Because he had no choice back then.
But now… things were different.
He had Uchiha Jin — a new path.
Unlike the false promises of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the road Jin revealed to him was soaked in blood and conflict, but at least it was clear. He could see where it led, and he understood that if he succeeded, he might truly change the fate of the Uchiha clan.
The comparison made everything obvious.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had never intended to help him or the Uchiha. The old Hokage merely used him as a tool — a pawn to achieve his own goals.
Realizing this, Shisui took a deep breath.
"I understand now."
"I'll keep moving forward with unwavering conviction. If it means saving my clan, I, Uchiha Shisui, will give everything. Blood and killing will not break me!"
His expression was calm but resolute.
Yes.
He had been lost because he lacked direction. But now that he'd found it, even if it was a cruel road, he would walk it without hesitation.
Uchiha Jin narrowed his eyes slightly. Hearing those words, he finally exhaled in relief.
Good.
All that talking wasn't for nothing.
But before he could relax completely, Shisui spoke again.
"Jin, what slogan should I use?" he asked, looking awkward. "And… who should I even try to win over? I barely have any friends in the clan. The radicals and moderates both dislike me. This is such a headache. Do you have any advice, Jin-kun?"
Uchiha Jin: "…"
He nearly lost his balance from exasperation.
Seriously?
After all that careful guidance, did he really have to spoon-feed this guy too?
His forehead darkened with irritation as he sighed.
Fine.
It seemed that the Uchiha clan's genius was entirely concentrated in their eyes — their brains clearly hadn't evolved much beyond Hashirama's level of idiocy.
Still, Shisui had done him a favor. With a helpless shake of his head, Jin began explaining.
"Shisui, you're forgetting a whole group of people."
"Besides the radicals and moderates, there's a large number of marginal Uchiha — those who enjoy basic clan welfare but are practically no different from civilian ninja. They're overlooked, ignored, and desperate."
"As long as you hand out a few C-rank jutsu scrolls, they'll follow you. Offer a B-rank scroll, and they'll be willing to risk their lives for you."
"You were born with privilege, so you've never seen how hard life is at the bottom. But don't just give them everything freely — generosity without structure leads to chaos."
"If you want to build power, you must establish rules. That's what keeps an organization alive."
He tapped his temple. "Even the village itself runs on that principle. There are no systems based purely on kindness — only contracts, incentives, and balance."
"So if you plan to create your own faction, don't rely on emotion. Make them earn their rewards. How much effort they give determines how much they get."
"As for your slogan…" Jin smirked. "Why not ask Sarutobi Hiruzen himself?"
Shisui blinked. "Ask… the Hokage?"
"Think about it. The radicals won't trust you, and even the moderates have their own hidden agendas. If you tell the Hokage that you want to form your own faction — loyal to him, not Fugaku — he'll believe you. He might even provide support from the Anbu to help you establish your power base."
Jin's expression turned serious.
"Remember this, Shisui. There are no eternal friends or enemies — only eternal interests."
"Make your enemies fewer, make your allies temporary. Because in the world of power, today's friend can become tomorrow's foe."
"For example — Sarutobi Hiruzen. While you're still weak, he's your ally, maybe even your benefactor. But the moment you unify the Uchiha and gain real influence, you'll become his enemy."
Jin's tone was calm but heavy, each word deliberate.
After all, according to Nara Kazama's strategy, the Uchiha would soon play a vital role. If they could be controlled, they'd become Konoha's strongest weapon.
On the other side, Shisui's eyes widened in shock.
He hadn't realized how intricate — or manipulative — all of this truly was. But as he thought it through, it all made sense.
He had been too naïve.
Taking a slow breath, he steadied himself and nodded firmly.
"Understood."
Then, as if shifting gears, his tone turned brisk.
"All right, enough talk — let's get down to business. Regarding your team's next assignment: the clan head and Nara Shikaku have already made arrangements."
"You and Nara Kazama will be assigned to my squad. We'll also have one member from the Hyuga clan. Our unit will be considered an elite team."
"As for Kudo Nobu, he's been placed in a regular squad as captain."
"Get ready. We'll deploy within two days at the latest."
Uchiha Jin froze.
Wait… what?
He blinked in disbelief.
He was just a bystander! How did he end up in Shisui's elite team?
That escalated way too fast.
How could someone like him — who prided himself on doing as little as possible — suddenly be labeled "elite"?
But then something else hit him.
Hold on…
In the original timeline, Nara Shikaku should've been on the Rain Country front lines, not here at all. Why was one of Konoha's top strategists suddenly dealing with Kirigakure instead of Iwagakure or Kumogakure?
"Wait, Shisui — Nara Shikaku, you mean the head of the Nara clan, the Jōnin Commander?"
Shisui blinked in surprise. He didn't understand why Jin was suddenly so interested, but he nodded.
"Yes. Clan Head Fugaku is serving as Chief Commander, and Nara Shikaku is his deputy. I heard the village originally wanted to send him to the Rain Country, but he personally requested to come here — to the Mist front."