I'll use these eyes to resolve the conflict between the clan and the village

Under Shisui Uchiha's hands-on instruction.

Uchiha Jin suddenly saw the light and soon grasped the essentials of fishing.

Technique really was a mysterious thing.

After mastering fishing techniques, he went from a man who always came back empty-handed to an expert angler. Combined with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

He could now land a fish every three to five minutes.

Compared to before, he seemed like a completely different person.

"Is this really the boss I know?"

Fat Cat stared wide-eyed at the owner who was landing one fish after another, disbelief written all over that feline face, even forgetting to eat the fish held between those teeth.

"Jin, you're really amazing!"

Shisui Uchiha smiled as he praised his friend.

It had been a long time since he had sat down with Jin and talked calmly.

Whenever they usually met, Jin never had a kind look for him.

After becoming an expert angler, Uchiha Jin was in a very good mood and, for once, did not snap at Shisui Uchiha beside him.

Shisui had taught him everything he knew about fishing. Surely he couldn't turn hostile on the spot?

He wasn't the sort to beat the cook after eating his fill.

Besides, their conflict stemmed from differences in their beliefs. As long as those beliefs weren't brought up, they still got along well.

Uchiha Jin nodded in satisfaction at his words.

"Of course. I'm an expert angler!"

"Yes, yes, yes, you're an expert!"

Shisui Uchiha praised him earnestly, his tone like someone coaxing a child.

It really had been a long time since the two of them had spoken so calmly.

I really miss this.

"Go clean the fish. I'll get a fire going to grill them."

Uchiha Jin had fished all morning without eating anything.

He was honestly a little hungry now. Since Shisui happened to be here, he might as well put him to work for free.

Shisui Uchiha froze for a moment, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.

He had originally thought Jin would drive him away without mercy once he had finished teaching him.

He had never expected Jin to have no intention of making him leave, instead asking him to go to the river and clean the fish they had caught.

That also meant Jin was treating him to grilled fish!

The last time they had sat down to eat together seemed to have been a very long time ago.

So long ago that he could barely remember...

"What are you sitting there for?"

Uchiha Jin was just about to gather firewood when he saw Shisui still sitting where he was, and he couldn't help frowning.

"Oh, right. I'll go now."

Shisui Uchiha came back to his senses, picked up the bucket, and went to the river, his retreating figure looking inexplicably buoyant.

"What's gotten into him?"

Uchiha Jin muttered under his breath, then left to gather firewood.

Fat Cat stayed in place, looked at their retreating figures, and tilted that feline head in confusion.

When did they start getting along so well?

What exactly did I miss while I was off eating fish?!

Uchiha Jin used Fire Release to light the dry branches, while Shisui Uchiha stuck the skewered fish into the ground around them.

Black Cat sat between them, staring unblinkingly at the fish.

Why does cooked fish seem tastier, meow?

"Shisui, why do you think my reputation has gone down the drain again?"

Uchiha Jin braced his hands behind him and tilted his head back, looking through the leaves toward the Hokage Building.

Shisui Uchiha suddenly went rigid.

Today, he had been doing everything he could to avoid bringing up the clan and the village. Only then could they get along calmly, like friends.

If the clan and the village came up, their differing beliefs would surely lead to an argument...

But now his friend had brought it up himself. It seemed there was no avoiding the discussion.

"Jin, Lord Hokage said he would find whoever spread the rumors."

Shisui Uchiha looked down at the flames and explained quietly.

Jin was already dissatisfied with the village leadership's governance. This incident would only make things worse.

Someone had spread rumors about Jin and the clan, leading people who didn't know the truth to believe them.

That had made the Uchiha Clan's already poor reputation even worse.

Even though Lord Hokage had promptly issued a statement, plenty of people had still formed a fixed impression.

They believed the Uchiha Konoha Military Police Force simply liked enforcing the law arbitrarily, never needed evidence to arrest anyone, and would drag back anyone they disliked to torture them.

The real problem was that quite a few people actually believed such an outrageous claim.

"Who do you think was behind this?"

Uchiha Jin's expression was calm as he stared straight into his eyes.

Faced with his friend's question and gaze, Shisui Uchiha fell silent.

"Sorry, I don't know. I believe Lord Hokage can find whoever was behind it..."

"Heh. You don't know?"

A mocking smile curved Uchiha Jin's lips as he tilted his head back again to look toward the Hokage Building.

"Whether you really don't know or just don't dare say... I'm afraid only you know the answer."

His strict enforcement of the law lately had offended quite a few clans.

They included, but were not limited to, the Sarutobi, Shimura, Hyūga, Akimichi, Aburame, and Inuzuka Clan.

Tall trees caught the wind.

Even some members of the Uchiha Clan disliked him, let alone shinobi from other clans.

This was probably the result of Shimura Danzō taking the lead and the other clans joining in.

Otherwise, the news couldn't possibly have spread throughout Konoha in just half a day.

"Jin, we have to trust Lord Hokage."

Seeing the disappointment in his friend's eyes, Shisui Uchiha couldn't help trying to persuade him.

"Lord Hokage will definitely punish the people spreading rumors and clear your name, and the Uchiha Clan's!"

His tone was firm, as though the Hokage really would help them.

Uchiha Jin's lips twitched. After a moment of silence, he shook his head.

"Shisui, you're too naive."

"You can only rely on yourself. Other people simply aren't dependable."

"If you pin all your hopes on someone else, what you get in return is often nothing but misunderstanding and betrayal."

He truly wanted to persuade Shisui, but they were talking past each other, and Shisui refused to listen.

He was even turning things on their head and trying to persuade Jin instead.

"As I see it, only when the clan and the leadership understand each other can the village develop steadily without problems."

Shisui Uchiha looked serious.

"Conflict will only give our enemies an opening!"

"Suit yourself, you ignorant fool."

Uchiha Jin pulled a grilled fish out of the ground and ate by himself, unwilling to say anything more.

Talking to such a self-righteous idiot was simply a waste of breath.

In his view, Shisui Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi had simply been brainwashed beyond recognition by the Will of Fire.

They had completely forgotten where they came from and what their surname was.

"Jin, trust me."

Seeing the disappointment in his friend's eyes, Shisui Uchiha felt an inexplicable stab of pain in his heart and explained in a slight panic.

"Trust you?"

Uchiha Jin swallowed the fish in his mouth and rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Trust your naive ideas? Trust that you can resolve the conflict between the clan and the village?"

"Don't be stupid, Shisui. You can't live in your ideals forever. You have to learn to face reality..."

As Shisui was now, he was actually no different from Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha.

They all believed they could solve problems in their own way.

In reality, they were simply daydreaming.

"Jin, please trust me!"

Shisui Uchiha activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and pointed at his eyes, his expression earnest.

"I'll use these eyes to resolve the conflict between the clan and the village."

Uchiha Jin froze briefly as his gaze met those eyes, then regained his calm.

"Whatever you want."