Chapter 15: The Consultant Arrives

The next day, Uchiha Tohaku arrived early at the Guard Squad’s interrogation room.

“Clan Leader,” the clan members inside the room greeted him with nods and bows upon his arrival.

“How did the interrogation of those three go yesterday?” Uchiha Tohaku inquired.

“Huh?” Uchiha Zaito, the one responsible for interrogating them, was momentarily taken aback. It seemed that big brother hadn’t specified what exactly they were supposed to interrogate about.

Uchiha Tohaku was speechless. Looking at the three high-ranking members of the Shimura clan tied to the interrogation frame, beaten beyond recognition, it was clear this was all personal grudges.

“Sorry, the enthusiasm of the clan members coming to help was overwhelming; I couldn’t stop them,” Uchiha Zaito said with an awkward smile.

Uchiha Tohaku shook his head and said, “It’s fine. I should have been clearer in my instructions.”

He then pulled out a chair and sat not far across from the three.

“Speak. How much do you know about the crimes of Shimura Danzo?” Uchiha Tohaku asked, facing them with a gaze sharp enough to peel skin and dissect bones.

“You inherently evil Uchiha clan, the Hokage will never let you go,” spat the eldest among the three, who was deeply entangled with Danzo, before coughing up blood and snarling fiercely.

Before Uchiha Tohaku could respond, an Uchiha nearby struck him hard across the mouth with a baton.

“Uncle Tojima?” Uchiha Tohaku looked up at the clan member who had struck him. He was a seasoned elite Jonin in his forties. “I thought the Fourth Squad is off duty today?”

“I just saw the interrogation team was busy, so I came to lend a hand,” Tojima said with a smile. His second son had died on the battlefield during the Third Great Ninja War. Ninjas are supposed to be indifferent to life and death, but out of a nine-man squad, only two Shimura clan members had survived. Naturally, Tojima had lingering thoughts. Now that some Shimura ninjas were in their hands, clan members who shared similar fates wouldn’t be polite. Tojima himself had waited in line all night for his turn.

As Tojima brutally beat Shimura Retsuto, Uchiha Tohaku turned his gaze to another.

“Shimura Arashi, we have evidence showing that on the battlefield of the Land of Water, you secretly allied with enemy ninjas, resulting in an Uchiha elite Jonin, two Chunin, and three civilian ninjas being surrounded. Afterwards, you took six pairs of our clan’s Sharingan eyes and delivered them to the rogue ninja Shimura Danzo. What do you have to say for yourself?” Uchiha Tohaku asked calmly, resting his head on the armrest of his chair.

“Uchiha Tohaku! You’re slandering me!” Shimura Arashi shouted in anger.

“Behave!” Shimura Arashi quickly shut his mouth.

“Shimura Yusuke,” Uchiha Tohaku named the last one.

“What do you want to say? I have never been to the battlefield!” Yusuke retorted.

“Is it honorable for a ninja never to have experienced battle? Your matters have nothing to do with the Third Great Ninja War. However, we discovered that in Konoha’s 44th year, you spread rumors that drove former Anbu captain Sakumo Hatake to suicide out of disgrace. You also participated in silencing the witnesses, including Keisuke Kishida. Am I right?” Uchiha Tohaku said.

“You… you are slandering me! I have never done such things!” Yusuke’s eyes flickered with panic, which did not escape Uchiha Tohaku’s notice.

Uchiha Tohaku sat up with interest. He hadn’t expected that randomly naming someone from the Shimura clan’s genealogy would hit upon a related party.

“There is an old saying: a wise man knows the times. Surely, the various torture devices here will pry open your mouth. I hope you cooperate well with us,” Uchiha Tohaku said coldly.

At that moment, a clan member opened the interrogation room door and hurried over to Uchiha Tohaku, bending close to whisper in his ear:

“Clan Leader, the Shimura clan leader and two Hokage advisors have arrived, demanding we hand over these three.”

“Uchiha Tohaku, if you know what’s good for you, release us immediately. Otherwise, the village won’t spare you!” Ninjas have excellent hearing. Though the messenger lowered his voice deliberately, Shimura Retsuto, standing close by, still heard the words and arrogantly shouted.

“So noisy. Uncle Tojima, you’re getting old; don’t overexert yourself,” Uchiha Tohaku teased Tojima, touching his ear.

“Hmph, don’t underestimate me, kid. Even at eighty, I can still thrash these types without breaking a sweat,” Tojima said, increasing the force of his baton, causing Shimura Retsuto to scream in pain.

“Uncle Tojima, be careful not to kill him,” Uchiha Tohaku warned aloud before slowly heading towards the Guard Squad’s main gate.

At that moment, Shimura Hiro and Mito Monen, accompanied by Koromo Sen, blocked the entrance to the Guard Squad, followed by a large group of Shimura clan ninjas.

“Advisors, you must stand up for the Shimura clan!” Shimura Hiro pleaded to Mito Monen and Koromo Sen. “Danzo dedicated his life to the village. After his death, his clan members are treated this way. This is clearly retaliation by the Uchiha clan!”

“Rest assured, the village will give you an explanation,” Koromo Sen comforted Shimura Hiro.

Just then, Uchiha Tohaku and Uchiha Fugaku emerged from the Guard Squad.

“Oh? What wind blew the two advisors here?” Uchiha Tohaku greeted cheerfully, then looked at Uchiha Fugaku beside him. “Captain Fugaku, this is your fault. How could you let the two advisors wait outside? At least invite them in for some tea.”

“Busy with official business. I did neglect the two advisors,” Uchiha Fugaku replied.

“Uchiha Tohaku, you’re just in time. Release Shimura Retsuto and the other two immediately. This is nonsense!” Koromo Sen challenged as soon as she saw Uchiha Tohaku.

“Release them?” Uchiha Tohaku chuckled lightly. “That’s impossible. These three are inseparable from the traitor Shimura Danzo’s crimes, suspected of betraying fellow village ninjas, endangering their lives, and a series of other acts of treason.”

“That’s slander! Blatant slander!” Shimura Hiro, having shed his cowardly guise from yesterday, pointed at Uchiha Tohaku with righteous indignation. Yesterday, on his own clan grounds, he dared not confront Uchiha Tohaku directly. But now, with a change of location and the advisors at his side, he dared—and boldly so.