Advisors Come Calling

The next morning, Uchiha Toko went to the Military Police Force's Interrogation Room early.

"Clan Head." Upon seeing Uchiha Toko arrive, the clan members in the Interrogation Room all nodded and bowed.

"How did the interrogation of those three from yesterday go?" Uchiha Toko asked.

"Huh?" Uchiha Saito, who was in charge of interrogating them, froze. Big Brother, it seemed like you hadn't told us what to interrogate them about yesterday.

Uchiha Toko fell silent. Looking again at the three Shimura Clan higher-ups tied to the interrogation racks, beaten beyond recognition, it was safe to say that this was entirely personal vengeance.

"Sorry, the clan members were just too eager to help out. I couldn't stop them," Uchiha Saito said with an awkward smile.

Uchiha Toko shook his head. "It's fine. I should have made myself clearer."

With that, Uchiha Toko pulled over a chair and sat down not far in front of the three men.

"Talk. How much do you know about Shimura Danzō's crimes?" Uchiha Toko asked, facing the three men's venomous stares, as if they wished they could skin him alive and grind his bones to dust.

"You Uchiha Clan, evil by nature! Lord Hokage won't let you get away with this!" The oldest of the three, and the Shimura Clan member most deeply entangled with Danzo, spat out a bloody mouthful and snarled.

Before Uchiha Toko could speak, an Uchiha beside him immediately swung a baton into the man's mouth.

"Uncle Feidao?" Uchiha Toko looked up at the clan member who had acted. He was a middle-aged man in his forties and an Elite Jonin within the clan. "If I remember correctly, the Fourth Squad is on leave today."

"The interrogation division's people looked too busy, so I came over to lend a hand." Uchiha Feidao smiled. His second son had died while carrying out a mission on the battlefield of the Third Shinobi World War. Ninja were supposed to take life and death lightly, but of the original nine-man squad, only two Shimura Clan members had returned alive. Uchiha Feidao could not help but think too much about it. Now that Shimura Clan ninja had finally fallen into their hands, clan members with similar experiences naturally would not hold back. Uchiha Feidao had even queued all night before it was his turn.

While Uchiha Feidao viciously beat Shimura Retto, Uchiha Toko turned to look at the other man.

"Shimura Arashi, we have evidence that on the battlefield in the Land of Water, you secretly contacted enemy ninja, causing one jonin, two chunin, and three Commoner Ninja of the Uchiha Clan to be surrounded. Afterward, you took six pairs of Sharingan from my clan and offered them to the rogue ninja Shimura Danzō. Do you have anything to say about that?" Uchiha Toko asked unhurriedly, resting his head against the armrest of his chair.

"Uchiha Toko! You're making baseless accusations!" Shimura Arashi roared.

"Behave yourself!" Shimura Arashi was soon forced to shut his mouth.

"Shimura Yusuke." Uchiha Toko called the last man's name.

"What do you want to say? This old man has never even been to the battlefield!"

"As a ninja, is it something to be proud of that you've never been to a battlefield? Your case has nothing to do with the Third Shinobi World War. However, we discovered that in Konoha Year 44, you spread rumors throughout the village, driving the former Anbu Captain, Hatake Sakumo, to commit suicide after enduring unbearable humiliation. At the same time, you took part in silencing Kishida Keisuke, who knew about the matter. Am I wrong?" Uchiha Toko said.

"You... you're slandering me! This old man never did any of those things." A flash of panic crossed Shimura Yusuke's eyes, and naturally, it did not escape Uchiha Toko's notice.

Uchiha Toko straightened up with interest. He had not expected that randomly picking names from the Shimura Clan genealogy would actually net him someone involved.

"There's an old saying: those who understand the times are the heroes. I'm sure the various instruments of torture here can pry open your mouth. I hope you'll cooperate with us properly." Uchiha Toko's voice was icy.

At that moment, a clan member opened the door to the Interrogation Room, hurried to Uchiha Toko's side, and bent down to whisper in his ear:

"Clan Head, the Shimura Clan Head and the Two Advisors have come. They demand that we hand over those three."

"Uchiha Toko, if you know what's good for you, release us now! Otherwise, the village won't let you off!" Ninja had excellent hearing. Although the clan member reporting had deliberately lowered his voice, Shimura Retto still heard what they said at such close range and immediately spoke arrogantly.

"So noisy. Uncle Feidao, don't push yourself too hard just because you're getting old." Uchiha Toko dug at his ear and teased Uchiha Feidao.

"Hmph, don't look down on me, brat. Even when I'm eighty, beating someone like this will still take no effort at all." As Uchiha Feidao spoke, he increased the force behind his police baton, making Shimura Retto scream repeatedly.

"Uncle Feidao, be careful. Don't beat him to death," Uchiha Toko called out before leaving.

With that, Uchiha Toko leisurely headed toward the entrance of the Military Police Force.

At that moment, Shimura Hiro stood together with Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, blocking the entrance to the Military Police Force. Behind them followed a large group of Shimura Clan ninja.

"Two Advisors, you must uphold justice for the Shimura Clan!" Shimura Hiro wailed to Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. "Lord Danzo devoted his entire life to the village, yet after his death, his clansmen are treated like this. This is clearly the Uchiha Clan's revenge!"

"Don't worry. The village will certainly give you an explanation," Utatane Koharu reassured Shimura Hiro.

Just then, Uchiha Toko and Uchiha Fugaku walked out of the Military Police Force together.

"Well, what wind has blown the Two Advisors here?" Uchiha Toko said with a smile, then looked at Uchiha Fugaku beside him. "Captain Fugaku, this is your mistake. How could you leave the Two Advisors standing outside? At the very least, you should invite them in for some tea."

"We've been busy with official duties and neglected the Two Advisors," Uchiha Fugaku said.

"Uchiha Toko, you came at the right time. Release Shimura Retto and the other two immediately. This is utter nonsense!" Seeing Uchiha Toko arrive, Utatane Koharu immediately challenged him.

"Release them?" Uchiha Toko chuckled. "I'm afraid that can't be done. Those three are all implicated in the crimes committed by the village traitor Shimura Danzō. They are suspected of selling intelligence on fellow village ninja, taking the lives of fellow village ninja, and a series of other acts of treason."

"This is slander! Blatant slander!" Shimura Hiro, no longer the timid quail he had been yesterday, righteously pointed at Uchiha Toko and accused him.

Yesterday, on his own Clan Territory, he had not dared to provoke Uchiha Toko. But now they were somewhere else, and the Two Advisors were at his side. Not only did he dare, but he was exceptionally bold.

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