The streets of Konoha had lost some of their usual peace and quiet, replaced by an air of grim tension.
Every few steps, pedestrians saw squads of Konoha Ninja passing on patrol. Although the Ninja looked hurried and weren't targeting the passersby, their eyes kept scanning everyone, making people uneasy enough to abandon their leisurely strolls and head home early.
Patrolling Ninja were everywhere, from Shopping Street to the residential lanes. They didn't overlook places like izakayas, either.
With Konoha Ninja making constant patrols over the past few days, even the drunks who occasionally caused trouble no longer dared to drink too much. They all switched from sake to strong tea, claiming they wanted to cultivate a little refinement.
Quite a few neighbors, who had long since had enough of the occasional drunk hanging around the izakayas, approved.
Still, this level of patrol would probably continue until the village issued an order to stop. Even places where people were rarely seen now had Ninja patrolling them.
And, as luck would have it, the patrolling Ninja soon discovered a suspicious person outside Naruto's home.
"You there, the little red-haired girl. Come over here. You've been sneaking around here since early this morning. What are you doing?"
Surrounded by several Konoha Ninja yet again, Karin wasn't frightened this time.
Instead, she let out a long sigh. "You're the third group already. I'm sick of explaining. I'm just waiting for someone."
"Look, I live right here. That house over there..."
Once Karin explained, the misunderstanding was cleared up.
Upon learning that this young girl, with neither a father nor a mother, already owned a house of her own... Ah, that wasn't the point.
In any case, the patrolling Ninja apologized somewhat awkwardly, but still stressed that she shouldn't go out alone during this