Uchiha Jin's words made Elder Hikaku's wrinkled hands tremble. The teacup rang lightly against the tray.
He stared at the child he had watched grow up. His lips parted, then faltered. After a long moment, he sighed.
"Jin, you intend to..."
"I refuse to see the Uchiha become tail-wagging house dogs. I will not scrape by on someone else's charity. Under me, that will never happen."
Hikaku hesitated, then tried to advise him. "We are not what we once were. The clan has lived in peace too long. When Lord Madara left, not one followed him. To speak of rebellion now is a faint hope."
"Rebellion? The Leaf was founded by Senju and Uchiha together. We are not rebelling. We are reclaiming what is ours."
He corrected the word, then drew a scroll from his robes and handed it over. "These are Root's sleeper lists in the village and the command phrases to move them."
"Root's sleepers? Has Danzō lost his mind?"
Hikaku's first thought was that Danzō had gone mad. As Tobirama's student and Hiruzen's classmate, even dismissed he would never pass this to the Uchiha.
"He is not mad, but he no longer has a choice."
Jin's tone stayed mild. Hikaku's face changed. He understood Danzō had not given this willingly.
"Jin, have you awakened those eyes?"
His pupils shrank. To seize a man like Shimura Danzō, only a Mangekyō fit his understanding.
Jin did not answer at once. Three tomoe turned in his eyes and a tide of ocular power rolled out.
Hikaku's own Sharingan opened by reflex, yet in the next beat he fell helplessly into genjutsu.
Scenes flickered like lantern slides. Danzō knelt like a puppet before Jin. Root operatives flowed through the dark. The frontlines burned. The Uchiha Police merged their authority with Root's special privileges in perfect concert.
When the last image faded and the spell broke, sweat pricked at Hikaku's brow.
"Is that still three tomoe?"
His voice shook. His Sharingan had not even struggled.
"For now I do not have those eyes, but it will not be long."
Jin brushed a fingertip at his brow. His confidence did not waver.
"I see. No wonder you are sure."
Hikaku drew a long breath, looked down at the scroll, then up into Jin's eyes. He remembered his own words and gave a rueful smile.
"It seems this old man can hardly keep up."
Jin answered quickly, sincere. "Do not say that. Without your care, I would not be here. The clan still leans on you."
The elder waved a hand, wrinkles easing. "I understand. I was only sighing. There is heat left in these old bones. Tell me what you need."
Jin's face turned solemn. "As I showed you, embed reliable clansmen into Root. Danzō is a puppet now. We will borrow Root's privileges, the same that Anbu enjoys, to expand Uchiha power, not sit penned inside a police force with little real authority."
Hikaku nodded.
"Second, Danzō is still the Hokage's adviser. Even if he is sidelined now, once war breaks out the Third will restore him. Then Danzō can propose Uchiha deployment. We need military merit. As I said, we are not rebelling. We are taking back the place that belongs to us."
He paused, then added, "Last thing. Uchiha Shun is still in prison. Please ask the Third to release him. He is one of us and once led the hardliners. We will need him."
Jin sipped tea, remembered something, and smiled. "And, Elder, Mikoto has been a chunin for a long time. Could you put her forward for jonin promotion?"
Hikaku's look turned amused. "You rascal. No problem. Mikoto has the talent. If I had not assigned her to care for you, she would not still be a chunin. Leave it to me."
Tea fragrance drifted as they worked through the details.
Only when the morning mist cleared and sunlight spilled across the low table did their talk finally end.