Chapter 69

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Sarutobi froze at the request. Sakumo's words caused a stir among the crowd.

"Who is Uchiha Jin?"

"Someone from the Uchiha clan..."

The person speaking quickly found themselves under the intense gaze of several pairs of eyes, with some even beginning to glow red. The sight made him swallow his words.

The Uchiha clan was truly intimidating.

Jin also gave the man a sharp look.

I'll remember you.

While the civilians were confused, some shinobi quickly provided information about Jin.

"He's the one who developed the Basic Inner Technique."

"They say he's comparable to the Second Hokage, even though he's an Uchiha."

"I heard that many on the front lines survived thanks to the Basic Inner Technique."

Among the shinobi, Jin was well-known, but the civilians knew little about him.

As the shinobi discussed, the civilians were left puzzled.

They didn't know what the Basic Inner Technique was, but hearing that some had survived because of it made an impression on them.

After all, who in Konoha didn't have a family member who was a shinobi?

Hiruzen now found himself in a difficult position.

If Sakumo had requested this for anyone else, even a civilian shinobi with a questionable background, he could have agreed immediately.

But not Uchiha Jin.

The ninjutsu on the Scroll of Seals couldn't be leaked to the Uchiha. What if one of them grew stronger using those techniques? If Jin became more powerful because of those techniques, it would be troublesome.

He had already suppressed previous requests for Jin to view the Scroll of Seals.

Even though he knew Jin didn't get along with the rest of the Uchiha clan,

He was still an Uchiha.

Looking at Sakumo's expressionless face, Hiruzen wondered if he was doing this on purpose.

Meanwhile, Jin, standing among the crowd, was just as surprised.

Wait a minute.

How did this involve him?

He was just a bystander.

However,

This could be an opportunity. He decided to see how things would play out.

As for whether Hiruzen would hold a grudge against him,

Did Jin care about that?

Moreover, he had always planned something like this anyway; it was only a matter of time before he crossed Hiruzen.

Sakumo noticed Hiruzen's hesitation and added, "Tsunade-sama also agreed to support Jin's request."

This made Hiruzen even more conflicted.

He wanted to delay the matter, but seeing Sakumo's demeanor and the eyes of several Uchiha on him, he knew he couldn't refuse.

If he rejected the request, it wouldn't just be the Uchiha who would be upset. The few remaining shinobi would spread the news.

That would tarnish the reputation he had worked so hard to build.

He could suppress it in secret, but now that it had been brought to light, he couldn't ignore it.

It seemed that he and Sakumo were truly at odds.

Tsunade's agreement also meant that he couldn't prevent Jin from viewing the Scroll of Seals.

After all, sometimes the Princess of Konoha was more influential than the Hokage himself.

Those old family elders were still alive and kicking.

"Alright."

He could only pretend to be unaffected as he nodded.

He planned to delay the matter and think of a way to deal with it later.

Just as Hiruzen tried to conclude the issue, Jin stepped out from the crowd.

"Then, Hokage-sama, why not let me see it now?"

Jin smiled mischievously at Hiruzen.

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him.

As for the two advisors behind him, they had no solution to offer and could only look to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Now...?"

"Well, Sakumo-sama's commendation ceremony is over."

Jin directly dismantled Hiruzen's excuse.

Jin understood well that some things couldn't be delayed. If delayed, they might never happen.

"I..."

Hiruzen began to sweat as his mind raced for a solution.

Jin waited quietly for Hiruzen's response. When one's reputation is the basis for their high position, they are bound by that same reputation.

Dealing with Hiruzen didn't require overwhelming power.

This was the method Jin had always intended to use; Sakumo had just brought it forward.

"Or are you saying because I'm Uchi—"

"Alright," Hiruzen interrupted before Jin could finish.

Some things couldn't be spoken of openly.

Hiruzen looked at Jin deeply.

He suddenly realized that Jin wasn't as impulsive as he appeared.

"Homura, take him to see the Scroll of Seals."

Homura stood up, his face stern.

"Follow me."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama."

Only then did Jin cheerfully apologize to Hiruzen.

Hiruzen felt a surge of blood rise within him, almost causing him to spit it out. He barely managed to suppress it.

Though he was smiling, his face alternated between red and blue.

How unsightly.

Jin followed Homura out of the Hokage's office.

As they approached the building in the distance, it came into view.

"Isn't that the Third Hokage's residence?"

"That's the Hokage Residence, a place only the Hokage can reside in. All of Konoha's original ninjutsu scrolls are stored there."

"The Hokage Residence."

Jin recalled his memories of watching Naruto in his previous life.

The Fourth Hokage and his wife seemed to live in an ordinary house. He wasn't entirely clear on this memory.

If that was indeed the case,

There was much to be said.

Hiruzen was truly despicable.

"Tsk, tsk." Jin clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Hiruzen's reputation was beyond redemption.

When they reached the entrance of the Hokage Residence, Homura heard Jin's strange noises and turned around, frowning.

"Are you sure you want to see the Scroll of Seals? The Uchiha clan's collection of ninjutsu is no less extensive than Konoha's."

Homura made one last attempt to dissuade him.

"And you should know, the Scroll of Seals is a village secret. Once you've seen it, you'll be under surveillance by the ANBU."

"I have a clear conscience. I'm not afraid of such things."

Jin showed no sign of backing down. If it weren't for the fact that few Konoha shinobi had learned the techniques from the Scroll of Seals, would he be going through all this trouble?

Homura gave Jin a long, hard look.

He opened the door and led Jin inside.

They walked down to the basement of the residence, where a door labeled "Seals" came into view.

"Wait here."

Homura pushed open the door and went inside.

Through the crack in the door, Jin saw rows of shelves filled with scrolls.

If they were all ninjutsu,

He could understand why Orochimaru had said that no normal person could learn all ninjutsu in a lifetime.

Soon, Homura returned with a scroll labeled "Scroll of Seals."

"Here it is. You have one hour to study the techniques inside."

An hour was enough time to memorize a single technique.

This was the standard time allotted to anyone who was granted access.

"Right here?"

Jin looked around the corridor, which was somewhat dim due to being underground.

Reading in this light would be difficult.

"Right here," Homura confirmed with a nod.

This was the most restrictive measure he could impose.

Jin looked at the bespectacled middle-aged man and smiled.

You old fox.

Well played.

(End of Chapter)