Spy

Naruto stepped back half a step, a bewildered look on his face as he said, "I didn't kill anyone. You've got the wrong person."

"It's you, murderer!"

"And that white-haired bastard—the Demon Fox's killing must have been your instigation."

Someone grabbed a basket of eggs and hurled it toward the two of them.

Eiji twitched his fingers, and a three-meter-tall water wall appeared before him.

He squinted his eyes. These weren't ordinary villagers at all.

From their bodies, Eiji sensed fluctuations of Chakra.

He understood. Danzo's doing.

Eiji hadn't planned to bother with them, but if these lackeys were going to throw themselves at him and he didn't give them a beating, it'd be a disservice to his own fists.

He suddenly stepped forward a few paces and, before the other side could react, stuffed an Explosive Tag into one of their hands.

"Run! This spy is holding an Explosive Tag—he's going to destroy this street!"

At those words, the onlooking crowd scattered faster than rabbits.

No joke—that was an Explosive Tag. Forget them; even a jonin would be wrecked by one.

The cannon fodder disguised as villagers hadn't processed it yet. Wait, now I'm a spy?

No, I'm from the Root...

Eiji punched him to the ground and casually sealed his Chakra.

"According to Security Division regulations, no member may use lethal weapons like Explosive Tags against villagers in public."

"Anyone violating the above rule is subject to the use of force by Security Division members."

With that, Eiji swung his fists and gave those troublemakers a thorough beating.

These guys were nothing but a rabble, used for dirty work.

They weren't even on Root Organization's roster.

At best, they were subcontractors of subcontractors.

While Eiji was laying into them, the other team of ninjas watching had already gone numb.

According to the original plan, Eiji was supposed to kill these villagers, giving them a reason to arrest him.

If he dared to resist with force, it would be framed as the Uchiha and the Jinchuriki rebelling together.

They all had to die.

But now...

There didn't seem to be any reason to make a move.

As they were thinking, one of the ninjas disguised as a villager finally couldn't take it anymore.

He picked his moment and bolted.

Eiji was about to draw his blade, but Naruto pulled out a Kunai and hurled it fiercely.

"Ah!"

The Kunai struck him square in the back. He barely struggled to his feet when Inaho arrived and slapped him twice.

"Stay put. Move again and I'll kill you."

Eiji gave Naruto a thumbs-up. "Nice work."

Naruto froze for a moment, then let out a sheepish grin.

"Grandpa Hokage once said that to become Hokage, you have to protect everyone in the village."

Hmm...

Naruto had really been brainwashed by Hiruzen...

[Naruto has finally realized today that he doesn't always have to be the one protected—he can also be the one who protects others]

[Quest Reward: Flying Thunder God Technique]

Holy crap...

Eiji nearly flew up!

Finally!

Finally, a decent skill has come my way!

With this thing, whether I can win a fight or not, at least I won't die easily!

Eiji sent someone to take Naruto home, then rushed back to the Security Division without stopping.

Without a word, he laid into them with a fierce combo of punches.

"Murder, huh."

"Causing trouble, huh."

"Accusing a Descendant of Heroes, huh."

"Like to play games, do you."

With every word Eiji spoke, those ninjas took a few more punches.

By the end, even Inaho and Tekka couldn't watch anymore.

"Alright, alright, keep hitting them and they'll die."

They racked their brains but still couldn't figure out what Eiji's deal was.

Knowing those bastards had Explosive Tags and not running away, instead risking it all to charge in.

Wasn't that just stupid?

A few silver pieces a month, and you're throwing your life away for that?

Let them blow up, it's not your house anyway.

Afterward, you'd have one less street to patrol, and when reconstruction started, you could skim a little off the top.

A pretty sweet deal—why couldn't Eiji get it?

Still young, not as savvy as them old-timers.

They calmed Eiji down, thinking they'd find a chance to teach him the right way to slack off on the job.

Right about then, Fugaku was also throwing on his clothes in a hurry.

Hearing that Eiji had started a brawl in the middle of the busy district again, he almost wanted to resign as clan head on the spot.

What the hell was this kid trying to do? The Danzo matter wasn't even resolved yet, and now you pull this stunt.

Fugaku felt he'd been walking on thin ice his whole life.

If this kept up, forget making it to the other shore—he'd splash straight into the water and drown the moment he stepped in.

"Father, what's wrong?"

Itachi stood at the entrance, his face full of concern.

"There's a problem at the Security Division. You and Sasuke stay put at home. Don't go anywhere without my orders."

"Understood, Father."

"And—" Fugaku hesitated for a long time. He still hadn't told his family about the Danzo matter.

"Father," Itachi hurried a few steps closer, "please instruct me."

"Never mind. We'll talk when I get back."

Itachi's mind raced.

If it was the Security Division, it had to be related to Eiji.

Had he done something unusual again that might draw Konoha's suspicion?

No, that couldn't be right. Brother Shisui said Eiji was just like him—a clansman full of love.

How could he do something like this?

Itachi was utterly baffled.

Meanwhile, Fugaku arrived at the Security Division.

The moment he stepped into the interrogation room, he caught a thick smell of blood.

"Eiji, what's the meaning of this?"

After hearing Eiji's explanation, Fugaku still didn't look pleased.

"You're telling me these people are spies from enemy villages, carrying Explosive Tags to take Konoha down with them?"

"That's right, Clan Head Fugaku. These people are far too dangerous. We need to report this to the Hokage immediately."

Fugaku rubbed his face in irritation. Right, my ass.

According to the report, each of these guys was carrying seven or eight hundred Explosive Tags, but not a single scroll on them.

So how did they bring them in?

Were Konoha's patrol squads blind?

Fugaku shot Eiji a look, signaling him to follow to the break room.

He closed the door and lowered his voice.

"Eiji, do you have any idea what you're doing?"

"Clan Head Fugaku, I'm carrying out my duty as a member of the Security Division."

"That's not what I'm asking. Tell me honestly—is there something else going on here?"

Eiji hesitated for a moment. "Maybe."

Hearing that, Fugaku broke out in a sweat.

If the "something else" Eiji meant was that he'd fabricated evidence, then this was a huge mess.

"Speak."

"Patriarch Fugaku, I don't think a few small fries like them could sneak into Konoha on their own. There might be a spy inside the village."

Eiji raised the index finger of his right hand, pointing upward.

"Up there might..."

"Bold!" Cold sweat broke out on Fugaku's back. "Don't think you can spout nonsense just because you have some connection to Senior Kagami. If those words get out, all of us Uchiha will die!"

Eiji helplessly spread his hands. Who taught you to be so jumpy?

After a brief silence, Fugaku regained his composure.

"Can we find records on these people?"

"No."

"Understood. Leave this to you. I'm leaving."

With that, Fugaku left the Security Division.

Eiji clearly saw a flicker of reluctance on Fugaku's face.

Wait, you old bastard, you're not thinking of tossing me out as a scapegoat if things go wrong, are you?

Gotta hand it to you, Fugaku. So anyone but your youngest son is expendable, huh.

No wonder you're doomed to die.

Cursing Fugaku in his mind, Eiji headed back to the interrogation room.

Thump, thump—one punch each, and the ninjas were completely knocked out.

After finishing, Eiji wiped the blood off his hands.

He picked up a pen and carefully wrote the mission report.

"During tonight's patrol, arrested several dangerous individuals carrying large quantities of Explosive Tags."

"Investigation confirmed all seven are from outside the village, using false identities to blend into the crowd and spread rumors."

"Today, they openly incited villagers to surround Security Division personnel and a child of only four years."

"To ensure the safety of the villagers, the Security Division was forced to resort to force."