Setsuna Uchiha's face was filled with shock.
He couldn't quite understand Jin Uchiha's caution. To him, Jin wasn't supposed to be this kind of person. After all, this was the same man who had dared to confront Konoha's top leadership head-on.
On the other side, Jin frowned slightly.
After a moment of thought, he let out a quiet sigh, responding to Setsuna's confusion.
"Elder Setsuna, Konoha's depth runs far deeper than you imagine."
"There's a forbidden jutsu in the scrolls called Shiki Fūjin, one of the legacies of the Uzumaki Clan."
"It summons the Shinigami using the user's own life as the price. This technique bypasses all barriers and jutsu; if your opponent is caught, their soul is immediately claimed by the Shinigami."
"Minato Namikaze used it to split the Nine-Tails into yin and yang, sealing it between himself and his son, Naruto Uzumaki."
"If Konoha's higher-ups were truly cornered, they could release this forbidden technique and teach it to every Jonin…."
"Then what?"
"Even if this jutsu is difficult to master, Konoha has countless Jonin. If twenty of them learned it, do you think our clan could withstand it?"
"Even with my Mangekyō, I wouldn't dare attempt it lightly."
Hearing this, Setsuna's face drained of color.
Konoha had something like this in its arsenal?
Before he could process it, Jin continued.
"And the Nine-Tails itself. If we push Konoha's leadership to the brink, what if they release the Nine-Tails?"
"Jiraiya will defend Konoha. Tsunade might be hesitant at first, but if the Uchiha rebel… for the village her grandfathers built, she could overcome her fears."
"And those two Kage-level shinobi who could stop them?"
"The Anbu and Root are loyal to the Hokage. Even if the Uchiha can take on three at once, how many lives would be lost against such overwhelming forces?"
"Danzo has already gathered numerous Mangekyō Sharingan, and he himself can use Izanagi. How many would have to die just to wear him down?"
"Even the weakest Hokage isn't something ordinary Uchiha can withstand."
"I've personally investigated the Sarutobi clan. They've long embezzled Konoha's finances and rarely joined wars. Even now, they have at least 1,500 shinobi, with at least 300 Jonin."
"Though their Jonin are weaker than ours, sheer numbers alone could slaughter our forces."
"And that's not counting other ninja clans. Do you think the rest would allow the Uchiha to rise after gaining such a notorious reputation?"
"Now imagine if those clans join the fight."
As Jin spoke, Setsuna broke into a cold sweat. He couldn't speak.
His previous assumptions had been far too shallow. Konoha's reserves were terrifying. Even with the Uchiha partially restored, they didn't have the right to rebel.
Even with Jin's Mangekyō, Konoha's leadership could simply wear him down.
He let out a helpless sigh. "Jin… you're right. We really don't have the qualifications to rebel."
He was convinced.
Everything Jin had said was beyond anything Setsuna had considered. No matter how strong the Uchiha were, they couldn't match these forces.
Jin nodded slightly. "Yes, it's difficult. Even after so many losses, Konoha may be weakened, but it's still not something we can casually challenge."
"Not to mention the moderates and centrists in our clan dragging us down."
"Even if we could somehow humiliate Konoha's leaders and take power, how would a fractured, broken Konoha face the other Four Great Nations?"
"Elder Setsuna, do you think the other ninja villages would ignore a weakened Konoha?"
"Let's be realistic. My current goal is to stabilize Konoha's leadership and unify the Uchiha."
"Everything else will come later."
Jin sipped his tea, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
He had managed to temporarily hold Konoha's higher-ups in check by daring to gamble with the clan's survival, daring to bring the threat of Uchiha annihilation to the table.
Konoha's leaders wanted a stable village. Even if they could destroy the Uchiha without a scratch, they would have to calculate how to deal with the other ninja villages afterward.
Setsuna took a deep breath and looked at Jin with genuine admiration. A small smile appeared on his face.
"My luck hasn't failed me. Even in my old age, I've found a successor like you. Even if I die tomorrow, it will be worth it."
"Now that the radical faction is under your leadership, I can rest easy."
Setsuna had always seen the radicals as strong but reckless, mostly shouting without any real strategy. Now, with Jin leading them, they had become a sharp, precise weapon.
Bold, daring, and wise this combination was rare.
Jin only smiled lightly, saying nothing more.
After a moment's thought, Setsuna asked, "What about the Uchiha who have been disappearing, and the increasingly radical rumors in the village? Does this affect your plan?"
The question couldn't be avoided. It hurt too much.
The Uchiha had been a prestigious clan for a thousand years, but compared to Konoha's leadership, they were weak. So many deaths risked the clan unraveling.
Jin shook his head. "Not nearly enough. Too few have died."
"Only when the moderates and centrists tremble will they truly abandon their illusions about the village. That's when change will come."
"As for village rumors, that's not our concern."
"The Uchiha clan leader is Fugaku. Unless everyone comes to me, no one can demand I act."
"It's not arrogance. If I intervene too soon, they'll suspect my motives, sabotage me, or interfere behind my back."
"Do you think controlling village opinion is simple? I don't want to manage that and deal with fools in the moderates and centrists at the same time."
Setsuna sighed, realizing Jin was right. With Fugaku and Shisui being so clueless, this was inevitable.
At that moment, Tetsu Uchiha entered.
"Elder Jin, Elder Setsuna," he said.
"Fugaku has sent word. He wants to convene a temporary clan meeting. The radical faction is required to attend."