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IUTT: Ch. 33
🕑 Added 2025-05-08 22:03:44 +0000 UTC"Shin, what exactly happened here?" Kageno, an elder of the Uchiha clan and Deputy Director of the Konoha Police Force, asked with carefully controlled frustration.
His eyes surveyed the scene: eight Uchiha police officers receiving medical attention, with civilians gathered around whispering among themselves.
Shin met the elder's gaze evenly. "You're actually asking me that question? With all due respect, I should be the one demanding answers."
The elder's brow furrowed. "Clarify what you mean."
"The Police Force exists to protect Konoha's citizens," Shin said. "Yet today, eight officers surrounded my parents' shop and attacked me without provocation. I merely defended myself."
"They... attacked you?" Kageno's disbelief was genuine. His eyes darted to the incapacitated officers, then back to Shin who stood without a scratch.
It's our people lying unconscious right now, he thought, struggling to reconcile the scene before him.
"Hanma drew his weapon," Shin stated matter-of-factly. "Many witnesses saw it happen. I had no choice but to protect myself."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. Several civilians nodded, confirming his account.
"What exactly did you do to them?" Kageno demanded, lowering his voice. "Why did they all pass out?"
"I have no obligation to explain my medical knowledge to you," Shin replied coolly. "However, if you're genuinely concerned about their welfare, I suggest you speak with Lady Tsunade. She might be able to help them."
Kageno's jaw tightened. His position was precarious, too many witnesses saw what happened, and public sentiment was clearly not with the Police Force in this instance.
"I'll need to take you in for questioning," he finally said. "This incident requires a formal investigation."
To Kageno's surprise, Shin's expression brightened. "By all means. I welcome an official inquiry where both sides can present evidence." He gestured toward the crowd. "Perhaps you could also gather statements from these witnesses while we're at it."
The elder hesitated, thrown off by Shin's willingness to cooperate. This was not the reaction he'd expected.
"Very well," Kageno said. "You'll be held at the detention center until this matter is resolved."
"Excellent." Shin seemed almost pleased. "I'd recommend holding me for at least ten days, enough time for a thorough investigation. And enough time for Lady Tsunade to cool down, perhaps."
"What does Lady Tsunade have to do with this?"
"She's my colleague and friend," Shin explained, loud enough for bystanders to hear. "When she learns I've been detained for defending myself, she may become... uncooperative. Particularly regarding medical treatment for certain patients."
Kageno caught the implication immediately. His eyes narrowed as he processed the subtle threat. "You're suggesting—"
"I'm not suggesting anything," Shin interjected smoothly. "I'm simply stating facts. She has strong opinions about justice."
The elder studied Shin's face, searching for any sign of deception. Finding none, he turned to his remaining officers. "Take him to the detention center. Ensure he's treated appropriately."
As they led him away, Shin cast one last glance at his parents' shop, his expression softening momentarily. Then his face resumed its mask of calm confidence as he allowed himself to be escorted through the streets of Konoha.
---
Sakumo stood at attention, delivering his report on the incident to Hiruzen.
"The confrontation appears to have originated from an earlier interaction at the hospital," he explained. "Shin successfully treated a young Uchiha named Rika who had been critically injured during training with Hanma."
"Following this, Hanma became hostile toward Shin, likely embarrassed by the incident. This morning, he led seven officers to the shop owned by Shin's adoptive parents, the Namikaze couple."
Hiruzen listened carefully, his pipe unlit in his hand. "And what happened when Shin arrived?"
"According to multiple witnesses, Hanma immediately accused him of interfering with police business. When Shin attempted to clarify the situation, Hanma drew his weapon and attacked."
"What followed was..." Sakumo paused, searching for the right words. "Unusual. Shin didn't appear to directly engage any of them. He simply evaded their attacks in such a way that they ended up incapacitating each other. The entire confrontation lasted less than two minutes."
"And Shin himself?" Hiruzen asked.
"Completely unharmed," Sakumo confirmed. "He didn't use any recognizable jutsu. No visible chakra was detected at all. He relied entirely on physical movement and his Sharingan's perceptive abilities."
Hiruzen's expression became thoughtful. "A three-tomoe Sharingan, exceptional physical control, and not a drop of chakra expended to defeat eight trained officers."
"That's correct, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen set down his pipe and leaned back in his chair. In that moment, many things became clear to him. His predecessor's warnings about Shin suddenly made sense, not as the paranoid concerns of an aging leader, but as the foresight of someone who recognized extraordinary potential when he saw it.
The Second Hokage had identified Shin's abilities with a single glance on the street years ago. He had warned Hiruzen that it would be better if Shin remained an ordinary citizen, never receiving formal training.
It wasn't out of pettiness or discrimination. It was because Tobirama had recognized something in Shin that reminded him of another Uchiha prodigy, Madara.
"Where is he now?" Hiruzen asked, pulling himself from his thoughts.
"In the police detention center," Sakumo replied. "He went willingly, even seemed eager to be detained."
"That's... concerning," Hiruzen mused. "Keep an eye on the situation. I want to know if anything changes."
"Of course. Would you like to speak with him?"
Hiruzen considered this briefly. "Not yet. The timing isn't right."
After Sakumo departed, Hiruzen remained alone in his office. He reached for his pipe, emptying the old ash, packing fresh tobacco, and lighting it. He then took a few puffs.
Blowing out a cloud of smoke, he looked troubled.
What should he do about Shin?
The situation with Shin was more complex than he had initially realized. According to intelligence reports, Shin had followed his directive to the letter, he had not engaged in formal shinobi training for seven years. Yet his natural abilities had developed to this level regardless.
