Chapter 78: The Hyuga Clan

As for the truly innocent, the Police Force's interrogation skills weren't as good as ANBU's, so it was normal that they hadn't been cleared yet.

After a day's work, Shisui approached Seiryu to ask if Itachi could see the evidence.

Seiryu thought for a moment, then agreed.

After all, if these things could make Itachi see reality, it would save Seiryu a lot of trouble.

But when Seiryu and Shisui went to find Itachi, they learned he had already left.

Shisui searched the village all night, but with Itachi's elite Jonin skills and intent to hide, even Shisui couldn't find him.

…

The next day, Seiryu saw Shisui's exhausted look and understood.

"Didn't find him?" Seiryu asked.

"No," Shisui replied, rubbing his brow. "No idea where he's gone."

"Forget it, don't bother. Looks like he's made his choice," Seiryu said, his eyes glinting.

"Seiryu…" Shisui wanted to say something in Itachi's defense.

"Shisui, you know how Uchihas are. Once they've made a decision, they never turn back," Seiryu said coldly. "Seems he didn't take my last words to heart at all."

Seiryu patted Shisui on the shoulder. "If you're tired, take half a day off."

"We're just letting him go?" Shisui asked, surprised.

"Yes," Seiryu said coldly. "I told him that in the face of the big picture, individual power is insignificant. Looks like he's confident—wants to challenge that, huh."

Shisui silently shook his head, then sat back at his desk. Seiryu, meanwhile, looked out the window, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.

…

In the following days, as the investigation progressed, the truth of the old cases came to light. Most victims were from small bloodline clans in the village, such as the Hayate clan with their Transparent Escape Technique. In the past decade, three children from that clan had died.

When the victims' families finally received justice and compensation, they were deeply grateful to the Police Force. In contrast, the assets of the Koharu and Mitokado clans shrank by two-thirds, and the Shimura clan was nearly wiped out overnight. Seiryu's actions had captured almost all their elite, leaving only a few Chunin and a Tokubetsu Jonin from a marginalized branch family that had always opposed Danzo's conscription efforts. They could hardly even call themselves a clan now.

The Police Force's interrogation department made great progress as well: over ten high-ranking Koharu and Mitokado confessed to everything, and the investigation was nearly complete. All that remained was to compile the interrogation records, have Hiruzen review them, and distribute the last batch of seized assets to the victims' families.

"Everyone's worked hard lately," Seiryu said, clapping his hands in the interrogation room. "After we hand out this last batch of loot to the victims, I'll treat everyone to a feast at Yakiniku Q—I've already reserved a private room."

"Deputy Seiryu, you're too kind!" several ANBU said. In these last few days, they'd understood why the Police Force had such a good reputation.

To wrap things up quickly, everyone had been working late every night, but they didn't mind. Years of ANBU service had made them used to working hungry.

But from the first night, the Police Force provided them with hearty late-night meals, and—more importantly—Seiryu paid them Police Force overtime rates, so a few days' earnings nearly equaled a month's hard work in ANBU. They'd never had such treatment before.

Now, hearing there'd be an end-of-task banquet, they felt honored.

The final batch of seized assets from the three clans was worth about 150 million ryo, about 30% of the total. The remaining victims were mostly from the Uchiha, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans, plus some relatives of Fourth Hokage loyalists killed in the Third Ninja War. It was clear Seiryu was keeping the best for his own people.

Among the victims were also a few members of the Hyuga clan.

Seiryu picked out several prime shop deeds from the pile, then, with the Hyuga names from the victim list, said to the others, "I'll deliver these to the Hyuga myself. The rest, distribute to the families on the list, then go wait for me at Yakiniku Q."

"Understood!" the joint investigation team members replied.

Seiryu, with the deeds and list in hand, arrived at the Hyuga clan leader's residence.

He knocked, and when a branch member opened the door, Seiryu smiled and said, "Please inform Clan Leader Hiashi that Uchiha Seiryu, Police Force Deputy, is here to see him."

…

Hiashi, who had just finished teaching Hinata the family's Gentle Fist, quickly got the message.

"Police Force Deputy?" Hiashi frowned. If Seiryu were just visiting socially, he'd identify himself as Uchiha Clan Leader, but now he called himself Police Deputy, so this must be village business.

"The clan shouldn't have much business with the Police Force lately," Hiashi thought. But since Seiryu had come in person, it would be rude to leave him waiting.

He ordered the branch staff to prepare tea and personally went to greet Seiryu.

"Clan Leader Hiashi," Seiryu greeted with a smile as Hiashi came out.

"Clan Leader Seiryu, please come in," Hiashi replied, maintaining a standard polite smile, and led Seiryu inside.