Chapter 19: The Foolish Uchiha Elders

Hashirama cells?! Could an Uchiha even touch that?! Even back at his house, Jin couldn't believe it. If Hiruzen found out… he'd be dead. But it wasn't his choice! They wouldn't listen anyway.

Still, considering what he'd seen on the fourth floor, and the Hashirama cell data and selected jutsu in his backpack... disbelief warred with apprehension. This bombshell had completely blindsided him.

"If I awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan and combined it with Hashirama cells… I'd be at least Kage level," he mused. But the Mangekyo Sharingan was the biggest obstacle. He hadn't even awakened the Sharingan yet.

Entering his house, he found someone he didn't want to see—Fugaku—sitting calmly on the visitor's seat.

"So busy, young chief? You have time to visit a nobody like me?" Jin's tone was dripping with sarcasm. Only Fugaku could enter his house so stealthily.

"Next time, knock. A stranger might think you're a burglar," Jin added. Did he think the door was merely for decoration?

Fugaku remained impassive, ignoring the taunts, waiting for Jin to finish before speaking. "I heard you became Jiraiya-sama's disciple."

Jin sneered. "You found out. My position isn't that much weaker than yours now, young chief." Being Jiraiya's disciple might not seem like much, but it carried significant hidden influence. A direct line to the Hokage wasn't a figure of speech. It was a fast track to becoming Hokage. Except he was an Uchiha.

"You actually became Jiraiya-sama's disciple," Fugaku repeated, his voice trembling, still struggling to believe it. For years, the Uchiha had been shut out of the Hokage's inner circle after the death of Uchiha Kagami. This had marginalized the Uchiha within Konoha. They were increasingly targeted. Though the Uchiha frequently produced prodigies, he wouldn't be surprised if one had been taken on as a student. But why this… disgrace to the Uchiha?

Fugaku's gaze was complex. He could accept any Uchiha becoming a student, except Jin. He couldn't bear to see Jin rise. Jin was a stain on the Uchiha name. He couldn't bear it; no one could. He imagined the uproar it would cause within the clan.

"It's a fact," Jin said, leaning back in his chair, observing Fugaku. "Is this bothering you? If you have a problem, complain to the village. Don't bother me." Fugaku disliked him; he reciprocated the feeling. Why create unnecessary conflict?

"Young Chief" Jin said with heavy sarcasm.

Fugaku fell silent. If it meant restoring the clan's standing within Konoha, he could endure a little mockery. But having Jin as the central figure made it extremely problematic.

They stared at each other in silence, a silent battle of wills. Fugaku broke first.

"The elders wish to see you."

"When?"

"Now."

Jin frowned. He'd never met the Uchiha elders. He'd formed an opinion of them, but that opinion wasn't positive. They were obviously not the sharpest tools in the shed. He hadn't anticipated this strong reaction from the Uchiha. They weren't under the same pressure as they'd be in the future.

"Lead the way," Jin said, raising his head. He needed to meet these elders. Hopefully, they weren't as stupid as he expected. Hopefully.

...

Naka Shrine. Torches illuminated the elders seated around a bonfire. The flickering flames obscured their faces, only their crimson Sharingan visible, the three tomoe spinning. The Uchiha's bloodline limit.

Jin stood in the center, under their gaze. Their intense scrutiny was more overwhelming than Orochimaru's, but lacked malice. They didn't attempt to suppress him.

The eldest spoke. "Uchiha Jin, you're twelve and haven't awakened your Sharingan?"

Jin, enduring the pressure, replied nonchalantly. "It's not that easy." The Sharingan typically awakened between the ages of twelve and sixteen, after which it became virtually impossible. Early awakening indicated superior talent. Awakening before twelve signified exceptional talent. But for the Uchiha, nothing mattered more than the Sharingan.

"Presumptuous!" an elder shouted. The Sharingan wasn't some ordinary ability.

