Chapter 163: Imprisonment

"Whoosh."

Tōshirō pushed off the rooftop with force, his footstep echoing against the wooden beam as his body soared through the air.

Just a little more. Just a little further.

Midair, Tōshirō frantically scanned the buildings below. He had to find one particular place—only then would he have room to negotiate.

Moments later, a protruding blue shuriken emblem came into view. Upon closer inspection, it bore a design resembling a table tennis paddle.

This was the Konoha Police Department—the very place Tōshirō had been desperately searching for.

Elder Itachi's residence was too far. If Tōshirō tried to reach it, he would be intercepted long before arriving.

As he landed in front of the Konoha Police Department, he suddenly sensed an abnormality behind him.

Turning his head, he saw a giant net hurtling toward him.

It was too close. No time to dodge.

The net ensnared his entire body, pinning him to the ground.

In an instant, several ANBU agents surrounded him.

"Let me go—!"

Tōshirō's loud cry drew the attention of the Konoha Police Force. Within moments, officers emerged from the building.

"Huh? Tōshirō? Why are you on the ground… and in this state?" One of the officers recognized Tōshirōand approached to inspect the situation.

"This is ANBU business. Do not interfere," a masked ANBU agent responded coldly, his tone dismissive.

"What did you just say—!?"

One of the police officers became agitated. "Tōshirō is a member of the Uchiha clan! This is our jurisdiction!"

The overlap in authority between the Police Force and ANBU had long been a point of tension. While ANBU had broad operational reach, the Police Force was meant to oversee internal village security.

Over the years, resentment had built up. This latest clash only escalated matters. A police officer stepped forward, ready to argue.

But another officer grabbed his arm, speaking in a low voice, "Don't be reckless. Stay calm. The only person who can mobilize ANBU is the Hokage. In other words, this is an order from him."

"..."

The officer clicked his tongue in frustration.

The ANBU agent wearing a dog-mask gave a small nod and spoke with an icy, mechanical tone: "A wise choice."

Tōshirō continued shouting, trying to escalate the situation.

The dog-masked ANBU agent exchanged glances with his subordinates.

Two ANBU members stepped forward, each pressing a firm hand on Tōshirō's shoulders, restraining him.

Then, the dog-masked ANBU agent formed a series of hand seals.

A faint blue chakra glowed on his palm as he pressed it against Tōshirō's stomach.

A burning sensation spread through Tōshirō's body. His strength drained rapidly. His chakra—completely sealed.

"A sealing jutsu…"

Tōshirō gritted his teeth. This overwhelming sense of powerlessness—it was like being a fish on the chopping block.

He realized he had overestimated Konoha's higher-ups… or perhaps underestimated the way ninja minds worked.

The moment the village's stability was threatened, the higher-ups wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice him.

In the original timeline, when a ninja from the Hidden Cloud kidnapped a three-year-old Hinata, the Hyuga clan pursued and killed him.

Yet, instead of defending their own, Konoha allowed the Hidden Cloud to twist the narrative.

To avoid escalating tensions between the two villages, Konoha agreed to hand over Hinata's father's body as compensation.

Hinata's father—the Hyuga Clan Leader.

They were willing to give up someone of that stature so easily?

Was Konoha insane?

Even though Konoha was past its prime at the time, it was still a powerful village. The Uchiha Clan was still intact—if they fought, they wouldn't fear the Hidden Cloud.

In the end, they sacrificed Neji's father instead.

This showed just how far Konoha was willing to go for so-called "peace."

Now, Tōshirō found himself in the same position.

To give the Fire Daimyō a scapegoat, Tōshirō—the sole survivor—was being pushed to the forefront to bear the blame.

At the same time, this was likely a message to all Konoha shinobi:

A mission assigned by the village must be completed at all costs. Even against an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, you are expected to lay down your life.

"Take him away," the dog-masked ANBU captain ordered coldly.

— — —

Uchiha Clan Grounds, Clan Leader's Residence

A middle-aged man and an elderly man sat across from each other.

The current Uchiha Clan Leader got straight to the point:

"Elder Itachi, Tōshirō is in trouble."

Elder Itachi responded calmly, "I already know the details."

"Then… what do you intend to do?"

"Protect him."

The old man's voice carried unwavering determination.

"The higher-ups won't agree," the Clan Leader warned. "Tōshirō's failure caused massive repercussions. Someone must take responsibility, and as the only survivor, he's the obvious target. No excuse will change that."

His entire team was dead. The mission target was dead.

The only one left—Tōshirō—had become the perfect scapegoat for the Daimyō's wrath.

Itachi slowly opened his eyes. "Then, what are you suggesting?"

"For a ninja, the village's orders are absolute. Missions assigned by the village must be fulfilled at all costs. Yet this time, Tōshirō chose to flee. There's no justifying that."

