Does He Really Deserve to Die?

Chakra reserves and Eye Power.

Those were the top priorities Qianyu planned to improve.

Those so-called Five Elemental Ninjutsu were not all that important, actually.

His swordsmanship even surpassed his ninjutsu!

He preferred the feeling of killing with a blade.

Ninjutsu...

It always felt somewhat flashy but impractical.

Qianyu got up briskly, washed up, prepared himself a simple breakfast, and after eating, meticulously put on his Police Force uniform with the precision of a machine.

He knew exactly what would happen.

Hiruzen Sarutobi might even personally go to Clan Head Fugaku and demand an explanation.

But Clan Head Fugaku would never hand him over.

That would be no different from roasting the entire Uchiha clan over a fire.

It was not that Qianyu failed to understand the current situation.

It was because he understood it too well.

Many cautious Uchiha clan members always believed that at a time like this, they had to tread carefully and make no mistakes. They believed they should be as yielding and humble as possible toward Konoha's higher-ups.

Completely wrong.

If the ending was unavoidable, then no matter what you did, it would be wrong.

Since that was the case, why shouldn't I make my mistakes freely, in my own way?

"Those two guys didn't come report to me this morning."

"Looks like it was the clan head's order..."

"Does he want me to lie low at home for a while?"

Qianyu shook his head.

He understood Clan Head Fugaku's decision, but he also knew it was meaningless.

Qianyu strode through the streets of Konoha.

Whether villagers or ninja, everyone who saw him regarded him with awe and kept their distance.

Qianyu frowned slightly.

Up ahead, the market street suddenly descended into chaos. Someone seemed to be chasing and fighting.

"Help! Someone's stealing!"

"Quick, stop him!"

Yet the thief charging ahead was waving a knife in his hand. Everyone in the market hurriedly gave him a clear path; no one dared step forward to stop him.

Pedestrians retreated to both sides of the road, leaving it completely unobstructed.

Except at the far end, where a lone man stood like a mountain, suppressing everything before him.

"Police Force?"

"Move!"

The thief was startled, but he still waved his knife and rushed forward with forced bravado.

Crack!

Crack!

"AAAAH!"

Two crisp snaps rang out, followed by a heart-wrenching scream.

The thief collapsed to the ground with a thud. The joints in both his legs bent outward at grotesque angles, his leg bones completely shattered. He rolled across the ground in agony, his screams echoing through the air.

[You promptly broke the thief's legs and successfully helped him quit his bad habit of stealing. Good deed. Merit Points +10!]

Qianyu ignored the hysterical thief. Coldly, he picked up a money pouch from the thief's hand and tossed it through the air to its owner.

"Th-thank you, Lord Qianyu..."

Though the owner knew Qianyu had helped him, the sight of the thief squealing like a slaughtered pig still made his face turn pale. He swallowed hard in fear.

Qianyu casually grabbed the thief by the collar and dragged him away, his legs scraping over the ground.

Only after Qianyu's figure had vanished did the villagers on both sides of the street breathe a sigh of relief. Then, they began discussing him, with opinions divided.

Qianyu carried the thief to the entrance of Konoha's prison.

The two Uchiha clan members guarding the entrance were no longer surprised to see Qianyu arrive.

"Captain Qianyu, this guy is..."

"Just a worthless thief."

He casually threw the already half-dead thief before them.

"Lock him up for three months."

"Yes, Lord Qianyu!"

Qianyu turned and left, saying without looking back.

"After you get out, if I see you stealing again, it won't be just those two legs that get broken."

The thief trembled, terrified out of his wits. Though he had no strength left, he hurriedly nodded again and again.

"Yes, yes... I'll never dare do it again!"

Watching Qianyu's departing back, the two guards could not help but smile bitterly. They both respected and feared him.

Near noon, Qianyu's patrol route gradually returned to the Uchiha clan's district.

He was just about to head to Uchiha Teppan's shop and fill his stomach with a few pancakes.

Then, his footsteps abruptly stopped.

An incomparably powerful Chakra presence blocked the path ahead.

And this Chakra undoubtedly came from the Uchiha clan.

Among his clansmen, there was only one person who possessed such Chakra and Eye Power...

"Uchiha..."

"Shisui?"

As soon as the words fell, a man several years younger than Qianyu appeared ahead of him.

Behind him stood two Uchiha clan Jonin. They were probably in their thirties or forties, yet they treated Uchiha Shisui with utmost respect.

That was only natural.

Uchiha Shisui was publicly acknowledged as the strongest member of the Uchiha clan.

Unfortunately...

"Uchiha Qianyu, we meet again."

They had naturally met before, but the upright and gentle Uchiha Shisui was completely incompatible with Qianyu, whose methods were ruthless and whose actions were extreme. They had no friendship whatsoever.

"I'm carrying out official duties. I don't have time to chat with you."

With that, Qianyu prepared to stride away.

Uchiha Shisui frowned, while the two veteran Jonin behind him could no longer contain themselves.

"What an arrogant bastard!"

"You dare disregard even Lord Shisui!"

The two instantly drew their samurai swords from behind their backs, their cold blades pointing directly at Qianyu.

Qianyu paused. Without even glancing at the two of them, he merely looked at Uchiha Shisui.

"Is this your intention as well?"

Uchiha Shisui's expression changed.

"Akane, Shiden, stop!"

Their faces flushed red as they glared at Qianyu indignantly, but they did not dare disobey Shisui's command and could only slowly sheath their samurai swords.

"Qianyu, I only wanted to talk to you."

"You want to talk..."

"Or does Lord Hokage want to talk?"

Qianyu pressed him relentlessly, directly exposing Uchiha Shisui's purpose.

Uchiha Shisui's brow immediately furrowed deeply.

Not Guilty Enough to Die?

Qianyu got straight to the point and exposed Uchiha Shisui's purpose, leaving him somewhat stunned for a moment.

It seemed this man was far more than merely reckless and extreme.

"You truly are a smart man."

Qianyu replied indifferently, "Compared to you, I'm naturally much smarter."

The two Jonin stirred restlessly again at those words.

Uchiha Shisui merely smiled, unconcerned.