"Nakamura Kazuya, what's the meaning of this!?" Hyūga Yūjin roared. His own younger sister had been peeped on, and as a member of the Police Force, letting the culprit escape was nothing short of a disgrace!
The man blocking him was none other than Nakamura Kazuya. Back when Danzō had plotted to seize control of the Police Force, he had tried to plant Kazuya inside. But Uchiha Fugaku had only assigned him to patrol duty, and after Hyūga Hiashi rose to power, he gave Kazuya no further chances.
Pinned down to low-level patrols, the Root members could do nothing. Danzō often scolded them for their uselessness. So now, being able to cause trouble for the Hyūga clan, why wouldn't Kazuya enjoy it?
"Hyūga Yūjin, this is our Root patrol sector. Any matters here fall under our jurisdiction!"
"The Root has already been disbanded by Lord Hokage! What jurisdiction do you think you still have!?" Yūjin snapped back.
The three Root operatives sneered and closed in, faces cold and hostile.
Yūjin glared. "You deliberately let that pervert escape! I'll report you to Lord Hiashi!"
Kazuya smirked provocatively. "Go ahead, complain all you like. Do you even know who you were just chasing?"
"No matter who it was, no one is above the law when it comes to being a voyeur!" Yūjin barked.
Kazuya burst into mocking laughter. "That was one of the Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya himself! Let's see what your Hyūga clan can do to him."
Yūjin froze, utterly stunned. "What did you say!? That was Lord Jiraiya!?"
His worldview crumbled. He had always known Jiraiya as one of Konoha's heroes, one of the Sannin. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined the man was a shameless pervert!
Kazuya and the other Root members howled with laughter, savoring the Hyūga's humiliation. The Hyūga could only grit their teeth in anger and frustration. Even Hyūga Aiko had no choice but to swallow her indignation.
At that moment, a shadow appeared behind Kazuya. A single kick sent him tumbling off the rooftop, while two others were smashed together by powerful hands. The last Root operative dropped with a single glance.
"Any matter of public security falls under the Police Force. A crime is a crime, no matter who commits it," Uchiha Natsuki said coldly.
He cast a sharp glare at Kazuya. "As for you, your position is finished. The Root has been disbanded, yet you still strut around as if you matter."
"It's Lord Natsuki!" The Hyūga group brightened instantly. Uchiha Natsuki feared nothing and no one.
Kazuya coughed blood, struggling to rise. "Uchiha Natsuki, you're not even a member of the Police Force! You have no authority here!"
Natsuki grinned. "I expected someone to say that. That's why I prepared this."
He pulled out a scroll and unfurled it. Written clearly was:
"Appointment: Uchiha Natsuki, Patrol Captain of the Police Force."
Kazuya gasped for breath. "Even if you are, it doesn't matter. Your opponent is one of the Sannin, Jiraiya!"
The Hyūga members fell into grim silence, faces twisted in resentment. That was the truth—they had no way to fight someone of Jiraiya's standing.
Natsuki bared his teeth in a smile. "I, Natsuki, specialize in dealing with those who think they're untouchable. Don't believe me? Let's put it to the test."
He beckoned to Yūjin and his companions. "Which way did Jiraiya run?"
The Hyūga siblings stiffened. Could it be…!? But yes—if it was Uchiha Natsuki, then maybe…
Quickly, they pointed. "He went that way."
Natsuki squinted. Of course—it led to another hot spring inn. That mutt never changed his ways. Even while fleeing, he was already planning his next peeping spot.
"Good. I know where he is. Do you want to come along or return to your sector?"
Hyūga Aiko exchanged glances with her brother. "Lord Natsuki, we'd like to come."
Natsuki nodded, sending the rest back to their posts, then strode ahead with the two siblings in tow. They didn't know his full plan, but they followed in silence.
After only a few minutes, they arrived. And there he was—a lecherous white-haired old man crouching at a wall, peeping into the women's bath.
"Ehehehe… perfect… hahahaha…"
Jiraiya snickered, notebook in hand, scribbling furiously.
