As they stepped out of the Security Force's grounds, the morning breeze swept away the last traces of solemn restraint.
With Takuma, Naoki, and Yuta in tow, Zongyan officially began their first patrol of the South District streets.
Konoha South Street was the village's busiest commercial and residential district. Shops lined both sides, with food stalls, general stores, and tea shops stretching along the street amid an endless flow of people. Compared with the spacious, quiet Uchiha Clan Compound, every corner brimmed with everyday bustle, and the clamor never ceased.
The three young Security Force members completely relaxed, strolling along the street behind Zongyan on patrol while quietly chattering about the district's duty procedures.
"Captain, our South District has the best public security out of Konoha's Four Great Districts. Most people here are merchants and ordinary villagers, so serious disturbances are rare. Usually, it's just arguments or children fighting." As Uchiha Naoki walked, he scanned and sensed his surroundings, casually reporting the situation.
The exuberant Takuma glanced around and chimed in breezily, "Just little things like someone skipping out on a bill or blocking the road with a stall now and then. We used to settle those with a bit of mediation, and that was that."
Yuta, the youngest, pointed familiarly at the streets along their route. "I know this area best. If there's anything you'd like to eat, Captain, I can give you some recommendations."
Listening to them, Zongyan could not help chuckling.
"Haha, looks like I really struck gold."
They chatted casually as they leisurely patrolled the main road.
Whenever passing pedestrians caught sight of their Uchiha clothing, they instinctively hurried past, not daring to linger.
Roughly seven or eight minutes into their patrol, the sounds of a heated scuffle and argument, mixed with curses and shouting, suddenly erupted from a shop.
"They're arguing!" Takuma's gaze sharpened instantly, his playful grin vanishing.
"Let's take a look," Zongyan said casually, leading the three toward the ramen shop at a brisk pace.
Curses, sounds of scuffling, and the clatter of tables and chairs rose one after another in utter chaos.
The ramen shop was already in complete disarray.
A scruffily dressed, thin young man had finished a large bowl brimming with tonkotsu ramen. Taking advantage of the crowd and confusion inside, he had stood up, ducked his head, and hunched his shoulders, trying to sneak out the back door without paying.
Unfortunately for him, the ramen shop owner had a sharp eye. Years of running the shop had exposed him to all sorts of people, and he saw through the man's little maneuver at once.
He immediately strode over, reached out, and seized the back of the man's collar.
"Trying to leave without paying? Pay up before you go!" the owner barked, his face flushed red.
The man stumbled under the pull. With his attempt to sneak away exposed on the spot, his embarrassment turned to fury. He violently wrenched his neck, struggling as he roared:
"Let go of me! It's just one lousy bowl of ramen! Do you really have to keep grabbing me?"
"That bowl of ramen is my hard-earned living! I run a business here. Why should I let you eat and take things for free?"
The ramen shop owner clung tightly to his collar, refusing to let go, his voice angry and urgent.
"You're young and able-bodied, yet you're too lazy to work and come here to eat without paying. Have you no shame?"
Those words completely enraged the already guilty and overbearing man.
He spun around and shoved the ramen shop owner hard in the chest. The tremendous force sent the middle-aged man stumbling backward into the wooden counter, and bowls and plates clattered to the floor, shattering everywhere.
"I'm not paying today! What are you going to do about it?"
His face twisted viciously as he abandoned all restraint and spewed abuse.
"You're just a ramen seller, and you think you can tell me what to do? You don't know what's good for you! Get in my way again, and I'll smash this lousy shop!"
Fuming, the ramen shop owner endured the dull pain in his back and stepped forward to argue. "Konoha has its rules! Aren't you afraid the Security Force will arrest and punish you for skipping your bill and causing trouble?"
"What a joke! You think I'm afraid of them? My uncle is part of Konoha High Command!"
The two tugged and shoved, arguing and cursing. The commotion grew louder and louder, drawing passersby from all along the street.
The crowd stood on tiptoe and craned their necks, gossiping and pointing. Not only did no one step forward to break up the fight, they instead watched and egged them on, eager for a spectacle.
"Someone's causing trouble over an unpaid meal again. That young man looks so honest. Who'd have thought he'd be so unreasonable?"
"The ramen shop owner has it tough too, running that little shop to support his family and dealing with scoundrels like this every day."
"They're about to fight! They're about to fight! Let's see who comes off worse!"
The crowd clamored noisily, their enthusiasm for the spectacle soaring. Everyone's attention was fixed firmly on the conflict inside the shop, and no one noticed the four Security Force figures slowly approaching.
Zongyan stopped behind the crowd with his three team members, quietly watching the chaotic scene.
