Shadows Beneath the Leaf
> "That's the tragic part," Jin said quietly. "Unless someone truly recognizes him, Might Duy will remain a Genin forever."
He leaned back, a faint sigh leaving his lips.
> "But that's also where his strength lies. Because of his pure heart, he was able to master the complete Eight Gates Formation."
His gaze sharpened slightly, voice filled with an odd reverence.
> "If he ever fights seriously, he'll astonish the entire shinobi world."
Silence fell.
None of them—Shisui, Kazama, or Hinata Aya—had ever heard of the Eight Gates Formation before.
Even Hinata Aya, born into one of the oldest clans, had only heard rumors of such forbidden taijutsu.
And yet, despite their ignorance, a strange respect for Might Duy grew within their hearts.
Especially Nara Kazama.
His analytical mind began to spin rapidly.
If what Jin says is true, that man could be a hidden weapon... a weapon that Konoha itself doesn't recognize.
He folded his arms, thinking to himself.
Even a pure-hearted man has weaknesses—family, hunger, the need to survive. If I can guarantee him comfort and protection, perhaps I can sway him. He doesn't need to betray anyone… merely to stay neutral when it matters most.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
Even saints can be guided.
Jin's calm voice broke the silence.
> "All right, enough small talk."
He sat upright, his tone firm.
> "We have bigger problems. The news of my 'awakening' has already spread. Patriarch Fugaku will be here tonight at the latest."
Shisui froze, anxiety flooding his expression.
> "That's what I was afraid of! Fugaku-sama might be busy finishing off the Mist forces, but that'll end soon. Once he's done, he'll come straight here."
He took a deep breath, glancing at Jin.
> "But, Jin… you haven't actually awakened your Mangekyō. If he finds out—if he even suspects—it'll all be over!"
Nara Kazama and Hinata Aya both frowned.
> "Shisui's right," Kazama said sharply. "If this gets exposed, the entire plan collapses. The Hokage and the elders are already wary of the Uchiha. If you're seen as someone who killed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen without Mangekyō power, they'll mark you as a potential threat."
Hinata Aya nodded.
> "Exactly. Even within the clan, some might start doubting you. You'd be caught between both sides."
The air in the tent turned heavy.
Jin said nothing at first.
He simply listened.
They were right—about everything.
He was strong, yes. But not that strong.
Even now, his strength was roughly on par with an elite jōnin—barely a step into Kage-level territory.
Killing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was an achievement, but not something that would shake Konoha's foundations.
After all, this was the same village that once produced the likes of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Sannin, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, and Namikaze Minato.
Each of them could've slain the Seven Swordsmen single-handedly.
Even Shimura Danzō, for all his secrecy and paranoia, was far from weak.
A direct disciple of the Second Hokage, he'd inherited Tobirama's ruthless efficiency—and his forbidden techniques.
With Hashirama's cells grafted into his body and access to the Sharingan, Danzō could rival even Orochimaru in his prime.
The truth was simple.
Konoha was powerful—too powerful.
Even if Jin rallied the entire Uchiha clan, they'd still be crushed if they went to war with the village.
Just Minato and Jiraiya, master and student, could destroy them.
Minato's Flying Thunder God made him untouchable, while Jiraiya's Sage Mode gave him overwhelming strength.
If they truly fought, not even Fugaku's Mangekyō would turn the tide.
No—
War was suicide.
For now, silence and strategy were the only paths forward.
He recalled an old proverb:
"Store grain, build high walls, and bide your time before becoming king."
Jin smiled faintly.
> "Everyone, don't worry."
He looked at his teammates—Shisui, Kazama, and Aya—and his eyes gleamed with something unreadable.
> "You came at the perfect time. Because…"
He paused, then opened his eyes wide.
> "…my Mangekyō has just awakened."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
A cold, suffocating chakra swept through the air as Jin's Sharingan spun violently.
The three tomoe merged, twisting into a complex pattern—
a yin–yang core encircled by a prismatic hexagram that glowed faintly crimson.
Its aura was desolate, ancient, and unfathomably deep.
The Mangekyō Sharingan.
The Uchiha clan's most sacred and terrifying secret—now opened before their eyes.
Shisui's mouth fell open.
Kazama's analytical mind froze.
Aya's Byakugan instincts screamed in disbelief.
> "…"
None of them could speak.
Just days ago, Jin had said he was close to awakening the Mangekyō.
They'd believed him—but not truly.
After all, awakening the Mangekyō required experiencing unbearable loss, the death of one's dearest bond.
It was something beyond ambition. Beyond luck.
And yet, here it was—
spinning, alive, and impossibly real.
> "Jin…" Shisui finally whispered, awe and disbelief mixing in his voice.
"You really did it."
Jin smiled faintly, letting the kaleidoscopic pattern fade back to three tomoe.
> "Yes," he said softly. "Real enough for Fugaku—and for Konoha—to believe."
The tent fell silent again.
But this time, the silence wasn't fear.
It was reverence.