Rin Nohara also joined the discussion.
"I actually know a bit about Lord Jin," she said softly. "I have friends who were in Class B with him back at the Academy. He wasn't a prodigy. In fact… like Obito, he was always near the bottom of the class."
Rin lowered her voice slightly.
"But what made him well-known wasn't his grades—it was that he was ostracized by the Uchiha clan."
Everyone turned to look at her.
"He was always alone. If Obito was only looked down on by the clan, at least he still had us as friends. But Jin… he was openly bullied by his own clan members. Many people saw it. There were several incidents where Uchiha youths picked fights with him on purpose."
Silence settled over the group.
No one expected Uchiha Jin's childhood to be so tragic.
Even young Itachi was stunned. He had never heard such a thing within the Uchiha. He could never understand why Jin—an Uchiha—was rarely spoken of in the clan. Even now, though Jin had awakened the Sharingan and distinguished himself, the clan barely acknowledged him.
For the Uchiha, who treasured pride and reputation above all, this was unthinkable.
Now, Itachi understood.
If Jin had endured humiliation and neglect his whole life, how could he possibly develop affection for the clan? And watching someone they bullied rise to prominence—no wonder the clan acted awkward and distant toward him.
Not far away, Ayame overheard the conversation and came over. Despite her usual cheerful personality, she spoke seriously.
"You don't actually know the half of it."
Everyone looked toward her.
"After Jin's parents died, the money meant to support him was apparently taken by someone. The clan didn't help him at all. He was left completely on his own."
Several people drew sharp breaths.
"It was years ago… Jin was just a small child. One day, he came to my father and asked if he could eat at our shop every day, and if my father could give him a discount because he had no one left."
Ayame's expression softened with the memory.
"Once he explained his situation… that his parents had died and no one in the clan cared for him… my father couldn't ignore it. You know our shop doesn't open in the mornings, but after that, my dad made sure Jin could eat breakfast there too."
"Jin always tried to pay with what little money his parents left him. Dad accepted it when he insisted, but he never asked. To my father, Jin is… like half a son."
Everyone listened quietly.
"Jin even helped around the shop. Back then, he did chores before it opened for the day, so most people never noticed him."
Ayame exhaled softly.
"Jin didn't have friends growing up. With everything he went through, he became reserved. Even after becoming a shinobi, he's always been alone."
Rin looked toward Minato with a hopeful expression.
"Sensei, I know you're a good person. If possible… could you maybe speak to the others? Even just being his friend would mean a lot."
Her sincerity struck everyone silent.
Itachi and Obito were the most shaken. As Uchiha, they knew exactly how clan members were supposed to be treated.
"What is wrong with our clan…?" Obito muttered in disbelief.
Itachi remained quiet. Anger simmered beneath his calm expression, but as the clan head's son, he couldn't speak recklessly.
Minato's brows drew together slightly. He felt sympathy, but he also knew many orphans in Konoha suffered hardship. As someone of the Hokage's lineage, he could not interfere carelessly in internal Uchiha matters and risk stirring tension between the clan and the village.
He eventually smiled gently.
"Ayame, you don't need to worry too much. Jin doesn't need pity. He's strong—stronger than most. The hardships he faced have only shaped him into who he is today."
Minato spoke with sincerity.
"And of course, I'd be glad to be his friend."
Unlike many Uchiha, Jin wasn't arrogant. Even after gaining power, he still treated ordinary people with respect. That alone earned Minato's admiration.
Rin raised her hand timidly. "I… I would also like to be friends with Jin-kun."