"The Hokage is the Hokage. Konoha is Konoha? What does that even mean?"
"Hasn't the village been targeting us all these years? Doesn't the Third represent the village?"
"All village decrees come from the Hokage. Is there really a difference?"
Confusion rippled through the underground chamber.
To most Uchiha—and indeed most Konoha—Hiruzen Sarutobiwas Konoha.
Jin let the murmurs settle before answering calmly.
"What is a village?"
"What is a Hokage?"
"The village is a community of shared interests formed by its people."
"The Hokage exercises authority on behalf of that community. His power is entrusted to him by the villagers."
"That authority is a public instrument."
"It was never meant to be the private property of one man."
He let his gaze sweep across the hall.
"Every directive aimed at suppressing the Uchiha was issued in the name of the village."
"But that does not mean it reflected the will of the entire village."
"It was the misuse of public authority."
"So from beginning to end, our enemy has never been Konoha itself."
"Our enemy is the group temporarily holding power—"
"—Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"—Danzo Shimura."
"—Koharu Utatane."
"—Homura Mitokado."
Murmurs rose again.
For many, this felt like a shift.
Yet not entirely.
Yashiro's eyelid twitched.
An uneasy thought formed.
Jin might be even more radical than Setsuna.
Setsuna himself felt something similar—but instead of unease, it was excitement.
Jin did not acknowledge their reactions.
He pressed on.
"Now that we understand our demands, our position, and who our enemy truly is—"
"We must discuss the method."
"There are two paths."
"The first is conservative."
"An Uchiha becomes Hokage."
"If we hold the office, the structural problems resolve themselves."
Silence.
Then—spark.
Every pair of eyes lit up.
The title Hokage held a peculiar gravity for the Uchiha.
As though it had always been meant for them.
But something puzzled them.
Why call this path conservative?
Yashiro spoke bluntly.
"Jin, do not speak recklessly. Even with three Mangekyō Sharingan, launching a coup would be extremely difficult."
"And more importantly—Mangekyō has flaws. Even if we succeeded, the backlash could be catastrophic."
He was not ignorant of the Mangekyō's price.
Overuse led to blindness.
Such a weakness meant enemies could trade lives for an Uchiha elite.
War was not sustainable.
Jin sighed faintly.
"Second Elder… must becoming Hokage require a coup?"
Yashiro blinked.
"Isn't that the only way?"
Most of the chamber nodded unconsciously.
Jin finally understood the depth of the clan's political naïveté.
He shook his head slightly.
"Let's define our terms."
"A coup is when a minority seizes power through conspiracy—whether by political maneuvering or force—outside normal procedure."
"There are two types."
"Nonviolent."
"And violent."
"Nonviolent is unrealistic for us."
"We have no political allies within Konoha. We are isolated."
"So the only coup imaginable would be a violent one."
Nods all around.
That had been their thinking all along.
"But compared to nonviolent seizure," Jin continued, "violent seizure is even harder."
"To succeed in violent revolution, you need strength."
"And allies."
"Our target would be to eliminate the current leadership—Hiruzen and those aligned with him."
"Fine."
"Let's say we succeed."
"What then?"
He let the question hang.
"Even if we lost no manpower in the process—"
"Could we suppress the remaining clans of Konoha?"
Silence thickened.
Everyone knew the answer.
The Sarutobi clan.
The Shimura faction.
The Ino–Shika–Cho alliance.
The Hyūga.
The Aburame.
The Inuzuka.
Konoha was not a single pillar.
It was a forest.
"Even if a violent coup succeeded," Jin said quietly, "we would merely prepare the stage for someone else."
His meaning was clear.
The Uchiha would bleed.
Others would inherit.
A chill passed through the chamber.
They understood now.
Their isolation doomed any armed rebellion.
No allies.
No coalition.
Just a lone banner.
Jin concluded firmly:
"So no."
"A coup is not the path to Hokage."
"I already told you."
"The Hokage is merely the entrusted holder of authority."
"To become Hokage, you must gain the recognition of the villagers."
"Schemes will not sustain power."
"Brute force is a crooked path."
"You must show the will to shoulder responsibility."
"That is the righteous road."
"If the clan refuses righteousness, no one will support you."
"If you do not benefit the villagers, no one will respect you."
"Look at our current image."
"Arrogant."
"Cold."
"Inflexible."
"Detached."
"In that state—who would ever support an Uchiha Hokage?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
True.
Jin's eyes sharpened.
"So if the Uchiha want the Hokage's seat—"
"There is only one word."
"Change."
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