Chapter 182 : I was just saying, why did you actually come?
Looking at the expressions of the people inside the tavern, Uchiha Yuzuru almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.
No matter how miserable their lives were now, they brought it upon themselves and deserved no sympathy.
When the Uchiha Clan was in the Village back then, they certainly didn't wear these expressions.
Do they regret it now?
Too late!
Uchiha Yuzuru was extremely glad he chose to leave Konoha back then; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to witness such a spectacular scene.
After all, in the original work, these guys truly did live good lives.
There was even an incident where a few brats dared to bully Hyuga Hinata, the Byakugan Princess.
Let them try that now?
They would probably die if they tried; if the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist couldn't beat the crap out of them, it would be considered trash.
Suddenly, the tavern door was kicked wide open.
Immediately after, several masked ANBU Ninja rushed in: "Stay where you are! Anyone who dares to move will be killed without mercy!"
Killing intent instantly permeated the tavern, and everyone became silent with fear.
The tavern owner immediately walked up and offered a conciliatory smile: "Sir, I am a member of the Utatane Clan. May I ask what happened?"
As he spoke, he slipped a stack of banknotes into the hand of the leading Ninja.
Seeing this blatant scene of bribery, everyone wore an expression of familiarity.
Don't look at it as just handing over money; if this owner didn't have the identity of a Utatane Clan member, they probably wouldn't even accept it.
After pocketing the money, the Ninja's voice softened slightly.
"Two Shimura Clan Ninja were killed this morning in front of the Shimura compound, so we need to check if there are any suspicious individuals here."
Hearing this, everyone was greatly shocked.
The Shimura Clan could now be called the Celestial Dragons of Konoha Village; they usually acted arrogantly and aggressively, and no one dared to provoke them.
Yet they were killed right in front of their compound? Who had such immense guts?
"Does anyone among you have any clues?"
"If no one knows anything, then everyone will have to take a trip to the Military Police Force."
As his voice fell, the crowd immediately became agitated.
"Sir, it has nothing to do with us! We are just here having a drink to relax."
"I am a civilian without even Chakra. How could I possibly kill a Shimura Clan Ninja, sir?"
"The tavern owner can vouch for me; I haven't left here since last night."
Everyone scrambled to prove their innocence.
The reputation of the Military Police Force was deeply ingrained in people's minds; going in meant you would be flayed alive, even if you didn't die.
Although they currently had some spare money to drink, once arrested and taken inside, getting out would likely cost them everything they owned.
"Quiet down, all of you!"
The ANBU Squad Leader sliced the table in front of him in half with a single strike and said coldly, "If there are no clues, everyone will be arrested."
"I have a clue!" a Ninja hurriedly spoke up.
Seeing the ANBU Ninja surround him, he quickly said, "Just now, I heard someone openly promoting the Land of Lightning. This matter must be related to him."
As his voice dropped, someone else immediately chimed in: "That's right, it's that guy! He must be a spy sent by an enemy country."
Everyone pointed at the Short, Stout Merchant who had just spoken, their expressions indignant.
Sacrifice a Fellow Daoist to save yourself.
After so many years of hardship, they had long since learned how to protect themselves immediately.
Seeing everyone pointing at him, the Short, Stout Merchant's body went limp, and he collapsed onto the floor.
He loudly explained, "It wasn't me! I am not an enemy spy, I am just an ordinary merchant."
"I've been in the tavern the whole time, and I'm not a Ninja. I couldn't possibly have killed those two dead Ninja."
The ANBU Squad Leader ignored the Short, Stout Merchant's explanation, simply raising his hand and waving: "Arrest him."
Seeing the ANBU Ninja walking aggressively towards him, the Short, Stout Merchant immediately pulled out a small booklet.
"I am currently a citizen of the Land of Lightning. You have no right to arrest me without evidence."
Hearing this, the ANBU Squad Leader sneered: "You pull out Land of Lightning identification and still claim you're not a spy?"
The Short, Stout Merchant swallowed hard, gathering his courage: "The Land of Lightning will protect me. Aren't you afraid of incurring the displeasure of the Land of Lightning if you forcibly arrest me now?"
"Hahahahaha..." The leading ANBU Squad Leader laughed several times as if he had heard a joke.
"A Land of Lightning identity is no life-saving charm. Even if I kill you right now, what can those bastards do?"
"This is Konoha. You aren't seriously expecting them to come and save you, are you?"
"Even if it were Uchiha Yuzuru, if he dared to come to Konoha, I would still cut him down with a single stroke!"
After hearing the ANBU Squad Leader's mockery, the Short, Stout Merchant's lips trembled, and he ultimately said nothing.
He had just been desperate.
He knew very well in his heart that if the other party truly intended to arrest him, he had no chance of resisting.
It was just a pity. He had finally managed to obtain Land of Lightning citizenship, but hadn't been able to bring his family over to enjoy the benefits yet... "Hmph!"
"Those guys from the Land of Lightning are all vermin. I don't think you need questioning; just die already!"
Seeing the Short, Stout Merchant's expression, rage flared in the ANBU Squad Leader's heart. He grabbed his long sword, preparing to cut off the man's head with one blow.
But in the next second, his wrist was seized by someone.
A man in black clothing and black hair stood in front of him: "Who did you call vermin?"
Seeing the man before him, the originally arrogant ANBU Squad Leader couldn't help but tremble.
"Y-y-you are... Uchiha Yuzuru?!"
How could he be here?
How dare he appear here!
Not just him, but everyone else present gasped, staring at Uchiha Yuzuru in disbelief.
They hadn't misheard, had they?
This was Konoha, the heartland of the Land of Fire.
A Ninja who had long since defected from the Village not only appeared here but also openly stood in front of an ANBU Ninja.
What exactly was going on?!
"U-Uchiha Yuzuru, this is Konoha. Please don't do anything rash."
The ANBU Squad Leader, whose wrist was gripped by Uchiha Yuzuru, had a tremor in his voice.
I was just talking big. Why did you actually show up?
"Tiresome."
Uchiha Yuzuru applied slight pressure, and the ANBU Squad Leader's wrist snapped with a loud crack.
Accompanied by a scream, the long sword fell from the ANBU Squad Leader's hand toward the ground. Uchiha Yuzuru grabbed the hilt and thrust upward.
The sharp long sword instantly pierced through the ANBU Squad Leader's jaw and out the top of his head.
The screaming stopped abruptly, and the entire tavern fell into dead silence.
An ANBU Squad Leader was killed just like that?
How dare Uchiha Yuzuru do this?
"Lead me to your family. I will take you all out of Konoha."
Upon hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's words, the Short, Stout Merchant's eyes filled with tears.
He was actually saved.
And Uchiha Yuzuru himself had personally intervened!
For a moment, the Short, Stout Merchant, who was always focused on profit, felt an impulse to die for him.
He said in a deep voice, "Lord Yuzuru, you have done enough. Becoming a citizen of the Land of Lightning is the proudest thing I have done in my life."
"Please make your escape quickly. I don't want my family and me to become your burden."
Seeing the Short, Stout Merchant looking ready to make a noble sacrifice, Uchiha Yuzuru couldn't help but laugh softly.
"The word 'escape' is not in my vocabulary. Lead the way quickly."
Seeing his confident appearance, the Short, Stout Merchant stopped insisting.
When one can live, who would willingly choose death?
He quickly walked to the tavern entrance, and before stepping out, he glanced back at the crowd, proudly puffing out his chest.
"You all saw that, didn't you? You will never enjoy this kind of treatment in your entire lives."
"Live forever in this dark, sunless Hell, you group of vermin!"