Chapter 67: A Brutal Reprimand, Then Uchiha Jin Walks Away!

Uchiha Jin looked utterly formidable.

Did Itachi really think Itachi could force me to back down just because of the Legendary Sannin’s reputation?

Itachi’re dreaming.

Even if Tsunade came here, I wouldn’t give her an inch.

What the hell?

Just like I said earlier, the Uchiha owe nothing to Konoha—on the contrary, Konoha owes the Uchiha dearly.

Jiraiya’s current words might move Fugaku, that fool, but they mean nothing to me, Uchiha Jin!

Can’t argue? Then don’t talk?

Damn!

I’m talking about compensation and an apology, and Itachi throw me the damn Fire Will? I say Hiruzen Sarutobi’s rise was illegitimate and his hands are dirty—what the hell does the Fire Will have to do with that? And now Itachi threaten to fight me?

And Itachi say—don’t bring up the past!

On what grounds do Itachi refuse to talk? Do Itachi think I owe Itachi my respect?

Since Itachi’ve chosen to act like a thug toward me, don’t blame Uchiha Jin for abandoning honor.

Fortunately, I don’t have the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan; I also fear the Asura chakra inside Naruto Uzumaki—I’m afraid killing him might awaken the Sage of Six Paths hiding in the shadows; and I’m afraid Konoha’s losses would be too great to hold the Land of Fire.

Crushing Konoha is easy, but the ninja world’s balance is already set—I must consider my clan’s future survival.

Alone, without the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, without Konoha’s protection, the Uchiha can barely withstand outside threats.

Otherwise…

Do Itachi think I want to talk?

I’d have already controlled the Nine-Tails and blasted Konoha with a barrage of Tailed Beast Balls long ago!

“U-chi-ha Jin!”

“Do Itachi have any Fire Will at all? How dare Itachi make such threats?”

“Itachi’re asking for death!”

Jiraiya’s rage erupted.

For the first time, his eyes flickered with murderous intent—he was truly enraged by Uchiha Jin’s audacity.

For him, Konoha was the core.

No one was allowed to damage it—even Tsunade in the original timeline nearly provoked Jiraiya’s killing intent.

So.

For the Uchiha Jin before him, he had lost his earlier gentleness—he was now truly ready to fight.

But unfortunately…

Uchiha Jin’s face was filled with mockery; arms crossed, his lips curled in disdain.

“Hmph, angry?”

“What right do Itachi, Jiraiya, have to be angry? Who the hell do Itachi think Itachi are?”

“Do Itachi really think I, Uchiha Jin, fear Itachi, one of the Legendary Sannin?”

“Itachi came here yourself to talk peace, yet Itachi can’t deliver compensation for Uchiha losses, a public apology, or the execution of Danzo—Itachi turn around and lecture me about the damn Fire Will, demanding I, the Uchiha, abandon everything for the village?”

“If Itachi want to talk Fire Will, then let’s talk about the legitimacy of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s rise to power.”

“Then Itachi say it’s been too long, Itachi don’t want to discuss it anymore, and now Itachi suggest we settle it with a fight because we’re all ninja?”

“What? Is the Uchiha easy to bully?”

“What if I kill the Sarutobi clan and murder your grandstudent Naruto Uzumaki—will Itachi, for the sake of the Fire Will and the greater good, forgive the Uchiha then?”

“Let me tell Itachi, Jiraiya—I despise people like Itachi!”

“When others bully the Uchiha, we’re expected to be magnanimous and forgive them.”

“But when the Uchiha prepare to strike first—especially after Itachi’ve chosen to act first—Itachi can’t bear it when we retaliate defensively.”

“Pfft, what a joke!”

“Hypocrite, get out!”

“If Itachi truly push the Uchiha to the brink, I’ll go find Naruto Uzumaki right now and blast Konoha with a barrage of Tailed Beast Balls using the Nine-Tails!”

“Don’t forget—I have the Mangekyo Sharingan!”

“If that mysterious man during the Nine-Tails Attack could control the Nine-Tails, so can I, Uchiha Jin!”

Uchiha Jin didn’t care.

Do Itachi really think your anger, Jiraiya, should make me afraid?

Almost instantly,

he laid everything bare—he played open strategy and feared no one knowing his intentions; he simply used the harshest words to make Jiraiya understand he was not to be trifled with.

Jiraiya: “...”

He stood there, utterly stunned.

Looking at Uchiha Jin, angrier than himself, he was genuinely startled.

In that moment, he truly understood.

No wonder his master had summoned him back—this Uchiha Jin’s ferocity had placed the village right atop a powder keg; any spark could ignite civil war!

But…

He couldn’t help asking: “How do Itachi know Naruto Uzumaki is the Nine-Tails jinchuriki?”

“Jiraiya, Itachi’re an idiot!” Uchiha Jin sneered. “Itachi should be asking who in the village doesn’t know.”

“The village leadership openly says Naruto Uzumaki is a fox demon—even the commoners know!”

“Besides the Nine-Tails, does Konoha have any other fox demon?”

“Enough. Get out!”

“I truly can’t stand Itachi—a man who can’t even protect his own student, who doesn’t care if his grandstudent dies, and still dares to lecture me about the damn Fire Will?”

“How ridiculous!”

“Yue, show him out!”

After saying that.

Uchiha Jin rose gracefully and walked straight toward the back courtyard.

Clearly,

he was furious at Jiraiya—this typical idealist was even worse than Hashirama’s brand of idealism.

He set his dreams too high and never grounded himself in reality.

Such a man only deserves to sit at the same table as Naruto Uzumaki—I shouldn’t have wasted my time meeting Jiraiya today.

Damn it!

I wasted two hours and achieved nothing.

Talking to this waste of space, Jiraiya, is less useful than going to play with Hiruzen Sarutobi—at least every time I meet Hiruzen, I extract plenty of benefits from him.

What about Jiraiya?

A penniless beggar!

All he has is the damn Fire Will—nothing else. He’s not even worthy of my time.

I’d rather go back and nurture my ocular power.

Remember,

during my last battle with Danzo, I spent 10% of my ocular power. Though prolonged use of my Sharingan has accelerated my recovery rate several times over, this time the drain was excessive.

According to Uchiha Jin’s estimate, he’d need at least a month and a half to fully restore it.

Meanwhile,

watching Uchiha Jin leave, Jiraiya stood frozen, mouth open but unable to speak.

Finally,

under Uchiha Yue’s smiling farewell, he could only leave Uchiha Jin’s courtyard helplessly.

But…

As he prepared to leave the Uchiha compound, he was stunned to see many members of the Ino-Shika-Cho clan—shopping for food on the streets, as if they lived there.

Worse still, he even saw Kakashi and Might Guy?!

Wait…

Jiraiya rubbed his eyes, muttering to himself.

“Illusion!”

“Yes, it must be an illusion!”

“How could Ino-Shika-Cho and Kakashi be here—in the Uchiha compound?”