Hokage Tower — Hokage's Office.
"Bang!"
Once the room was cleared, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally lost control.
His palm slammed heavily onto the desk.
"What do they think they're doing?!"
"Revising the law? Revising the law?!"
"Are the Uchiha trying to rebel?!"
His voice echoed sharply through the office, years of political restraint cracking under pressure.
Standing before him, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane remained silent.
No one was foolish enough to provoke him further right now.
After a long moment, Hiruzen's breathing gradually steadied.
Koharu was the first to speak.
"Something about the Uchiha is off."
She adjusted her glasses slightly.
"More precisely… that Uchiha Jin is off."
"He doesn't resemble an Uchiha at all."
During the meeting, she had said nothing. She had watched.
Listened.
Analyzed.
And the more she observed him, the more uncomfortable she became.
Homura nodded slowly.
"She's right."
"I didn't see it clearly at first, but looking back—he controlled the entire meeting."
"He provoked us deliberately. Step by step."
"He led us exactly where he wanted."
"That is not typical Uchiha behavior."
The traits of the Uchiha were well known.
Brilliant in battle.
High intelligence.
Exceptional combat instincts.
But—
Proud.
Emotional.
Stubborn.
Blunt.
They were terrifying opponents on the battlefield.
But politically?
Predictable.
When facing open hostility, they would draw swords.
When facing subtle suppression, they often didn't know how to respond.
And ended up swallowing it.
Jin was different.
Dangerously different.
Hiruzen lit his pipe, the smoke curling upward as his eyes darkened.
"Among so many Uchiha, it isn't strange for an anomaly to appear."
"What is troubling… is how well he concealed himself."
"To remain quiet until now—only to strike at our most vulnerable point."
He exhaled smoke slowly.
"The authority to revise law…"
He tapped ash into the tray.
"Unpleasant truth—at this moment, the Uchiha effectively hold the life-and-death authority over much of the village."
"Combined with that boy's methods…"
"If he makes even a slight adjustment, countless clans will line up to curry favor."
"And years of our effort will vanish overnight."
The room fell into heavy silence again.
For decades, their suppression of the Uchiha had operated within the rules.
Technically legal.
Strategically sound.
Other clans could complain—but not publicly challenge it.
Now?
Jin was also operating within the rules.
If they forcibly blocked him—
They would be the ones overturning the table.
And the other clans would not remain quiet.
Unless the Uchiha clan collapsed like the Senju had…
There was no easy counter.
Hiruzen rubbed his temples and muttered almost unconsciously,
"Sensei… you were wise your whole life."
"How did you leave us with such a liability…"
At that moment, Koharu spoke again.
"Perhaps… this isn't entirely bad."
The others looked at her.
She continued carefully.
"In the past, convincing the Uchiha to relinquish even partial control of the Military Police was impossible."
"Those fanatics would never allow village oversight."
"But now?"
"There is someone among them who thinks rationally."
"Jin understands politics."
"And because he understands politics—he understands limits."
She folded her hands calmly.
"He knows revising village law unilaterally will never be accepted."
"Not by us."
"Not by the village."
"Not by the other clans."
"So what is he really doing?"
"He's waiting."
"Waiting for us to offer concessions."
"A trade."
"If we participate in the reform process, he gains legitimacy."
"If we refuse, he gains moral high ground."
She paused.
"Provided we offer the Uchiha fair treatment, there is room to negotiate."
Her meaning was clear:
Trade some influence.
Enter the reform process.
Ensure no clause threatens them directly.
Homura frowned.
"If that's the case, why not oppose them outright?"
"Without our support, their new statutes would be difficult to enforce."
Koharu gave him a flat look.
"First—law enforcement authority remains in Uchiha hands."
"They can enforce it regardless of our approval."
"Villagers may grumble, but they will adapt."
"Second—do not forget that Jin can leverage reform to win over other clans."
"If he secures their support, our opposition becomes laughable."
She paused briefly.
"There is no need for a third point."
But she swallowed the rest.
She had almost said:
Hiruzen was no longer Hokage.
His authority had weakened.
But Minato would soon assume the position—and that, in her mind, maintained stability.
Then—
Danzo finally spoke.
"Third point."
"Because Hiruzen is no longer Hokage."
His single visible eye gleamed coldly.
"His words do not carry the same weight."
"As for that Namikaze boy…"
He let out a dry chuckle.
"He may be easier to manipulate."
"But he is not one of us."
Silence.
Koharu and Homura turned toward him sharply.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
"Danzo."
"What exactly are you implying?"
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