Judgment

In a room of the Military Police Force, four members of the Sarutobi Clan suspected of fighting and brawling were temporarily detained.

"Keisuke, will we be punished?"

Kazunori Sarutobi paced around the room, unable to sit still as he asked worriedly.

The man he called Keisuke was a young man barely over twenty.

Despite being brought here, his expression remained relaxed, without the slightest trace of panic.

Hearing the question, he answered with complete confidence.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen!"

"But we were the ones who started the provocation this time."

Another member of the Sarutobi Clan, Hiroshi Sarutobi, spoke with the same concern in his voice.

"So what?"

Keisuke Sarutobi smiled dismissively.

"The Third Hokage currently governing Konoha is from our Sarutobi Clan. The Military Police Force would never dare risk offending the Third Hokage by punishing us."

"They wouldn't dare risk offending the Third Hokage by punishing us?"

Hearing Keisuke Sarutobi's words, the other three men's eyes lit up. As they relaxed, a deep sense of pride welled up within them.

The Third Hokage came from the Sarutobi Clan. Just as Keisuke had said, who in the village now dared risk offending the Third Hokage to punish them?

Even the Military Police Force absolutely did not have that kind of nerve.

"I'm sure the Military Police Force will release us soon. When that happens, the four of us will pressure them together and make them punish the Hatake Clan members."

Keisuke Sarutobi said.

"Will that work? We were the ones who provoked them first. Even if we're released without charges, we probably won't be able to make the Hatake Clan members face punishment, right?"

Hiroshi Sarutobi asked in surprise.

"The Military Police Force will do it. After all, we're members of the Sarutobi Clan."

Keisuke Sarutobi said confidently.

In another room, three members of the Hatake Clan were being held.

"I acted impulsively. I really shouldn't have been so impulsive!"

Yuki Hatake sighed.

"It wasn't your fault, Yuki. They went too far—they actually slandered White Fang Uncle."

Shinichi Hatake shook his head.

"That's right. Those four Sarutobi Clan members went too far, slandering White Fang Uncle even after his death."

Takashi Hatake clenched his fists and said angrily.

"You don't need to blame yourself, Yuki. They provoked us first, and they struck first as well. Once the Military Police Force finishes investigating, they should release us."

Shinichi Hatake said.

"That's right. They should release us soon."

Takashi Hatake nodded.

Seeing that Shinichi Hatake and Takashi Hatake showed no concern, Yuki Hatake shook his head.

"You're thinking too simply. Under normal circumstances, we should indeed be released without charges."

"But this time is different. They're members of the Sarutobi Clan, the clan of the Third Hokage."

"Could the Military Police Force favor the Sarutobi Clan?"

Shinichi Hatake and Takashi Hatake's expressions both changed.

"It's very possible."

Yuki Hatake said gravely.

The Hatake Clan was considered a major clan within the village, but ever since White Fang Uncle's death, its standing in the village had steadily declined.

As for the Sarutobi Clan, because of the Third Hokage, its status in the village was anything but ordinary.

The Military Police Force might very well favor the Sarutobi Clan and punish the three of them.

"How could this happen?"

Shinichi Hatake and Takashi Hatake both looked grim.

The Sarutobi Clan members had clearly been the ones to provoke them first, yet they might be the ones punished in the end.

Just then, the door to the room opened, and a guard wearing a Military Police Force armband walked in.

"Come with me. The judgment for your case has been decided."

The three followed the guard into a room. Aside from the guards, the four Sarutobi Clan members were also there.

The four looked completely relaxed, faint smiles on their faces as they gazed at the three with mocking eyes.

Seeing the expressions on the four Sarutobi Clan members' faces, the three felt their hearts sink. Their earlier fears were likely about to come true.

"Everyone is here. Then we'll begin the judgment."

Uchiha Yakumi swept his gaze over the seven of them and spoke.

"Keisuke Sarutobi and the other three are suspected of deliberately provoking trouble. Under the public security regulations, they will be detained for ten days."

"Yuki Hatake and the other two acted in self-defense and are released without charges."

Upon hearing the ruling, the relaxed expressions of Keisuke Sarutobi and the other three abruptly changed.

Keisuke Sarutobi glared angrily at Uchiha Yakumi and roared.

"What? How dare you?"

He had never expected the Military Police Force to disregard the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's standing and punish them.

Thinking of the assurances he had given Kazunori Sarutobi and the other two—that the Military Police Force would release them without charges out of consideration for the Sarutobi Clan—he felt his face burn.

"The punishment of the four of you follows the public security regulations. If you are dissatisfied, you may file a complaint against the Military Police Force after your punishment is over."

Uchiha Yakumi looked at the four calmly.

From the captain's handling of the matter, he vaguely understood the captain's attitude toward the Sarutobi Clan.

Though he did not understand why the captain had chosen to do this, as a member of the Uchiha Clan and the Military Police Force, the only thing he could do was carry out the captain's orders.

"Just you wait. I'll definitely report the Military Police Force to the Third Hokage!"

Keisuke Sarutobi's face turned livid with rage.

"Take them away."

Uchiha Yakumi waved his hand.

Military Police Force members stepped forward, escorting Keisuke Sarutobi and the other three out of the room, then saw Yuki Hatake and the other two out of the Military Police Force headquarters.

"It seems the Military Police Force isn't as bad as the rumors say!"

After leaving the Military Police Force, Yuki Hatake could not help turning back to glance at its gates.

He had originally thought the three of them would be punished this time, but he had not expected the Military Police Force to make such a fair ruling.

They had punished the four Sarutobi Clan members who had started the provocation and released the three of them without charges.

This improved his impression of the Military Police Force somewhat.

The Military Police Force was not as bad as the rumors claimed. At least in his view, it had not feared power and had upheld the principle of fairness.

"Indeed, it isn't as the rumors say!"

Shinichi Hatake and Takashi Hatake both nodded in agreement.

Rumors said that Military Police Force members abused their status to bully and oppress civilians and members of other clans, but what had happened this time clearly did not match those rumors.

What they had seen was a Military Police Force that upheld the principle of fairness, even at the cost of offending the Sarutobi Clan.

Could a Military Police Force capable of upholding the principle of fairness truly be as bad as the rumors claimed? They had their doubts.

"The reason such rumors exist is probably because some force deliberately spread them..."

Considering the Uchiha Clan's current situation, Yuki Hatake formed a suspicion.

The reason such rumors had spread was likely that some force had deliberately fostered them in order to suppress the Uchiha Clan.