Naruto: I am Uchiha Seiryu

In the Hokage's office, six captains from the Police Force stand at attention.

"Seiryu, you're quite busy tonight," the Third Hokage's eyes narrow, staring directly at Seiryu. "Even when reporting such a matter to me, you used a shadow clone?"

"This is of great importance; there was no time to report in advance. I ask for your forgiveness, Lord Hokage," Seiryu replies.

Just then, Uchiha Fugaku, standing beside Seiryu, closes his eyes. When he opens them, a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan appears.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had been about to make a move, forcibly restrains himself.

"Another pair of Mangekyō? The Uchiha really do hide things deeply," Hiruzen takes out his pipe, fills it with tobacco, lights it, and only after taking a deep puff does he speak again.

After speaking, Hiruzen glances out of the corner of his eye toward the usual hiding places of the Anbu who guard the Hokage's office—but to his surprise, the regular Anbu guards are nowhere to be seen.

"Lord Third, before you sign, we'll wait here," Seiryu says.

…

In the Hokage's advisor's office, Jiraiya faces off against Seiryu across a desk.

Jiraiya takes a deep breath and asks, "Why? Why are you doing this?"

"Why?" Seiryu repeats. "Of course it's to preserve the purity of the Will of Fire in the village."

"A coup—this is your so-called Will of Fire?" Jiraiya demands. "You'll drag the village into the abyss."

"The abyss?" Seiryu throws his head back and laughs wildly. His unrestrained laughter echoes through the office.

"And where did you get that idea, Lord Jiraiya? Or is it that ridiculous, illusory prophecy you heard from Mount Myōboku?" Seiryu finally says after laughing enough.

"You're dragging the world's future into utter chaos!" Jiraiya shouts.

"So what? Should I just sit back and do nothing, like you, watching the world's darkness, waiting for some so-called Child of Prophecy from that old toad's mouth—waiting for some vague, uncertain peace?" Seiryu retorts.

Jiraiya tries to argue, but Seiryu doesn't give him a chance.

"Toad sage, 'Konoha's gallant Jiraiya'—what a joke," Seiryu says coldly. "You've always been a coward. You've seen the world's darkness but never had the courage to face it. You swallow the childish fantasy painted by that old toad—stories even a three-year-old wouldn't believe. When the toad can't make up any more tales, you get scared."

"To me, you're as laughable as your idea of peace through mutual understanding. I didn't even want to bother with you. Both Kakashi and I are striving for true peace, but you still jump out like a clown to get in our way. Why not stay lost in the dream that old toad weaved for you, entertaining yourself?"

"You run around like a stray dog, preaching your ridiculous ideals to anyone with a bit of talent. Haven't you noticed? Whoever believes your nonsense ends up miserable! You never see the tragedy your words cause—you just shake your head and say, 'He wasn't the chosen one,' and move on to your next victim."

Jiraiya's face flushes and pales as Seiryu speaks. He tries to retort, but memories begin surfacing unbidden: Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, Minato—all those he once placed his hopes in, dying in pursuit of the ideals he espoused.

Am I really a bringer of misfortune? Did I kill them all?

Jiraiya wonders, staring dazedly at his own pale face reflected in Seiryu's Mangekyō Sharingan.

Seiryu's words tear away all pretense, laying bare the bloody reality before Jiraiya, and breaking his fragile mental defenses.

"Jiraiya, have you decided? Will you surrender and come with me to the Police, or will you fight here, dragging innocent villagers to die for your foolish prophecy?" Seiryu finishes, lightning gathering around him, soon forming a dense sea of electricity.

Jiraiya looks up at Seiryu, his hands dropping powerlessly, as if drained of all strength.

Even though his Sage Mode and Mangekyō would make a fierce combination, Jiraiya knows that if they fight here, everything within a hundred meters would be destroyed.

Will I really drag innocent villagers into this? He glances outside at the evening sun and the smoke rising from nearby homes.

Seeing this, Seiryu dissipates his lightning and approaches Jiraiya.

Seiryu weaves hand signs and, using sage chakra, applies a sealing jutsu to suppress Jiraiya's chakra. Throughout the process, Jiraiya does not resist at all.

"Let's go, Lord Jiraiya. Don't try to break the seal—you know the consequences of letting natural energy rampage inside your body," Seiryu says expressionlessly.

As Jiraiya follows Seiryu out, he notices the Anbu who should have been guarding the area now stand with Seiryu's police officers, coldly watching him.

