Uchiha Fugaku,
Uchiha Setsuna,
and Uchiha Yashi stood frozen in place.
Their mouths were slightly open.
An acting Hokage was still a Hokage.
And yet—
Shimura Danzō was calmly proposing to ambush and assassinate Sarutobi Hiruzen on the road to the Fire Daimyō's court.
That level of audacity bordered on madness.
Uchiha Jin, however, was not surprised.
In his understanding, Danzō had always possessed reckless courage—he even had precedent.
After the death of Namikaze Minato during the Nine-Tails Incident, when Konoha lacked a clear successor, Danzō had attempted to move for the Hokage seat. When Hiruzen stepped forward to reclaim the position, Danzō had covertly attempted interception.
History, it seemed, had a sense of irony.
Danzō continued calmly:
"You need not be so shocked. Hiruzen is merely acting Hokage. But even if he were still the Third—so what?"
"Those who accomplish great things do not cling to trivial morality."
"If we lack the resolve to act, how can we reshape this village?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"Hokage?"
"If the Hokage stands in our way—then even a Hokage can be killed."
Jin's eyes flickered.
At this moment, Danzō no longer looked like a shadowed conspirator.
He looked like a warlord.
Danzō pressed on.
"And only something of this magnitude can bind us completely."
"If we assassinate the Hokage together, none of us can walk away clean."
"That is trust."
He paused, then added:
"Hiruzen is not merely reporting. He is requesting funds from the Daimyō—for pensions, reconstruction, development."
"A sum of enormous scale."
"When we succeed, we divide it."
"Seven to three."
"The Uchiha take three."
"Only three?" Setsuna blurted immediately. "If we act together, why not half?"
Danzō shot him a cold glance.
"Do not be greedy."
"The amount is astronomical. Three shares will already fill your coffers. My seven are for rebuilding the village."
Before Setsuna could argue further—
Jin spoke.
"Not enough."
Danzō frowned.
"Three and a half. That is my limit."
Jin shook his head.
"I am not speaking about money."
"The reason you want Hiruzen dead is insufficient."
"If he merely blocks your path, you might resent him."
"But you would not risk everything at this critical juncture."
"The so-called 'pledge of loyalty' is merely a way to drag us onto your chariot."
"There is more."
The temperature in the room dropped.
Danzō's lone eye darkened, cold and calculating.
Jin met his gaze without flinching.
A long silence followed.
Finally—
Danzō spoke, voice low.
"You are sharper than I expected."
Jin replied calmly.
"When something is abnormal, there is always a cause."
"For you to lower yourself and seek the Uchiha—and to risk assassinating Hiruzen—there must be a deeper reason."
"If you want partnership, be honest."
Danzō exhaled slowly.
"Last night, I received confirmation."
"Hiruzen's visit to the Daimyō is not solely for reporting and funds."
"He intends to recommend Minato as the Fourth Hokage."
Silence.
Jin understood instantly.
Danzō continued:
"The Daimyō does not vote in our election."
"But the Hokage must be formally appointed by him."
"That is legitimacy."
"And the Daimyō's financial support is one of Konoha's primary lifelines."
"His stance influences undecided factions."
"Hiruzen may not alter the entire board—but he will tilt it."
"And he has broken convention."
"In that case, I will not sit and wait."
Fugaku frowned.
"If you know this, why wait to strike on the return journey?"
"If Hiruzen meets the Daimyō and makes the recommendation, killing him afterward changes little."
Danzō answered bluntly:
"I learned too late."
"He is already en route."
"We require time to mobilize."
"We cannot intercept before the meeting."
"But it matters little."
"If Hiruzen dies on the road and never returns—"
"Everything remains salvageable."
"I will personally speak with the Daimyō afterward."
The implication was clear.
Narratives could be rewritten.
History could be shaped.
Danzō turned back to Jin.
"I have laid everything bare."
"Time is short."
"Your answer."
The room fell silent once more.
Every gaze fixed on Uchiha Jin.
He closed his eyes.
Moments passed.
When he opened them, they were steady.
"Cooperation is possible."
"But it hinges on success."
"The Uchiha will provide one Kage-level combatant for the interception."
"If we succeed, all is well."
"If we fail—"
"We will deny involvement."
"One Kage-level fighter demonstrates our sincerity."
"Therefore, we receive the three techniques from the Scroll of Seals first."
Danzō's pupil contracted.
A Kage-level shinobi?
Hidden within the Uchiha?
That—
He had not anticipated.
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