Chapter 77

"Leaving aside the distant past and speaking of the recent, in the Hidden Mist battlefield a few days ago, the Uchiha lost seven Jonin, over fifty Chunin, and nearly three hundred Genin."

"If it were any other ninja clan, wouldn't the Hidden Leaf Village have already held a memorial service by now?"

"But what about the Uchiha?"

"The entire Hidden Leaf Village seems blind; likely, no one even knows about this."

"Among the commoners, the Uchiha's reputation has only grown worse."

"Tell me, does this make any sense?"

"..."

Uchiha Jin, his face full of disdain.

Although he was too lazy to say much, and held no affection for the Uchiha either.

But, damn it.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions were indeed so despicable they made one sick.

Itachi's face grew gloomy.

Perhaps if he hadn't talked with Jin last night, he, having never been exposed to the Will of Fire, would likely have been nothing but confused.

However, things were different now.

After thinking it over all night, he realized that if a matter couldn't be understood, one should look at it from the perspective of interests.

The Uchiha have a bad reputation; who benefits the most?

The answer was obvious!

It was the village elders, the faction of the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"So, that's how it is!"

"No wonder I always felt something was off; the truth is actually so simple."

After a brief sigh, Itachi fell completely silent.

Though young, he was not stupid.

He knew that even if one knew the answer to certain matters, one could not speak them directly.

Otherwise, the impact would be too great.

Instead, on the other side.

Teuchi and his daughter, though vaguely sensing something was wrong, could not immediately pinpoint exactly what was off.

"Jin, don't leave your words half-finished."

"Speak clearly, it makes people very uncomfortable."

"Understand?"

Ayame couldn't help but speak up.

Such a headache-inducing problem was the last thing she wanted to think about.

Seeing that even a brat like Itachi understood, while she still couldn't figure anything out.

She felt very uncomfortable.

But, unfortunately.

Uchiha Jin merely glanced at her, sighed, and shook his head.

"If Itachi can't figure it out, then don't try."

"Don't ask about this matter, don't even think about it; just pretend I never said anything."

"I can only say this involves a struggle among the high command, a conflict between the Uchiha and the village elders. For Itachi civilians, knowing too much is not a good thing."

"So, forget it."

Hearing this, Teuchi and Ayame instantly broke out in cold sweat.

Obviously.

Even though they were civilians, they still knew the most basic things.

Don't let Sarutobi Hiruzen's usual smiling demeanor and friendly appearance fool Itachi.

Even Teuchi and his daughter dared not underestimate him in the slightest.

Konoha is a military camp.

To command a group of ninja who fight and kill every day, anyone who truly treats Sarutobi Hiruzen as a kind old man wouldn't survive a single episode in a drama.

"Ayame, don't ask," Teuchi Ichiraku said, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Let's eat quickly."

"This..." Ayame seemed reluctant, but she shrugged anyway. "Alright, I understand."

However.

Uchiha Jin was still a bit uneasy, so he quietly activated his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Without a word of nonsense, he immediately cast a genjutsu.

He subtly altered the memories of the two from just moments ago.

"Master!" Itachi couldn't help but speak up.

Uchiha Jin shook his head. "They are just civilians, and they are close to me."

"If they so much as show a single clue in their daily lives, Sarutobi Hiruzen will never let them go."

"We cannot afford that risk."

Itachi fell silent.

But in the end, he nodded.

Next.

The room became harmonious once again, as if nothing had ever happened.

Afternoon, two o'clock.

After helping Teuchi and his daughter clean up, Uchiha Jin bid farewell directly with Itachi.

Once the two returned to the clan compound, he immediately sent Itachi back to sleep, while he himself, yawning, went home and lay down in the small courtyard to bask in the sun again.

His whole person looked utterly leisurely.

On the other hand, Itachi was stopped on his way home.

This person was Tetsuka.

"Itachi, are Itachi heading home?" Tetsuka asked in confusion. "Why so early today? Aren't Itachi continuing your cultivation?"

Uchiha Itachi was slightly taken aback.

But he chose to speak the truth: "My Master saw I didn't sleep last night and believes forced cultivation will destabilize my foundation, so he told me to go back and catch up on sleep."

"Destabilize my foundation, I..."

Tetsuka looked utterly bewildered.

Then a thousand curses ran through his mind, yet he didn't know whether to speak them or not.

He really wanted to complain.

But considering Itachi had taken Uchiha Jin as his Master, an arrangement by the clan head Fugaku, he could only remain silent despite his displeasure.

"I... forget it!"

"Since the Clan Head arranged it this way, there must be his reasons."

"Take care on your way home!"

Uchiha Tetsuka's face turned terrifyingly gloomy.

Itachi, however, remained calm.

He understood Tetsuka's concern, yet he firmly believed his Master would not deceive him.

Even though their time together had been short, Jin's character, wisdom, and strength...

He knew better than anyone.

However.

Regarding Tetsuka's lack of understanding, Itachi offered no explanation.

He simply exchanged a brief greeting before continuing on his way home.

Uchiha Tekka: "..."

Watching Itachi's back, he felt a wave of emotion.

He believed that Itachi, this clan genius, would most likely be ruined.

There was no way around it.

Training under someone like Uchiwa Jin, what future could there possibly be?

But, there was nothing to be done.

He was too insignificant to stop this.

However.

He still decided that after finishing his patrol, he must speak to the Clan Head about this matter.

A genius like Itachi cannot be destroyed in Jin's hands!

Time passed slowly.

Soon it was night, and Tekka had just left the Clan Head's residence.

He wore an expression of deep displeasure.

Clearly.

His suggestion had been rejected by Fugaku, who had even warned him not to meddle.

The arrangement for Itachi was not to be interfered with.

Worse still, Fugaku had even assigned him a task.

He was to inform Uchiha Jin and invite him to the Uchiha clan meeting tonight.

Sigh!

Thinking of this, he looked up at the sky in speechless frustration.

He truly had Itachi's best interests at heart; why would the Clan Head not listen?

Since Fugaku had already made his decision, this was no longer something he could interfere with.

Even though he was still deeply displeased, he arrived at Jin's doorstep.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Forcing himself to suppress the anger in his heart, he knocked on Uchiha Jin's courtyard gate.

About five minutes later.

Uchiha Jin, looking puzzled, finally opened the door while yawning.

"Um, who are Itachi?"

"What do Itachi need?"

Looking at this Uchiha before him, Jin was utterly stunned.

He didn't know this person.

Why was he looking for him?

Besides Fugaku and his son, and Uchiha Shisui, he knew no one else in the entire Uchiha clan.

Tekka's jaw twitched.

He was at least a Jonin of the clan, yet Uchiha Jin didn't even know him?

Was he being ignored?

Thinking of this, his face instantly darkened.

But considering Fugaku's orders, he could only speak with a gloomy face.

"The Clan Head instructed me to tell Itachi to attend the clan meeting at nine tonight."

After saying this.

Without waiting for Uchiha Jin to speak, Tekka simply turned and left.

Yes.

He had to leave as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, looking at Uchiha Jin's provoking face, even though he had already awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, he feared he might truly lose control.

Uchiha Jin: "..."

Clan meeting?

Why would they want him?

He was just a figurehead!