A system notification chimed in Ikeizumi's mind:
"[Ding! You have successfully killed three 'red-named' villains! Your chakra has received a minor amplification! Congratulations, you have successfully dropped: ① Wind Nature Transformation; ② Shadow Imitation Technique; ③ Water Release: Wild Water Wave!]"
Ikeizumi glanced at his updated status:
[Name: Uchiha Ikeizumi]
[Age: Eighteen]
[Identity: Konoha Uchiha Military Police Force Member]
[Strength: Jonin]
[Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan, Molten Release, See-Through Release]
[Taijutsu: Uchiha Style Kenjutsu, Shurikenjutsu, Kunai Combat Arts…]
[Ninjutsu: Great Fireball Technique, Great Fire Annihilation, Molten Release: Great Eruption, Molten Release: Chakra Armor, Shadow Imitation Technique…]
[Other: Cooking, Calligraphy, Gambling, Bedroom Arts…]
[…]
The Wind Nature Transformation must have come from Danzo. With this new addition, Ikeizumi now possessed all five basic chakra natures: Fire, Earth, Water, Wind, and Lightning. The Wind Nature Transformation, acquired from Danzo—a master of Wind Release—was remarkably potent. It immediately rose to become one of Ikeizumi's most prominent chakra natures, on par with his Fire and Earth affinities. This meant that various Wind Release ninjutsu he had acquired while dispensing justice could finally be put to use.
The Shadow Imitation Technique and Water Release: Wild Water Wave were mere bonuses.
Danzo was proving to be a true "treasure trove," and his deepening crimson sin only fueled Ikeizumi's resolve. The urge to eliminate "evil" now stirred within him, impossible to suppress.
When the Military Police Force headquarters came into view, Uchiha Ikeizumi reluctantly restrained his murderous intent—at least for the moment.
As long as Danzo remained in the ninja world, justice would never be absent.
"Lord Fugaku, the Moonlight clan's matricide case has been resolved. 'Moonlight Gale,' the sole heir of the Moonlight clan, has accepted the Military Police Force's verdict," a member of the Military Police reported to Uchiha Fugaku in his office.
"Moreover, Moonlight Gale requested that the details of the case not be disclosed. It seems he wishes to preserve some dignity for his younger brother."
Fugaku sighed deeply. "A murder involving family ties weighs heavily on one's heart."
Before he could say more, a gentle knock came at the door.
"Please—"
Before Fugaku could finish, the door was pushed open. Without even looking, he knew who it was.
Even the hawkish members of the Uchiha clan showed some respect to him as clan head. Only Ikeizumi dared to show such blatant disregard.
Sure enough, when Fugaku glanced up, he saw Ikeizumi enter with his young apprentice, Izumi, trailing behind.
"Ikeizumi, you—"
"...Hmm!?"
Fugaku's attention was suddenly drawn to the blonde child Ikeizumi was carrying. The boy seemed strangely familiar.
Focusing, Fugaku's calm eyes flickered with shock.
He recognized him.
Ikeizumi dropped Naruto carelessly; the boy landed hard with a grunt of pain but quickly covered his mouth, trembling and too scared to make a sound.
"Ikeizumi, this child…" Fugaku felt his head nearly explode, his scalp tingling.
He never expected Ikeizumi to bring the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to the Uchiha Military Police headquarters!
Fugaku swallowed the words "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki" he almost blurted out and asked sharply, "Why did you bring Uzumaki Naruto here?"
The usually composed Uchiha clan head spoke faster than usual.
Fugaku admitted he was caught off guard.
The village already suspected the Uchiha clan's involvement in the Nine-Tails incident years ago.
To dispel those suspicions, Fugaku had ordered clan members to keep their distance from the Jinchuriki, especially instructing his wife not to have contact with Naruto, since she was close friends with Naruto's mother.
Yet, who would have thought…
Despite all those warnings, Ikeizumi was the one who disregarded the clan head's orders!
Or rather,
Ikeizumi simply didn't care about Fugaku's instructions!
"He disrupted Konoha's order and interfered with my business. In my eyes, he's guilty. Even under Konoha's lenient laws, he'd be charged with several offenses. Bringing him here is my duty," Ikeizumi said calmly.
Fugaku was speechless. "You're taking your duty a bit too seriously!"
"But the Hokage—"
Before Fugaku could finish, Ikeizumi interrupted smoothly: "The Hokage knew, and so did Root. When I arrested Naruto, Danzo and Root ninjas tried to obstruct justice. I killed two and a half of them."
Fugaku blinked in disbelief.
Ikeizumi continued, "Unfortunately, the Hokage soon arrived with Anbu and abused his power to shield Danzo. He also wanted to protect Naruto but backed off when he sensed I might turn hostile."
Fugaku was stunned.
He swore he hadn't received as much information in one day as he did in those few sentences from Ikeizumi.
Yesterday, Ikeizumi had dealt a heavy blow by killing three Moonlight clan ninjas.
Today, he'd caused an even bigger uproar!
He had arrested the Jinchuriki, killed Root members, offended Danzo, confronted the Hokage, and even forced the Hokage to step back.
And if Fugaku guessed right, Ikeizumi was already preparing for a possible armed conflict with the Hokage.
He really dared to fight the village's top brass!
More extreme than even the hawkish Uchiha within the clan.
At least those hawks only pressured Fugaku to plan a coup; Ikeizumi acted outright.
Fugaku struggled to process it all.
He looked at Naruto not as a hot potato but as a burning iron ingot.
He looked at Ikeizumi as if facing a madman.
In Fugaku's eyes…
No Uchiha ninja was crazier than Ikeizumi.
So the question was:
If Ikeizumi dared to bring Naruto here,
Would Fugaku dare to imprison the boy in Konoha's jail?
Fugaku fell silent.
He didn't know how long he stayed that way or what thoughts churned in his mind before he finally spoke:
"Ikeizumi…"
"If you also abuse your power to shield Naruto under the pretense of obstructing justice, then I will personally take him to Konoha Prison and lock him up."
Ikeizumi was unsurprised and interrupted again: "If you do that, in my eyes, you're an enabler of evil—and my enemy."
Fugaku was left speechless.
What could he say after that?