Today, Uzumaki Naruto pulled another prank in the village to attract attention.
His prank succeeded but also provoked anger.
Thus, Naruto was chased across several streets.
Fortunately, he was fast.
Naruto thought that if he ran two more blocks, he could shake off the steamed bun shop owner, whose wife's constant demands were wearing him down.
However...
Just as he felt relieved, his feet stepped onto thin air.
He felt someone grab his collar and lift him off the ground.
Oh no... caught!
The steamed bun shop owner hurried over, about to express gratitude, but froze upon seeing Uchiha Ikeizumi's cold face, choking on his words.
"U-U-Uchiha..." The owner's face drained of color, and the rolling pin slipped from his hands.
"Uchiha?"
Naruto struggled but could not break free, looking up with a troubled expression.
He did not recognize this meddlesome man, who seemed cold and regarded him like a rare creature.
"What did he do?" Ikeizumi asked the steamed bun shop owner.
"He... he..." The owner broke into a cold sweat.
"Speak truthfully," Ikeizumi reminded.
Under the invisible pressure, the owner swallowed nervously and stammered out Naruto's prank—replacing the wheat flour with protein powder in his shop.
Little Naruto mumbled, "Protein powder isn't unsuitable for making buns, and it helps build muscle."
The steamed bun shop owner's blood pressure rose in anger. "You brat..."
But seeing Ikeizumi's emotionless gaze, he hastily suppressed his anger and swallowed his words.
Too scary! How unlucky to encounter the infamous Uchiha plague of Konoha!
"It's all that little Nine-Tails brat's fault!"
"Did he pull such a prank..." Uchiha Ikeizumi nodded slightly and calmly said, "That brat's guardian is the Hokage. Go directly to the Hokage and demand compensation. Tell him I sent you. If the Hokage refuses, I will help you collect it."
With that, Ikeizumi lifted the utterly dismayed Naruto and prepared to leave.
This left not only the steamed bun shop owner bewildered but also Naruto himself stunned.
Naruto struggled frantically, flailing his limbs and shouting, "W-Where are you taking me? I'm already caught, can't you just let me down?"
Ikeizumi raised his arm, hoisting Naruto more than a meter off the ground. They locked eyes.
Naruto's face stiffened at the cold gaze.
Ikeizumi spoke slowly, "When a person commits a crime, regardless of age or gender, they must face appropriate punishment. Your prank caused economic loss and damaged the shop's reputation. Moreover, your reckless running disturbed Konoha's order and sullied the streets."
"Given multiple offenses, even if you compensate, you must serve at least half a month in Konoha Prison. And since you fell into my hands, that half month becomes three months."
Seven-year-old Naruto was completely dumbfounded.
"Jail..."
"Three months in jail..."
He was stunned speechless.
...
"Trouble! The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has come into contact with an Uchiha!" Meanwhile, an elite Anbu ninja assigned to monitor Naruto's expression darkened sharply. He sensed he had made a grave mistake today.
As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's watcher, the Hokage had tasked him not only with surveillance but also with "cleaning up" after Naruto's mischief.
He had just replaced the wheat flour in the steamed bun shop that Naruto had swapped with protein powder.
Yet, in the short time he left, the Jinchuriki was seized by an Uchiha ninja!
He recognized the Uchiha Military Police uniform instantly!
He clearly saw the Jinchuriki locking eyes with the Uchiha!
That was the rumored Sharingan capable of controlling tailed beasts!
If the Nine-Tails attack happened again due to his negligence, he would be the village's scapegoat.
Realizing the severity, the Anbu ninja had no time to think or worry about exposure.
He sprinted toward Naruto, shouting, "Put him down!"
In full view of many, the Anbu ninja appeared instantly, one hand grasping the hilt of his ninja sword, the other reaching to snatch Naruto.
Ikeizumi suddenly raised his arm sideways.
The Anbu ninja grasped at empty air, while Naruto cried out, almost being flung away by the motion.
"Anbu?!" Izumi recognized the Anbu uniform and the distinctive fox mask.
She suddenly felt uneasy.
"Uchiha! What are you doing?!" The Anbu ninja, after missing his grab, revealed a fierce expression beneath his mask and demanded, "Don't tell me you don't know what this brat represents! You... huh? Uchiha Ikeizumi?!"
Facing him directly, the Anbu ninja realized the one who seized the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was indeed Ikeizumi.
One of the few Uchiha with relatively good relations with the Hokage.
At least one who frequently met with the Hokage.
Ikeizumi glanced at the white frame hovering above the Anbu ninja's head, his eyes sharpening dangerously. "Are you obstructing the Military Police's enforcement, Yamanaka Yoshinobu?"
The Anbu ninja was stunned.
Though masked, and never having met Ikeizumi before, how had Ikeizumi recognized him?
Noticing Ikeizumi's gaze growing more threatening, the Anbu ninja hesitated and sheathed his sword.
He had heard intelligence about Ikeizumi.
He knew the bottom line of this [Absolute Justice] enforcer.
For safety, he avoided conflict.
"Phew!"
The Anbu exhaled, calming himself. "Uchiha Ikeizumi, the Military Police's enforcement shouldn't concern Uzumaki Naruto, right? He's just an 'ordinary' kid, isn't he?"
He emphasized "ordinary."
Ikeizumi replied, "He is precisely the culprit I caught."
Anbu ninja: "???"
Trouble...
This was a thorny matter.
As the Anbu sweated nervously, pondering his next move, a hoarse, angry shout approached:
"Evil-born Uchiha brat! What are you doing? What are the evil intentions of your Uchiha clan?!"
The Anbu froze, puzzled why someone else was more anxious than himself.
Looking toward the voice, he saw a familiar figure—
Danzo Shimura?!