Chapter 89: Handle According to the Rules

"If Sir Shisui intervenes, that would be perfect."

"Hearing Shisui's words, Xiaoquan May instantly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling her spine straighten considerably."

"You two go first to the shop and keep watch; later, under cover of night, bring the people in, don't cause a panic. After tonight's interrogation, confirm their identities tomorrow and then send them back."

"Yes!"

"Um, I've already mopped the floor three times, painted the walls five times, cleaned the cell four times—anything else you need me to do?"

"While the two were negotiating, a teenage boy with a pot‑lid on his head suddenly darted out; he balanced a mop on his head, a brush hanging from one foot, a broom in one hand, and hopped forward on one leg."

"Well, you don't need to clean that many times. Forget it, you may leave."

"Hui twitched the corner of his mouth; seeing his appearance, he really didn't feel like saying much."

"Really? Hahaha, the Konoha's Azure Beast is finally back! Youth! Let's make up today's thirty rounds of handstand walking!"

"Just now on the road I think I saw Senior Kai—how great, a man like a blazing sun; being near him, even winter doesn't feel that cold."

"After seeing the two off, Hui sat in the lobby for a moment longer, and Shisui hurried over soon after."

"Senior Kai?"

"Listening to Shisui, Hui was somewhat shocked, his mind repeatedly recalling the man's appearance just now."

"Huh? Brother Hui didn't know? That Senior Kai back then, along with Brother Daizu and Senior Kakashi, were in the same class; his father was the Senior Mai Te Dai who single‑handedly defeated the Seven Fog Ninjas."

"What?"

"Hui's eyes widened enormously, his face full of disbelief as he stared at Shisui; seeing Shisui's serious expression, he had to accept the reality."

"That kind of guy could actually be Senior Mai Te Dai's son—does that look right?"

"Shisui pondered; although he wasn't familiar with Mai Te Dai, a person with such a distinctive personality is hard to forget even from a distant glance."

"Comparing Mai Te Dai with Mai Te Kai in his mind, Shisui concluded, 'They look almost identical.'"

"No way—does Senior Mai Te Dai also have that kind of personality?"

"Yes, quite nice, right?"

"If that's true, perhaps inviting that guy into the Police Department wouldn't be bad."

"But everyone might find it hard to get used to."

"The two kept talking and arrived at the prison; Hui handed the registration book to Shisui, then went alone to the cell to fetch the chubby man they had just captured."

"Why is he beaten like this? Is his mouth also gagged?"

"The chubby man's appearance was rather pitiful; his limbs had been removed, his mouth stuffed with a rag, and now that he had woken up, he whined at Hui."

"I'll help him reconnect."

"For the upcoming interrogation, the two weren't afraid the suspect would flee, so Hui set about restoring his limbs and pulling off the rag."

"Sir, Sir, save me! Sir, I know I've erred, give me another chance! I'll immediately lower prices together with my peers, Sir, I truly know I've erred!"

"As soon as he was restored, the chubby man pleaded with a terrified expression."

"Shisui watched Hui curiously, but Hui understood the meaning behind the words and ignored them, instead sitting beside Shisui, picking up the book with a businesslike demeanor."

"Name."

"Sir, it's me—I'm Tu Feili, a sugar merchant representative, your loyal subordinate~"

"Hui raised an eyebrow, his voice low: 'Answer exactly what I ask; if you babble, I'll sentence you to death!'"

"Yes, yes, yes, I won't dare!"

"For ordinary villagers, the Police Department's authority is unimaginable; possessing the power to sentence directly, Hui's pen and paper can bring a head down."

"Shisui said nothing, merely sitting quietly beside them."

"Age."

"42."

"How many family members remain, and are they in the village?"

"I have an eighty‑year‑old mother, a wife, five daughters and a son; they all live on East Shining Path back home, only three little girls and my eldest son stay with me in Konoha."

"I recall your mother being only sixty; if you keep speaking nonsense, watch your head."

