Putting Trash to Use

Third floor of the Hokage Building.

Shisui entered the office and dropped to one knee without a word.

"Shisui Uchiha, reporting to Lord Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a short man with a perpetual smile, looking every bit the kindly old fellow.

He glanced at Shisui and spoke with a smile.

"Come now, get up. No need to kneel."

"Why that constant frown? Have you run into some trouble?"

Before even mentioning official business, he asked after Shisui's well-being.

Hiruzen Sarutobi really had his kindly elder act down pat.

At the Third Hokage's question, Shisui perked up as though someone had cracked a whip over him.

The Hokage he trusted and respected most was personally asking how he was doing.

He quickly bowed, his face full of reverence.

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Hokage."

"I'm fine!"

"There was just a little trouble in the clan, but it's been settled."

Everything had been fine until he said that.

At those words, Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in their depths.

But it lasted only an instant.

In the blink of an eye, his kindly expression returned, and he continued with a smile.

"Mm, that's good."

"I happen to have some free time, and I'm curious. Tell me about it."

He wanted to know every last detail of the Uchiha's messy affairs.

Unfortunately, the thoroughly brainwashed Shisui couldn't see what he was getting at.

It was a minor matter anyway. If the Hokage wanted to hear it, he would tell him.

Like beans spilling from a sack, he poured out everything that had happened that day, from beginning to end, leaving nothing out.

After hearing him out, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face filled with emotion.

"So that's what happened!"

"Kagami was a fine shinobi who carried the Will of Fire. I never imagined his former subordinates and their children would end up in such straits."

"What a disgrace I am as Hokage!"

"When Kagami first passed away, I thought this was an internal Uchiha matter, and that it wouldn't be right for me to interfere as Hokage."

"Who could have imagined..."

"Ah!"

"This is my fault. If only I'd paid a little more attention back then."

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had caught the acting bug.

He knew perfectly well what sort of lives Kagami Uchiha's former subordinates had been living.

He hadn't lifted a finger.

A bunch of useless, discarded pawns, still bearing the name of the evil Uchiha—why would he waste his time on them?

But things were different now!

Shisui was far too useful a pawn for him to let slip from his grasp.

Truth be told.

His performance was crude. If Jin Uchiha had been standing here, he could have spotted a whole slew of holes without even trying.

Unfortunately, the one standing here was Shisui—a thoroughly brainwashed Shisui.

Gratitude written all over his face, Shisui cut Hiruzen Sarutobi off, his voice firm and decisive.

"No, it isn't your fault, Lord Hokage!"

"You're run off your feet every day. How could you have time for petty squabbles like these?"

"If anyone's to blame, it's those Radical Faction members in the clan. They're scum!"

"Rest assured, Lord Hokage. As long as I, Shisui, have breath in my body, I will never let the Radical Faction run wild!"

Shisui delivered every word as firmly as a nail being hammered into place.

Hiruzen Sarutobi found it immensely gratifying.

After a little small talk, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with a smile.

"Shisui, you should head back."

"I don't think Fugaku can keep the Radical Faction in check on his own."

"The victims were your grandfather's former subordinates. You have a responsibility to help Fugaku."

"And the village cannot escape responsibility for this either."

"As Hokage, I hereby declare that if the descendants of Kagami's former subordinates encounter difficulties, and the Uchiha clan refuses to help, the village can shoulder the full burden."

"I have failed in my duties as Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked utterly heartbroken.

Shisui was so grateful that his eyes reddened.

What a wonderful Hokage!

How could those bastards in my clan dare accuse him of being unfair?

It never occurred to him that Hiruzen Sarutobi had nothing left but his words.

In the end, it was nothing but hot air.

The people who had followed Kagami Uchiha back then had long since been wiped out, every last one of them.

As for their descendants?

How many could possibly be left?

Even if he supported them all, how much could it cost?

And someone like Jin Uchiha was already a fucking shinobi. How could he have the gall to ask the village for handouts?

That was Hiruzen Sarutobi for you!

Without spending a single coin, he had pocketed a whole heap of goodwill.

And this arrangement would keep tearing the Uchiha in two.

Let the Moderate Faction and the Radical Faction fight each other to the death!

Every death would give him another reason to celebrate.

Unfortunately, Shisui Uchiha couldn't see through any of it.

Instead, he spoke with heartfelt gratitude. "On behalf of Jin and everyone with no one to turn to, thank you for your generosity, Lord Hokage."

"Jin?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned.

Hearing the confusion in the Hokage's voice, Shisui quickly offered an explanation.

After listening, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a slight nod.

He had extracted all the information he needed and couldn't be bothered to keep talking with Shisui.

"All right, head back."

"But Lord Hokage, my mission..."

"That's fine. I'll assign someone else. Just focus on getting things sorted out with the Uchiha."

"I... thank you, Lord Hokage!"

With gratitude written all over his face, Shisui withdrew.

As soon as he left, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened, and his voice turned cold.

"Someone!"

In the blink of an eye.

A masked ANBU appeared, kneeling on one knee and speaking respectfully.

"Lord Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his mouth.

"Go fetch Jin Uchiha's file."

The masked ANBU bowed and left the office.

Five minutes later.

The ANBU returned and placed a file on the desk.

Then he bowed again and, without waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi to speak, vanished into white smoke with a pop.

Clearly, that had been a Shadow Clone.

Hiruzen Sarutobi paid the ANBU no mind, merely leafing through Jin Uchiha's file.

The more he read, the deeper his frown grew.

Absolutely pathetic!

If Shisui Uchiha was a genius, then Jin Uchiha was pure trash.

They were already fucking twelve. Kakashi was a Jonin, and Shisui had reached the peak of Chunin. With a few more achievements under his belt, he could be promoted to Jonin at any time.

And Jin Uchiha?

It was too embarrassing to say.

He was already in fucking fifth grade, yet he could only just barely use the Three Basic Jutsu, and his chakra reserves were pitiful.

And he called himself an Uchiha?

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the file, his face puckered as though he had eaten a sour orange.

How pathetic!

At this level, he'd barely stand out among the civilians, would he?

It never occurred to him that Jin Uchiha might be hiding his abilities, because an Uchiha's mind simply didn't work that way.

If the Uchiha really had that kind of cunning, would anyone else have gotten to become the Third Hokage?

He sighed.

Looking at the file gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a headache.

He had originally planned to summon Jin Uchiha, fill his head with the Will of Fire, and trick him into becoming Shisui's weapon against the Radical Faction.

Now, he had lost all interest.

With nothing but a cannon fodder's fate ahead of him, this kid wasn't even worth wasting his breath on.

Creak.

The door opened.

An old man covered in bandages strode inside, leaning on a cane.

That's right.

It was the Hidden Leaf's king of taking the blame, Danzo Shimura!

His face was so dark it looked ready to drip, and he spoke bluntly to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I've heard everything."

"Since that Jin Uchiha is trash, let him join my Root."

"Consider it putting trash to use. Handle him properly, and even if we can't destroy the Uchiha, we can at least make their lives miserable."

"..."