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"Master Ninja, please let me go! I swear I'll never do this again—I'll even apologize to the shopkeeper!"
"Hmph. If everyone could get away with just saying sorry, what would be the point of Konoha's Security Division?"
"Hey, what did this guy do to get caught by the Uchiha clan?"
"Didn't you hear? He stole something."
"What did he steal?"
"Just a few steamed buns. The shopkeeper didn't even care, but the Uchiha still arrested him and want to interrogate him."
"Just for a few buns? That's harsh."
"Unlucky, I guess. Remember the theft at the ninja tool shop last year? The thief still hasn't been caught. The Uchiha have been under a lot of pressure to clean up the village. Now they're trying to assert their authority."
On his way back to the forest behind the mountain, Ye Dou passed the scene but paid it no mind. He continued walking without hesitation.
Even if the culprit was a widow with a child, deserving of sympathy—even if this matter had some connection to him—he didn't stop.
"Look at what you've caused."
The mongoose spirit floating beside him shook its head, only just realizing that the pickpocket had ties to their past. It hadn't expected that she'd be the main perpetrator.
"Konoha's Security Division isn't wrong," Ye Dou said calmly. "Their job is to maintain law and order. People shouldn't let their emotions cloud judgment—especially over a clan's involvement."
The cat spirit objected, "But it's too cruel. Even the shopkeeper isn't pressing charges."
Ye Dou's voice remained even. "Everyone is equal before the law. If we govern based solely on emotion, we can't expect long-term peace."
"But she's just a mother trying to survive with her kid! That can't be wrong!"
"People have the right to choose their actions," Ye Dou replied. "But choices have consequences."
The mongoose spirit tilted its head in confusion. As a newborn system spirit, it still struggled to understand human society. After spending time with Ye Dou, it often found itself overwhelmed.
Ye Dou suddenly stopped and looked up at the Hokage Rock, where the faces of Konoha's Hokage were carved into stone.
"Maybe… the existence of this world is a mistake."
He soon pushed the thought aside and continued toward the forest.
This time, he made no detours. He deliberately passed through the Uchiha district, not out of urgency, but because he wanted to retrace the steps of Hyuga Hinata, who had once taken this path.
His feelings for the white-eyed princess of the Hyuga clan were… complicated. Just as Sakura and others had speculated, he couldn't fully ignore her. There was something special about her.
After all, he was still human. Even someone as cold as the "Sword God" Ximen Chuuxue had a family.
The mongoose spirit scoffed. "Shameless. Comparing yourself to Ximen Chuuxue? And seriously, you're still wearing that black yukata all day—it's like you're trying to be the village outcast."
"Could Bilian Pharmacy help with this level of delusion?"
Suddenly, two figures appeared in front of Ye Dou, both with crimson Sharingan eyes—Uchiha clan members.
"Who are you, and why are you here?"
"I live in the forest behind the mountain. This road leads there," Ye Dou replied calmly.
The Uchiha ninja were stunned. Accustomed to being the proud and authoritative figures of Konoha, they hadn't expected someone even more arrogant than themselves.
You live in the forest, so this road belongs to you?
Is Konoha your personal property?
And this was Uchiha territory. Did he even pay for land usage?
"You've got guts. But I'm telling you now—this place isn't your home. Understand?"
"My home is where I live. It doesn't have legs—it's not going anywhere."
"You little—!"
One of them stepped forward, grabbing Ye Dou by the collar, ready to teach him a lesson. They were Uchiha—descendants of Uchiha Madara, once rival to the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi himself. They weren't about to tolerate a brat like this.
"Enough. Let him go."
A calm voice interrupted them from around the corner.
"Itachi…"
Uchiha Itachi appeared, dressed casually. He was off-duty, walking slowly with his usual composed expression.
"Let him go. He's Sasuke's classmate. He came to visit."
The Uchiha ninja released Ye Dou reluctantly and turned to leave. As the son of the clan head and a prodigy, Uchiha Itachi's authority was not to be questioned.
After all, he had graduated from the Academy at 7, awakened the Sharingan at 8, became a Chūnin at 10, and was leading an Anbu squad by 13. More importantly, no one in the clan could beat him.
"You can go now..." Itachi began, only to notice Ye Dou had already walked five meters away. He paused, mildly annoyed. What a rude kid.
"Ye Dou, weren't you scared back there?" the mongoose teased. "That was pretty bold of you."
"I was just stating the truth."
"Hah! If I hadn't told you Itachi was nearby, you'd have run the other way."
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