The next morning, Seiryu went straight to the Police Force interrogation room.
"Clan head." The Uchiha in the interrogation room greeted him with nods.
"How did it go with those three yesterday?" Seiryu asked.
"Huh?" Uchiha Zaito, in charge of the interrogation, was confused. "Clan head, you didn't say what to ask them about yesterday…"
Seiryu was speechless. Looking over, he saw the three high-ranking Shimura clan members tied to the rack, beaten to a pulp. This was all a personal grudge.
"Sorry, the clan was too enthusiastic about helping. I couldn't stop them," Zaito said awkwardly.
Seiryu shook his head. "No worries, I should've given clearer instructions."
He pulled up a chair, sitting across from the three.
"So, tell me. What do you know about Shimura Danzo's crimes?" Seiryu asked, facing their hateful glares.
"The inherently evil Uchiha clan! Lord Hokage will never spare you!" spat the oldest, and most deeply involved, member of the Shimura clan.
Before Seiryu could answer, a Uchiha next to him smacked him in the mouth with a baton.
"Uncle Fei?" Seiryu looked at the man—a forty-something elite jonin. "I thought Team Four had the day off?"
"The interrogation squad was busy, so I came to help," Fei laughed. His second son had died on the battlefield in the Third Ninja War; normally, ninjas were used to death, but in that nine-man squad, only two Shimura clan members came back alive. He'd waited all night for his turn.
While Fei thrashed the oldest Shimura, Seiryu turned to another man.
"Shimura Ran. We have evidence you colluded with enemy ninjas on the Land of Water front, causing one Uchiha jonin, two chunin, and three civilian ninjas to be surrounded. Afterward, you took six pairs of Sharingan from our clan and presented them to traitor Danzo. What do you have to say?" Seiryu asked, leaning on his chair arm, unhurried.
"That's slander!" Shimura Ran shouted.
"Be quiet!" He was soon forced to shut up.
"Shimura Yusuke," Seiryu addressed the last one.
"What do you want? I've never been on the battlefield!"
"As a ninja, is it an honor not to have fought? Your crime isn't about the war. We found you spread rumors in Konoha Year 44, leading to the suicide of former Anbu Captain Hatake Sakumo, and you helped silence witness Kishida Keisuke. Am I wrong?" Seiryu asked.
"You… That's slander! I never did any of that!" Shimura Yusuke's eyes flashed with panic—Seiryu noticed right away.
Seiryu sat up, intrigued. Picking a random name from the Shimura clan records, he'd hit on someone involved.
"A wise man submits to circumstances. I'm sure these tools can open your mouth. I hope you'll cooperate," Seiryu said coldly.
At that moment, a clansman entered hurried to Seiryu and whispered:
"Clan head, the Shimura clan leader and two Hokage advisors are here. They demand we hand these three over."
"Seiryu, if you know what's good for you, let us go now or the village won't forgive you!" Shimura Retto, the oldest Shimura, shouted, having overheard.
"How noisy. Uncle Fei, don't overexert yourself at your age," Seiryu joked.
"Don't look down on me. Even at eighty, I could beat this kind up easily," Fei said, whacking Shimura Retto even harder.
"Careful not to kill him," Seiryu said as he left.
He strolled toward the Police Force entrance.
...
Outside stood Shimura Hiroshi and the two advisors, Homura and Koharu, flanked by a horde of Shimura clan ninja.
"Advisors, you have to help us!" Shimura Hiroshi pleaded to Homura and Koharu. "Lord Danzo gave his all for the village, and now his family is treated like this—this is blatant Uchiha revenge!"
"Don't worry, the village will give you an answer," Koharu reassured him.
Just then, Seiryu and Fugaku came out.
"Well, what brings both advisors here?" Seiryu smiled, turning to Fugaku. "Captain Fugaku, you shouldn't keep the advisors waiting outside! At least invite them in for tea."
"Sorry, work is busy," Fugaku replied.
"Seiryu, you're just in time. Release Shimura Retto and the others—this is nonsense!" Koharu demanded.
"Release them?" Seiryu smiled. "I'm afraid I can't do that. The three are implicated in Danzo's crimes: selling out fellow ninjas, harming comrades, and other treasonous acts."
"That's slander! Baseless slander!" Shimura Hiroshi, emboldened by the advisors' presence, shouted righteously.