BANG! BANG! BANG!
Knocks sounded at the door, and Uchiha Jin blinked in confusion.
He had lived in Konoha for years and had no real friends.
The only people close to him were Ayame and Teuchi.
They were civilians and would not come to the Uchiha compound.
Puzzled, Jin stood.
He spared a fond look for the soft couch, then stepped into the yard and pulled open the gate.
The next second, shock and bewilderment washed across his face.
Uchiha Shisui.
What was going on.
His cheap parents had been die-hard followers of Uchiha Kagami. Before their deaths, Kagami had once visited with Shisui as a guest.
So of course Jin knew him.
Even if Shisui had not yet made a name as Shisui of the Body Flicker, he was already a rising star and pride of the clan.
At the same time, they had not crossed paths since Jin's parents died.
They had not seen each other in years.
"Surprised, Jin-kun?" Shisui smiled gently. "I am sorry. Missions have been constant."
"These years, I could not even rest during holidays."
"So I never found time to visit you."
"Forgive me."
He was sincerely apologetic.
As children, because of their parents, they had played together.
Shisui was a prodigy. He graduated early in third year and became a ninja.
After that he had been busy with missions, striving for peace for the clan and the village.
If he said he was busy, Jin believed him.
Shisui's character did not stoop to lying.
Even so, Jin had no desire to tangle with key figures of the plot and had avoided him for years.
But since Shisui had come to his door, Jin could not throw him out.
Fine.
He sighed inwardly and forced a smile.
"Why apologize."
"I know you are busy. That is normal for a shinobi."
"Do not stand out here. Come in and talk."
Jin stepped aside and led Shisui into the house.
Shisui's brows pinched at the sight of the bare, slightly shabby rooms.
He said nothing.
They sat in the living room, host and guest, and Jin poured tea.
"Here, Shisui, have some tea," Jin said.
Shisui lifted the cup and fell silent for a moment. "How have you been these past years. I saw you heading to Ichiraku this morning."
Uh oh.
So the watcher he had sensed earlier was Shisui.
Jin had not expected Shisui to tail him since dawn.
He thought a moment and did not hide it.
"To eat."
"Eight years ago, when my parents died on a mission, I was too young, and Ichiraku was cheap."
"So I have eaten there ever since."
"You know this already."
"My parents' savings were not much, and I am no prodigy. I could not take missions and earn money until I graduated."
"Relying on their savings alone could not cover meals for years."
"So I asked Teuchi if I could eat my three daily meals at his place until I grew up, and whether a long-term customer could get a discount."
"Teuchi is kind. Even though the shop is closed mornings, he let me eat with their family, and he did not charge me."
"For lunch and dinner, he only took cost. He even charged less every time."
"I am grateful to him. I treat him as a father."
Shisui was stunned.
He had never imagined that Jin's life had been this hard.
But something did not add up.
His own father had died around the same time as Jin's parents.
He had been cared for since childhood. Why had Jin been left like this.
The simple heart could not make sense of it.
"Why," Shisui asked. "Did the clan not take care of you."
"I remember there is a clan orphanage. Any Uchiha child who loses both parents is accepted."
"Your father and mother died in service."
"You should have qualified. Why did this happen."
Jin had only silence.
After a long pause, his voice turned faint.
"The reason is simple."
"My parents were loyal to your grandfather, Uchiha Kagami."
"When your grandfather died, his people were purged."
"Forget me. Go look around the compound. The children of Kagami's men had it even worse than I did."
Shisui sucked in a breath.
His face went pale.
Even his fingers around the teacup began to tremble.
Jin sighed softly.
In the story he remembered, only Shisui and Itachi stood together.
None of Kagami's old subordinates or their children supported Shisui.
He had never understood it in his previous life.
After crossing over, it became clear at once.
Kagami's men were purged after his death. Over the years, most had died.
Their children rarely survived to adulthood.
Those who somehow did grow up would likely hate Kagami and Shisui.
Support him.
Nonsense.
Jin was different. With two lifetimes behind him, his outlook was steadier.
He knew Kagami and Shisui were good men. His parents had not been wrong to follow them. No one had expected Kagami to die so young.
As for Shisui.
He had been a kid. What could he have understood.
Jin had never blamed him.
He kept his distance only because he knew the plot and wanted to avoid entanglements.
In plain words, to avoid trouble.
Across from him, Shisui's face darkened by the second.
"No. It should not be like this."
"How could they do such things."
"Those bastards."
CREAK.
Even someone as gentle as Shisui radiated killing intent upon hearing the truth.
He was truly angry.
Jin's plight was tied to his grandfather's line.
And by Jin's account, Jin was one of the lucky ones.
Thanks to Teuchi and Ayame, he had lived to adulthood and, as a shinobi, would not want for food.
But what about the others.
The thought of such scenes sent fury crashing through him. His Sharingan snapped open.
Faintly, his three tomoe seemed ready to push toward the Mangekyo.
Jin froze.
He did not know when, in the original story, Shisui had awakened the Mangekyo.
If it happened in his house, he would be finished.
The Uchiha, the Third's faction.
All the village leadership would focus on him.
How was he supposed to lie low then.
No way.
A chill prickled his scalp, and he hurried to speak.
"Shisui, calm down."
"It is all right. I do not blame you."
"I am an adult now. Please do not get worked up."
"I am begging you here."
"…"