"Especially the squad on duty. Their strength might not be overwhelming, but their Byakugan is active twenty-four hours a day," Aya explained quietly.
"Even if they can't stop an intruder outright, they can still detect any disturbance within the compound. Even the faintest trace of genjutsu residue would lead straight back to you."
"…"
Her voice faltered as the weight of her own words settled in.
Though this had been discussed before, she had never truly taken it to heart—until now. The defenses of the Hyuga clan were beyond strict. She knew that better than anyone. To sneak into their territory unnoticed? That was nothing but a fantasy.
The Hyuga clan, second only to the Uchiha in Konoha's hierarchy, had a heritage and security system beyond what outsiders could imagine.
And yet, Uchiha Jin brought it up again—this time, with that same calm seriousness he carried into battle.
Fear flickered in Aya's eyes.
She had dreamed countless times of escaping the cage her clan had trapped her in, only to wake to the cold reality that it was impossible. But now… this was different.
She knew how strong Uchiha Jin was. The image of him, standing alone against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, was still burned into her memory. And now, he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—the Uchiha clan's most terrifying and revered power.
"Alright, that's enough," Jin said, smiling faintly. "We're all friends here—no need to be so formal."
He leaned forward slightly.
"You just need to tell me what you know—the layout of the Hyuga clan's defenses, the patrol routes, hidden posts, and sentry points. I'll take care of the rest."
Yes.
Before, he wouldn't have bothered with something so troublesome.
But now? Things had changed.
Aya knew too much. If her knowledge ever leaked, it would bring him nothing but unnecessary trouble. He couldn't kill her—not when she was an ally.
So, it was better to help her resolve this matter completely—to make her truly one of his people.
Affection might waver.
Interests endure.
As for loyalty? Uchiha Jin wasn't naive enough to expect it.
The Hyuga Branch Family's curse mark—the Caged Bird Seal—was a shackle that no amount of goodwill could undo. Unless that curse was broken, no Hyuga Branch member could ever truly be free.
So long as this didn't harm him, he didn't mind lending a hand.
"Jin-kun… thank you," Hinata Aya said softly, bowing her head. "No matter the outcome, I'll be grateful to you for the rest of my life."
She was a woman of few words. Even in gratitude, she didn't overstate her feelings.
Then, she began to explain everything she knew about the Hyuga clan's defenses—their formations, blind spots, rotations, and sentry timings.
Jin listened intently, activating his Sharingan to memorize every detail, copying her words into his mind like written script.
"Jin, can you really handle this alone?" Shisui asked hesitantly. "Maybe… we should wait until the war is over. Then I'll return and help you."
He looked uneasy. After all, this entire plan had been his idea—yet it was Jin who had to act on it. For someone like Shisui, honest and idealistic, that didn't sit well.
But Jin shook his head.
"No. This can't wait."
"The sooner we handle this, the better. If we drag it out, the risk only grows."
"Killing a Hyuga is easy. The hard part is making sure it can't be traced back to Aya."
He leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly.
"If a Hyuga dies and the evidence points to outsiders, the clan might suspect the Uchiha or the Nara—but they wouldn't dare take direct action. Not now. Not during wartime."
"But Aya? That's different."
"The Branch Family doesn't need a reason to punish one of their own."
The room fell silent.
Jin's logic was cruel—but correct.
If the Hyuga ever dared to provoke the Uchiha, the clan's pride would explode. The Uchiha would see it as an insult and retaliate without hesitation. It wouldn't matter whether Aya was involved or not—the whole thing would spiral into a feud.
The Nara were no different. Even if Kazama wasn't on good terms with the clan's elders, Shikaku would never abandon one of his own. For the sake of the clan's reputation, he'd stand with them.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen?
He'd take the Hokage's path—supporting neither side directly, all while ensuring his authority stayed untouched.
The real danger lay with Aya.
The Hyuga clan could never touch the Uchiha or Nara directly—but the Branch Family was fair game.
So, for her safety, this had to be done before the Third Shinobi War ended, and before Aya returned to Konoha.
"Then, I'll leave it to you, Jin-kun," Shisui said at last, his tone serious.
Jin waved it off casually.
A while later, after they had discussed everything in detail, a familiar presence approached—the Uchiha clan head, Fugaku himself.
Seeing him enter, Shisui, Aya, and Kazama quietly excused themselves.
"I've seen the clan head," Jin said respectfully, rising to bow.
He had already recovered fully from chakra exhaustion, and his posture was as sharp as ever.
They sat at the low tea table, the faint aroma of hot tea between them.
Jin poured a cup for both of them, then sat silently, waiting.
Fugaku's expression was composed, but his eyes were searching.
He studied Jin quietly—this young man who had defeated the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, who wielded the Mangekyō Sharingan, and yet spoke and planned more like a Nara strategist than a proud Uchiha.
Yes, Fugaku thought to himself.
His leadership might not be perfect—but his insight was sharp.
After a long pause, Fugaku finally spoke.
"Perhaps it's rude of me to say this," he began slowly. "But the Mangekyō Sharingan is… far too important to our clan."