Central Square.
The main event was here.
The villagers and ninjas stood with solemn expressions.
At first, when Danzo and Uchiha Shisui were being interrogated, it had seemed like a straightforward case.
After all, while crimes like abuse of authority were rare in Konoha, they weren't unheard of. People had seen power struggles before.
But now?
Bai Ye was interrogating the sons of the Hokage himself!
And to make matters worse, rumors of infidelity in the Sarutobi household had already left Hiruzen in a foul mood. It was like throwing a torch into a barrel of gunpowder.
At this critical moment, would their beloved Captain Bai Ye remain impartial, or would he bow to political pressure?
More importantly, this wasn't just about the trial anymore.
This was a battle between the Uchiha Police Force and the Village Administrative Brigade.
In other words, Uchiha Bai Ye was openly challenging Sarutobi Hiruzen's authority.
If Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Sarutobi Asuma were found guilty today, it would be a direct humiliation to the Hokage. It would signify the complete defeat of the Hokage faction and establish that, when it came to law enforcement, the so-called Village Administrative Brigade was nothing but a joke in comparison to the Uchiha Police Force.
This was no longer just a legal proceeding—it was a political battle.
Who would win?
Would Bai Ye dare to defy the Hokage? Or would he protect Konoha's leadership, choosing to turn a blind eye like so many before him?
The entire village waited in anticipation.
Bai Ye stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the accused.
"In our police force regulations, law enforcement is a special responsibility," Bai Ye began, his voice steady.
"Those who know the law and break it are the most intolerable offenders."
"Your punishment will be severe. Even if your individual crimes were not catastrophic, violating regulations is never a trivial matter."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Sarutobi Asuma looked bewildered.
They had no idea what Uchiha Bai Ye was talking about.
Desperately, they turned their gazes to their father, the Third Hokage.
Surely, their father—Hokage-sama himself—could save them, right?
Even if they had made mistakes, wasn't it the Hokage's prerogative to protect his own family?
But Hiruzen's expression remained unreadable.
The murmurs among the crowd grew louder.
"Is it just me, or do Hokage-sama's sons look… different from him?"
"Yeah… Look at Asuma's beard. He looks way too mature for his age. His features… they don't quite match Hokage-sama's."
"Shh, don't say such things aloud! But… now that you mention it, Shinnosuke's hair color is also a little off, isn't it?"
"Could it be that besides Danzo, Lady Biwako was involved with someone else…?"
"No way! But… Asuma really does resemble Mitokado Homura a little, doesn't he?"
"Damn! Now that you say it… they do look alike!"
"I can't unsee it!"
"This is bad… really bad…"
Even Hiruzen, for the first time, found himself truly observing his sons' faces.
The whispers in the crowd had planted doubt in his mind.
Yes.
Now that he looked closely… something did seem off.
And the strangest part?
Asuma and Mitokado Homura had the exact same beard style.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's family had always been known for their distinct goatee.
Was this some kind of genetic anomaly?
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, struggling to dismiss the rumors. But the more he tried, the harder it became to find a solid counterargument.
The doubts weren't baseless.
And they were spreading fast.
Bai Ye ignored the whispers, his expression cold as he listed the charges.
"Sarutobi Asuma. Multiple instances of disrupting Konoha's public order, arrogance in wielding the Hokage's name, causing trouble, and repeated incidents of harassing women."
"Violation of Konoha's Public Safety Regulations. Several offenses committed."
"Penalty: A heavy fine and one year of forced labor in the reform program."
Asuma's face twisted in shock.
"Sarutobi Shinnosuke. As a law enforcer, you knowingly broke the law, abused your authority to protect criminals, and used your position as captain of the Village Administrative Brigade to extort protection fees from civilians. The complaints against you are numerous."
"Violation of Konoha's Public Safety Regulations. The punishment must be severe."
"Penalty: Immediate dismissal as captain of the Village Administrative Brigade. The brigade itself is hereby disbanded. A heavy fine. All former members of the brigade are to be incorporated into the reform program for three years."
"Additionally, Sarutobi Shinnosuke is sentenced to five years of imprisonment."
The crowd murmured.
A five-year sentence in Konoha's prison… might as well be a death sentence.
Even a ninja would struggle to survive five years in that place.
Uchiha Sanyo confirmed the verdict with a firm tone before turning to Hiruzen.
"Lord Hokage, do you object?"
The tension in the air was palpable.
Hiruzen hesitated. He understood the weight of Uchiha Sanyo's words.
If he protested, he would appear to be covering for his sons. And in the eyes of the public, that would severely damage his credibility.
He had already lost one son because of favoritism. If he protected these two now, it would be political suicide.
But if he allowed this punishment to go unchallenged… it would be an admission of weakness.
His authority as Hokage would be undermined.
He had to find a way to maintain his influence.
"Heh. A father bears responsibility for his children's mistakes," Hiruzen finally said.
He nodded slightly.
"They have committed crimes, and punishment is necessary."
But then, he changed his approach.
"However, Captain Bai Ye—villagers—"
"These children are still young. They still have the potential to contribute to Konoha."
"At a time when we are facing a shortage of capable personnel, I believe it would be wiser to allow them to atone through service."
"Instead of imprisonment, let them fight for the village."
It was a masterful move.
A perfect balance between discipline and protection.
If Bai Ye agreed, it would mean his two sons would be spared severe punishment while still appearing to pay for their crimes.
But Bai Ye merely smirked.
"You're right, Lord Hokage. A punishment modification is acceptable."
Hiruzen blinked.
Did Bai Ye just… agree?
Had he won?
But then—
"Bring the branding iron."
Bai Ye pointed to Asuma and Shinnosuke.
"Brand them with the mark of exile."
"From this day forward, Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Sarutobi Asuma are expelled from Konoha. They will be exiled to the borders of the Land of Fire."
"They may only return if they each kill 1,000 enemy shinobi."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Hiruzen's smirk vanished.
"And one more thing," Bai Ye added, his tone chilling.
"If I hear of them harming a single civilian, for every innocent life taken, I will personally execute a member of the Sarutobi clan."
The red-hot branding iron descended.
The screams of the exiled Sarutobi sons echoed through Konoha.
Bai Ye had not just won the trial.
He had crushed the Sarutobi name.
And there was nothing Hiruzen could do about it.
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