With Hatake Sakumo joining the Security Force and setting an example, ninjas from the other clans followed suit and joined as well.
The Security Force's ranks grew, and its strength increased tremendously.
They still couldn't stand against the entire Konoha High Command, but at least they were no longer being suppressed by them.
By now, all of Konoha knew that the Uchiha Clan's Security Force was incredibly powerful—even the Hokage didn't intimidate them.
And with the Security Force managing things, Konoha's businesses had become orderly.
No ninja dared to bully ordinary people's shops anymore.
Any ninja who dared to bully a shop would be arrested by the Security Force.
Even ninjas from the Hokage's clans, such as the Sarutobi and Shimura Clans, were arrested without exception.
For a while, the Uchiha and the Security Force rapidly gained the respect of ordinary people.
Those people realized that paying protection money to the Security Force wasn't such a bad deal.
At the very least, the Security Force kept them safe.
And Bai Ye's protection-money system hadn't hurt Konoha's businesses at all.
Instead, it had made them flourish.
Countless ordinary people came to Konoha to start businesses.
Some even chased after the Security Force to pay, hoping to gain the Uchiha Clan's protection.
They opened their shops near the Uchiha compound.
Konoha's businesses flourished like never before. You could buy just about anything in the village.
"Lord Bai Ye, is this the commercial street our Security Force manages?!"
"It looks amazing!"
Uchiha Mikoto followed behind Bai Ye, speaking with some surprise.
It was her first time seeing such a bustling commercial street.
"Of course. This is the power of our Uchiha Clan!"
Bai Ye spoke with great pride.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, only knew how to scheme and play politics. What did he know about development?
If Hiruzen Sarutobi had really been so capable, he wouldn't have let Konoha fall into such a mess.
As someone who had crossed over, Bai Ye had lived through the information explosion of his previous life.
Although he wasn't an expert in development,
a few policies picked at random were enough to put this world several versions behind.
"Lord Bai Ye, you're truly amazing..."
Uchiha Mikoto gazed at him with admiration.
Of course, although Bai Ye's policies had promoted Konoha's development, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Konoha High Command could hardly be happy about it.
It was all thanks to the Uchiha Clan.
The stronger and more prosperous the Uchiha Clan became, the angrier they got.
Bai Ye could draw plenty of Negative Energy from them every day.
Just as the two of them were strolling down the street, a commotion broke out in the distance.
"Catch her! Catch that person!"
"Don't let her get away!"
"She dares to make trouble right under the Security Force's noses..."
"We absolutely can't let her escape!"
"..."
Amid the commotion, a little girl with blonde hair in twin tails came running from afar in a panic.
Her lively eyes darted around, taking in her surroundings.
While no one was looking, she ducked under a snack vendor's stall beside Bai Ye and hid.
A moment later, several Security Force ninjas came running after her.
"Lord Bai Ye, Miss Mikoto..."
The Security Force members hurriedly greeted Bai Ye and Mikoto when they spotted them.
"What are you doing?"
Bai Ye asked curiously.
"Lord Bai Ye, we're apprehending a criminal!"
"Someone caused a disturbance at the casino and refused to pay her debt. We're chasing her now..."
The Security Force members quickly explained.
"Hm... Who would dare make trouble right under the Security Force's noses?"
Bai Ye asked, puzzled.
Ever since he had taken control of the Security Force, few people had dared to challenge it.
"We're not sure. This person moves incredibly fast..."
"All we saw was that she had blonde hair..."
"We were about to check near the Yamanaka Clan's compound to see if she was one of their ninjas..."
The Security Force members continued.
"I see. Carry on!"
"Don't let anyone who dares to disrupt Konoha get away!"
Bai Ye waved them on, and the Security Force members immediately left to continue their search.
"A casino, blonde hair... Could it be her?!"
"It must be..."
A certain blonde, notorious gambler came to mind.
And that notorious gambler was none other than Tsunade.
If Bai Ye remembered correctly, Tsunade loved gambling and was often chased by creditors because she was broke.
Of course, Tsunade was also very experienced at evading her creditors.
Every time, she used the Transformation Technique to turn into a little blonde girl and escape them.
"Interesting. Tsunade, is it?"
Bai Ye immediately grew interested.
With that, he walked toward the stall.
"Hey, little girl, you can come out now. The people chasing you have already left..."
Bai Ye called out.
"Phew... I can finally breathe!"
At the sound of Bai Ye's voice, the little blonde girl crawled out from under the stall.
"Thank you! You're such a nice person!"
The little girl said with an innocent look.
"Haha... Of course. We members of the Uchiha Clan are all good people..."
Bai Ye said with a laugh.
"The Uchiha Clan?! You're from the Uchiha Clan?!"
At Bai Ye's words, the little blonde girl frowned.
Only then did she notice the Uchiha crest on Bai Ye's clothes.
At the same time, Bai Ye felt a wave of Negative Energy coming straight at him.
[System: Detected Tsunade's disdain, +50 Negative Energy...]
"Heh, as expected, this little blonde girl is Tsunade..."
Bai Ye looked at the little blonde girl before him with ill intent.
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