Hey, don't look at me with that disgusting look

"Jin, could you keep a lower profile in front of the Hokage from now on?"

After hesitating for a long time, Uchiha Fugaku finally worked up the courage to offer some advice.

Jin was a genius the clan only saw once in a century.

His strength and loyalty to the clan were beyond question. By all rights, he should have received the Uchiha Clan's full support.

But the boy's extreme personality left Uchiha Fugaku unable to eat or sleep in peace.

He feared that one day Uchiha Jin would shout that the Third Hokage had violated the village's laws, then draw his blade on the Hokage...

That would have been unlikely with anyone else, but this boy might actually do it.

Because he had no sense of reverence.

Not for him as Clan Leader, nor for the village's Hokage.

Someone like him was fine as long as he stayed out of trouble, but if he stirred things up, he could tear the sky apart.

Even the extremists in the clan thought Jin was too extreme.

Normally, the Hawk Faction's Second Elder and Fourth Elder would certainly have said the Clan Leader was too timid.

But after witnessing Uchiha Jin's actions in the office, both tacitly kept their mouths shut.

The boy really did need to be reined in.

Although the Hawk Faction resented the village leadership's oppression of the clan and hated the other clansmen's cowardly submission, they had not yet reached the point of launching a coup as they would later.

They merely wanted to push back enough to let the village leadership know they had tempers too.

"Clan Leader, you're too cowardly."

At those words, Uchiha Jin met his eyes, making no effort to hide his disappointment.

"Higher rank doesn't make someone more right."

"If we've done nothing wrong, we have nothing to fear. There's no need to go out of our way to please anyone."

His gaze swept over the elders present, his tone calm.

"Humbling ourselves won't earn respect, only contempt."

With that, he ignored their complicated expressions and walked straight out without hesitation.

They stared blankly at the boy's proud, solitary retreating figure.

"What an extreme boy..."

The Uchiha Clan's Elder murmured.

How could he not know that constantly giving ground would only make others push further?

But resistance meant sacrifice.

On the surface, this was a matter between the Uchiha Clan and the village leadership.

Once they truly resisted, the village's other clans would certainly not stand idly by.

Then it would be the Uchiha Clan against all of Konoha.

No matter how strong the Uchiha Clan was, it was only one clan, no match for the entire village.

Besides, the Uchiha Clan's fighting strength was no longer what it had been.

That was why enduring in silence was the only way to survive.

"Extreme?" The Second Elder looked scornful. "I think Jin has a point."

Ever since the Uchiha Clan joined Konoha, a comfortable life had gradually worn away the clansmen's fighting spirit.

They meekly accepted oppression, daring to feel anger but not to speak out.

He did not want to see things remain that way.

"You both have a point."

The Neutral Faction's elder did not want to get involved in their disputes and thought maintaining the status quo between the clan and the village was perfectly fine.

Uchiha Fugaku silently shook his head.

If the boy had no reverence, so be it.

He hoped the boy would not do anything excessive again.

In the woods on the outskirts of the village.

"Itachi, did you need something?"

Dressed in Anbu attire, Shisui Uchiha looked at Itachi, who was sitting by the river, and asked.

"Shisui, I think I've figured out why Senior Jin hates me..."

Uchiha Itachi spoke with a complicated expression.

At those words, Shisui Uchiha's eyes lit up, and he excitedly went over and sat beside him.

"Tell me!"

He had found it strange that Jin hated Itachi before, but had not thought much of it. Now, however, Jin seemed to hate him too.

If Itachi could work out the reason, he would have a chance to make up with Jin.

They had been playmates since childhood!

Seeing his excitement, Uchiha Itachi fell silent for a moment before sharing his guess.

"I think the reason Senior Jin hates me is... because of you."

"Me?"

Shisui Uchiha pointed at himself, looking bewildered.

He did not understand why Jin would hate Itachi because of him.

What connection was there?

Fortunately, Itachi did not keep him in suspense and continued explaining.

"Senior Jin has always thought of you as his best friend." Uchiha Itachi stared at the river. "But my appearance made him feel threatened. Senior Jin thinks I stole his best friend..."

Shisui Uchiha's pupils abruptly contracted, and he could not help remembering the first time he brought Itachi to meet Jin.

Jin had been smiling, but the instant he saw Itachi, his expression fell, and he radiated undisguised malice and murderous intent.

Shisui had not understood what had happened then, and when he asked Jin afterward, he received no answer.

Now that he heard Itachi's analysis, it seemed to make some sense!

After all, Jin did not have many friends in the clan. At least as far as Shisui Uchiha could tell, he was Jin's only friend.

And what had he done?

He had made a new friend he got along well with behind his best friend's back, then even brought that new friend to see Jin.

Although Shisui had only intended to introduce them, all Jin saw was that he had a new friend.

Uchiha Jin felt betrayed by his best friend, so he developed malice and murderous intent toward Uchiha Itachi.

Yet instead of figuring out why his best friend was angry, he had foolishly gone and asked him why he hated Itachi.

Perhaps Jin saw his behavior as nothing short of an insult.

"Jin, I have a new best friend. Why do you hate my best friend?"

When he thought of it that way, everything made sense.

Uchiha Jin had come to hate Uchiha Itachi after learning that Shisui Uchiha had a new friend.

And after frequently seeing the two training together, Jin had become utterly disappointed and no longer wanted to be his friend.

"Itachi, thank you!"

Shisui Uchiha looked grateful.

He finally knew why Jin had broken ties with him.

Now that he had found the reason, he could make amends.

He believed that as long as he explained things clearly to Jin, they could make up!

Ever since Jin started hating him, he had been blaming himself and reflecting on his actions.

Yet he had never understood exactly what he had done wrong.

Today, he had finally found the reason!

"Shisui, this is just my own educated guess..."

Before Uchiha Itachi could finish, Shisui had already left using the Body Flicker Technique.

He gazed in the direction Shisui had disappeared, his expression calm as he murmured.

"I hope my guess is right."

Konoha Shopping Street.

Uchiha Jin patrolled his territory as usual, like a mighty lion.

"Jin!"

Just then, an ill-timed voice rang out behind him.

Shisui Uchiha had appeared on the street at some point.

"Well, if it isn't the Uchiha Clan's one and only esteemed Anbu?"

Uchiha Jin raised his eyebrows, his tone dripping with mockery.

"Did you suddenly come looking for me because you have some grand announcement?"

Normally, Shisui Uchiha would certainly have felt hurt by Jin's aggressive words.

But after learning the truth from Uchiha Itachi, he thought his best friend was simply acting jealous.

He was trying to express his displeasure this way.

How cute.

If he didn't want me spending time with Itachi, he could've just said so. Instead, he wouldn't say a word and made me guess.

Oh well. He is my best friend, after all.

Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, everything's fine.

"Hey, don't look at me with that disgusting look."

Uchiha Jin's brows knitted tightly when he saw Shisui's expression.

Has this guy taken the wrong medicine today?