"Nine out of ten?"
Shisui's heart stirred.
Jin never acted without certainty. If he claimed ninety percent, then the direction he favored was obvious.
Shisui didn't hesitate.
"In that case," he said firmly, "I support the aggressive approach. Destruction precedes rebirth."
He didn't claim to understand every layer of Jin's thinking.
But he trusted him.
If something seemed beyond his grasp, that only meant his own insight hadn't yet reached that height.
Fugaku frowned.
"The world situation is unstable. Every nation is still recovering from war. Acting rashly now could invite disaster."
Though he had privately begun considering stepping down, he was still the clan head. Every choice carried the weight of the entire Uchiha.
Caution came naturally.
Jin understood this and merely smiled.
"Opportunities don't wait," he said lightly. "Personally, I prefer the aggressive option."
He tilted his head.
"That makes it two to one, Clan Head."
Fugaku stiffened.
He was being cornered.
Then suddenly, inspiration struck.
He pulled Itachi forward.
"There are four people here," Fugaku declared. "Itachi may be young, but his opinion counts."
Itachi froze under the sudden attention.
When Jin and Shisui both turned to him, he felt even smaller.
"Alright," Jin said casually. "Itachi, what do you think?"
"I…"
Itachi hesitated.
He had listened carefully. He understood the broad strokes.
But to take a stance?
He was only five.
"Don't be afraid," Fugaku encouraged. "Speak honestly."
He expected Itachi to side with him.
Blood was thicker than ideology.
But Itachi glanced toward Shisui.
Shisui gave him a quiet nod.
After a long pause, Itachi said softly,
"I trust Shisui-nii."
Fugaku: "???"
He stared at his son in disbelief.
Jin burst into laughter.
"Clan Head, that makes it three to one. Even if you drag Mikoto in, it's still three to two. The verdict stands."
Fugaku's eye twitched.
This child.
Truly filial.
Itachi quietly stepped a little farther from his father.
In his heart, Fugaku was an imposing figure—strict, dignified.
But Shisui was different.
Teacher. Brother. Friend.
When it came to ideals, Itachi's resonance lay closer to Shisui.
Jin waved a hand.
"Enough teasing. It's good that Itachi has his own thoughts."
He looked back at Fugaku.
"As for the decision… hear me out fully before you choose."
The vote had been half-joke.
Jin didn't want submission by numbers.
He wanted conviction.
Fugaku nodded slowly.
"Then explain why you favor the aggressive path."
Jin began calmly.
"The conservative option avoids this storm—but solves nothing."
"Hidden tensions will continue to accumulate."
"One day they'll erupt. And when they do, we'll be passive, unprepared, overwhelmed."
He met Fugaku's eyes.
"If we ignite it ourselves—on our terms—we control the battlefield."
Fugaku's resistance weakened slightly.
Problems unaddressed only grow.
Jin continued.
"As for 'aggressive'—that's relative."
"With proper coordination between the three of us, ninety percent is an understatement. The remaining ten percent is humility."
Fugaku exhaled.
"What exactly would we do?"
"Simple."
Jin's eyes sharpened.
"First, quietly amplify the rumors."
"Let contradictions surface."
"Use the pressure to unify the clan internally. Remove dissent. Forge a single will."
"And then," he said softly, "we negotiate."
"Publicly."
He straightened.
"We lay every contradiction bare."
"And ask the Hokage a single question."
'Does Konoha still need the Uchiha?'
Fugaku hesitated.
"Would that even work?"
Jin's smile turned cold.
"Clan Head, remember who we are."
"We are not merely Konoha's greatest clan."
"We are the greatest clan in the entire shinobi world."
"Tell me—if the Uchiha migrated as a whole to Kumogakure, would they refuse?"
Kumogakure was infamous for abducting bloodline talents.
An entire clan of Sharingan?
They would celebrate.
"We have options," Jin said evenly.
"We are not cornered."
"If the contradiction is exposed, the one without retreat becomes Hiruzen."
He stepped closer.
"Do you think he dares force the Uchiha out—when the war's ashes haven't even cooled?"
"Danzo might gamble."
"But Hiruzen?"
Jin shook his head.
"He will compromise."
He looked around the room.
"When the stage is set—"
"No matter how much slander spreads—"
"The Hokage himself will stand up…"
"And defend us."
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