Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 443 Trial

"The defendant, Uchiha Itachi, male, born on June 9, 47th year of Konoha, is a ninja from Konoha Village in the Land of Fire."

"On the night of May 15, 58, the defendant committed a crime in the Uchiha clan territory of Konoha, killing a total of 5 Uchiha clan members, including his parents."

"The defendant is guilty of intentional homicide, which is a heinous crime. However, because he possessed the mission scroll, he was not the mastermind of the case and was an accomplice. He is sentenced to life imprisonment and deprived of his political rights for life."

"Does the defendant accept the verdict?"

"I obey."

This was the shortest trial since the birth of "Hui." The evidence had been gradually pieced together over the long years, and the defendant showed no resistance whatsoever, not even requesting a defense. Seated in the audience were all the remaining Uchiha clan members still living in Hokushin. Their hatred had been worn down by the passage of time and the wonders of the world, and they had long since seen through the fate of ninjas. As long as they remained in the old world, they would have to build the history of ninjas with blood.

The Uchiha clan was merely a victim of history, and Itachi was simply a scapegoat thrust into the limelight. But that doesn't mean his crimes can be forgiven. The Uchiha were willing to accept their clansmen and lead him to a new world, but only if he could repay his countless blood debts.

The verdict has been handed down, but due to the current tense situation in the ninja world, they cannot send Itachi outside of Hokushin. Itachi is an Uchiha with the Mangekyou Sharingan, and will soon upgrade it to the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. His combat power is an indispensable part of "Hikari." If he were to be discovered by White Zetsu or other people in the ninja world outside, it would be very troublesome. Itachi will only be sent to his place of imprisonment after this storm has passed.

Itachi dared not raise his head; he felt his clan probably didn't want to see him. This was an outcome he had never imagined: the souls that had wailed under his blade had returned to this world in another form, sitting together to judge his sins. He had no complaints; this was the treatment he had expected to receive in hell, only now it had come a little earlier, while he was still alive.

There's nothing wrong with that; on the contrary, he's so grateful that there really is a way to undo his mistakes in this world.

He walked past his parents, his closest friends, and his clansmen, head bowed. The entire hall was eerily silent; everyone seemed to be watching him, perhaps even hating him…

As he walked out of that door, his path was suddenly blocked by a hand. He followed the hand and saw a young face. He couldn't remember who it was, but the other person remembered him.

Is it coming? This is what he deserves...

"A life sentence doesn't mean you'll never get out. Aren't you a prodigy? Show some good behavior, and stop looking so gloomy."

...?

"What's with that look? I was still killed by your blade in one strike. I was just outmatched, I can accept defeat." The Uchiha turned his head away, muttering loudly as he passed by, "I've done so many good deeds that I managed to reduce my five-year sentence to just one and a half years!"

"Yao, you're still bragging about being in jail! That's only because our Lord Jinlun is soft-hearted and let you off the hook. Get lost!"

"okay."

Watching the young man disappear in a flash, Itachi was completely bewildered. He was pulled forward before he could catch up. When he was taken into the house, he was greeted by his mother rushing towards him. He also saw many familiar faces. Only then did he turn around as if waking from a dream, only to see the Uchiha clan members who had brought him closing the door with solemn expressions and leaving as if they had done nothing.

"Itachi, don't worry too much. Your imprisonment will have to wait until the ninja world is stable. Let's get your eyes healed first." Mikoto was truly exhausted, both physically and mentally. The return of her two children should have been a good thing, but the price she paid was so painful. Fortunately, both children had someone to help them and soothe their emotions; otherwise, she would probably have been the one to break down.

It's precisely because her impure body has no potential for growth that she would have been able to awaken the Kaleidoscope Sharingan.

The weasel responded blankly, the courage he displayed in front of his clansmen completely vanishing in front of his family.

Fugaku had been busy out of town, but he made a special trip back for Itachi's trial. Seeing his son confess without saying anything, he felt helpless but also relieved. At least Itachi was someone who dared to take responsibility, and his tough stance hadn't disgraced his family.

However, he didn't really get along with his own children when he was alive. After he died, he was either working or on his way to work. The only child he had the most contact with was Naruto, who could comfort them. He really didn't know how to comfort people.

"...Don't overthink it, they all know the truth, it's not entirely your fault." Fugaku managed to squeeze out a few words of justice, but was immediately taken aback by the tears welling up in Itachi's eyes.

The leader, who was said to be named Kinrin, stepped forward and gave Fugaku a hard shove, and the family huddled together like that.

Unable to intervene, Shisui watched helplessly, then moved a few steps to Jinlun's side and whispered, "Do you think I'll get beaten up if I go over there now?"

"...You have to choose the right time to join in the fun." Jinlun subconsciously touched his waist, but there was no familiar feel there.

"But I really want to go there."

Jinlun's face fell, and he said, "...If you say another word, I'll throw you out."

Shisui gave him a resentful look and said, "You've been getting more and more irritable lately. You used to call me Shisui-nii. Is it because Sasuke's real brother has returned that you're treating him differently?"

Jinlun gritted his teeth and finally managed to put on a smile, though it still looked quite ferocious.

"Brother Zhishui, their family is having a reunion. What are you doing standing here watching? Please leave."

"You're here too, so why can't I? I'm Itachi's...best friend, best friend! Do you understand?"

Jinlun, unable to bear it any longer, grabbed Zhishui's braid at the back of his head, opened the door, and dragged him out.

Fugaku glanced over at the commotion and silently admired Naruto, thinking how incredibly perceptive he was as the leader of "Radiance," immediately spotting Shisui's ulterior motives towards his son. He'd been punished for that, hadn't he? Let him insist on coming in!

However, Mikoto silently shed tears on Itachi's shoulder, because she knew that the person who walked out was not Naruto at all, but Sasuke, who had been forced to return from Mount Myōboku. This trial concerned the entire Uchiha clan, and Lord Kinrin had to appear. Even if he sat silently below the judge's bench, he could demonstrate the fairness of this trial.

Sasuke came because Naruto wanted to see the trial.

"By the way, I heard from Lord Hashirama that you confronted Sasuke? But the intelligence department said Sasuke hasn't returned to Konoha. He's neither in Konoha nor here, so where did he go?"

Jinlun raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you need to see him?"

Zhishui looked Jinlun up and down with an "I knew it" expression and said, "Could it be that he rejected you, which is why you're so irritable?"

Jinlun's face darkened again, and he squeezed out the answer through gritted teeth, "Mount Myōboku."

"Oh~ I see. You'd better make the most of this opportunity, kid~" Zhishui patted Jinlun on the shoulder and walked away gracefully.

"What exactly is Brother Zhishui talking about? What does he want me to grasp?"

"He's talking nonsense, don't listen to him."