Several days later, beneath the morning sun, a force of several hundred shinobi appeared at the gates of Konoha.
They moved in disciplined formation, cloaks fluttering lightly in the breeze as they began the formalities for re-entry.
More than half of them bore the unmistakable fan crest of the Uchiha clan on their backs. The rest were civilian shinobi who had fought alongside them on the Mist front.
Their arrival quickly drew the attention of nearby villagers.
"Eh? Are front-line shinobi returning today? Why wasn't there any notice for a welcome ceremony?"
"I didn't hear anything either. What's going on?"
"Oh! I remember now. The Hokage Tower issued a notice a few days ago. The Mist front troops would return in batches. Since there are too many rotations, holding a ceremony each time would disrupt daily life. They said there'll be a collective celebration after everyone is back."
"I see! The Hokage really thinks of everything."
"So this is the first batch? Why does it look like they're mostly Uchiha?"
"You didn't know? I heard the Uchiha were the backbone of the Mist battlefield. They even defeated the Mizukage. Makes sense they'd rotate first."
"Even the Mizukage was defeated? The Uchiha may be arrogant, but they're undeniably strong."
"That's one of Konoha's great clans for you."
The chatter spread like ripples across water.
Praise.
Admiration.
A little awe.
The Uchiha in the formation—who had initially felt slighted by the lack of an official welcome—found their dissatisfaction easing. Some couldn't help the faint upward curl of pride at the corner of their lips.
At the head of the unit, Uchiha Fugaku's previously tense expression softened as well. A trace of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.
"Don't celebrate too soon," Jin said quietly at his side, his face unchanged. "Something feels off."
Strange.
Too strange.
The village leadership had clearly canceled formal welcoming ceremonies to prevent the major clans from gaining too much prestige.
Yet now—
This carefully guided wave of public praise?
Contradictory.
Jin had already spotted several planted voices among the crowd within seconds.
This wasn't spontaneous admiration.
This was orchestration.
Fugaku frowned slightly. "Jin… could you be overthinking it? Perhaps this is compensation."
"Compensation?" Jin's eyes sharpened. "No. This feels more like being praised to death."
"Praised to death?"
"Listen carefully," Jin murmured. "Have you heard a single villager mention any clan other than the Uchiha?"
Fugaku's expression shifted.
"If this continues," Jin went on, "it'll sound like driving back the Mist was solely the Uchiha's achievement. What do you think the other shinobi will feel?"
Silence.
The Uchiha had indeed achieved remarkable feats on the battlefield.
But they had not fought alone.
If they alone absorbed the glory—especially while others received no ceremony, no recognition—
Resentment would fester.
And the Uchiha, never known for careful diplomacy, might even grow complacent—unwittingly drawing the ire of their comrades.
The higher-ups weren't honoring them.
They were placing them over an open flame.
Jin's gaze darkened.
"This isn't over," he said. "When you report to the Hokage, be careful. No matter what the Third proposes—don't agree immediately. Let me gather information first."
Fugaku inhaled slowly and nodded. "Understood."
Inside, however, a bitter feeling stirred.
He was nearly ten years older than Jin.
Yet in matters like these, he felt like a child standing beside a strategist.
If Jin hadn't spoken, he might still be savoring the illusion of improving clan prestige.
Perhaps…
Perhaps concessions were inevitable.
Jin, however, had no time to dwell on Fugaku's thoughts.
His priority was elsewhere.
Several days earlier, after receiving urgent notice, he had settled affairs in the Land of Rain and departed immediately. Traveling at full speed, he reunited with the main force before dawn the previous day—slipping seamlessly back into formation as though he had never left.
But constant movement had left him behind on village intelligence.
This morning he'd only had time to exchange brief updates with Uchiha Shisui, who had just returned from the Daimyō's court.
He still knew nothing of Konoha's current internal situation.
"Fugaku-sama, here is your entry authorization."
"Thank you."
The gate shinobi handed over the completed documentation.
"Everyone, we'll disband here," Fugaku announced to the civilian shinobi. "You're free to return home and rest."
As commanding officer of the rotation unit, his word was final.
With that, the formation dissolved.
Once the civilian shinobi had mostly dispersed, Fugaku turned to Shisui.
"I need to report to the Hokage Tower. Shisui, escort everyone back to the compound. The clan is waiting."
Shisui glanced toward Jin. Only after receiving a subtle nod did he respond.
"Yes."
"I'll head out as well," Jin said.
He turned to Fugaku once more.
"Remember—don't agree to anything immediately."
Fugaku gave a firm nod.
Jin exchanged a few final words with Shisui before peeling away from the departing Uchiha group.
Instead of heading toward the Hokage Tower—
He moved toward the outer district of Konoha.
Toward the Konoha Orphanage.
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