After everyone left, Uchiha Takashi looked at Uchiha Hikari: "Hikaru, what's wrong? Why are you standing there like that?"
Uchiha Hikari then realized what had happened, quickly picked up the scroll from the ground, and shook his head. "No, it's nothing, I just slipped."
After saying that, Uchiha Hikari walked stiffly back to his room, without even eating.
Watching Uchiha Hikari's retreating figure, Uchiha Takashi scratched his head. Had something happened?
However, Uchiha Takashi was confused, so during dinner he mentioned it to Hyuga Yō, wanting to inquire about Uchiha Hikari's situation.
As a result, Hyuga Yō's face immediately darkened. She carefully placed the bowl back on the table and said, "I'm full, I'm going back now." Without giving Uchiha Takashi a chance to speak, she left.
"Why are they all like this? What's going on?" Uchiha Takashi scratched his head vigorously, thought for a long time, and finally decided to stop thinking about it.
He has to get up early tomorrow to deal with the college entrance exams and reports from various counties, as well as major border affairs. He'll be very busy, so he can put these minor matters aside for now.
After setting off from Yukimichi Uchiha, it took about half a week to finally arrive at the southwestern border.
The southwestern border town was built by the Uchiha in the past two years to defend against attacks from the Sarutobi Clan. Since the Uchiha's regular troops were generally stationed in the capital, the garrison here consisted of only one or two hundred men.
Yukimichi Uchiha, who held the position of commander-in-chief of the southwestern front, naturally took over the command of these 100 men after arriving at the border to fight.
Including the 500 men he brought with him, the total number of ninja troops at the front line reached 600, which was still a disadvantage compared to the 800 members of the Sarutobi Clan.
However, his task is simply to defend, so the numerical disadvantage is negligible.
After entering the city, Yukimichi Uchiha immediately went to the city wall near the Sarutobi Clan to look out.
The local county magistrate, who was standing nearby, hurriedly ran up to Yukimichi Uchiha and said, "Sir, you have just arrived. The welcoming banquet has been prepared. Please come to the county government."
The wine and dancers are all ready; let's enjoy the scenery and have a few drinks before discussing important matters.
Yukimichi Uchiha turned to look at the county magistrate, a wicked smile playing on his lips, "A welcome banquet? This commander has no need for such things; they only hinder my thinking."
What I need now is a map of this town's defenses, as well as intelligence on the enemy.
As for those things you mentioned... fine wine would cloud my judgment on the battlefield, and as for dancers, this commander has no interest in them. However, this commander is very interested in where you got them from.
You'd better pray you haven't committed any crimes or embezzled anything, otherwise this commander won't show any mercy."
After finishing speaking, Yukimichi Uchiha shook his head vigorously, feeling incredibly cool, just like the Dragon King from a novel.
The county magistrate was nearly terrified, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, because he had indeed embezzled money. He had taken 100,000 taels from every single construction fund for this border town.
Because this border town was too remote, the Uchiha did not establish any oversight agency there. They only had a standing Konoha Military Police Force, which was almost entirely devoid of Uchiha members, let alone used Genjutsu for assessment.
So the county magistrate thought he had done it very discreetly, and the amount was small, so no one would find out. However, Yukimichi Uchiha, he was shocked to discover the embezzlement so quickly that he nearly jumped out of his skin.
But in reality, Yukimichi Uchiha simply thought those words sounded cool, and he was just imitating what was said in the novel.
After all, aren't there always corrupt officials or people who like to exploit the local people in these remote areas depicted in novels?
Especially after hearing the county magistrate mention preparing a welcoming banquet, the scene felt increasingly like something out of a novel. Looking at the magistrate, she became more and more convinced he wasn't a good person, which led her to say those words—frankly, it was all pure guesswork.
Looking at the county magistrate's current state, his guilty expression making it seem as if he should be told, "I embezzled," Yukimichi Uchiha, Yukimichi Uchiha had only been joking, raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, so you really did embezzle. Let me guess how much you embezzled? Ten thousand, a million, or ten million? Never mind, it doesn't matter much, we're all going to die anyway."
As he spoke, Yukimichi Uchiha placed his hand on the Ninja Blade at his waist.
Seeing that Yukimichi Uchiha had already placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, the county magistrate immediately knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly.
"I was wrong, sir! I shouldn't have embezzled. I didn't embezzle much; I've only embezzled a few hundred thousand in total! It really isn't much! Please, please let me go!"
Without any hesitation, the county magistrate confessed to his crimes, without even trying to hide or struggle, after all, he knew he was just an ordinary person.
A mere Genjutsu from Uchiha could expose his true colors, making concealment pointless. On the contrary, turning himself in might even secure leniency.
But when Yukimichi Uchiha heard that he had embezzled hundreds of thousands, his expression immediately turned cold. "Hundreds of thousands, in your mouth, has become just a little bit? Do you know that hundreds of thousands is a sum of money that an ordinary person can't save up in a lifetime?"
And the hundreds of thousands you mentioned have turned into a pittance, ha... indeed, people like you should be killed.
Realizing he had misspoke, the county magistrate kowtowed even louder. "Your Honor, please spare me! I have important intelligence to give you! Can't this be considered a meritorious deed? I'm doing this to atone for my crime and hope for leniency. Please don't kill me!"
The county magistrate was completely panicked at this point and, without hesitation, chose to reveal his underwear.
He no longer asked Yukimichi Uchiha to let him go. As long as he wasn't killed on the spot and the matter went through the Punishments Bureau process, he would still have a chance to live. Whether it was mining or imprisonment, as long as he was alive, that was enough.
After all, the crackdown isn't over yet; someone like him could easily be hacked to death on the spot.
Just kidding. Even after the crackdown ends, there's no problem killing him on the spot.
Yukimichi Uchiha narrowed his eyes. "Information? Let me see if your information is useful. If it is, I can go through the proper procedures and send you to trial."
After finishing his Yukimichi Uchiha grabbed the county magistrate, then activated his Mitsudomoe and immediately launched Genjutsu.
... Soon, in a state of unconsciousness, the county magistrate spilled everything he knew, like beans being poured out.
From the county magistrate, Yukimichi Uchiha also learned that this information concerned the remnants of the Shimura, namely the remaining members who had escaped from the Shimura Clan.