Police Force Daily Routine

Just then, firm footsteps sounded from beyond the crowd.

"Make way!"

A squad of Police Force members in gray uniforms pushed through the crowd. At their head was Uchiha Soji.

Behind him were Akimichi Shanluan and Yamanaka Saki. The three advanced in a triangular formation, their presence imposing.

The Konoha merchant, who had been so arrogant moments ago, went weak in the knees the instant he saw Soji's face. His complexion turned deathly pale.

His lips trembling, he said, "P-Police Force sir, I didn't lay a hand on anyone. I was just arguing with him..."

Soji did not even spare him a glance and walked straight up to the bearded man.

"You said you'd complained about the Uchiha before, and nothing ever happened?"

The bearded man sized Soji up, utterly dismissive.

"What? Was I wrong? Other than opening your Sharingan to scare people, what else can you Uchiha do?"

"I've been doing business in Konoha for five years. Every time, I just paid a little money and that was the end of it."

Soji nodded expressionlessly. The Uchiha had indeed been like that a few days ago.

But things were different now.

He tipped his chin at Shanluan.

Shanluan stepped forward. His towering frame, over two meters tall, was like a wall. One huge hand seized the bearded man by the back of the neck and lifted him like a chick.

"Y-you... what are you doing!?" The bearded man's guards drew their swords in unison.

Soji swept his gaze over them. "Anyone who moves will be charged with assaulting an officer."

The guards froze.

The bearded man was pinned to the ground, his face pressed against the stone pavement as he struggled desperately.

"What right do you have to arrest me!? I'm filing a complaint! I want to see your superior!"

Soji took a wad of cloth from his robes and expertly stuffed it into the man's mouth.

"Take him away!"

Shanluan lifted the man up like a sack of goods and strode toward the Police Force headquarters.

The guards looked at one another, then dejectedly followed behind.

Only then did Soji turn to the Konoha merchant.

The merchant was trembling all over, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

"S-sir, I didn't do anything..."

Soji narrowed his eyes. "You started the argument, didn't you?"

"I... I..."

"Since this is your first offense, we won't arrest you this time." Soji raised a finger and tapped the man's chest.

"But if there's a next time, no matter who's right or wrong, we'll arrest all of you first."

The Konoha merchant nodded frantically like a pecking chicken. "Y-yes, yes! I promise, I'll never dare do it again!"

Soji did not look at him again. Taking Yamanaka Saki with him, he continued patrolling down the adjoining street.

The onlookers automatically made way for them, and the street fell silent.

The Konoha merchant's legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed onto the ground.

Someone nearby muttered quietly.

"Th-this is still the Police Force? Why does it feel like they've become completely different people...?"

"You haven't heard?" An old man beside him lowered his voice.

"What happened on West Street yesterday—more than twenty people attacked the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and every one of them was killed. The Police Force now? They really dare to act."

"Hiss—" The others sucked in cold breaths and promptly shut their mouths.

At the western gate entrance, three figures had witnessed the entire scene.

Sarutobi Asuma had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his eyes wide open. Ash fell onto his clothes, and he did not even notice.

Kurenai Yuhi's red lips parted slightly, her face full of disbelief.

Might Guy, dressed in his green jumpsuit, made no effort to hide the shock in his thick-browed eyes.

"Th-this is the Police Force?" Asuma took the cigarette from his mouth, even his voice changing.

"Since when were they this overbearing?"

The three of them had just completed a mission and returned to the village through the west gate alongside a merchant caravan.

When he saw the conflict, Asuma had originally planned to step in and mediate.

After all, he was the Third Hokage's son and had some standing in Konoha.

Besides, Kurenai was beside him. Asuma wanted to show off a little.

But before he could say a word, the Police Force had already pinned the man down.

"That merchant said he wanted to file a complaint against the Uchiha, and they gagged him and took him away immediately..."

Kurenai murmured, "Didn't they used to just mediate with a few words at most?"

Guy scratched his head. "Could something major have happened in the village while we were away these past few days?"

Frowning, Asuma walked toward a young man in Uchiha clan attire nearby.

The young man leaned against the roadside, holding a dorayaki and casually stuffing it into his mouth.

No wonder Doraemon likes these. They make pretty good snacks.

He chewed twice, then looked up at Asuma.

"Hey, aren't you afraid people will complain if your Police Force enforces the law like this?"

The young man turned his head and looked Asuma over, a faintly amused expression on his face.

"Oh, if it isn't Konoha's number-one spoiled young master, Asuma?"

Asuma choked. He had indeed been a little spoiled in the past, but he had been trying to change over the years.

This was the first time someone had mocked him to his face.

Asuma tried hard to place him. The young man looked familiar, but he could not remember who he was.

"As for the complaints you mentioned?" The young man chewed his dorayaki and spoke indistinctly.

"It's fine. The officers who get complained about can just be transferred somewhere else for assignments."

"...Aren't you afraid that if there are too many complaints, the higher-ups will hold you accountable?"

The young man smiled. "The higher-ups? We have people among them now. It's not a problem."

Asuma was momentarily speechless. He had never imagined the Uchiha would become so arrogant.

At that moment, Soji and the others, who had just settled the dispute, hurried over to the young man and saluted him with fervent looks in their eyes.

"Lord Zhengye!"

Zhengye patted Soji on the shoulder. "Well done. Handle things like this a few more times, and there'll be fewer incidents."

Praised, Soji straightened his chest. "Yes, understood, Lord Zhengye!"

At that moment, Yamanaka Saki's expression suddenly changed. He held his forehead, assuming the posture for the Mind Transmission Jutsu.

"Lord Zhengye, someone has reported to our Police Force that a person is using ninjutsu to spy on the women's bath at the hot spring inn."

Zhengye frowned. "Just arrest him."

Yamanaka Saki drew in a quiet breath. "That person is Jiraiya."

"Jiraiya?"

Zhengye raised an eyebrow. He had not expected to run into Jiraiya so soon.

Now that you've fallen into my hands, you're in for a world of pain!

"Even if Sarutobi Hiruzen himself came, I'd still arrest him!"

Zhengye chewed and swallowed the dorayaki.

"This is exactly what our Police Force is here to handle! Gather the men, surround the place, and I'll teach Jiraiya a proper lesson!"

"Yes, Lord Zhengye!" Soji was the first to respond, while Yamanaka Saki immediately used their telepathic communication to notify nearby officers.

Asuma and the other two heard everything clearly.

Asuma's face turned livid—Jiraiya was his father's disciple, one of Konoha's Legendary Three Ninja, and he was peeping on the women's bath?

Kurenai's face reddened slightly as she spat, "Pervert."

Guy scratched his head. "Youth and all that... but peeping is definitely wrong."

After hesitating for a moment, Asuma followed them anyway—he wanted to see just how this Uchiha Zhengye intended to deal with Jiraiya.

Kurenai and Guy exchanged a look and followed as well. The group marched in force toward the hot spring inn.