Chapter 173:
"Naruto, are you okay?"
In the Fox Spirit Cave beneath the Namikaze Estate.
Ever since he returned to hold a funeral for Sakura Haruno, Naruto had been staying in the cave, spending his days with Orochimaru.
"Don't worry, Sasuke, I'm fine," Naruto said, dark circles under his eyes. "I've just come to understand a few things. Sasuke, maybe you were right—Konoha really does need a revolution."
Looking at Naruto, Sasuke could clearly sense in that moment that the person before him was no longer human, but a fox.
A week passed.
Konoha had grown eerily quiet.
During this time, the Vigilante Fox had gone on a rampage, picking fights everywhere. All the darkness in Konoha had gone into hiding. Even the average villagers didn't dare raise their voices in public.
Hokage's Office
"I've had enough! Just what the hell is that Vigilante Fox doing?!"
Tsunade slammed her hand on the desk—yet another one broken within just three days of being replaced.
"Because of the Vigilante Fox's actions, Konoha's economy has dropped by about thirty percent," said Hiashi Hyūga.
"We have to arrest him. The Vigilante Fox will destroy Konoha," said Koharu Utatane, leaning heavily on her cane.
"What should we do?" Tsunade asked.
"...Join forces with other factions and take him down together," said Homura Mitokado.
Thus, Konoha's Special Security Squad was formed.
Members: Neji Hyūga, Jarlock Holmes, Sarada Watson, Sasuke Uchiha, Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi.
The squad reported directly to the Konoha leadership. Shikamaru was appointed captain, with Ino and Choji as vice-captains.
"Didn't expect our first mission to be such a pain." Shikamaru scanned the report in his hand. "...Apprehend the Vigilante Fox on charges of threatening Konoha's public safety. But that's not the main point. The real surprise is you, Sasuke—you actually joined us? Honestly, working with you makes me feel like I'm a criminal too."
"I told you long ago—I want to change Konoha. I want to do something for this village. You guys just never believed me." Sasuke didn't mind Shikamaru's blunt remark at all.
"...Sasuke, this is just a guess, but you know who the Vigilante Fox really is, don't you?" Shikamaru stared at him.
After a moment's hesitation, Sasuke nodded and glanced at Jarlock Holmes beside him. "Yeah, it was Jarlock Holmes who told me."
"Who is he?" Neji asked with a frown. Knowing the Vigilante Fox's real identity would make arresting him far easier.
Sasuke shook his head. "I'll help you catch him, but not like this… If he committed crimes as the Vigilante Fox, then he must face justice as the Vigilante Fox."
Shikamaru nodded. "Right. When the time comes, we'll rip off his mask in front of all of Konoha and make sure the whole village sees who he really is."
Late night in Konoha.
The usually quiet streets were suddenly filled with the roar of an engine.
"Target sighted—Second Avenue of Konoha, heading east toward Central Street. He's about to hit the next intersection," Neji reported into his earpiece, Byakugan activated.
"Got it," Shikamaru replied. "He's almost in the trap. Everyone, get ready. Choji, we're counting on you."
"Yeah, leave it to me," Choji said from the rooftop, watching the Vigilante Fox's vehicle speed toward him. "Ninja Art: Human Bullet Tank!"
As Choji leapt from the rooftop, his body rapidly expanded. His head and limbs withdrew into his torso, turning him into a spinning ball hurtling toward the Vigilante Fox's car.
With a powerful crash, the car was sent flying—and the Vigilante Fox ejected himself just in time.
"Be careful, everyone," Shikamaru warned.
"Shikamaru, Sasuke… and Jarlock Holmes, Sarada Watson, and Neji—what are you all doing?"
"Sorry, Vigilante Fox…"
Before Shikamaru could finish, Jarlock Holmes stepped forward, pointing at the Vigilante Fox. "You've violated Konoha's Justice Act, Article Zero: Threats to Public Order. As a member of the Konoha Special Security Squad, I, Jarlock Holmes, hereby strip you of all rights. Surrender now!"
"..." Shikamaru stared blankly at Jarlock Holmes, then sighed and nodded. "Yeah, more or less that. Don't make this harder than it has to be, Vigilante Fox."
"...Fox Armor, upgrade!"
With a press of a button on his belt, an ominous red chakra began pouring out of the Vigilante Fox.
"Everyone, be careful..." Shikamaru began forming hand seals. "Shadow Paralysis Jutsu!"
His shadow linked with the Vigilante Fox's, binding both of them in place.
"Hurry, everyone—Shikamaru can't hold on long!" Ino warned. She cast Mind Body Switch Jutsu, trying to invade the Vigilante Fox's mind and ease the burden on Shikamaru.
Inside the darkness of the mind
Ino looked around warily until something behind her caught her eye—a terrifying fox face.
The Nine Tails opened its mouth wide and swallowed Ino whole.
"Are you okay, Ino?" Sasuke asked, watching her fall into a daze beside him.
"The jutsu must've failed… Her mind's taken a hit," Shikamaru said, trembling. "This is bad—I'm reaching my limit… Everyone, get out of the way!"
As soon as Shikamaru shouted, the Vigilante Fox let out a feral roar, breaking free of the jutsu. Crimson chakra bubbles surged from his body.
He crouched down, and the leaking chakra began forming into the shape of a fox.
"He really is a monster…" Shikamaru muttered, eyes grim as he stared at the beast-like figure in front of him.
"He's lost control. Be on alert," Sasuke warned. "Sarada, I'm counting on you to look after Ino."
The deranged Vigilante Fox threw his head back and roared, then launched a Tailed Beast Bomb straight at the group.
"Get out of the way!"
One blast leveled nearly a tenth of Konoha's buildings.
"Everyone okay?" Shikamaru asked, still shaken as he looked around.
"We're fine… But Neji seems to have died in that blast," said Jarlock Holmes, holding Sarada under one arm and a stunned Ino under the other.
Shikamaru nodded. Given the scale of that attack, losing only one person was something he could accept.
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