Natsuki flicked a shuriken with no hesitation. Jiraiya's eyes widened!
"Ninpō: Needle Jizō!"
His long white hair hardened and wrapped around his body.
Clang! Clang!
The shuriken bounced harmlessly away.
Fury rose in Jiraiya's chest. That brat just tried to kill me!?
"You little bastard, what do you think you're doing!?"
Natsuki roared, voice like thunder. "Bold criminal! Peeping at the women's baths in broad daylight!? Courting death!"
His words boomed across Konoha's commercial district. People began to gather. The bathhouse erupted in shrieks and chaos.
"Not good!" Jiraiya panicked as more and more villagers converged. He tried to flee, but Natsuki cut off every route.
"Damn it, how many people are going to see this!?" Jiraiya cursed, forced to fight.
He struck with fists and kicks full of raw power. At first, he held back, but Natsuki's resilience forced him to fight seriously. Yet Natsuki only defended, dragging the battle out and holding him in place.
As the Police Force swarmed in and villagers crowded the scene, Jiraiya grew desperate. Out of the corner of his eye, he even spotted ANBU hiding in the shadows, refraining only because they recognized him.
Panting, he froze mid-step. "Oi, brat, let me go. I'm Jiraiya."
But Natsuki showed no mercy. Seeing the crowd swell, he raised his voice and bellowed:
"Everyone, look closely! This man is a filthy voyeur who spies on the women's baths!"
"And his name—none other than one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya!"
"What!? Lord Jiraiya is a peeping tom?"
"Ew! That's Jiraiya?"
"So disgusting! I can't believe he's that kind of man."
Jiraiya's face turned from red to green. This Uchiha brat knew exactly who he was, and had set him up from the start!
"A supposed great figure of Konoha, a student of the Third Hokage—yet indulging in such vile, despicable acts!"
"As a Patrol Captain of the Police Force, I cannot arrest him because of his lofty status. All I can do is warn everyone here—when you go to the baths, keep your eyes open!"
"Where Jiraiya appears, your wives, daughters, and sisters are in danger of being ogled!"
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
"So gross. From now on, if I see Jiraiya, I'm taking a detour."
"Never bathe anywhere near him, or you'll be exposed for sure!"
"The Third Hokage's disciple has sunk this low? Sickening!"
"The Police Force is too pitiful. They can't even arrest him because of his rank."
Jiraiya's face burned with shame. In the past, even if caught, people could only chase him off. Civilians couldn't catch him, and those who could were bound by respect for his status. It always blew over.
But this time, he had met his match. This was public execution by humiliation!
"You brat… who the hell are you!? Why are you targeting me!?" Jiraiya snarled, both humiliated and enraged.
"Me?" Natsuki pulled out his appointment scroll.
"I am Uchiha Natsuki, Patrol Captain of the Police Force. I deal with all public security violations."
"And because you're the Hokage's disciple, I can't arrest you. So instead, I'm warning the entire village to beware of your crimes!"
"You're Uchiha Natsuki!?" Jiraiya finally understood why the Third had said this man was troublesome.
Now, he was completely stuck—unable to strike back, unable to flee.
And Natsuki continued his barrage.
"Targeting you? What nonsense. Isn't it a fact that you were peeping?"
"Hyūga Aiko, testify!"
Blood rushed to Aiko's cheeks. "Y-Yes! I testify! Just earlier, while we were bathing, this Jiraiya was right outside peeping!"
Her voice trembled. Could a nobody like her survive offending Jiraiya like this?
"You—! I—!" Jiraiya stammered, speechless.
Natsuki seized the moment. "Everyone, look! This victim is Hyūga Aiko. Today, she bravely stood up to identify one of the village's big names."
"If, someday, something happens to her—then know it was Jiraiya's revenge!"
"Aiko, fear not! The eyes of the people are clear! The Police Force will guarantee your safety!"
"Even if the Hokage himself reprimands us, we will stand with you!"
The villagers erupted in anger.
"What Sannin? He's just a perverted creep abusing his title!"
"He dares retaliate against witnesses? Despicable!"
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