Shop Closed, People Arrested

The weapons shop owner came forward and asked Uchiha En and the others, "What can I get for you, members of the Uchiha Clan?"

"Our Shimura Weapons Shop has the finest weapons in all of Konoha."

"Look at this kunai—it's incredibly sturdy. And this Ninja Sword—it's incredibly sharp."

The weapons shop owner tried to sell his wares to Uchiha En.

"Are you the owner of this weapons shop?"

Uchiha En asked.

"That's right. I'm Shimura Dankou, the owner of this weapons shop. Is there something you need?"

Shimura Dankou continued.

Shimura Dankou was Shimura Danzō's cousin. He hadn't been very talented as a ninja.

So he had opened a weapons shop in Konoha.

It helped fund the Shimura Clan's growth and the construction of Shimura Danzō's Root Organization.

"On behalf of Konoha's Security Force, I'm here to collect protection money from your shop."

Uchiha En said coldly.

"Protection money? What protection money?"

"I've never heard of Konoha collecting protection money."

Shimura Dankou asked, frowning in confusion.

"This is a rule our Security Force has just established."

"Every shop in Konoha will have to pay protection money. Our Uchiha Clan's Security Force will protect your businesses."

Uchiha En looked at Shimura Dankou as he spoke.

"Protect us? We don't need that!"

"Our weapons shop doesn't need the Uchiha Clan's protection."

Shimura Dankou refused without hesitation.

The Shimura Clan was now a major clan in Konoha, and Shimura Danzō was one of Konoha's top officials.

Since when did a weapons shop opened by the Shimura Clan need protection from the Uchiha Clan?

"Enough talk. Pay up. We still have to visit the next shop."

"Are you planning to defy the Security Force's rules?"

Uchiha En said impatiently.

"What Security Force rules? I don't know anything about that."

"I only follow orders from Konoha. I won't pay this protection money."

Shimura Dankou refused without hesitation.

The Uchiha Clan might be one of Konoha's elite clans, but the Shimura Clan wasn't some small clan either.

And the leader of their clan, Shimura Danzō, was one of Konoha's top officials.

Other people might fear the Uchiha Clan, but the Shimura Clan didn't!

"Looks like you don't intend to follow the Security Force's rules."

Uchiha En looked at Shimura Dankou, his tone hostile.

"Right. The Shimura Clan only follows orders from Konoha."

Shimura Dankou said fearlessly.

Seeing Shimura Dankou's attitude, Uchiha En immediately changed his tone.

"We've received a report that your weapons shop is suspected of smuggling weapons!"

"Take him in and question him thoroughly!"

"How dare you smuggle weapons in Konoha? You clearly don't take our Security Force seriously!"

"..."

Uchiha En waved his hand. The Uchiha Clan ninja behind him immediately sprang into action and seized Shimura Dankou.

"Let go! What are you doing?"

"The weapons we sell in our shop have all been approved by Konoha's High Command!"

"My cousin is Shimura Danzō. You dare arrest me?"

Shimura Dankou shouted and struggled.

"Hmph, you're still resisting?"

"Danzō? I don't know anyone by that name."

Uchiha En slapped the shop owner and knocked him unconscious.

"Take him away and seal off the whole shop."

"Let's go to the next one."

"Yes, Deputy Captain."

A few minutes later, the Nara Clan's pharmacy next door was shut down for selling counterfeit medicine, and its shop was sealed off as well.

Next, the Akimichi Clan's Barbecue Restaurant was closed over food safety concerns.

Uchiha En worked quickly. In just a few days, he had already sealed off most of the Uchiha Clan's shops.

All the shop owners had been locked up, too.

These shops had all been opened by ninja clans.

They couldn't afford to provoke the Uchiha Clan's Security Force, so ordinary shopkeepers had no choice but to pay when it demanded protection money.

Only shops owned by these major clans had ninja clans backing them. Their owners had refused to pay, confident that they could get away with it.

The Security Force didn't let them off easy. It sealed their shops and arrested their people.

While the Security Force was carrying out its operations, Bai Ye was lying there sunbathing. A string of notification chimes kept sounding in his ears.

[ Ding! Detected Shimura Dankou's anger. +100 Negative Energy, Ninjutsu +2... ]

[ Ding! Detected Nara Shikatan's anger. +100 Negative Energy, Genjutsu +1... ]

[ Ding! Detected Akimichi Daitei's anger. +100 Negative Energy, Taijutsu +2... ]

[ ... ]

"Lying here and raking in Negative Energy is just too satisfying."

Watching his Negative Energy keep increasing, Bai Ye thought excitedly.

Bai Ye had made such a big show of collecting protection money not just to get cash, but also to gain Negative Energy.

"Lord Bai Ye, here's the list of shops we've sealed."

"Five-tenths belonged to the Sarutobi Clan. Next came the Shimura Clan, the Mito Clan, and the Utatane Clan. The Ino-Shika-Cho Clans and several others made up the rest."

Uchiha En said as he held the document in his hand.

"The Sarutobi Clan? The Shimura Clan? The Mito Clan? The Utatane Clan?"

"Those are the clans the top officials of Konoha come from, aren't they? I never imagined those people had gotten their hands on so much."

Bai Ye looked at the information on the document, surprised.

The Sarutobi Clan: Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The Shimura Clan: Shimura Danzō.

The Mito Clan: Mitokado Homura.

The Utatane Clan: Utatane Koharu.

All four of them had once been students and guards of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

During the Great Ninja War, Tobirama Senju had fallen in battle. The four of them had survived despite being his guards.

In the end, they had become Konoha's top officials and seized control of the village.

Bai Ye had known for a long time that Konoha's top officials were no good.

Still, he hadn't expected them to be so greedy.

They had actually taken control of most of Konoha's shops.