Spy

Naruto took half a step back and said with a bewildered look, "I didn't kill anyone. You've got the wrong person."

"It was you, murderer!"

"And that white-haired bastard too! The Demon Fox must have been egged on by you to kill people!"

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

Eiji moved a finger, and a three-meter-high wall of water appeared in front of them.

He narrowed his eyes. The people before him were anything but ordinary villagers.

Eiji sensed Chakra fluctuations coming from their bodies.

I see. Danzo did this.

Eiji hadn't wanted to bother with them, but if these mongrels came looking for a beating, he would be doing his fists a disservice by holding back.

He suddenly strode forward. Before the other side could react, he stuffed an Explosive Tag into one of their hands.

"Run! This spy has an Explosive Tag! He's going to destroy this entire street!"

The moment he said that, the onlookers scattered faster than rabbits.

This was an Explosive Tag they were talking about. Forget them—even a Jonin couldn't withstand a hit from one.

The cannon fodder disguised as villagers hadn't even reacted yet.

Wait, I'm a spy again?

No, I'm Dan—

Eiji knocked him flat with one punch and sealed his Chakra.

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

"Anyone who violates the above regulations may be subjected to force by members of the Security Division."

As he spoke, Eiji swung his fists and gave the troublemakers a savage thrashing.

These people were nothing more than a disorganized mob hired to do dirty work.

They weren't even officially part of the Root Organization.

At best, they were subcontractors of subcontractors.

While Eiji was beating them senseless, the other group of watching ninja had already gone numb.

According to the original plan, Eiji was supposed to kill these villagers. Then they would have a reason to arrest him.

If he dared to resist by force, it would become a rebellion by the Uchiha together with the Jinchuriki.

They all had to die.

But now...

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

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

He picked his moment and bolted.

Eiji had just reached for his blade when Naruto pulled out a Kunai and hurled it viciously.

"Ah!"

The Kunai struck him squarely in the back. Just as he struggled to get up, Inaho rushed over and slapped him twice.

"Stay put. Make another move and you're dead."

Eiji gave Naruto a thumbs-up. "Nicely done."

Naruto froze for a moment, then grinned.

"Grandpa Hokage once said that if I want to become Hokage, I have to protect every person in the village."

Hmm...

Hiruzen really did brainwash Naruto completely...

[Today, Naruto finally realized that he didn't necessarily have to be the one protected. He could also become someone who protected others.]

[Quest Reward: Flying Thunder God Technique]

Holy shit...

Eiji almost leaped into the air!

Finally!

Finally, he'd gotten a decent technique!

With this thing, whether he could win was another matter, but at least he wouldn't die so easily!

Eiji sent someone to escort Naruto home, then hurried straight back to the Security Division.

Without a word, he unleashed a vicious combination of punches on them.

"So, you killed people, huh."

"Caused trouble, huh."

"Framed the Descendant of Heroes, huh."

"You like playing around, huh."

Every time Eiji said a sentence, he punched one of the ninja several times.

In the end, even Inaho and Tekka couldn't bear to watch anymore.

"Enough, enough. You'll kill them if you keep going."

The two of them thought for a long time, but still couldn't figure out what Eiji was made of.

He knew those bastards had Explosive Tags, yet instead of running, he had charged in and risked his life to offer himself up.

Wasn't that just stupid?

You only made a little money each month. Why were you risking your life?

Let it explode if it wanted to. It wasn't your house anyway.

He could just patrol one fewer street in the future, then pocket some extra benefits when it was rebuilt.

That would've been a perfectly good arrangement. Why couldn't Eiji understand it?

He was still young. He didn't understand these things as well as old hands like them.

After calming Eiji down, the two of them decided they had to find an opportunity to teach him the proper way to slack off at work.

At that moment, Fugaku was also hurriedly getting dressed.

When he learned that Eiji had gotten into another full-blown fight in a busy district, he immediately wanted to resign as clan head and be done with it.

What exactly was this kid trying to do? Danzo's matter hadn't even been resolved, and now he was pulling something like this.

Fugaku had always considered himself to be walking on thin ice.

If this continued, forget making it to the other shore—he'd fall into the water with a splash and drown the moment he stepped in.

"Father, what happened?"

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

"There's been a problem at the Security Division. You and Sasuke stay home and behave. You aren't to go anywhere without my orders."

"Understood, Father."

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

"Father," Itachi hurried over a few steps. "Please give me your orders."

"It's nothing. We'll talk when I get back."

Itachi's mind raced.

Since it involved the Security Division, it was probably related to Eiji.

Could he have done something unusual again, something that might make Konoha wary of him?

But that doesn't make sense. Big Brother Shisui said Eiji was a clan member full of love, just like him.

How could he do something like this?

Itachi couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he thought.

At that moment, Fugaku also arrived at the Security Division.

The moment he entered the interrogation room, he smelled a thick stench of blood.

"Eiji, what is the meaning of this?"

After hearing Eiji's explanation, Fugaku still showed no sign of happiness.

"You're telling me these people are spies from an enemy village who carried Explosive Tags and intended to perish together with Konoha?"

"That's right, Clan Head Fugaku. These people are extremely dangerous. We have to report this to Lord Hokage immediately."

Fugaku irritably rubbed his face.

Right my ass.

According to the report, each of these people had carried seven or eight hundred Explosive Tags, yet not one of them had a scroll on their body.

So how had they brought them in?

Were Konoha's patrol teams blind?

Fugaku gave Eiji a look, signaling for him to follow him to the lounge.

He shut the door and lowered his voice.

"Eiji, do you know what you're doing?"

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

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

Eiji hesitated for a moment. "There might be."

Fugaku broke out in a cold sweat at that.

If Eiji meant that he had fabricated the evidence, this would become a huge problem.

"Tell me."

"Clan Head Fugaku, I don't think those few pieces of trash could have infiltrated Konoha on their own. There may be spies among the villagers."

Eiji raised the index finger of his right hand and pointed upward.

"It's possible that up there..."

"Watch your mouth!" Cold sweat instantly broke out across Fugaku's back. "Don't think you can spout nonsense here just because you have some connection with Senior Kagami. If those words get out, all of us Uchiha will die!"

Eiji helplessly spread his hands.

Why are you so jumpy? Who did you take after?

After a brief silence, Fugaku regained his composure.

"Can we find any information on these people?"

"No."

"Understood. I'll leave this matter to you. I'm leaving."

After saying that, Fugaku left the Security Division.

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

Wait. That old bastard isn't planning to throw me under the bus if something goes wrong, is he?

It really is you, Fugaku. So aside from your youngest son, you're willing to sacrifice anyone, huh?

Damn, you deserve to get killed.

After complaining about Fugaku inwardly for a while, Eiji returned to the interrogation room.

He punched each of the ninja once more, knocking them completely unconscious.

After finishing all this, Eiji wiped the blood from his hands.

He picked up a pen and carefully recorded the operation report.

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

"After investigation, all seven were confirmed to be outsiders who had infiltrated the crowds under false identities and spread rumors everywhere."

"Today, they even incited villagers in public to attack Security Division personnel and a child who was only four years old."

"To ensure the villagers' safety, the Security Division was forced to use force."