Chapter 244: Ice and Fire
The moment his eyes adjusted, Uchiha Yota recognized the man standing before him.
Morino Ibiki.
A cold shiver ran down Yota's spine. Sweat beaded instantly at his temples.
Damn it… What happened after that bastard dragged me in here?
Did he not even bother to call Uchiha Fugaku out to see me?
Did he trap me in some kind of Sharingan genjutsu?
His thoughts spiraled as he watched the bald, broad-shouldered interrogator calmly select tools from a rack. Yota had grown up in a peaceful era; he had never seen—let alone experienced—this kind of treatment before.
Ibiki picked out several interrogation tools, then turned around. He seemed to notice Yota's fear, and a faint smile tugged at his mouth.
"Don't be afraid," he said smoothly. "Let's enjoy ourselves."
To Yota, that smile was monstrous. Panic surged. He wanted to escape, but he couldn't move.
"D-Don't come near me! Don't—don't come over!"
His voice cracked as Ibiki's footsteps drew closer.
Desperate, grasping at the only straw he had left, Yota shouted,
"I—I have important information! Something crucial for Uchiha Fugaku! You can't touch me!"
Ibiki didn't even slow down.
Yota's panic flipped into frantic blustering. Threats, excuses, pleas—he threw everything out in a jumble. But when Ibiki finally spoke again, his voice was calm, almost comforting:
"Relax."
A heartbeat later, Yota's screams exploded through the interrogation chamber—raw, desperate, and unbroken.
---
Not long after, Tsunade arrived at the Torture and Interrogation Department.
Fugaku rarely requested favors, so she had initially wondered why a single prisoner required her personal attention. But since it was Fugaku, she came. It wouldn't take long, after all.
Ibiki had already instructed his subordinates:
When Lady Tsunade arrives, no need to report—escort her directly to the next room. Serve her good tea and snacks. Treat her well. And if the prisoner can't endure anymore, Tsunade can heal him immediately.
Tsunade was satisfied with the hospitality. The adjoining room was comfortably arranged, a table full of fresh fruits and snacks, steam rising from a pot of hot tea.
She sighed wistfully. "If only there were a cup of green tea from Pansi Cave…"
She hadn't visited the cave in days—not because she didn't want to relax, but because her creditors from outside the village had somehow sniffed out the fact that she finally had money again.
How they managed to track her down so quickly, she had no idea.
As much as it pained her to repay the mountain of debts she had accumulated over the years, she couldn't exactly live in Konoha while being chased down every day. So she paid. She had the money, after all.
But when one creditor after another arrived with astonishingly large IOUs—each with her unmistakable handwriting—Tsunade had nearly fainted.
How… how did I rack up this much debt?!
Reluctant but resigned, she kept paying.
Originally, she'd wanted to run off to Pansi Cave and hide, but leaving Shizune at home alone to face the chaos didn't feel right.
So she called Jiraiya over. As a helper, he was reliable—mainly because he knew better than to steal her money unless he was looking to die. Tsunade trusted him.
With Jiraiya's help, the debt-clearing process had gone smoothly, and the flood of creditors had slowed. She might even be free soon.
Feeling content, Tsunade bit into a piece of fruit, juice bursting sweet and fresh. Then her thoughts drifted back home.
I wonder if Jiraiya and Shizune can handle everything while I'm out…
What if some swindler tries to take advantage—
She shook her head. Anyone foolish enough to try scamming Tsunade-hime probably hadn't been born yet. Unless someone valued money more than their life.
Just as she was musing, a deep voice sounded from outside the door.
"Lady Tsunade, we need your help."
Ibiki.
"Already? He couldn't last even twenty minutes?" Tsunade muttered, standing up lazily after popping the last piece of fruit into her mouth.
Ibiki bowed respectfully as she stepped out.
"Where is he?" Tsunade asked.
"Next door, Lady Tsunade."
Ibiki opened the door for her.
A short while later, Tsunade returned, calm as ever, and took her seat again in the tea room. Almost immediately, the prisoner's screams started again—echoing from behind the soundproof walls.
Ibiki sighed in satisfaction. Luckily, the room was well insulated; otherwise Tsunade would never tolerate staying here.
Ten minutes later, he returned with another request for healing.
Tsunade clicked her tongue. "This kid is way too fragile."
And so the cycle repeated—screaming, healing, screaming again—until the day gradually came to a close.
---
Uchiha Clan District — Clan Head's Residence
Fugaku sat on the balcony as Uchiha Ryoichi reported respectfully at his side.
Ryoichi had successfully located Yota's mother, Uchiha Yoko.
After hearing why he had come, Uchiha Yoko cooperated immediately. Her voice trembled, but she answered every question. She repeatedly insisted that her son had only been in a coma for a year, that his brain had been damaged when he woke up, and she even fell to her knees begging them not to harm him.
Ryoichi had remained stern. He made her repeat the story several times, ensuring no detail changed. Only then did he return to Fugaku.
Part of him had considered taking Yoko directly to the Yamanaka clan for a memory inspection. After all, the Clan Head had personally ordered this investigation—there was no room for mistakes. What if she was lying?
But in the end, he couldn't bring himself to treat her that harshly. She was Uchiha, and her husband had died in service.
From Ryoichi's perspective, Yota had almost certainly been brainwashed or influenced by spies inside the village. It wasn't a major issue—after all, the Clan Head's strength now towered above anyone in the shinobi world. Such spies were nothing more than nuisances.
Fugaku listened quietly.
"So," he said at last, "you're telling me Uchiha Yota spent a year in a coma… and woke up with brain damage?"
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