After Itachi's situation was settled—for now—Jin didn't immediately leave.
He glanced at Fugaku and Shisui.
Both still wore heavy expressions.
But strangely, neither seemed eager to speak further.
That made him frown slightly.
"There's nothing else you want to tell me?" Jin asked.
"Else?" Fugaku blinked, clearly confused.
Shisui suddenly broke into a small smile.
"There is good news, actually," he said. "Mikoto-san is pregnant again. Itachi's going to have a little brother or sister."
Shisui looked absurdly pleased.
Even Itachi, who had been weighed down by the medical report moments ago, couldn't suppress a flicker of anticipation.
Jin stared at Shisui in disbelief.
Why are you smiling like it's your kid?
Fugaku forced a faint smile as well.
"Actually, I should thank you for that," he said. "If you hadn't suggested Mikoto get a full checkup too, we wouldn't have known so early."
"The doctor says it's been nearly a month. It's still a delicate stage. She needs rest."
He paused.
"Stay for dinner tonight. Let us properly thank you."
Under normal circumstances, this would have been pure joy for the household.
But with Itachi's diagnosis looming over them, the happiness felt muted.
Jin, however, didn't smile.
"Is that all?" he asked quietly.
Fugaku frowned. "What else would there be?"
Jin exhaled.
"This morning, Hiruzen called you to the Hokage Tower again. Nothing unusual happened?"
Fugaku thought for a moment.
"They wanted me to voluntarily relinquish the clan's compensation and war rewards again. I delayed them, as you suggested—used internal clan disagreement as an excuse."
"Other than that? Nothing."
He hadn't noticed anything beyond that. Afterward, he had gone straight to retrieve Mikoto and Itachi's reports—and the emotional whiplash had consumed his entire day.
Jin turned to Shisui.
"You?"
Shisui shook his head. "I was training at the clan grounds all morning. When Fugaku-sama called me, I came straight here."
Jin sighed inwardly.
For a clan known for their keen eyes, the Uchiha could be astonishingly slow when it came to politics.
"I heard rumors on the street today," Jin said at last. "They've already made their move."
"Rumors?" Fugaku's posture stiffened. "What kind?"
"Cold. Arrogant. Ungrateful. Drunk on merit."
Jin's tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp.
"They're planting the idea that the Uchiha think themselves above the village."
Shisui's expression darkened.
"Our reputation in the village is already fragile… If this spreads…"
Fugaku's face hardened.
"They're trying to force my hand."
"Yes," Jin nodded. "This likely carries Hiruzen's approval—but the execution reeks of Danzo."
"And even if we bow now," he continued evenly, "Danzo may not stop. Once mud is thrown, it sticks."
Fugaku's jaw clenched.
"Danzo…"
Jin didn't react emotionally. He had expected this.
"Since they've acted," he said, "complaints are pointless."
He raised two fingers.
"There are two ways to respond. One safe. One aggressive."
"Which do you want to hear first?"
Fugaku and Shisui exchanged glances.
"The safe one."
As expected.
"The best way to kill a rumor," Jin said, "is to create a bigger one."
Silence.
"If the villagers' attention shifts elsewhere, this dies naturally."
"Drag things out. Redirect the narrative."
Fugaku's eyes brightened slightly.
That sounded manageable.
Contained.
Itachi, however, suddenly spoke.
"And the aggressive method?"
Jin looked at him, amused.
Braver than your father already.
"The aggressive path," Jin said calmly, "is to detonate everything."
"Expose all contradictions. Force Hiruzen to personally step in and resolve it."
"If handled well, we don't just neutralize the slander."
"We clean house internally."
"We settle the Uchiha's standing in the village once and for all."
His voice lowered.
"But if we fail—"
"The Uchiha will have no path of retreat."
"Total ruin."
The room went still.
Fugaku's expression stiffened.
The reward was enormous.
But so was the risk.
Shisui hesitated before asking quietly,
"How confident are you?"
Jin met his gaze.
"Ten parts."
He paused.
"Nine certain."
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