Punishments

Rayzen was brought to the patriarch's house under the entourage of the police force. On the way, he heard many false rumours about him being violent and attacking kids and the police force ruthlessly. The attitude of the people, that he saw on the way, was different. Some loathed him and some lauded him, while the greater rest looked at all this like they were watching an interesting show.

Rayzen was amazed by how quickly the false rumours about him spread. This alerted him to how fast and how low the extremists were going to achieve their goals.

He was not disheartened by this incident, but rather, he was blaming himself for how poorly he had battled the entire day against the extremists and their puppets.

' Although I placed countless restrictions on myself, still, I could have fought better! I had fought while risking a lot this time and made many mistakes. It seems I lack battle experience. Lucky for me, that guy was just a chunin! If he had been a Jonin and I went and chopped his neck to knock him out, the chances of retaining my life would have been low! '

As they reached and waited infront of the patriarch's house, Rayzen became the centre of attention until the patriarch came out a few minutes later.

" Greetings Patriarch! "

Everyone including Rayzen bowed to him.

He glanced over everyone indifferently and then spoke to Ryobu:

" Why have you all assembled infront of my abode? "

Ryobu reported to the patriarch :

" Reporting to the patriarch. We had received complaint against Uchiha Rayzen for bullying kids of his academy year and above and also injuring a Genin. The members of police force that went to detain him was under Uchiha Juichi. As you can see, the members of his team including Juichi were beaten ruthlessly by him. "

Patriarch looked at Rayzen while barely able to conceal his smile. He then harshly spoke towards Juichi :

" Aren't you a Chunin ashamed to come before me to gripe after getting taken care of by a mere academy kid ? "

Yachi spoke out for his son: " But patri- "

The patriarch looked at him in disdain and interrupted him as he said :

" Even though you are an elder, that doesn't mean you could spout out some excuse for this! "

He then looked at Ryobu and said :

" Since you have the accused detained, why are you wasting my time instead of punishing him under the laws we abide by. "

Rayzen answered before Ryobu could :

" That's because they might have guilty conscience in doing so many bad things to a kid under the orders of certain megalomaniacs! "

Ryobu and the entire police force present there was angered by the remark and he was about to say something to Rayzen when Yachi scolded the latter:

" Insolence! How dare you speak nonsense before the patriarch? "

Rayzen looked coldly at Yachi and said :

" Nonsense? Why? Did I poke you at the right spot to get such a reaction? Besides, don't we brats learn our manners from our elders. Earlier you spoke before spoken to. So how could I violate the behaviour that you set as an example for us! "

The patriarch laughed out and then spoke coldly to Rayzen :

" You have your way with your tongue, kid! But, that doesn't redeem you from the fact that I didn't allow you to speak. Yachi could do so since he is an elder. Are you an elder, kid, to dare speak before this patriarch with your silver tongue? "

" My apologies, patriarch! " Rayzen bowed in apology. He realised that he was making it difficult for the patriarch, if he spoke out of his turn. The patriarch can't openly go against the extremists, as that would spark a series of rebellion, one that may end up with him overthrown or in the least possible case, assassinated! Hence the patriarch already had it difficult to find a way to diffuse this situation while being neutral for appearance sake.

Yachi looked smugly at him while he held the heavily injured Juichi on his shoulders. Juichi too had a certain expression on his face, but what it was, was known only to him. Since his contorted face due to the injuries, made the emotions it showed enigmatic.

The patriarch looked at Ryobu and said :

" Continue! "

Being interrupted a lot of times, he was irritated by both Rayzen and Yachi. But he didn't dare to show it on his face in the presence of the patriarch.

" The accused, Rayzen, claims that he was plotted by some people and the police force was corrupted and used for these people's purpose. He also claims that there was an eye witness who might be forced to not report. Seeing that elder Yachi had attacked Rayzen with a torturing genjutsu in our presence and threw a kunai aimed at his Sharingan, the accused has become a victim for the exact case he was previously charged with! Also Rayzen had used the same jutsu on Juichi just after breaking out of it. We request the patriarch to make a fair judgement and save the honour of the Konoha Military Police Force! "

The patriarch seemed to be thinking for a moment after which he nodded at Ryobu:

" Since the attack was on the Uchiha grounds and as the person in charge of the Konoha Military Police Force, my interference is required. "

He spoke to Rayzen while the imposing aura of being the one in charge was radiating from every aspect of him, from his voice to attitude to appearance:

" Uchiha Rayzen, how do you plead for the crimes you were accused of? "

Rayzen spoke respectfully:

" I plead my innocence! "

He scrutinized Rayzen as he said:

" Have you no proof? Where is the witness you mentioned? "

Rayzen looked around to see Mikoto who was about to jump out, from her hiding spot in the crowd, and spoke immediately:

" I apologise to the patriarch for speaking nonsense. There was no eye witness! But I have learnt from the books that you can read a person's memories using Sharingan! I humbly request the patriarch to read Juichi's mind first followed by mine. "

The patriarch scolded Rayzen: " How dare you make false claims of an eye witness? For this you will be punished separately! As for the case of reading memories through Sharingan, using such a technique on the clansmen is regarded as a taboo. And the laws of the clan can't be bend for a mere brat! "

Rayzen was shocked by this revelation. He was banking everything on this one point. Once the patriarch read the memories of Juichi, he could have gained proof of his innocence as well as insights into the extremists and their moves.

