Uchiha Jin Reclaims Ancestral Land, Fugaku Suffers Humiliation!

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 drag after deep drag from his pipe, his mind racing frantically.

Uchiha Jin's expression remained unchanged.

He still stood calmly where he was, looking utterly unconcerned with everything happening before him.

Fugaku's expression, however, was complicated.

The way he looked at Uchiha Jin was filled with horror and fear. Though he had dreamed of reclaiming the Uchiha Ancestral Land, he had only ever dared to entertain the thought in private.

Because he knew it was absolutely impossible!

How could the Konoha F4 possibly be willing to spit out the meat they had already put in their mouths?

The Uchiha were not strong enough, and their standing within Konoha was terrible. They would never be able to accomplish such a thing in this lifetime.

But now?

Uchiha Jin had laid the matter out in the open. Fugaku's first reaction was not joy, but a bone-deep terror and fear.

What if the Konoha Higher-ups turned hostile?

The situation between the Uchiha and the village was already extremely delicate. If this matter pushed them into outright opposition, they would be finished.

Therefore.

Without even thinking, he immediately spoke.

"Hokage-sama, absolutely not!"

"The Uchiha have no intention of reclaiming the Ancestral Land. Uchiha Jin is simply talking nonsense."

"Please, do not take him seriously!"

Fugaku's tone was resolute.

In his view, maintaining the relationship between the Uchiha and the village was the most important thing. They should even find a way to ease those tensions going forward.

Uchiha Jin was far too radical!

He absolutely did not agree.

On the other side.

Uchiha Jin's expression remained calm.

Looking at Fugaku's terrified face, his eyes were full of disdain and mockery.

However.

He did not refute him. Instead, he said with a smile, "Clan Head Fugaku is right. I'm just a lowly Chunin—perhaps I truly cannot see the bigger picture of the village."

"In that case, I'm afraid I'm powerless to persuade the Uchiha."

"It can't be helped. I'm only a Chunin, after all!"

Uchiha Jin's thoughts were simple: if one was not in the position, one should not concern oneself with its affairs.

Since they would not give him any benefits, and he held no official post, there was no need for them to keep pressuring him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."

He sighed.

He was quite pleased by Fugaku's submission. How wonderful it would be if all the Uchiha were like this.

Unfortunately.

Though he was highly satisfied with Fugaku's weakness, Fugaku, the Uchiha Clan Head, had virtually no say within the Uchiha Clan.

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 about that place. After serving as Hokage for decades, the Sarutobi Clan had long become immensely wealthy.

The greatest reason for making the Uchiha relocate back then had been to restrain them.

That land was too close to Konoha's prosperous districts, and too close to the Major ninja clans—especially the Sarutobi Clan. What he feared was that, if the Uchiha were driven into a corner, they would rise up and wipe out the Sarutobi Clan first.

But now, things were different!

Although the Uchiha were becoming increasingly troublesome, Sarutobi Hiruzen could tell that Uchiha Jin was quite an intelligent man.

A person like that...

Unless driven into a corner, he would not rise up in rebellion.

If that was the case, then returning the Ancestral Land to the Uchiha was something he could reluctantly accept.

After all, compared to that plot of land, he cared more about Public Security within the village.

Recently, because Public Security in the village had deteriorated, complaints had already begun targeting him as Hokage.

So...

Better let the Uchiha handle that cesspit!

With that thought, he nodded directly.

"Fine, I agree."

"I'll clear out the space within three days. The Uchiha need to restore order in the village immediately."

"Uchiha Jin, any objections?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was exceptionally straightforward.

He could not be bothered haggling over such trivial matters. Restoring the village's basic public security, plunging the Uchiha into that cesspit, and having them continue to draw the village's resentment—those were the things he truly cared about.

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'll clear the place out within a day!"

Uchiha Jin shrugged. "Then I'll take one day as well."

After saying that, he could not be bothered with Sarutobi Hiruzen any longer and simply turned to leave.

Respect?

There was no need for it!

They had long since torn off all pretense with each other. They only barely maintained the last shred of civility because neither side had the ability to eliminate the other without consequences.

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned a blind eye to his rudeness.

Compared to killing Danzo countless times right in front of him, this little bit of disrespect was child's play.

Instead, he looked at Fugaku, whose frightened face held a trace of joy, and the disdain in his eyes vanished in an instant. "Fugaku, if there's nothing else, you should go back too."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Fugaku hurriedly bowed.

He left the Hokage Office with a respectful demeanor, and even by the time he returned to the clan compound, he still had not recovered his senses.

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 tolerate him acting so recklessly?

Yet the outcome left him utterly bewildered.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had not even tried to negotiate. He had agreed so readily that Fugaku still felt as though he were dreaming.

Was he really just too incompetent? Was Uchiha Jin simply too outstanding?

No, absolutely not!

Although Uchiha Jin had reclaimed the clan compound, he had deeply offended Sarutobi Hiruzen.

That was the wrong thing to do.

The Uchiha should have lowered their heads and humbled themselves, doing everything possible to ease their relationship with the village. Uchiha Jin's actions were more like courting destruction.

When he returned home once more, 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's Inaho?"

"I haven't seen him." Mikoto shook her head.

Fugaku's expression worsened.

As his absolute confidant, Inaho usually stayed by his side. Yet it seemed that he had not seen him since earlier that day.

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.

On the other side, Fugaku searched the clan compound for a long time before learning from an Elder of the Moderate Faction that Inaho had already taken his Younger Sister and defected to Uchiha Jin.

Upon hearing this news, Fugaku's face darkened.

Anger, humiliation, confusion, grievance!

Complex emotions flickered in 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're in trouble!"