The next second, someone in the crowd suddenly let out a terrified shout. "Oh no! It's the Uchiha guards! The Uchiha are here! Run, everyone!"
The cry burst through the crowd like a thunderclap.
The villagers who had been packed together, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, instantly turned deathly pale, their eyes filling with fear. Every trace of their interest in the commotion vanished.
"Is our Uchiha Clan's reputation really that bad?" Zongyan's expression darkened as he watched everyone scatter in all directions.
Seeing how desperately they tried to avoid them, he shook his head helplessly.
He finally experienced firsthand how Konoha's ordinary people felt about the Uchiha Police Force.
His clansmen had always enforced the rules strictly and impartially, with zero tolerance for violations. They never favored anyone, nor did they ever oppress civilians.
Yet over the years, their harsh enforcement had left the villagers with nothing but fearful respect and no sense of closeness.
"You'll get used to it, Captain."
Seeing this, Takuma explained softly, "The older members of our clan have always enforced the law impartially. Even ordinary villagers' minor mistakes are punished according to regulations. They never let personal feelings get in the way."
With a hint of helplessness in his voice, he admitted frankly, "Our Security Force has always been the least popular presence in Konoha."
Naoki nodded in agreement. "Everyone in Konoha knows the Uchiha Police Force enforces the law by one standard alone: the village's rules and regulations. No exceptions, no leniency. After a while, people naturally started avoiding us on instinct."
When he had gone through Naruto's story in his previous life, this prejudice among Konoha's people had been what rankled him most.
The Uchiha upheld the rules and protected the village, enforcing the law fairly and working tirelessly without complaint, only to end up shunned by the entire population and feared by everyone. It truly was absurd.
A few reflections crossed his mind, but Zongyan quickly gathered his thoughts and turned his attention back to the ramen shop.
The sudden emptiness and silence made both men inside stop at the same time and instinctively turn toward the entrance.
When the arrogant man saw the four Uchiha youths in police uniforms at the door, his face instantly paled, and genuine panic flashed in his eyes.
But remembering his uncle's position, he forced down his panic and propped up his confidence, looking straight at them as he spoke threateningly:
"You dare interfere in my business? Do you know who I am? My uncle is Lord Shimura Danzō."
"Are you sure you want to offend me over a little private dispute? To offend Konoha High Command?"
Takuma and the other two looked slightly grim. Hearing that name, they were somewhat at a loss.
Watching this, a glint flashed through Zongyan's eyes.
Enemies really did meet on narrow roads. He had never forgotten what happened two years ago.
He walked into the shop and declared righteously, "Which of your eyes saw a private dispute here?"
"This is clearly a violation of the Konoha Public Security Regulations, and it falls within the Police Force's legally mandated jurisdiction!"
Then he beckoned to Takuma behind him. "Takuma, how should a situation like this be punished?"
At his words, Takuma recited almost reflexively.
"Under the Konoha Basic Public Security Regulations established by the Second Hokage and enforced by the Uchiha Police Force, the aforementioned conduct constitutes misappropriation of a merchant's private earnings. Publicly shoving the shopkeeper and damaging the merchant's property constitutes provoking trouble in a public place."
Zongyan pressed further. "And what punishment should be imposed?"
"Reporting to the captain."
Takuma's voice was firm, his response formal. "For the aforementioned violations, officers on duty may intervene immediately and issue a verbal reprimand on the spot. In serious cases where the offender refuses to admit wrongdoing, officers may lawfully detain them on the spot, register the case for accountability, and require full compensation for property losses."
"Look at this scene, and that attitude. There's absolutely no willingness to admit wrongdoing!"
Zongyan raised his eyes slightly, looking over Shimura Hongyu, who still wore an arrogant expression without the slightest sign of remorse.
At those words, Shimura Hongyu looked utterly disdainful and continued using his connections to pressure them. "Rules and regulations are made for ordinary people! My uncle is in High Command. Something this minor is nothing at all. Don't make fools of yourselves!"
Zongyan saw that this was his attitude, and he already had a grudge against Danzo himself.
Without another word, he stepped forward. His movements were crisp and efficient as he caught the man's wrist precisely, then twisted and pressed down in one fluid motion.
A sharp sound came from his straining joints. Agonizing pain instantly swept through Shimura Hongyu's entire body, and his knees buckled uncontrollably as he crashed to the floor.
The intense pain instantly broke him. Unable to maintain his arrogant front any longer, he let out a piercing cry of agony.
Seeing this, Naoki and Yuta immediately stepped forward, deftly taking out standard-issue Binding Ropes and binding Shimura Hongyu's arms securely to keep him from escaping.
Before you continue