This Uchiha Zheng's Evil Hair!

For any ruler, this was an absolute weapon—a dream come true.

Yet, a tool so potent for brainwashing would never be allowed by any ruler to fall into anyone else's hands.

Even if you believed yourself utterly loyal.

His eventual death by suicide was, at its core, rooted in his own stupidity.

Uchiha Shisui was certainly powerful.

But power doesn't mean everything.

Even the strongest can be a fool.

"Captain Qianyu!"

Lost in thought, two figures came sprinting over—his two subordinates from the squad.

Uchiha Aoki. Uchiha Yamikaze.

Qianyu frowned. "You two were ordered by the clan head not to report to me."

"Showing up now—has something major happened?"

Panting, the two exchanged a glance.

"...Yes."

"Let's go."

Without a word of waste, Qianyu moved swiftly, dashing off in the direction they'd come from.

"Captain Qianyu, we haven't even said what it is yet..."

"Talk on the way."

Qianyu knew that if they were this urgent, something serious must have occurred—no time for delay.

Wind howled past his ears.

He pushed his speed to the limit.

The two subordinates struggled to keep up. "Captain, please calm down. This matter is too sensitive—I think we should consult the clan head first..."

Qianyu's voice was firm. "Speak!"

Only then did Uchiha Aoki hesitate before speaking.

"It's... something happened with the Sarutobi clan..."

"The Sarutobi clan?"

Qianyu's mind stirred. He understood now what they meant by "too sensitive."

But...

So what?

Chapter 8: I Will Surely Return You Justice!

Uchiha Qianyu understood well the concerns in the hearts of men like Fugaku and Shisui.

They feared that his extreme actions would prematurely ignite the conflict between Konoha's high command and the Uchiha clan, tearing apart all pretense and even sparking rebellion or civil war.

But no one understood better than Qianyu that, for the Uchiha clan, that outcome would be far better than their original fate.

So not only did he not fear such consequences, he even subtly moved to provoke them.

"The Sarutobi clan..."

"What exactly happened?"

Uchiha Aoki and Uchiha Yamikaze exchanged a look.

"Well..."

"A ninja from the Sarutobi clan killed someone..."

"And the victim was a civilian from the village..."

"Who did it?"

Uchiha Yamikaze's voice trembled. "It was the second son of the Sarutobi clan head..."

"Sarutobi Jiro!"

Qianyu's heart stirred slightly.

The head of the Sarutobi clan was, in principle, Hiruzen Sarutobi. But as the Hokage of Konoha, he couldn't devote himself to clan affairs, so management was delegated to others.

The current clan head was Sarutobi Hiogo, a blood-related younger brother of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

And Sarutobi Jiro was naturally Hiruzen's nephew.

Qianyu showed no reaction, only quickening his pace.

"Cap—Captain Qianyu, wait for us!"

"Shouldn't we report this to the clan head first before—"

Yet Qianyu's figure was already nearly out of sight.

Sarutobi clan compound.

"You can't leave... you can't leave..."

"Get lost!"

Several Konoha villagers were clustered together, blocking Sarutobi Jiro from leaving.

They had no real strength, of course, but they were willing to die for justice, now completely disregarding their own lives.

Some clung to Sarutobi Jiro's legs, others formed a human wall in front of him.

More and more ninja and villagers gathered to watch, and Sarutobi Jiro's fury grew increasingly violent.

"Have you really lived long enough?!"

"Do you actually think I won't strike?!"

An old woman's tears streamed down her wrinkled face.

She trembled unsteadily, her legs already weak, but still she leaned on her cane and blocked Sarutobi Jiro's path.

"You... you beast killed my granddaughter..."

"I... I'll fight you to the death!"

She swung her cane at Sarutobi Jiro.

But before it even touched him, her frail body stumbled first, falling to the ground, her forehead smashing against a hard stone, blood pouring out...

"Mom!"

The man clinging to Sarutobi Jiro's leg cried out in alarm, immediately letting go and rushing over to check his mother's injuries.

"Mom, you... you're bleeding..."

The man quickly pressed his hand over his mother's forehead, then frantically tore off his own clothes to make a bandage, staunching the blood.

"I... I'm fine, whatever you do, don't... don't let that beast get away..."

"Bastard! Sarutobi Jiro, you killed my daughter, and now you want to kill my mother too?!"

Sarutobi Jiro sneered: "She fell because she couldn't stand steady. What does that have to do with me?"

"Besides, she tried to hit me with her cane. Even if she'd died from the fall, she'd have brought it on herself!"

"You... you..."

At once, the gathered ninja and villagers erupted in an uproar, murmuring among themselves.

"What's going on? That guy killed his daughter?"

"I heard she was burned alive..."

"Huh? Why?"

"No idea. Hmph, that arrogant bastard doesn't treat any of us like people. Who knows how they offended him?!"

"Shh, keep your voice down. That's the Sarutobi clan leader's son. Do you have a death wish?!"

Even the ninja dared not act rashly.

"Isn't this going too far?"

"Should we report it to Lord Hokage?"

"The Anbu have already gone to report..."

"Sigh, we can only hope Lord Hokage handles it fairly..."

"I wouldn't count on it. He's still a member of the Sarutobi clan, and Lord Hokage's nephew at that..."

"...What are you saying? How could Lord Hokage possibly shield a scumbag like that?"

"...True, Lord Hokage probably wouldn't..."

Just then.

"Move aside. Everyone move aside."

A commanding figure pushed through the crowd, striding forward. Slightly younger, but with features resembling Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Clan Leader!"

The Sarutobi clan members quickly bowed in respect.

The newcomer was, of course, Sarutobi Hiogo.

"Father, you're finally here!"

"Hmph, these rabble have been sticking to me like leeches. Hurry up and arrest them all!"

But...