At the Forest of Death's edge.
Having shaken all eyes, Uchiha Jin first burned away the corpse's brain with Fire Style, then nudged it back to a dying state and tossed it carelessly among the trees before slipping away.
He met no one on the road.
Back home, he snapped back into salted-fish mode, collapsed on the bed, and fell fast asleep.
At dawn the next day.
He was still snoring when a knock rattled his door.
Jin shuffled over, scowling and half-asleep. He yawned, opened up, and grumbled at the sight of Uchiha Shisui.
"Seriously, Shisui."
"Do you not need rest."
"Look at the time. It is only six in the morning."
"…"
Shisui blinked.
He glanced from the bleary Jin to the street outside where clanmates were already training. Confusion clouded his face.
Was this guy truly an Uchiha.
It was six already. Why was he not up training.
Shisui could not understand.
He remembered his purpose and drew a breath.
"First off, it is late."
"Regular Konoha shinobi get up at five to train."
"Clan shinobi like us start at four thirty."
"And there is a taijutsu specialist in the village, Might Guy, who gets up at three thirty."
"Jin-kun, you should make an effort too."
"You will be assigned to a squad the day after tomorrow. You may be sent to the front."
He coaxed and urged, sincere to a fault.
Toward this clansman he felt five parts guilt, three parts kinship, and two parts hope.
They had played together as children. After his grandfather Uchiha Kagami died, Shisui had buried himself in training, and the two drifted apart.
Jin's parents' fate left Shisui feeling responsible.
If he had checked on Jin sooner, Jin would not have suffered so much.
He hoped Jin's laziness was a shell, a stubborn pose after being wronged. If Jin pulled himself together, he would surely grow strong. If the two of them joined hands with like-minded kin, the Uchiha could still be lifted, for the sake of peace in Konoha and the clan.
Unfortunately, Jin let the words pass in one ear and out the other.
"Enough, Shisui."
"Do not comfort me. I am a waste. Hard work is tiring. Lying flat is comfy."
"Come in first."
He waved the lecture away.
He had spent years building this image. No way he would drop it.
They went to the living room.
Shisui could only sigh. Awakening Jin's fighting spirit would be a long road.
Still, he believed in their bond.
"Jin, good news."
"When Fugaku heard, he flew into a rage and blasted the radical elders."
"From today, the treatment of my grandfather's old subordinates is outlawed. All resources are to be issued as to any Uchiha."
"As for the pensions and supplies withheld these years, the clan will make full restitution."
"Think about what you want."
"And there is more."
"The Third Hokage knows as well, but since this is an Uchiha matter, he cannot meddle openly."
"Even so, he is willing to put village funds toward compensating those wronged, including you."
Shisui's eyes shone.
He truly was satisfied with how it was handled.
Jin could only sit in silence.
Watching Shisui's excitement, he did not know how to respond.
It hurt.
Shisui truly meant well, treating him as friend and family.
But still.
He did not need it.
And if Shisui kept going like this, could Jin really stand by and watch Danzo take his eye and kill him.
If he could not keep hard lines, he would be dragged into the clan's mud pit.
Annoying.
"What a kid."
"Well, he is thirteen."
"In my old world he would be an elementary schooler, not even middle school."
"What was I doing at that age."
"Copying homework, bickering with girls, skipping class, mouthing off to parents, playing games."
His chest tightened.
He looked at Shisui and felt a soft spot ache.
The clan's messes were many, and he had not decided what to do.
Whatever. Worst case, he would stab Danzo in the back and help Shisui vanish.
As for the current good news.
Fugaku. Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Spare him.
Those lines might fool a pure heart like Shisui's.
Still, it had little to do with him. Might as well take something useful.
"I want Izanagi and Izanami, a tachi and a sword style. The rest convert to explosive tags and ration pills."
"…"
Shisui stared.
After a beat he asked, "Have you awakened the Sharingan."
"No," Jin said. "Planning ahead."
Shisui fell quiet.
Those were heavy requests.
But they were Jin's requests. After a moment's thought, he nodded.
"I can provide Izanagi and Izanami. I will bring the scrolls."
"I have a tachi and sword forms at home. I will bring those too."
"As for explosive tags and ration pills, I doubt the clan head will refuse."
"Consider it done."
Jin blinked.
So most of the list did not come from the clan or village but from Shisui's own stores.
All the clan needed to cover was tags and rations.
So Shisui was loaded.
It made sense. He was mainline, grandson of Uchiha Kagami.
Jin was about to speak again when a masked ANBU flickered into the courtyard.
"Uchiha Shisui. Uchiha Jin."
"By order of the Hokage, report to the Hokage Tower."
"Immediate. Now."