'Another Clan Assembly.' Uchiha Jin pinched the bridge of his nose, an expression of profound irritation crossing his face. Clan Head Fugaku's leadership style was a masterclass in incompetence.
'A competent leader understands a basic rule of governance,' Jin analyzed silently. 'You hold large assemblies for minor announcements and small, closed-door meetings for critical crises. Discussing matters of life and death in front of the entire clan is foolish. A large crowd is easily swayed by mob mentality, prone to panic, and virtually guarantees that enemy spies—like Danzo's Root—will learn our exact plans. True strategy requires a small council of capable leaders, while the rank-and-file focus purely on execution.'
Instead, Fugaku called full-scale assemblies for every minor hiccup, achieving nothing but spreading anxiety.
"Fugaku is a fool," Elder Setsuna cursed, his brow furrowed in anger. "He is panicking over the recent disappearances and the village rumors, but he lacks the brain to formulate a countermeasure. Calling another meeting is just a desperate cry for validation!"
Previously, Setsuna had blindly accepted the tradition of frequent clan meetings. However, after witnessing Jin's hyper-efficient, action-oriented leadership—where decisions were made swiftly and executed flawlessly without endless debate—Setsuna realized that Fugaku's assemblies were a colossal waste of time.
"Save your breath, Elder," Jin said, standing up and smoothing his robes. "Since we have the time, we will attend. Fugaku is still officially the Clan Head. As long as he doesn't cross our bottom line, ignoring his summons over a trivial meeting only gives him a political excuse to target us."
Jin turned to his subordinate. "Tekka, select five Elite Jonin to accompany us. The rest of the Radical Faction is to remain at the compound. Maintain strict combat patrols. Ensure the defensive barrier is operating at maximum capacity. Do not give Root a single opening while we are gone."
"Understood!" Tekka vanished to gather the escort.
Ten minutes later, Jin and Setsuna, flanked by their five elite guards, strode into the Naka Shrine.
Their arrival caused an immediate shift in the atmosphere. Unlike the previous assembly, where Jin was viewed as a reckless instigator, the gazes of the lower-ranking Uchiha were now heavy with complex emotions. Doubt, realization, and a grudging respect flickered in their eyes. The Uchiha were stubborn, but they were not blind. The fact that Moderates were dying while the fortified Radicals remained untouched proved that Jin's paranoia was entirely justified. Only their lingering loyalty to their respective faction elders prevented a mass defection.
Fugaku sat at the head of the shrine, his expression stern and authoritative. To an outsider, he looked every bit the formidable Clan Head. But Jin knew it was a hollow facade.
"Elder Jin, Elder Setsuna," Fugaku demanded, his voice echoing in the quiet hall. "Why has the Radical Faction brought so few members? The rest of your subordinates are absent. This is a severe breach of protocol."
Jin took his seat unhurriedly. He adjusted his collar before offering a mocking smile. "My people are currently guarding our territory to ensure we aren't slaughtered in our sleep. They are far too busy surviving to attend a meeting."
Fugaku's face darkened. It was a direct insult to his ability to protect the clan.
Before Fugaku could retaliate, Shisui stepped forward, his tone reprimanding. "Jin, you must trust the Clan Head and the Hokage! The Radicals' decision to militarize your district is a blatant display of distrust toward the village. It is unacceptable. I demand you dismantle your barrier immediately!"
Jin did not even blink. He met Shisui's naive gaze with absolute zero emotion.
"I do not trust Fugaku, and I do not trust Hiruzen Sarutobi," Jin stated flatly.
"You—!" Shisui was stunned into silence. Even in a heated political debate, a basic level of superficial respect was expected. Jin's blunt, unapologetic treason short-circuited Shisui's brain.
Ignoring the sputtering prodigy, Jin swept his gaze over the Moderates and Neutrals.
"A considerable number of our clansmen have died in the past few weeks," Jin said, his voice cutting through the shrine like a blade. "And not just ordinary shinobi. They were all elites who had awakened the fully mature, three-tomoe Sharingan. I warned you all at the last assembly. Yet, you fools actually gambled your subordinates' lives on the nonexistent integrity of Fugaku and the Hokage."
Jin scoffed, shaking his head. "I almost admire your stupidity. Fugaku's cowardice is a historical fact. During the Third Great Ninja War, our people bled for Konoha, yet our dead were barred from the village's Memorial Stone. After the Nine-Tails attack, we were exiled to the village outskirts and surrounded by Anbu surveillance. Incident after incident, humiliation after humiliation, and you still refuse to use your brains!"
Jin stood up, his towering presence dominating the room.
"But that is your choice," Jin declared coldly. "It is hard to save a ghost who insists on dying. If you want to walk yourselves to the slaughterhouse, I will not stop you. However, as the leader of the Radical Faction, I am solely responsible for the lives of my people. Therefore, I am laying my cards on the table: the Radicals no longer recognize Fugaku Uchiha's authority."
He looked directly at Fugaku. "So, skip the useless lecturing and get to the point of this assembly. I have real work to do."
The Naka Shrine descended into a suffocating, deathly silence.
Jin had just committed overt political mutiny. Yet, not a single Moderate or Neutral elder spoke up to defend Fugaku. They kept their eyes glued to the floor. The recent string of gruesome deaths had drained their patience. They despised Jin's aggressive methods, but they were equally exhausted by Fugaku's lethal incompetence.
Fugaku gripped the edges of his table, his knuckles turning white. His eyes darted around the silent room, a dangerous, murderous glint flashing within his Sharingan as he stared at Jin.
'I am doing everything for them!' Fugaku screamed internally, his mind twisting with a toxic martyr complex. 'I bow to the village elders, I swallow my pride, I absorb all the hatred and misunderstanding, all to maintain the fragile peace! My only goal is to integrate the Uchiha into Konoha so we can survive!'
Fugaku gritted his teeth, feeling entirely betrayed by the very people he was trying to save. 'Why can't these bastards understand my sacrifice?!'