"Especially when his failure led to the death of the Daimyō's relative…"

Elder Itachi's voice carried a rare hint of anger.

"You intend to sacrifice Tōshirō?"

The Uchiha Clan Leader sighed. "Regrettably, that is the only option."

"I disagree," Elder Itachi countered firmly. "Tōshirō did nothing wrong. Even if he had stayed, he would have only thrown his life away for nothing."

"But this time, the person who died was a close relative of the Daimyō."

Elder Itachi let out a cold snort. "A relative of the Daimyō is a life. And Tōshirō's life is not?"

"You're too protective of Tōshirō, Elder Itachi…"

"He is worth protecting. He is different from the rest."

The Uchiha Clan Leader sensed something deeper in Itachi's words and tested him deliberately. "I admit, Tōshirō is a genius. He possesses a rare Kekkei Genkai… but he does not have those eyes."

"Who told you Tōshirō does not have those eyes?"

Elder Itachi scoffed.

It was about time he revealed something about Tōshirō's Sharingan—at least within the clan.

As for the outside world, it was still too soon. That revelation would have to wait until war broke out—only then could he subtly let Konoha's higher-ups find out.

He wanted them to alienate Tōshirō, to let him experience firsthand the deep-seated malice the village had toward the Sharingan.

No amount of persuasion could compare to personal experience.

"…Are you saying… the Sharingan?"

The Uchiha Clan Leader's face was filled with shock. "That's impossible! I've never seen him use it."

"Not using it is one thing. Having it but choosing not to use it is another."

The Clan Leader took a sharp breath as realization dawned on him. "I finally understand why you've been looking out for him so much."

"Tōshirō is the most talented Uchiha I have seen… since that man."

That man—Madara Uchiha.

The Clan Leader immediately understood, his mouth opening slightly. "Elder Itachi, you've known all along that Tōshirō possesses dual Kekkei Genkai?"

Itachi shook his head. "No, I only discovered it in recent years."

The Clan Leader was momentarily stunned.

"Tōshirō never wanted to become a shinobi—you must have heard something about that."

With that, the Clan Leader began to understand why Tōshirō never used the Sharingan.

"When did you find out about his dual Kekkei Genkai?"

"It was during his first sparring match with Fugaku. I sensed his immense chakra reserves… so I used my own Sharingan to control him and simply asked him directly."

The Uchiha Clan Leader: …

Elder Itachi chuckled helplessly. "I went through great lengths to guide him onto the path of a shinobi."

"There's one thing I still don't understand. If Tōshirō possesses both the Sharingan and the Ice Release, why does he only use Ice Release? The Sharingan is one of the strongest Kekkei Genkai in existence, second only to Wood Release."

Elder Itachi answered calmly, "Because I forbade him from using it."

The Uchiha Clan Leader's eyes narrowed in curiosity.

"Have you forgotten how Konoha's leadership has treated our clan over the years? The disciples who inherited the Second Hokage's will—you don't need me to remind you."

The Clan Leader lowered his head slightly. He was all too aware of the Uchiha's current predicament.

Despite being one of Konoha's founding clans, they were never given a place in the upper echelons of power. Instead, the Sarutobi clan and its allies reaped the benefits.

The Uchiha had long sought a position in Konoha's leadership, but the harsh reality was that they were left with nothing but the Police Force—a role of limited power and influence.

Elder Itachi spoke again, "Tōshirō is my trump card for the Uchiha's future. With his potential, he may one day awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."

At the mention of those eyes, the Clan Leader's breathing grew heavier.

As the Uchiha Clan Leader, he was one of the few who knew the true secret behind the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Yet, despite knowing the method of awakening it… he himself had never obtained it.

Not for lack of emotional trauma—he had witnessed comrades die, he had felt unimaginable grief—but he simply lacked the aptitude.

In past battles, he had experienced loss firsthand. He had felt pain, sorrow, and despair.

Yet no matter what, he had never awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

And this was despite being considered one of the most talented Uchiha of his generation.

It was proof that awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan required an extraordinary level of talent and fate.

Now, considering that Tōshirō possessed dual Kekkei Genkai, the Clan Leader realized…

If anyone had the potential to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, it was him.

"I understand now. For the future of the Uchiha Clan, I will protect Tōshirō at all costs."

If the day ever came where the Uchiha clashed with Konoha, Tōshirō's power would be indispensable.

— — —

In the prison cell, the dim light flickered.

Tōshirō lay on the bed, his chakra completely sealed.

In his current state, he was no different from an ordinary person—weak, powerless.

Through the iron bars, he gazed at the blue sky and the drifting white clouds.

If he was lucky, he could occasionally catch a glimpse of birds soaring past.

For now, this was the only entertainment Tōshirō had.

(End of Chapter)

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