rise up in rebellion.
In that case, returning the ancestral land to the Uchiha was something he could barely accept.
After all, compared to that plot of land, he cared more about the village's Public Security.
Recently, because Public Security in the village had deteriorated, complaints had already begun targeting him, the Hokage.
So...
Let the Uchiha handle that cesspit!
With that thought, he nodded directly.
"Fine, I agree."
"I will clear out the land within three days. The Uchiha must immediately restore the village's Public Security."
"Uchiha Jin, do you have any objections?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was very straightforward.
He could not be bothered to haggle over such trivial matters. Restoring basic Public Security, throwing the Uchiha into that cesspit, and having them continue to draw the village's resentment—those were the things he cared about most.
In response.
Uchiha Jin nodded. "Since Hokage-sama is being so generous, I can finally rest easy. The village's Public Security will definitely be restored in three days."
"Three days?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze darkened. "One day."
"I will vacate the place within one day!"
Uchiha Jin shrugged. "Then I will take one day as well."
After saying that.
He could not be bothered to pay Sarutobi Hiruzen any more attention and simply turned to leave.
Respect?
There was no need for it!
They had long since torn off all pretenses with each other. They only barely maintained their last shred of civility because neither side had the ability to eliminate the other without consequences.
Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored his rudeness.
Compared to killing Danzo countless times before his eyes, this slight discourtesy was child's play.
Instead.
He looked at Fugaku, whose frightened face carried a trace of delight. The contempt in his eyes flashed and vanished. "Fugaku, if there is nothing else, you may return as well."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Fugaku hurriedly bowed.
He left the Hokage Office with a respectful demeanor. Even after returning to the Clan Compound, he had yet to process what had happened.
Just like that—so easily?!
At that moment, he could not understand it.
In his view, Uchiha Jin had been far too arrogant. How could the village possibly allow him to act so recklessly?
Yet the outcome left him utterly confused.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had not even bargained. He had agreed so readily that Fugaku still felt as though he were dreaming.
Was he really that incompetent? Was Uchiha Jin truly that outstanding?
No, absolutely not!
Though Uchiha Jin had reclaimed the Clan Compound, he had deeply offended Sarutobi Hiruzen.
That kind of behavior was wrong.
The Uchiha should have lowered themselves and done everything possible to ease their relationship with the village. Uchiha Jin's actions were more like courting death.
After returning home, Mikoto immediately came up to him.
"Fugaku, how did it go?"
"Was Hokage-sama angry? Was the matter resolved?"
Fugaku's face was gloomy, and he was even somewhat irritated.
He did not particularly want to deal with Mikoto right now. Instead, he asked directly, "Where is Inabi?"
"I have not seen him." Mikoto shook her head.
Fugaku's expression worsened.
As his absolute confidant, Inabi normally stayed by his side. Yet it seemed that he had not seen him since earlier today.
After thinking briefly, Fugaku spoke directly. "I'm going out."
Mikoto wanted to say something else, but faced with Fugaku already leaving, she could only sigh and turn back inside.
Meanwhile.
Fugaku searched through the Clan Compound for a long time before learning from an Elder of the Moderate Faction that Inabi had already taken his younger sister and defected to Uchiha Jin.
Upon receiving this news, Fugaku's face darkened.
Anger, frustration, confusion, grievance!
Complex emotions flashed through his eyes before he finally spoke to the Moderate Faction Elder before him. "Help me notify our people. Have them come to my house later for a brief meeting."
"We have a problem!"
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