The night was deep.
The captain of the Uchiha Guard, having spent the day overseeing the village's safety, took a rare moment to unwind.
Samui, seated beside him, remained uncharacteristically quiet.
She was afraid.
Truly afraid.
Yet, intertwined with that fear was an unfamiliar sense of submission—an instinctual deference toward power.
In the shinobi world, the strong were respected. And though Samui did not yet hold Bai Ye in reverence, she could feel herself gravitating toward that mindset.
"Master, may I ask you something?"
She leaned in, her exhaustion evident but her curiosity keeping her awake.
Bai Ye glanced at her, unsurprised. "You want to know how I'll deal with the Raikage?"
Samui tensed at how easily he read her thoughts.
"I wasn't trying to plead for him," she quickly clarified, wary of any misunderstandings.
Bai Ye remained calm, exhaling slowly. "Interrogation first. Then, we negotiate."
He shifted slightly, reclining onto Samui's lap as her delicate hands instinctively massaged his temples.
"Yes," he murmured, "a thorough interrogation… one that breaks him from within."
Uchiha Satoshi would take the lead in that. His ability to wear down a target's psyche was second only to Itachi's.
"And after that…?" Samui hesitated.
"The public hearing."
Samui furrowed her brows. "Public hearing?"
It wasn't a concept she was familiar with. In Kumogakure, matters like these were handled in secrecy—often ending in quiet executions.
Bai Ye smirked.
"Every month, the Guard will present criminals they've apprehended, along with their crimes and sentences."
"For those with significant influence or heinous offenses, they will be tried publicly in Konoha's central square. Any villager interested may attend."
Samui's eyes widened.
This wasn't just about law enforcement. It was about control. About transparency—but on his terms.
"Ai falls into that category," Bai Ye continued. "His crimes will be exposed, and his fate determined before the village."
"But because this involves negotiations between two villages, there will be many eyes on the proceedings."
His voice trailed off, his interest waning. "If you're that curious, you can see it for yourself."
Samui lowered her gaze. Bai Ye wouldn't waste time explaining things in detail unless it truly intrigued him.
He had lost interest in talking.
And when that happened, his attention turned elsewhere.
"The night is long," he murmured. "Rest."
A faint smile played on his lips.
Samui's body tensed.
The night was, indeed, long.
---
Elsewhere—Tsunade's Dilemma
Next door, Tsunade sat upright, looking absolutely exhausted.
Oh my god.
Do you ever sleep at night?
She massaged her temples. This was getting out of hand.
Sure, she'd heard rumors, but experiencing it firsthand was another thing entirely.
It was obnoxious.
"I really don't know how you survived all these years…" she muttered, glancing at the peacefully sleeping Kushina beside her.
Apparently, Kushina was utterly unfazed.
Tsunade sighed and nudged her.
Kushina mumbled in her sleep, "…Bai Ye… spare me… I'm sleepy…"
Tsunade's eye twitched.
Who are these people?
She sighed. She needed a new room.
---
Morning Training Routine
The next morning, Bai Ye's daily training proceeded as usual.
Inside the manor's courtyard, he moved with precision—his form flawless.
100 push-ups.
100 sit-ups.
100 squats.
Guy had been absent today, likely delayed. That didn't matter. Bai Ye continued training alone.
As he started his 10-kilometer run, Tsunade approached.
"You seem fine," she muttered, staring at him suspiciously.
Bai Ye arched an eyebrow mid-sit-up. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Tsunade folded her arms. "You don't suffer from fatigue? Memory loss? Night sweats? Cold limbs?"
"…What exactly are you implying?"
"Kidney deficiency," she declared bluntly.
Bai Ye's expression darkened.
Tsunade crossed her arms. "I'm just thinking about Kushina's future. Maybe you should—"
"Enough."
Bai Ye's patience snapped.
He wasn't weak.
Kushina would know.
Tsunade, on the other hand, needed serious help.
---
The Guard Headquarters – A Surprising Interrogation
After breakfast, Bai Ye and Tsunade headed to the Guard headquarters.
Something was off.
The guards on night duty—who should have been exhausted—were instead brimming with energy, their eyes shining with excitement.
"Boss, you're here!"
Uchiha Satoshi emerged from the interrogation room, grinning.
Bai Ye frowned. "You weren't even on duty last night."
"I caught a criminal," Satoshi explained proudly.
Bai Ye's eyes narrowed. "A criminal?"
"A strong J criminal," Satoshi clarified.
Tsunade's face paled. "Wait… what?"
Bai Ye's expression darkened.
When did Konoha start having these types of criminals?
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This was serious.
Without another word, they strode into the interrogation room—only to stop dead in their tracks.
Danzo sat tied to a chair, his expression filled with pure humiliation.
"The old man is innocent!" Danzo roared, his voice hoarse. "I was forced—framed!"
"It was Sarutobi Biwako!"
Bai Ye and Tsunade exchanged looks.
Uchiha Satoshi smirked. "We've already checked the evidence."
Danzo trembled with rage. "You—You bastard!"
Uchiha Satoshi's grin widened. "How should we handle this criminal?"
Uchiha Sanyo, standing nearby, adjusted his glasses. "According to protocol, evidence must be confiscated."
Itachi, who had been quietly reviewing the case file, nodded. "That is the standard procedure."
Bai Ye exhaled, rubbing his temples.
Satoshi handed him a cigarette.
Bai Ye took a long drag before exhaling slowly.
Then, he sighed.
"…Proceed."