Jin ignored him, focusing on the elder at the head. The others were secondary; this one was in charge. The Grand Elder, Uchiha Hakan. An elder who'd survived the Warring States era and had navigated the Uchiha's attempted coup unscathed, accumulating immense power within the clan. He'd heard about this from other Uchiha.

The Uchiha currently lacked a clan head. He didn't know why the previous clan head had died, only that Fugaku had been the heir since birth. Konoha wasn't the only place with succession problems. The Uchiha did the same thing.

"Enough," Hakan said, silencing the third elder. His crimson Sharingan remained calm, focused on Jin. "Uchiha Jin, we want you to monitor the Hokage's activities." The circumstances surrounding Uchiha Kagami's death were suspicious; Hakan distrusted the village leadership. Unless… an Uchiha became Hokage. As for Jin, a stain on the Uchiha name… he was unfit.

"I refuse," Jin said immediately, without hesitation. Such a thankless task would backfire spectacularly. He'd gain the Hokage's suspicion, losing their trust. Why should he?

"What?!" Hakan's face darkened.

"I don't forget I'm an Uchiha. But I'm selfish. I won't sacrifice myself for the clan," Jin stated coldly.

It felt like throwing gasoline on a fire.

"You dare not remember the Uchiha's glory!"

"Expel this disgrace from the clan!"

"Selfish! You're unworthy of being an Uchiha!"

Jin ignored their outrage. He'd never felt warmth from the Uchiha elders. Talented Uchiha were treated with kindness; these elders acted friendly.

But he was a "failure." In the Uchiha clan, even the dogs would step on a "failure."

Jin smirked. Hakan fell silent, observing Jin's smirk, seemingly understanding. "You resent the Uchiha?"

Jin rubbed his temples, gathering his thoughts. "Old man, you're senile. Resentment? Do you think you deserve it? A bunch of self-aggrandizing wastes of space."

Jin was blunt; he wasn't a people-pleaser. He might be cowardly, but he wouldn't cower when his life wasn't at risk. He'd even dare to curse Hiruzen. He certainly wouldn't be polite to these elders.

He'd essentially insulted the entire clan, but he didn't care. They wouldn't dare do anything to him; he was a direct connection to the Hokage. If anything happened to him, Danzo would be the first to retaliate. The elders knew this. Hakan felt a surge of anger, his years of composure shattering.

"You!" He pointed at Jin, momentarily speechless.

"If that's all, I'll be leaving," Jin said, showing complete disregard. If they had any sense, they wouldn't react this way. Did they think he was some simpleton who could be easily manipulated? They were gravely mistaken.

"Uchiha Jin!" Hakan called out.

Jin turned, half-facing Hakan, his expression unreadable, waiting for his next words.

Hakan took a deep breath, regaining his composure. "Don't forget, everything you have is because of the Uchiha. Your abilities, your… growth… even becoming Jiraiya's student is because you're an Uchiha!" He intended to mention Jin's talent, but he didn't see it.

Jin scoffed. "My abilities are self-taught. My upbringing was thanks to my parents. You merely didn't hinder me; you owe me nothing, and I owe you nothing. Becoming Jiraiya's student has nothing to do with the Uchiha." "And let me remind you: You aren't the Uchiha clan. You're just a bunch of self-important fools using the Uchiha name to lord it over others."

"Crack!" Hakan snapped the armrest of his chair. The three tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly.

"I'm leaving. Don't bother contacting me again. I don't want Jiraiya-sensei to misunderstand."

"Crack! Crack! Crack!" More armrests broke.

Jin left, leaving behind a group of furious elders.

"Unbelievable!" the third elder shouted. No Uchiha had ever dared to insult them like that, except perhaps Madara.

"Don't worry. Jiraiya took him on as a student because he's an Uchiha. When he realizes Jin's lack of talent, he'll abandon him. Then he'll know he's a failure, a useless disciple. He'll regret becoming Jiraiya's student."

They would wait. And Jin would regret his actions.