"Well said!"
"For years the Uchiha have faced prejudice in this village. No matter what we do, it's wrong! But we've only enforced the rules the village itself created!"
"The vendors weren't allowed to set up stalls on those streets because of village regulations! We simply enforced them! Why blame us instead of questioning the policy?"
"And the compensation issue is the same! Our clansmen died for Konoha. The pensions are theirs by right! On what grounds can the village demand we give them up?"
"If the village truly had no funds and nobody received compensation, that would be one thing. The Uchiha aren't short on money—we'd support our own. But why single us out? Are we not villagers of Konoha?"
"We are founding members! War heroes! Yet we're treated differently!"
"We don't want privilege! We don't want favoritism! We want fairness!"
"We are not outsiders in this village!"
Voices rose throughout the chamber.
Anger—yes.
But beneath it, clarity.
The conclusion was obvious: the core of the Uchiha's conflict with the village had never been ambition.
It had been unequal treatment.
They did not demand special authority.
They demanded equal standing.
"Good."
Jin nodded.
"It seems we have reached consensus."
He turned toward Elder Setsuna and Elder Yashiro.
"Elders. The clan's foremost demand is fairness. You have no objection to that, I presume?"
Setsuna remained silent, his expression conflicted.
Yashiro glanced at him, then spoke first.
"I have no objection. 'Fairness' is indeed what the Uchiha require."
Compared to talk of coups and founding a "New Konoha," this was conservative—almost restrained.
Difficult to achieve, yes.
But negotiable.
Especially now.
Three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan changed the balance of discussion.
Yashiro could accept this direction.
Setsuna's heart, however, burned differently.
Before his imprisonment in Konoha's jail, perhaps he could have accepted such an answer.
But after humiliation and suppression?
"Fairness" was not enough.
He wanted retribution.
For Tobirama Senju.
For those who inherited his will—Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.
Fairness was justice.
He wanted something harsher.
Jin did not press him.
Instead, he moved on.
The Second Question — What Is the Uchiha's Position?
"We are one of Konoha's founding clans."
"Since the village's creation, we have poured blood, sweat, and lives into its survival."
"The land used to build Konoha was once Uchiha territory."
"For decades, the Military Police—our clan—have patrolled day and night to maintain order."
"From the First Shinobi War to the Second… and now the recently ended Third…"
"Uchiha shinobi have died for this village."
"Konoha's short decades of history are written in Uchiha blood."
He let that truth resonate.
"So do not speak again of abandoning this place and founding a 'New Konoha.'"
"If we leave, what do we say to our ancestors who lived and died here?"
"To our clansmen who sacrificed themselves?"
"To our own past efforts?"
"And most importantly—"
"How can proud Uchiha slink away like defeated dogs?"
The words struck hard.
Many who had been tempted by Setsuna's proposal lowered their heads.
Leaving now would not be strategy.
It would be retreat.
Concession.
Defeat.
The Uchiha did not concede.
Even Setsuna felt shame stir in his chest.
To walk away would stain the clan's honor.
Jin pressed forward.
"Our position must be clear."
"Konoha is the Uchiha's Konoha."
"And the Uchiha are Konoha's Uchiha."
"We are part of this village."
Most nodded firmly.
Especially Yashiro.
At that moment, he made a silent decision.
If this was Jin's true direction, he would follow it unconditionally.
But not everyone was convinced.
Setsuna's eyes flashed.
"Your words are righteous."
"But answer me this, Jin—"
"You say the Uchiha belong to Konoha. But does Konoha belong to the Uchiha?"
"Since the village's founding, we have never received fair treatment."
"How can we feel ownership over such a place?"
"You want us to see the village as ours. But does Hiruzen Sarutobi see us as his?"
The question hung heavy.
Jin met Setsuna's gaze calmly.
"And that," he said, "brings us to the third question."
"Who is the Uchiha's enemy?"
Before continuing, his voice hardened.
"First understand something clearly."
"The Hokage is the Hokage."
"Konoha is Konoha."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi is a leader of the village."
"But the village is not his private property."
"These are two separate concepts."
"Do not confuse them."
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