Naruto: The Fall of the Uchiha - Chapter 9

Something’s off!

Uchiha Jin hesitated, looking at the two men in front of him. Given their infamous rivalry within the clan, their behavior wasn’t entirely surprising.

It was more surprising to outsiders that these two hadn’t come to blows yet.

However, their antagonistic stances and the snippets of conversation Jin had overheard on his way here gave him a strange sense of familiarity.

This…

This is just like Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura!

Sarutobi Fugaku? Shimura Setsuna?
Exactly.

Uchiha Fugaku was the kind and friendly “red-faced” leader, while Uchiha Setsuna played the fierce and aggressive “black-faced” elder. This one-two punch was enough to overwhelm naive ninjas, making it easier to recruit or suppress them afterward.

Of course.

For someone like Uchiha Jin, who had received education in the arts of political manipulation, this was merely a rudimentary political structure.

It was essentially an upgraded version of the “scapegoat tactic,” but it was enough to make waves in the political wilderness of the ninja world.

The nearby duo of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura had demonstrated the effectiveness of such a political trick well.

However, Jin had never expected a clan doomed to self-destruct from infighting and reckless actions to show signs of such “advanced” political thinking.

This didn’t add up!

If the Uchiha clan had this capability, they wouldn’t be so disjointed now.

Even though the Uchiha clan’s overall strength couldn’t match that of the entire Hidden Leaf Village, if they had two high-ranking members with sufficient political skill to integrate the clan, the Uchiha would be a formidable force no village would want to face.

Damn it!

Realizing this, Jin clenched his teeth, feeling an intense frustration as he looked at Fugaku and Setsuna with anger and disappointment.

“What’s he thinking?”

The clan head and the great elder furrowed their brows simultaneously, sensing that Jin might be up to something offensive.

Exactly.

Jin curled his lips into a slight sneer, giving the two Uchiha giants a confirmed mocking smile, his expression growing increasingly hostile.

I’m ridiculing you two fools!

While the Uchiha clan didn’t have the same authority as Hiruzen Sarutobi, the clan’s foundation and strength were not far behind.

Ugh…

Jin silently observed Fugaku’s barely restrained “fierce eyes” and Setsuna’s aged but barely hidden “gentleness.”

Sure, their looks weren’t quite there, and their roles were slightly mixed.

But that wasn’t the point!

The point was that you two are utterly useless. Despite having Sarutobi and Shimura as templates, you can’t even copy them correctly.

You created so-called radical and moderate factions, but their effectiveness was negligible, nearly leading to actual internal conflict.

A good imitation is better than the original!
Ha~~~tui!

“Sorry, my throat is a bit sore!”

Jin grinned at the two of them without a hint of apology, while Fugaku and Setsuna’s expressions grew even darker. Jin’s mind raced furiously.

So I’ve had such a hard time because of you two idiots!

Playing the role of the scapegoat clan leader, Setsuna showed none of Danzo Shimura’s willingness to bear the blame. He even tried to drag Fugaku, the figurehead of the clan, down with him.

If Elder Setsuna had just said, “Fugaku, you will regret this!” and then secretly gathered forces for a swift coup, the Uchiha, who were more robust than the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, might have succeeded in taking down Hiruzen and Danzo.
And if they managed to pull off the assassination, throwing Konoha into disarray, Fugaku could then emerge and declare,

“This was all Uchiha Setsuna’s doing, and has nothing to do with the Uchiha clan. We will strip him of his elder status and imprison him for life…”

This “enhanced scapegoat tactic” would, combined with the threat of the other great ninja villages, potentially result in Fugaku being reluctantly accepted as the Fifth Hokage…

“Lousy teammates are hard to carry…”

The more Jin thought about it, the more his thoughts spiraled. Looking at Setsuna, his gaze grew increasingly strange, while his look at Fugaku was filled with sympathy. He couldn’t help but say,

“Clan Head, it must have been tough for you all these years…”

As soon as Jin said this, Fugaku’s expression turned strange, and even Jin paused.

Wait a minute… Fugaku isn’t worthy of sympathy, either!

Even without a teammate like Danzo to bear the blame, that didn’t excuse his failures as the clan leader.

A subordinate being incompetent didn’t mean the leader could be too!

If Elder Setsuna was senile, it was Fugaku’s responsibility to guide him. Otherwise, they were just repeating the tragedy of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura.

Hmm…

This confirms it…

There must be hidden talents within the clan!

Both Setsuna and Fugaku are disasters!

“Indeed, in this world where power is everything, one cannot rely on the foolish games of politics!”

Luckily, Jin had never pinned his hopes on these two failures. Always thinking about when he could attend their funerals, he quickly regained his composure, his look of sympathy vanishing, replaced with disdain and arrogance.

“One hundred million ryo! Don’t just stand there, transfer the money!”

(??)?

(??)?

Jin’s unpredictable expression and barely concealed malice infuriated the two Uchiha leaders within moments. The final figure he casually mentioned only darkened their already grim faces.

“Do you know how much one hundred million ryo is?”

Despite being known as “The Fiercest Eye,” Fugaku was the first to calm down. Stepping forward to block the about-to-explode Setsuna, he coldly questioned the handsome figure before him.

Ninjas could earn money more quickly than civilians. However, one hundred million Ryo was still significant for any faction, enough to place a bounty on three of the Hokage’s children in the black market.

So.

Although he felt Jin wouldn’t ask for money without reason, the “gentle clan head,” Fugaku, decided to ask why first. If it was something trivial, he could always beat him up later.

However, realizing these two were useless, Jin needed more patience. He scolded them harshly, filled with righteous anger.

“Why are you asking so many questions? Just give me the money. Leaving so much with you is a waste. It’s better used to enhance the clan’s strength!”

Hmm!
Hearing this, Fugaku’s and Elder Setsuna’s faces darkened, but a hint of joy surfaced in their hearts.

As expected!

Though Jin was highly annoying, he had devised another good idea this time.

The clan head glanced at the elder, who smiled slightly. In that moment, their mutual understanding seemed to transcend space and time.

Finally!
“Money isn’t the issue here!”

Fugaku’s gentle demeanor vanished, replaced with sternness. Setsuna also teleported behind Jin, cooperating perfectly as he continued.

“But today, it’s time to teach you what it means to respect your elders!”

…

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