Within the headquarters of the Konoha Military Police Force, Fugaku Uchiha held a list. With a stern expression, his gaze swept over the young generation of the Uchiha clan assembled before him.
These children, ranging from 12 to 16 years of age, represented the future of the Uchiha clan.
Fugaku stated in a deep voice, "Next... Uchiha Izumi."
"Ah? Here!!!"
The twelve-year-old Uchiha girl hastily raised her hand and responded.
Fugaku gazed at the girl, questioning, "Do you possess the resolve to participate in the Uchiha Military Police Force's recruitment assessment?"
Uchiha Izumi's delicate face became solemn as she replied, "I am fully prepared!"
Fugaku nodded, "The assessment period is one month. During this month, a formal member of the Military Police Force will serve as your examiner, conducting your recruitment assessment."
"If he deems your performance sufficient to pass, you will officially join the Uchiha Military Police Force and become an enforcer of Konoha."
Fugaku pointed to the names written on a board behind him. Many names on it had already been circled.
Fugaku continued, "You may select an examiner for yourself, but you can only choose from the names that have not been circled."
Izumi looked up at the dense list of names: Uchiha Shun, Uchiha Getsumu, Uchiha Ikeizumi, Uchiha Isan… The girl realized she recognized none of them!
"Then... how about this Senior Ikeizumi?" Izumi whispered softly. She chose this senior simply because his name was very similar to her own. Uchiha Izumi, Uchiha Ikeizumi—only a single character differed.
Fugaku paused.
"Ikeizumi..." A complex expression flickered in his eyes, and he asked suggestively, "Are you certain? Once chosen, it cannot be changed."
Izumi, failing to grasp the clan head's implied warning, mistook his words as an urging. "I'm certain." She hastily sealed her decision.
Fugaku pondered for a moment before cautioning, "Uchiha Ikeizumi is an elite ninja of the Military Police Force; his assessment requirements will likely be more stringent than anyone else's. Remember, do not defy his orders, especially if you wish to survive."
Izumi froze. She swallowed hard. The clan head had not issued such a warning to other clan members; did this imply she had made a grave error? The girl began to panic.
...
Izumi remained somewhat disoriented as she exited the Military Police Force headquarters. In her hand was an "Assessment Commission," which, once delivered to Senior Ikeizumi, would mark the beginning of a month-long, hellish assessment by the Military Police Force.
"If Itachi-kun were here, I could ask him what kind of person Senior Ikeizumi truly is," Izumi murmured softly. She considered seeking information from other clan members but then recalled her lack of familiarity with them. Izumi was an anomaly within the Uchiha clan, unable to integrate with her peers. Her mother was Uchiha, but her father was a civilian ninja. Prior to the age of five, Uchiha Izumi bore her father's surname. It was not until the Nine-Tails attack that her father died protecting her; her mother then brought her back to the Uchiha clan, where she adopted her mother's surname.
"Calm down, calm down... Even if Senior Ikeizumi is very strict, as long as I maintain a good attitude, things shouldn't become too difficult." Izumi decided to purchase a welcoming gift first.
However, before she could act, a cry of alarm echoed from nearby: "The Military Police Force ninjas are back!"
Izumi turned her head. She saw a group of Uchiha Military Police Force members approaching in formation—each clad in combat uniforms, adorned with various ninja tools, exuding an imposing and powerful aura.
There was likely no time to buy a gift. If Senior Ikeizumi was among them and she failed to greet him promptly, she might leave a poor first impression. Izumi hurried over, gathering her courage, and asked them, "Excuse me, which one of you is Senior Uchiha Ikeizumi?" She nervously presented the commission in her hand: "I am an applicant for the Military Police Force recruitment assessment. My name is Uchiha Izumi."
The Uchiha Military Police Force ninjas stopped. Pairs of astonished eyes converged on her, as if staring at a rare summoning creature. Among them, a female Uchiha Military Police Force member approached Izumi and, with a strange expression, asked the girl, "You chose Uchiha Ikeizumi as your examiner?"
"Yes," Uchiha Izumi nodded.
"...Good luck to you," the female Uchiha patted Izumi's shoulder, her voice filled with sympathy. "He's not here. If you're looking for him, you might try your luck in the village's most chaotic streets; he's probably there."
"I wish you good fortune. Sometimes, merely surviving is a form of luck."
Izumi: "???"
Izumi's face paled with fright, and she quickly asked, "Senior, is Senior Ikeizumi very strict with new recruits like us?"
The female Uchiha shook her head, stating, "It's not a matter of strictness. He... how should I put it, he's somewhat unconventional, even Lord Fugaku finds him difficult to command. I'll give you a piece of advice: you'd best prepare a will. Trust me, it will come in handy very soon."
Izumi: "..." She noticed that the gazes of these Military Police Force seniors were filled with pity.
...
Simultaneously, Konoha Village's infamous "bathhouse, casino, and brothel" street welcomed a young man dressed in a Military Police Force uniform. The moment he arrived alone, the atmosphere of the entire street seemed to fall silent. After a full three seconds, a chaotic clamor erupted.
"Damn it! That Uchiha harbinger of plague is back! Last time he came, he rounded up over fifty people and threw them all into Konoha Prison! Quick, go notify the boss, shut down the casino!"
"Why is he back again? How long has it been? A month?"
"Hey! Uchiha Ikeizumi! Don't go too far! We operate legally; Konoha doesn't forbid gambling or prostitution, and only a few illicit drugs are prohibited. Why are you always targeting us?"
"Shhh—do you want to die? Provoke that Uchiha harbinger of plague, and you'll be locked in a dark cell in Konoha Prison for life."
"You, don't look at me, I'm just passing by!"
"..."
Uchiha Ikeizumi casually rested one hand on the hilt of the ninja sword at his waist, his gaze subtly scanning the surroundings, searching for prey that his eyes could "see."
Suddenly, Uchiha Ikeizumi's gaze paused. "Found a little mouse."
Within his vision, a short man was carefully hiding among the crowd on the street, head down. At first glance, he seemed inconspicuous. Yet, in Uchiha Ikeizumi's eyes, the short man was like a firefly in the night, impossible to ignore. This was because he could clearly see a crimson square hovering above the man's head, and within that square were lines of red text.
[Akiyama Jiro—Two days ago, after losing a gamble, he drank to drown his sorrows. While intoxicated, he violently abused his four-year-old child, leading to the child's death. Sin Level: Red!]
This... was also Uchiha Ikeizumi's unique ability in this life.
Uchiha Ikeizumi walked expressionlessly towards the man, and a crowd of passersby scattered in fear, lest this harbinger of plague from the Uchiha Military Police Force target them. Just as the man also tried to hastily blend in with the fleeing crowd, Uchiha Ikeizumi spoke, "Akiyama Jiro, where do you think you're going?" He looked down at the short man, his gaze unperturbed, as if observing someone destined for death.
Just then, a breathless girl's voice suddenly sounded behind Uchiha Ikeizumi: "Fin... I finally found you! Excuse me, are you Senior Uchiha Ikeizumi?"