Chapter 18

Almost, in an instant.

In his heart, Hiruzen Sarutobi cursed Fugaku to hell and back, even beginning to wonder if his plan had been a mistake.

Can that fool Fugaku really hold back Uchiha Jin?

Yes!

Knowing Uchiha Jin’s rise, he had long regarded Fugaku as his ally, planning to use the Hokage’s authority to back Fugaku against Uchiha Jin.

But damn it.

Though he knew Fugaku was weak, he never imagined he’d be this pathetic!

So now he couldn’t help but wonder: could this worthless lump of mud possibly spark civil strife within the Uchiha?

Hard. Too hard.

For a moment, he felt deeply pessimistic about the idea.

Yet, equally so.

In today’s Uchiha clan, is there any other option besides Fugaku?

Undoubtedly—none!

Shisui is a good pawn, and his strength is sufficient, but the boy is far too naive.

Especially since he’s Kaguya’s grandson, he’s naturally distrusted by the Uchiha, and because he’s too close to me, the clan members inherently refuse to acknowledge him.

Though he’s loyal to me, he simply isn’t cut out to be a leader.

Shisui can only be a pure blade—he’s utterly incapable of building a faction.

So, sigh!

It seems I truly have no choice; to split the Uchiha, I must still rely on this Fugaku before me.

No way out.

Orochimaru, that black glove, refuses to dirty his hands—even when it comes to the Sharingan, he won’t touch the radicals. So to stop Uchiha Jin’s rise, even if Fugaku is pure mud, I must prop him up!

Thinking of this, he let out a quiet sigh.

What a damn tragedy!

The thought of allying with a worthless scumbag like Fugaku made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel like he’d been kicked in the balls.

Finally.

After glancing at Fugaku, who had fully calmed down and was now slumped in utter apathy, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Uchiha Jin: “Jin-kun, do Itachi know that Konoha is in chaos?”

“No,” Uchiha Jin replied flatly. “And I’m not interested.”

“I’m just a freelance ninja. No mission, I stay in the clan grounds. I don’t pay attention to outside affairs.”

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s temple veins bulged.

Freelance ninja?

Are Itachi fucking with me?

Itachi’re the one who’s sidelined the clan head and nearly taken full control of the Uchiha, and now Itachi tell me Itachi’re a freelance ninja?

But he still took a deep breath and spoke with grave calm: “Jin-kun, don’t joke. Itachi’re the leader of the radicals. If Itachi’re just a freelance ninja, then what are the rest of Konoha’s ninja?”

Unfortunately, though.

Uchiha Jin’s expression remained unchanged; he merely shrugged casually.

“I don’t quite understand what Itachi’re saying, Hokage-sama.”

“What radicals? I’ve never heard of them.”

“I’m just a freelance ninja. I hold no official authority—not even a seat in the Police Force.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face darkened instantly.

This Uchiha Jin refuses to play along—he’s like punching cotton. He has no idea what to do next.

No choice!

Because if we’re being strictly official, Uchiha Jin hasn’t lied.

The so-called Uchiha radicals aren’t an officially registered Konoha organization—they’re merely an informal clan group. If he denies it, I truly have no legal recourse.

According to official records, Uchiha Jin is a regular Chunin—a legitimate freelance ninja.

His team members died in the Third Shinobi War. Considering the Uchiha’s unique situation—though many clan members die in battle, many more awaken the Sharingan—

I ordered the Uchiha confined to Konoha, forbidding them from freely accepting missions.

And precisely because of that.

Uchiha Jin’s official rank was promoted to Chunin solely due to battlefield contributions.

Jonin? Hah!

Konoha’s Jonin aren’t common vegetables—they’re a privileged class with voting rights. How could I possibly hand that to Uchiha Jin?

So, trouble.

Simply by official rank, I truly have no grounds to pick a fight with Uchiha Jin.

Blame a Chunin for Konoha’s public chaos?

If this got out, my reputation as Hokage would be ruined!

“U-chi-ha Jin!”

Hiruzen Sarutobi crushed his pipe in his fist, his voice now icy and lethal.

Yet, in response,

Uchiha Jin’s expression remained unchanged.

He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with pure contempt in his eyes.

And—slight disdain!

In his past life, as a native of Huaxia, he knew well: in this world, every shortcut has already been priced.

Authority and responsibility must be equal—that’s an iron law!

If Itachi refuse to grant me the rank of Jonin for your own schemes, then don’t dare shove blame onto me!

This is precisely why the village never promoted him to Jonin, and why Uchiha Jin himself never resented it or tried to force the issue.

Because he knew: strength matters most!

As long as his power is great enough, whether or not he’s promoted to Jonin doesn’t matter.

On the contrary!

Since I hold no such rank, don’t expect me to shoulder responsibility.

Even if I’m the de facto elder of the Uchiha radicals, even if the entire clan secretly obeys me, even if Konoha’s Police Force collapses into chaos—Hiruzen Sarutobi will never make me take the blame.

Because on paper, I’m just a Chunin!

Since Itachi blocked my promotion to Jonin, now is the time for Itachi to pay the price.

“Hokage-sama, don’t get worked up.”

“Take your time speaking—anger harms the body.”

“Do Itachi need this Chunin to carry out a mission?”

“But what a pity!”

“I don’t even have a single teammate. According to Konoha’s rules, I’m only qualified for C-rank missions.”

“Whose cat went missing? Who needs childcare? Or river cleanup?”

“I’m ready to contribute to Konoha—please, Hokage-sama, give me my mission!”

Uchiha Jin smiled faintly.

His tone was calm, yet anyone could hear the mockery.

Yes!

He’s a registered Chunin with no team—he can only handle C-rank missions.

Konoha finds it nearly impossible to trap Uchiha Jin, because he doesn’t even qualify for B-rank missions.

Hiruzen Sarutobi trembled with rage, utterly helpless before Uchiha Jin.

This kid is slippery as an eel!

No wonder he never applied for Jonin promotion, never asked for a new team, never joined the Police Force—he’s always acted utterly indifferent.

So…

This was his goal all along.