"Inaho, Zaito, take him to the Police and treat Lord Jiraiya well. Satisfy any of his requests—except releasing him," Seiryu instructs.

"Yes!" Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Zaito bow and accept the order.

Seiryu nods and heads toward the Hokage building.

"Wait! Seiryu!" Jiraiya suddenly calls out.

Seiryu stops and looks back.

"Will you... bring peace to this world?" Jiraiya asks, his expression complex, even pleading.

"Of course. All you need to do is watch."

…

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen silently watches Jiraiya's capture. He looks up, wanting to say something, but Seiryu's shadow clone suddenly dissipates.

The next moment, Seiryu himself enters, stands before Hiruzen, and says, "Now, can you sign, Lord Third?"

Sarutobi looks up at him. "You... act first, report later, huh."

Seiryu only gives him a faint, ambiguous smile.

"If I refuse to sign, will you use your dōjutsu?" Hiruzen asks gravely.

"Why would I play my trump card in a game I've already won?" Seiryu replies with a smile.

"You think you've already won?" Hiruzen says slowly.

"Well then—let's wait and see," Seiryu smiles.

…

At the Anbu HQ, Uchiha Itachi and Nara Shikaku are buried in paperwork. Suddenly, a Yamanaka Anbu rushes in.

"Bad news, Captain Itachi, Assistant Shikaku! The Police have declared martial law in the village!" Yamanaka Masahiko reports in panic.

"What?" Itachi and Shikaku exchange shocked looks.

Itachi: "What's going on? Why martial law again? What are they up to?"

So the day has finally come?

Shikaku sighs inwardly but remains calm. "Captain Itachi, our top priority is to find out what happened."

"Agreed." Itachi calms himself and they leave the office. But outside, Itachi is stunned.

At this hour, the Anbu HQ should have at least a hundred ninja on duty, but now there are barely forty—the base is nearly empty.

"Where's everyone?" Itachi demands.

"Captain, the Police gave us a joint mission this afternoon. Most went to participate," a Sarutobi admin explains.

"What mission would need so many Anbu?" Itachi says in disbelief. "Give me the list of those involved."

The admin quickly provides the list. Itachi sees that all the members of the secret Seiryu's Inner Circle are on it.

Furthermore, the officers of two battalions and a company were taken without reporting to him. If not for the report, he wouldn't know anything.

"Yamanaka Masahiko," Itachi says, turning to the messenger.

"Yes!" Masahiko steps forward.

"Go to the Hokage building and report this to the Hokage," Itachi orders, forcing himself to stay calm.

After Masahiko leaves, Shikaku says, "Captain, it's likely the Police are staging a coup."

"No need to guess. The coup has already begun," says Yamanaka Inoichi, entering the room.

"I came as soon as I saw the Police enforcing martial law. Took some effort," Inoichi says. "On the way, I saw Lord Jiraiya being escorted by several Police officers—all Uchiha. I couldn't act rashly."

"What? They've already acted against Lord Jiraiya?" Itachi grits his teeth.

Soon, Masahiko returns with a member of the Aburame clan.

"Captain, the Hokage building is surrounded by Police and the Anbu's Second Battalion," Aburame reports.

"So this was their joint mission? To surround the Hokage building?" Itachi shouts.

"Calm down, Captain," Shikaku says, "They won't harm the Hokage. Right now, our priority is rescuing Lord Jiraiya."

"I understand," Itachi nods, looking at Shikaku and Inoichi. "How many people can we still mobilize?"

"Between our three clans, we have 24 jonin and 75 chunin at your command," says Shikaku. He's prepared to risk all their remaining strength, including himself.

"Can we assemble now?" Itachi asks.

"Of course, I'll contact Choza at the Akimichi compound," Inoichi says, calling on the radio.

Soon, Inoichi hangs up. "Our forces can assemble in twenty minutes."

"Thank you." Itachi nods, then radios the Second Battalion captain, the only jonin of the Hayate clan.

In Douguang's office, Tetsu's radio beeps.

He answers, and Itachi's barely restrained anger comes through. "Hayate! What are you doing?"

Hayate covers the radio and looks at the others. "It's Itachi."

"I'll take it," says Jonin Unit Captain Yoshimura Akito.

"Hello? Is this Captain Itachi?"

"Who are you?" Itachi's voice is clearly heard in the quiet office.