Yachi laughed at Rayzen as he mocked: " Were you planning to break the rules of the clan to prove your innocence? How pathetic! "

' Yes! It's truly pathetic! It would have been better if I just killed you and your son, you old toad! '

His thoughts turned from anger to self - realisation.

' I have been careless in my actions due to my increasing strength! Having not reached the point of being strong enough to change the ways of the world according to my will, I need to follow the rules and act smart, if I don't want to be played to death! '

The patriarch didn't say silent as he lashed out at Yachi :

" What are you laughing for? You have been proven guilty for attacking him, a mere academy kid! Your punishments will be much severe than his! Whereas, according to the traditions of our clan he should have been rewarded and praised for his excellent combat ability!"

The patriarch looked over everyone and announced loudly: " As the patriarch of the Uchiha clan and the head of Konoha Military Police Force, I declare both Uchiha Rayzen and Uchiha Yachi guilty of their crimes. "

He looked at Yachi in disdain and spoke while pointing at him:

" Uchiha Yachi! You used your years of experience and prowess to torture an academy kid. This is insulting our clan that takes pride in our strength of being unmatched in battle. As an elder instead of guiding, you have misused your powers. There is no excuse for using a torturing jutsu in the name of subduing a rebellious kid! As such your decision making authority as a clan elder has been revoked! "

Yachi couldn't take in the fact that his position of power, that he climbed to by doing a lot of questionable and difficult things, was lost so suddenly. Hence he spoke in denial:

" This can't be possible! You can't do that! I - "

The patriarch looked at Yachi carefully as he released his killing intent :

" Are you challenging the words of this patriarch, Yachi? I won't take such indiscretion kindly! Think carefully before your answer! "

Yachi was shocked out of wits by the intense killing intent of the patriarch. It was not him alone, all the people were affected by it, even though it was not directed at them. This was especially so for people who have never killed like Rayzen, Mikoto and many others in the crowd.

Rayzen even felt fear and had to take his time to adjust and calm his nervous heart.

' He is very powerful! Much more than I imagined! '

He was surprised to see Mikoto was much better off than him, although she appeared to be comfortable.

The members of the police force didn't have a sliver of fear, nor the other members of the clan! In their eyes, there was only respect for the powerful patriarch.

Yachi instantly acquisised as soon as he was about to be crushed mentally by the patriarch's killing intent:

" No- No! I apologise... I sincerely apologise! I respect the patriarch's decision and will accept this punishment as an opportunity to reform myself for the betterment of the clan! "

He knew that the patriarch was looking for an opportunity to eliminate extremists and he was not an idiot to clean up his neck for the executioner.

As the patriarch restrained his killing intent, Yachi was then able to see the members of the police force sheathing their weapons and putting back the kunai in their holster. It was then he realised they, atleast most of them, would have made a move before the patriarch.

Rayzen also noticed this. Particularly he noted the faces of those few members of the Police Force who expressed their intention to take action a bit late.

The patriarch snorted : " A wise choice! "

He then gazed at Rayzen with the same intensity as the time he charged Yachi with punishment. He proclaimed:

" Uchiha Rayzen! You have been charged with the crime of harrassing a group of academy students and a Genin, resisting against the police force while severely beating up their team and particularly injuring their Chunin team leader, Uchiha Juichi. You have also dared to use the same torturing genjutsu you were subjected to on Juichi under the watch of the police force. You also had the gall to make false claims of a witness infront of the patriarch. In consideration of your immense potential and battle capabilities, and the fact that you awakened a two tomoe Sharingan at such a young age, your punishment will be reduced. Seeing that you stained the honour of the police force by your baseless accusations, you are hereby ordered to join the Konoha Military Police Force, just as you graduate. Furthermore, you must work for an year without any payment, whenever you are free from your ninja duties. The sentence will be subject to reduction and extension based on your results in the police force. "

" Disperse! Rayzen stay back! I'll have to instruct you properly on the rules of our clan. We don't want a genius ninja to be wasted due to ignorance! "

As everyone left under his instruction, the patriarch went back inside. Rayzen followed him in, a few moments later. He went inside after informing Takeshi and Mikoto that he will talk to them later.