Beyond his combat prowess, he had proven himself to be an exceptional medical-nin. The healing technique he developed was of groundbreaking significance. Even Tsunade found it difficult, she trained for months and barely grasped the basics.
The critical issue, Hiruzen reflected, was Shin's relationship with the Uchiha clan. Their continued antagonism toward him had only widened the rift, making it impossible to secure his loyalty.
Had circumstances been different, had Shin been nurtured and valued from the beginning, he might have become a powerful and devoted asset like Kagami had been.
Hiruzen still regretted Kagami's sudden death.
Although he later did many questionable things and hinted that Danzō had harmed a lot of people, Kagami's death truly had nothing to do with him.
Who wouldn't want a loyal and powerful enforcer at their side?
That was why he had always held a grudge against Danzō.
Although Danzō always claimed he had nothing to do with Kagami's death, Hiruzen knew him too well, he was certain it had been Danzō's doing.
But without evidence, and with Kagami already dead, there was nothing he could actually do to Danzō.
"Sigh…" he let out a regretful sigh.
Now it seemed too late to bridge the gap with Shin. The conflict between them was already beyond reconciliation.
Though he had never directly moved against Shin, he had allowed others to act. Koharu had spent years undermining and humiliating the young man with her sharp tongue and cold heart. And Danzō had repeatedly advocated for Shin's elimination.
Elimination. Was that even possible now, given what they'd seen of Shin's capabilities?
He exhaled a cloud of smoke and sat back.
---
In a detention cell, Shin lay on the floor, appearing completely at ease. The interrogation officer stood outside the bars, increasingly frustrated by his apparent indifference.
"Shin!" the officer finally snapped. "Are you going to continue this silent treatment? Confess to what you did to those officers!"
Shin opened one eye lazily. "The Police Force certainly has an interesting approach to justice. You've already decided I'm guilty without investigating the facts? You should first address why your officers attacked a civilian without provocation. That seems like the more pressing issue, wouldn't you agree?"
As he spoke, his eyes shifted, the three tomoe of his Sharingan rotating slowly. The interrogator felt a momentary disorientation, but when his vision cleared, nothing seemed amiss.
Shin continued to stare at him calmly. The officer stepped back instinctively, unaware that at that precise moment, the real Shin had already disappeared from the cell.
---
"Tsunade, you actually called me?" Shin asked with a smile, a bit surprised.
Tsunade was pleasantly surprised too. Just moments ago, she had tried activating the Flying Thunder God mark Shin had left on her using her chakra, and five seconds later, he appeared by her side.
"It worked!" she exclaimed. "Are you alright? I heard about what happened."
"As you can see, I'm perfectly fine," Shin replied with a reassuring grin. "Not even a scratch."
Tsunade's expression shifted to concern. "You're taking unnecessary risks again. This confrontation with the Uchiha clan could escalate further."
Shin shrugged. "They've been targeting me for years, it's nothing new. But when they threatened my parents... That's a line they shouldn't have crossed."
"I understand," Tsunade nodded, her expression reflecting genuine compassion rather than judgment. "But I could have helped. You didn't need to face them alone."
"I know you would have," Shin smiled warmly. "But I didn't want to drag you into conflict with the Uchiha clan. They're already wary of your connection to me."
"Actually, I need to ask a favor. When they bring Hanma and the others to you for treatment, I want you to refuse."
"Refuse? But why?" Tsunade asked, intrigued.
"The injuries I inflicted are unique," Shin explained. "I targeted specific pressure points and nerve clusters. You and I are the only ones in Konoha who can properly diagnose and treat them."
"If left untreated for a few days, there won't be permanent damage, but it will certainly cause discomfort and temporarily limit their abilities as ninjas."
"Should I go underground for a while?" Tsunade asked, a little excited. She didn't need to guess, he was obviously scheming something again. Though being manipulated wasn't pleasant, watching him manipulate others was strangely satisfying.
Shin laughed, genuinely amused by her enthusiasm. "Nothing so dramatic. Simply refuse them openly, citing your disapproval of my detention. Let's see how they respond when faced with a choice between their pride and their promising young ninjas."
---
In the Police Force Chief's Office, Fukuyama, leader of the Uchiha clan, paced the length of his office. The situation had spiraled beyond what he had anticipated.
When he first received word that Hanma and seven others had been seriously injured, he had immediately ordered them transported to Konoha Hospital. It was a sensible decision, their injuries appeared unusual and potentially serious.
Now, the messengers had returned with troubling news: Tsunade had flatly refused to treat them, citing her outrage over Shin's detention.
Other medical-nin had examined the officers but reported they lacked the expertise to address their conditions. According to the preliminary diagnosis, the injuries involved precise targeting of the nervous system that, if left untreated, could leave the officers with reduced mobility and function.
These eight represented some of the most promising young talents in the Uchiha clan. The oldest, Hanma, was just seventeen and already showed potential to rise to leadership in the future. The youngest was barely twelv, a prodigy in his own right.
To lose their abilities permanently would be a devastating blow to the clan's future.
The solution seemed straightforward enough: release Shin, offer a formal apology, and the problem would likely resolve itself.
But he struggled with the thought of capitulating so publicly.
The Uchiha clan's reputation had already suffered from this incident. Witnesses had spread word throughout the village about how police officers had attacked an unarmed doctor outside his family's shop. To now release him with an apology would be a further admission of wrongdoing.
Yet the alternative, letting eight promising clan members suffer permanent impairment, was unthinkable.
Fukuyama found himself caught between pride and practicality, dignity and duty. As clan leader, both the reputation and the welfare of his people rested on his shoulders.
