Once the Third Great Ninja War ended, Jin planned to leave the matter of "emerging" within the clan to Shisui.
With that decision settled, his mind eased again.
---
Afternoon faded into evening.
Just as he was preparing to head to Ichiraku for dinner, a sudden knock echoed from his front gate.
Uchiha Jin paused, brow slightly furrowed.
He had no close acquaintances in the village. Even after awakening the Mangekyō, neither faction within the clan dared visit him—his position as a neutral elder made him untouchable and unwanted.
So who would come?
Opening the gate with mild suspicion, he blinked in surprise.
At the threshold stood Uchiha Fugaku, with young Itachi at his side.
"Clan Head." Jin stepped aside with a polite smile. "A rare guest. Please—come in."
He ushered them inside.
After they settled in the living room, Jin poured tea for both guests. Itachi sat upright with a calm, unnaturally mature expression that didn't match his age.
Jin couldn't help himself—he reached over and pinched Itachi's cheek.
Not bad. Very soft.
Itachi's face twitched.
Even though he had mentally prepared for this—Jin always did this—he still sighed internally. For someone who viewed himself as an adult, being treated like a child was torture.
He shot his father a silent plea for rescue.
Fugaku, however, could only offer a helpless look. He could tell Jin held genuine affection toward Itachi—there was no malice in his teasing. So he let it pass.
But his expression soon hardened with purpose.
"Jin," Fugaku began gravely, "the true reason for my visit today concerns my son."
"I wish to request that you take Itachi as your disciple. Will you accept?"
Jin blinked.
He had suspected this might be the reason—but he didn't expect Fugaku to be so direct.
Still… it made sense.
If the clan needed a mentor for their prodigy, the Hokage's line was out of the question. And within the Uchiha, no one was more qualified than the only current Mangekyō wielder.
Itachi was still young. His worldview wasn't fully formed. If Jin could shape that—and eventually connect him with Shisui…
Yes. That could change the clan's future.
His answer came without hesitation.
"Very well," Jin replied. "I don't mind. I'm rather fond of Itachi myself."
"But there is one condition I must state clearly," he added, tone turning firm.
"My approach to training will differ greatly from Uchiha tradition. I absolutely will not allow Itachi to be exposed to battlefield bloodshed at his age."
"So, Clan Head."
"If Itachi becomes my student, then his education—from this day forward—will be led by me alone. You must not interfere."
"If you agree, we can finalize this now."
He spoke plainly. He had intended to be more subtle—but with Uchiha personalities, directness was best.
Fugaku was momentarily taken aback.
Was his parenting… wrong?
For an Uchiha, early battlefield experience was seen as beneficial.
But Fugaku had not come to argue. He respected strength—and the Mangekyō was proof of genius, not luck.
After a moment, he nodded.
"As it should be," Fugaku said. "Since you will be his teacher, I will abide by your methods—even if they differ from our clan's norm."
"In that case, I entrust Itachi to you."
As Clan Head, he had duties to return to—so he stood to leave.
However, he did not take Itachi with him.
"Teacher," Itachi said respectfully, bowing.
Jin nodded, though a dull headache began forming.
Brilliant child he may be—Itachi was not an easy student.
Fugaku had simply dropped him off and left the rest to Jin—the man known throughout the clan as the laziest Mangekyō holder in history.
He was just trying to live peacefully, yet now he had to raise the clan's greatest prodigy?
But… if this investment ensured his future peace, then perhaps a little effort now was acceptable.
He sighed and stood.
"It's late. Let's eat first."
"Come on—follow me."