A firm resolve

To the Security Division members, what Tsunade had just said was already outrageous. Slandering Lord Hokage was a serious enough offense to earn someone the label of "Konoha troublemaker."

Tsunade was not so easily fooled. She might have been a heavy drinker and a compulsive gambler, but her strength had not diminished in the slightest.

She could tell that those two Security Division members had genuinely intended to attack them.

"Hey, what's going on in Konoha these days? Why are there patrols everywhere?"

Tsunade had wanted to ask that question ever since arriving in Konoha. The village looked prosperous, but weren't there a few too many patrol officers on the streets?

Hong Dou smiled awkwardly and gestured for Tsunade to follow before explaining as they walked:

"Konoha has brought in a lot of outside resources recently as part of its expansion."

"Inevitably, there are some unsavory types mixed in with the newcomers, possibly even spies from other villages. That's why we've increased the patrol staff and frequency a little."

Of course, the real priority was stopping Konoha's troublemakers from indiscriminately bullying outsiders wherever they pleased.

All too often, those troublemakers were the ones poisoning the atmosphere in Konoha and ruining its reputation.

These days, the Security Division cracked down hard whenever it caught them. Serious offenders could even be expelled from Konoha.

Of course, Hong Dou did not say that aloud. Wouldn't that make it sound as though Konoha's villagers were all lunatics who couldn't go a day without bullying someone?

Tsunade looked somewhat displeased. "Then what was with their attitude toward me just now? They really seemed ready to hit me."

Behind Tsunade, Shizune hesitated to speak.

Lady Tsunade, they should count themselves lucky if you don't hit them. As if they'd ever get a chance to hit you!