Chapter 171:
In the end, Sasuke was once again temporarily detained by the Konoha Military Police Force.
Hokage's Office.
"The Clown had only just been released for a single day, and now this happens. Tsunade, you have to take primary responsibility for this. If you hadn't released him…"
"Alright, old woman, Tsunade only just took over as Hokage—it's normal that she doesn't understand everything yet. Besides, isn't it our duty as advisors to help the Hokage resolve such issues?"
The two senior advisors left over from the Third Hokage's era were playing good cop and bad cop, aiming to seize some authority from Tsunade.
"Enough!!" Tsunade suddenly slammed the desk. "At the end of the day, isn't the Clown's appearance a result of your misguided policies toward the Uchiha clan back then?!"
"We were merely implementing the policies that the Second Hokage, Lord Tobirama, left regarding the Uchiha!"
As Tsunade and the two Hokage advisors argued, Hiashi Hyūga, head of the Hyūga clan, stood to the side with his eyes closed, listening intently to everything around him.
"...In any case, the Clown must be apprehended and imprisoned," said Homura Mitokado.
"That's acceptable," Tsunade nodded.
The Clown's speech had already disrupted the peace of the village. Moreover, Tsunade herself believed that the Clown's radical ideas for reforming Konoha were bound to fail. The current Konoha could only undergo gradual change.
"But what charge can we bring against him?" asked Koharu Utatane.
"Unauthorized assembly? Inciting violence?" Homura suggested.
Tsunade shook her head. "At most, we can only detain him..."
After all, Sasuke had only just been released from Konoha Prison a day ago. There was no hard evidence of any crime that the village leadership could exploit.
"This matter can be handed over to the Hyūga clan," said Hiashi, who had been silent all this time.
"And what exactly do you intend to do?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes and looked at Hiashi.
Although the Hyūga clan had become the de facto leading clan of Konoha since the Uchiha massacre, they still maintained a low-key presence as usual.
In reality, ever since Hiashi took over, the Hyūga clan had been pursuing a strategy of lying low and biding their time.
Even though Hiashi was often considered the most mediocre head in Hyūga history, Tsunade had never looked down on him for it.
"I don't know how the Vigilante turned the Clown back into Sasuke, but all we need to do is turn Sasuke back into the Clown."
"You mean…" Homura looked at Hiashi—he'd already guessed the gist of his plan.
Then Koharu followed up: "But the people Sasuke cared about were all killed back then, weren't they?"
"If I recall correctly, lately Haruno Sakura has been staying close to Sasuke."
Hiashi, who had long dreamed of seeing a Hyūga become Hokage, had always kept tabs on the Hokage and potential candidates.
"Sakura is my student!" Tsunade's desk collapsed with a loud crash.
"I know that," Hiashi nodded. "But this is all for the sake of Konoha, isn't it?"
Tsunade stared at Hiashi, clenching her teeth, before finally nodding solemnly.
The position of Hokage wasn't one so easily stabilized.
Konoha Military Police Force.
In a room, there was only one chair, one table, and one person.
Sasuke didn't glance around or break into occasional laughter like he did as the Clown. Instead, he sat calmly in the chair.
His hands were locked to the chair.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Sasuke looked at the person walking toward him—Shikamaru.
"What the hell are you doing, Sasuke?!" Shikamaru slammed his palm on the table, glaring at Sasuke. "You just got out of prison—not planning to go right back in, are you?!"
"Believe it or not, Captain Shikamaru, all I want is to change Konoha. The biggest problem right now is the corruption among the higher-ups. You're a smart guy, Captain—you must've noticed that something's wrong with the village," Sasuke stared into Shikamaru's eyes and spoke word by word, "Konoha is sick."
"You're the one making Konoha sick!"
Of course Shikamaru understood—but this was the way of the world.
What was "the way of the world"? It was when everyone did something, and you had no choice but to go along with it.
Crime had become commonplace among Konoha's major clans, including the Nara clan to which Shikamaru belonged.
The Nara clan's main business was medicinal herbs.
How could they monopolize Konoha's herb trade without engaging in shady dealings?
So even if Sasuke was right, Shikamaru couldn't act on it. After all, he was the heir to the Nara clan. Sooner or later, he'd have to take full responsibility for the entire clan.
"I understand your thoughts and concerns, Captain Shikamaru. But there's no need for you to worry…"
Before Sasuke could finish, the door suddenly opened again. Ino walked in.
"Shikamaru, it's a call—from the Hokage."
Shikamaru glanced at Sasuke, then turned to Ino and said, "Got it."
Once Shikamaru left, only Sasuke and Ino were left in the room.
"Do you need something?" Sasuke asked, looking at Ino.
"No… um… I just wanted to talk with you…" Ino stammered nervously.
The Yamanaka clan specialized in mind-related jutsu and had done extensive research into psychology.
But then came the Clown.
How did Sasuke become the Clown? How did the Clown turn back into Sasuke? What psychological and mental transformations took place during that time? These were all things that intrigued Yamanaka Ino.
"Of course. I'd be more than happy to share my thoughts with everyone…"
Meanwhile.
"Understood, Lady Hokage," Shikamaru said over the phone with a nod.
Tsunade's call wasn't anything major—she just wanted him to arrange for Sasuke's release as soon as possible. After all, Sasuke's fanatical supporters had already begun protesting.
Namikaze Estate.
"Naruto, we have to go rescue Sasuke from the Konoha Police."
Sakura came to Naruto for help.
"Don't worry, Sakura. Shikamaru is my friend—he won't make things hard for Sasuke…"
Just as Naruto was trying to comfort her, Kakashi walked over.
"Lord Naruto, it's a call from Captain Shikamaru of the Konoha Military Police. He says Mr. Sasuke has been released."
Outside the Konoha Police Department.
Naruto looked on as Sakura was the first to rush forward and embrace Sasuke.
His emotions were complicated.
He knew he no longer had any chance.
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