"Huh? Yes, I recorded it wrong—she's sixty. Tu Feili's face changed, his heart turned to ash, he nodded repeatedly. 'Alright, now get to the point: do you know why I captured you while other sugar merchants aren't honestly lowering prices?'"

"Tu Feili lowered his head, his body unable to stop fidgeting."

"Speak truthfully; don't think of dragging me into it. Considering our past ties, I can still protect your family's lives; if it's too late, I'm afraid your entire family will vanish."

"Yes."

"Tu Feili looked up, gazing at the two Uchihas, knowing that even if he stayed silent they'd extract the truth, so he resignedly began to recount everything."

"Kidnapping and trafficking children!"

"Shisui sprang up, glaring at Tu Feili with uncontainable fury; he had thought it was just a minor hoarding issue, never expecting such a filthy trade."

"Speak, who is the buyer?"

"No, I don't know; each time they trade they wear masks. I only know they must be ninjas. I even sent warriors to tail them, but the next morning I woke to find my subordinate's head hung on my bedside; since then I dared not inquire further."

"Tu Feili shook his head repeatedly, his expression terrified."

"Shisui couldn't hold back, immediately pulling the suspect into a genjutsu, swiftly grasping the whole story."

"Hui sat nearby, and once Shisui reacted, asked, 'What did you see, did you identify who it was?'"

"Shisui's face turned ashen, his voice low as he replied, 'Root!'"

"Although the mask was different, that chilling aura, seen once by Shisui, confirmed it was definitely Root's doing."

"Hui immediately stepped forward, helping Tu Feili engage the genjutsu, and asked, 'How many did you sell, in total?'"

"Both large and small, inside and outside the village, roughly dozens of people; after deducting commissions and expenses, I earned about eight hundred thousand taels."

"How should we deal with it?"

Hui turned to look at Shisui. Shisui's expression was dark, and he shot a hard glance at Tu Feili, saying word by word: "Handle it by the rules!"

"Understood."

Hui nodded, then lifted the earth‑fat stone that let out a pig‑slaughter‑like wail and threw it back into the prison.

"Spare me, sir, spare me!"

Shisui ignored the other's wail and walked straight out of the Police Department.

"He has a secret warehouse out in the suburbs; the secret room on the street only has the few people we just captured, most are in the secret warehouse, so let's go rescue them first."

After Hui finished handling it and came out, Shisui suggested.

Hui looked at the sky and asked, "Should we call for more people? The Root folks are hard to deal with."

"No need. The situation is special right now; this matter can't be blown up, otherwise it will drag in more trouble. We'll handle it privately."

Shisui gritted his teeth; though he wanted to sweep Root clean with men, for the greater picture he could only endure.

Hui glanced at Shisui's expression and still suggested, "Then we should tell Uncle Yi."

"Alright."

Shisui sighed, nodded in agreement, summoned his crow to relay the message, and the two set off toward the suburbs.

The secret warehouse is located west of Hokage Rock, where mountains and forests lie; it's very remote and concealed.

Following the image in his memory, Shisui quickly found the destination.

"There, a hidden stone gate stands, and inside are three warriors."

Shisui led the way, soon found the mechanism and opened the gate; when the stone gate opened, startled cries came from within.

"Why are you coming only now? The people must have brought you, hurry up, or we'll miss the appointed time."

A figure emerged from the darkness, carrying an oil lamp toward the entrance.

The faint light in the night outlined Shisui's slender form; his blood‑red eyes still glittered in the darkness.

"Red eyes? Bad!"

Even ordinary people have heard the legend of the Copy Wheel Eye; a brief eye contact made the newcomer gasp in alarm, sensing something wrong, but before he could act, he let out a whimper, clutched his throat, and fell to the ground unable to rise.

Blood gushed gurgling from his throat; as he lingered, he saw a figure leap over his corpse and rush into the secret room.

(End of chapter)