"Let's not talk about the distant past, just look at the recent Hidden Mist Battlefield a few days ago. The Uchiha lost seven Jonin and over fifty Chunin, nearly three hundred ninja in total."
"If it were any other Ninja Clan, Konoha would have already held a memorial ceremony by now, wouldn't it?"
"But what about the Uchiha?"
"The entire Konoha acts as if it's blind, probably no one even knows about this."
"Even among the common people, the Uchiha's reputation has worsened."
"Don't you think that's interesting?"
"..."
Chapter 77: Cautious Uchiha Jin, Notification to Attend the Clan Meeting
Uchiha Jin's face was full of disdain.
Although he was too lazy to say much, and even had no good feelings for the Uchiha.
But, damn it.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions were indeed despicable to the point of being disgusting.
Itachi's face was gloomy.
Perhaps if he hadn't talked with Jin last night, then, having never been exposed to the will of fire, he would most likely have been nothing but bewildered.
However, things were different now.
Through his all-night contemplation, he knew that if he couldn't understand something, he should approach it from the perspective of self-interest.
If the Uchiha's reputation was bad, who benefited the most?
The answer was clear!
It was the village's high-ranking officials, the Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen and his faction.
"So, that's how it is!"
"No wonder I always felt something was off before. The truth of the matter is actually so simple."
After a brief sigh of emotion, Itachi completely fell silent.
Though he was young, he was not foolish.
He knew that even if he knew the answer to some things, he couldn't directly say them out loud.
Otherwise, the impact would be too great.
On the other hand, Teuchi and Ayame, while vaguely sensing something was wrong, couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
"Jin, don't leave things half-said."
"Hurry up and explain it clearly; this is very uncomfortable."
"Do you understand?"
Ayame couldn't help but speak.
She hated thinking about such troublesome problems the most.
Even the little brat Itachi understood, yet she still hadn't figured anything out.
She felt very uncomfortable.
But, unfortunately.
Uchiha Jin merely glanced at her, sighed, and then shook his head.
"If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it."
"Don't ask about this matter, don't even think about it. Just pretend I never said anything."
"I can only say that this matter involves high-level struggles, a conflict between the Uchiha and the village's high-ranking officials. It's not good for you as commoners to know too much."
"So, forget it."
Upon hearing this, Teuchi and Ayame instantly broke out in cold sweat.
Clearly.
Even if they were commoners, they still knew the most basic things.
Don't let Sarutobi Hiruzen's usual smiling, friendly demeanor fool you.
Even Teuchi and Ayame dared not underestimate him in the slightest.
Konoha was a military camp.
Someone who could command a group of ninja who constantly fought; if you truly regarded Sarutobi Hiruzen as a kind old man, such a person wouldn't survive a single episode in a TV show.
"Ayame, don't ask anymore." Teuchi Ichiraku's eyes narrowed slightly: "Let's hurry and eat."
"This…" Ayame was a bit reluctant, but still shrugged: "Alright, I understand."
However.
Uchiha Jin was still a little uneasy, so he quietly activated his Mangekyo.
Without any superfluous words, he directly cast a genjutsu.
He subtly altered their recent memories.
"Teacher!" Itachi couldn't help but speak.
Uchiha Jin shook his head: "They are just commoners, and they are on good terms with me."
"If they were to reveal even the slightest clue in their daily lives, Sarutobi Hiruzen would never let them off."
"We cannot afford that risk."
Itachi was silent.
But in the end, he still nodded.
Afterward.
The room once again became harmonious, as if nothing had happened… At 2 PM.
After Uchiha Jin helped Teuchi and Ayame clean up, he and Itachi took their leave.
When the two returned to the clan grounds, he immediately sent Itachi back to sleep, while he himself yawned and went home, once again lying in his small courtyard to sunbathe.
He looked completely at ease.
On the other hand, Itachi was stopped on his way home.
The person was Tekka.
"Itachi, are you going home?" Tekka asked, puzzled: "Why so early today? Aren't you continuing your training?"
Uchiha Itachi was slightly taken aback.
But he still chose to tell the truth: "Teacher saw that I didn't sleep last night and believed that forced training would lead to an unstable foundation, so he told me to go back and catch up on sleep."
"Unstable foundation, I…"
Tekka looked utterly bewildered.
Then he had a million curses in his heart, but he didn't know whether to say them or not.
He really wanted to complain.
But considering that Itachi apprenticed under Uchiha Jin, which was Fugaku's arrangement as the Clan Head, he could only remain silent, no matter how unhappy he was.
"I, forget it!"
"Since the Clan Head arranged it this way, he must have his reasons."
"Be careful on your way home!"
Uchiha Tekka's face was terrifyingly gloomy.
Itachi, however, remained calm.
He clearly understood Tekka's concerns, but he firmly believed that his teacher would not lie to him.
Even though their time together was short, he knew Jin's character, wisdom, and strength better than anyone.
However.
Itachi did not explain Tekka's misunderstanding.
He simply greeted him and then continued on his way home.