"Your dad is the Hokage!? What does that have to do with me?"
Byakuya's voice was cold and laced with disdain.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen has always targeted the Uchiha. He never once treated us like true members of Konoha. If anything, he's the one who planted the seeds for our eventual downfall."
Byakuya's tone grew sharper as he looked at the arrogant man before him—Sarutobi Shinnosuke, the eldest son of the Third Hokage.
"Do you think letting someone like you off the hook would change anything? Hiruzen wouldn't hesitate to crush the Uchiha if it secured his power."
With that logic, Byakuya saw no reason to show mercy.
In fact, he planned to squeeze every ounce of negative energy out of the Hokage's son.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke had already been humiliated—his face was swollen like a steamed bun after a previous confrontation. But only now did he realize how serious things were. His pride boiled over.
[Ding! Detected strong anger from Sarutobi Shinnosuke. +50 Negative Energy. Acquired: Wind Style - Dust Gale Technique]
"Oh? A Wind Style technique? Not bad..." Byakuya smirked, clearly pleased.
"You bastard… I'll kill you!" Shinnosuke shouted and lunged with a kunai.
But Byakuya was faster. A brutal kick landed squarely in Shinnosuke's chest, launching him backwards. He rolled across the street like a rag doll, crashing into crates and market stalls.
"He dared attack the Uchiha Guard on duty?" Byakuya's voice rang out.
"I suspect Sarutobi Shinnosuke is plotting against the village. Restrain him."
"Yes, Lord Byakuya!" responded Uchiha En and another Uchiha guard, immediately grabbing the downed Shinnosuke.
Byakuya turned to the weapons shop owner. "If something like this happens again, report directly to the Uchiha Guard."
"Y-Yes! Thank you, Lord Byakuya!" the owner said, bowing repeatedly.
Shopkeepers nearby exchanged shocked looks.
"He actually hit the Hokage's son!"
"The Uchiha Guard is something else..."
"This protection fee is finally paying off!"
The merchants couldn't stop whispering. But Byakuya had no interest in their opinions.
He had only one goal: crush Sarutobi Shinnosuke's pride—and harvest every drop of negative energy.
In the interrogation chamber beneath the Uchiha Police Headquarters, Shinnosuke was bound tightly to a wooden cross. His chakra had been sealed, rendering him powerless.
Byakuya crossed his legs and stared at him coldly.
"Tell me... why did you betray Konoha?"
"You filthy Uchiha! How dare you treat me like this! I'm the Hokage's son! My father will destroy you!" Shinnosuke screamed, still believing his status protected him.
He still couldn't believe he was captured—just for trying to forcefully take chakra metal from a civilian.
He believed the Uchiha wouldn't dare truly harm him.
Byakuya laughed.
"Still arrogant? Good. Let's try a different method. Uchiha En, you've got half an hour."
"Understood, Lord Byakuya."
Uchiha En and two other guards stepped forward with clenched fists.
They were Uchiha—and they remembered how the Hokage's policies marginalized their clan, confined them to the outskirts of the village, and cut off funding from the Police Force.
Now, they had a rare chance to hit back. Even if it was only the Hokage's son.
Their fists flew like hammers.
"Ahhh! You dogs… how dare you!"
"My father—he'll never forgive you—!"
"AAAAHH—!"
Shinnosuke's screams echoed in the room.
[Ding! Detected resentment from Sarutobi Shinnosuke. +80 Negative Energy. Taijutsu +5]
[Ding! Detected hatred. +100 Negative Energy. Genjutsu +6]
[Ding! Detected deeper hatred. +110 Negative Energy. Ninjutsu +7]
And the system just kept updating.
Byakuya leaned back, enjoying the stream of power being generated from one man's humiliation and rage.
Hearing Sarutobi Shinnosuke's anguished screams and watching the rapid surge of negative energy and attribute gains, Byakuya's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"At this rate, I'll hit 100,000 negative energy in no time and awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan…"
Just as he was getting absorbed in the numbers, the screaming abruptly stopped.
"What? Why did it stop all of a sudden…?" Byakuya asked, frowning.
"Lord Byakuya, he's confessed."
Uchiha En stepped forward, his fists stained with blood.
"He said he'll talk."
Panting heavily, Sarutobi Shinnosuke's swollen face barely looked human.
"Stop… I'll talk… Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you… Just stop hitting me…"
Despite being a trained ninja, Sarutobi Shinnosuke had been raised in luxury as the son of the Third Hokage. He never lacked teachers or resources, and he rarely faced adversity. Under pressure, his pampered shell cracked faster than expected.
But Byakuya's expression darkened with disgust.
"You actually gave up that easily?"
"You call yourself a ninja of Konoha? You carry the name Sarutobi, yet you surrender at the first sign of pain?"
He sneered coldly.
"Do you think the Will of Fire means crawling on your knees? Keep beating him. Show him what the Will of Fire truly is."
"Yes, Lord Byakuya."
Uchiha En didn't hesitate and resumed his assault.
"Uchiha Byakuya, you bastard…!"
Shinnosuke coughed blood and cursed, pain overtaking his dignity.
"I'll never forgive you…"
"Aghhh—! It hurts…! AHHHH!!"
[Ding! Detected hatred from Sarutobi Shinnosuke. +120 negative energy. Ninjutsu +10]
[Ding! Detected deeper hatred. +130 negative energy. Taijutsu +12]
[Ding! Resentment level rising. +150 negative energy. Genjutsu +13]
[...]
Line after line of system notifications flooded in. Before long, Byakuya's total negative energy hit the threshold.
[Ding! Negative Energy has reached 100,000. Mangekyō Sharingan unlocked!]