The shrill cries of a panicked merchant echoed through the streets of Konoha. "Stop, thief! Get back here, you damn brat!"
Villagers turned in surprise as a flour-dusted shopkeeper charged after a blur of blond hair. Children laughed. Adults grumbled. But no one interfered. Everyone knew that when the Jinchūriki acted up, it was best not to get involved.
Uzumaki Naruto, arms flailing, darted through the crowds with a wild grin. "Heh! That old man's stamina is trash! Just two more turns and I'm free—!"
His thought was cut short. A shadow moved.
Naruto suddenly found his feet off the ground, his body twisting mid-run as a hand caught him by the collar. The world spun. Then stillness. Cold stillness.
"Gotcha," came the flat voice.
Uchiha Kaede stood calmly in the middle of the street, his police uniform crisp, his black cloak fluttering faintly with the motion. He held Naruto like one might hold a stray kitten—carefully, but without compassion.
Naruto flailed. "Let go of me, you weirdo!"
Kaede did not respond. His crimson Sharingan flared for an instant as his gaze swept over Naruto, calculating.
The bun shop owner arrived moments later, breathless, sweat streaming down his face.
"I… thank—uh—" He froze mid-sentence.
Those cold eyes turned on him.
"U… Uchiha…"
The rolling pin fell from the man's hands with a clatter.
Kaede's voice was calm. "What did he do?"
The merchant hesitated, clearly torn between outrage and fear.
"Tell the truth," Kaede repeated, voice sharper now—just enough to press weight against the man's soul.
The merchant swallowed. "He… he replaced all the flour in my shop with… protein powder."
Kaede's eyes narrowed.
Naruto pouted. "It's not even that big a deal. Protein buns build muscle!"
The merchant's blood pressure rose, but under Kaede's gaze, he choked down his rage like poison.
Kaede turned his head. "This child's guardian is the Hokage. Go there. Ask for full compensation. Say Kaede sent you. If the Hokage refuses, I will collect it personally."
The merchant's eyes widened, then he bowed and backed away as if escaping death itself.
Kaede turned to walk, still holding Naruto like a misbehaving dog.
"Where are you taking me!?" Naruto shouted. "You already caught me! Just let me go!"
Kaede didn't stop walking.
"When someone breaks the law, they face consequences," he said flatly. "Gender, age, and social standing do not excuse guilt."
Naruto blinked, confused.
"Your actions caused financial loss. You disrupted the peace. You interfered with public order and hygiene. By standard sentencing, this warrants two weeks in Konoha prison. But in my hands, that becomes three months."
"Wh—what?!" Naruto squawked, eyes bulging. "You can't do that!"
"I can."
The words were delivered without emotion.
Hidden nearby, an ANBU wearing a fox mask cursed silently.
[ALERT: URGENT][Subject: Nine-Tails Jinchūriki has been apprehended by Uchiha Kaede]
He had only stepped away for a moment—to replace the flour in the shop. And now this?!
The Hokage had given strict orders: monitor Naruto, clean up his messes, and keep him away from dangerous influences. Like the Uchiha.
The ANBU blurred into motion, reappearing just behind Kaede. "Put him down!" he shouted, hand reaching for Naruto.
Kaede moved his arm slightly. Not enough to drop Naruto—but enough to throw off the grab.
The ANBU missed. Kaede's eyes, still calm, turned toward the mask.
"Obstruction of police duty," he said softly. "Yamanaka Yoshinobu."
The ANBU froze.
How…?
He was masked. His identity hidden. And yet—
The Sharingan gleamed. Kaede had read him like a file report.
"I—I didn't know it was you," the ANBU muttered. "But surely you realize who this kid is—"
"He's a criminal," Kaede cut in.
The ANBU winced. He drew back slightly, recognizing now that confronting this man was no small matter.
"I'm just saying… he's… ordinary," the ANBU said, emphasizing the word.
"He broke the law."
There was no room for debate in Kaede's tone.
The ANBU was about to respond when a hoarse, furious voice echoed down the street:
"You evil Uchiha brat! What are you doing?!"
All eyes turned. A shadow limped into view. Bandages. Single eye. Heavy coat. It was Shimura Danzo.
Kaede's expression didn't change. But Izumi, watching from across the street, gasped.
She knew the look in Danzo's eye. Hatred. Deep. Old. And now—burning hotter than ever.
Danzo's cane struck the ground like a judge's gavel.
"What is the Uchiha clan up to now? Have you forgotten your place?!"
Kaede raised his head slowly. Naruto squirmed in his grip but was ignored. For a long moment, nothing was said.
Then Kaede whispered—so softly it sent chills:
"In the name of justice, I act."
And the air grew cold.