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Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Patrol

Izumi donned the familiar green uniform of Konoha's ninja security force, the fabric fitting snugly against her slender frame. The emblem of the Leaf Village and the Uchiha Clan crest adorned her chest and back—symbols heavy with history and burden. She felt a mixture of anticipation and restraint as she followed behind Uchiha Cang Kong, who led her through the winding streets toward her assigned patrol area.

"This street is your responsibility," Cang Kong said reluctantly, his tone as cold as ever. "It's not too big, so one person is enough. Don't mess things up. We've already told you everything you need to know."

Izumi nodded sharply, her eyes bright with determination. "Understood. I will maintain public order properly."

Cang Kong snorted coldly. "I'd be thankful if you just didn't cause trouble. Hmph. I'm leaving now. Do a good job." With that, he gave her a curt gesture, guiding her around the perimeter to familiarize her with the neighborhood before disappearing down an alley.

Left alone, Izumi muttered to herself, "Though he seems difficult to get along with, he's surprisingly considerate in his own way."

She adjusted her uniform and took a deep breath. "Time to start patrolling. I'm curious—what will it be like to serve as a member of the security force?"

With a gentle smile, Izumi stepped onto the bustling street.

---

The street was modest yet lively—a stretch lined with small vendors selling fresh vegetables, steaming bowls of ramen, and handmade crafts. Nearby was a residential area, home to families and the elderly. Both zones were her responsibility.

Izumi's eyes sparkled as she greeted the vendors, waving cheerfully. "Hello! I'm a new member of the Konoha Security Force. From today on, I'll be responsible for maintaining order in this area."

The vendors blinked in surprise. The Konoha Security Force usually seemed stern, distant, and serious—as if everyone owed them something. It was rare to see someone as young, bright, and gentle as Izumi take up the mantle.

Yet, despite their initial surprise, the vendors greeted her not with smiles, but with cool indifference and thinly veiled suspicion.

One elderly shopkeeper mumbled to another, "Hmph, another Uchiha… I don't trust them."

Izumi's smile never wavered, but inside, she felt a strange, prickling sensation—a fluctuation in the air around her. Her gaze sharpened.

From across the street, a small child played with a wooden sword, carefree and oblivious to the tense atmosphere. Izumi crossed the road, crouching down beside him.

"Hello there," she said softly. "What's your name, little one?"

The boy looked up, his eyes locking onto the Uchiha crest emblazoned on Izumi's uniform. With childish defiance, he spat a mouthful of saliva directly onto her cheek.

"Ptooey!"

Izumi instinctively tilted her head, narrowly dodging the spit. Her smile froze. Slowly, she opened her eyes wide, revealing the crimson glow of the Sharingan, its three tomoe spinning with quiet intensity.

The child's face instantly paled, and tears welled in his eyes. "Waaah waah waah!" he began to cry, clutching at his mother's skirts.

Within moments, a crowd gathered. Neighbors rushed forward, eyes filled with outrage. They formed a protective circle around the boy, pointing fingers at Izumi.

"What are you doing? How dare you bully a child?" a woman yelled.

Izumi blinked, trying to keep her voice calm. "He spat on me first. I just dodged it, and now he's crying."

The woman scoffed, glancing around at the others for support. "No, you frightened the child! Don't lie!"

"Such a young girl, and yet so cruel."

"That's right! Those Uchiha people aren't good at all."

"We don't want you here! Leave this place!"

Izumi felt a sudden rush of irritation at their relentless murmurs and accusations. Their voices droned like an endless swarm of buzzing insects in her ears.

Snapping her fingers sharply, she summoned a powerful vibration.

"Bzzzz—"

A booming sound suddenly filled the street, overwhelming the crowd's chatter. The residents clasped their ears, gasping in shock, stumbling backward as if struck by an invisible wave. Many collapsed to the ground, clutching their heads in pain.

Seizing the moment, Izumi grabbed the nearest woman—the one who had spoken most harshly—and glared down at her.

"Perjury, inciting the public to attack a security force member. Do you think I will let this slide?" Her voice was cold, unyielding.

The woman struggled, crying out, "Let me go! Help! She's hurting me! The security force is killing me!"

Izumi dragged her along the cobblestones by the hair, her grip firm and unrelenting.

The woman screamed, "Help! The security force is abusing me! Someone, please help!"

The disturbance attracted even more curious onlookers from nearby streets, who came out to watch the escalating conflict. They whispered and pointed, casting wary glances at Izumi and the woman in her grasp.

Suddenly, Uchiha Cang Kong arrived, his face dark with disapproval. "What's going on here? You just started causing trouble as soon as I left?"

Izumi's tone was sharp as she replied, "She incited that child to attack me maliciously, lied about what happened, riled up the crowd to harass me, and obstructed my enforcement duties. She's no ordinary citizen—I suspect she's a spy."

Voices rose around them, accusing Izumi and the Uchiha clan.

"You're the ones acting maliciously! None of you are trustworthy!"

"Get them out of here!"

"Let her go!"

Cang Kong's face flushed with frustration. "Let her go, now!"

Izumi sneered, refusing to relent. "Let her go? What a joke. The loudest voice does not win here." She tightened her grip on the woman's hair and started toward the security force headquarters.

By now, a sizable crowd had formed, their faces a mixture of anger, fear, and confusion.

Cang Kong glanced at the gathering masses and knew this incident had become a serious problem.

"Let her go!"

"Uchiha, enough already! This is too much!"

"They even locked me up just last week!"

"Oh? Is that so? You must have been wronged." Murmurs of sympathy rippled through the crowd as they distanced themselves from Cang Kong's authority.

Izumi raised her hand, voice commanding, "Everyone, move aside! You're blocking the way!"

The crowd's anger grew louder.

"Let her go!"

"Uchiha Clan, get out!"

"Right!"

Before the chaos could escalate further, a calm, authoritative voice rang out, carrying both majesty and kindness.

"What exactly is happening here? Izumi, if this is a misunderstanding, just let her go." The Third Hokage emerged from the crowd, pipe in hand.

The people immediately fell silent and bowed their heads in respect.

"Hokage-sama! Help her!"

"Hokage-sama!"

The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed as he looked at Izumi, who was still dragging the woman by her hair. His brow furrowed in disapproval.

"Izumi," he said gently but firmly, "do you understand how your actions affect the villagers of Konoha? Your methods seem... immature."

The crowd murmured in agreement.

Cang Kong's legs nearly buckled under him. "It's over," he whispered. "What am I to do now that the Hokage has seen this?"

Izumi met the Hokage's gaze without flinching.

"Hokage-sama," she said clearly, "this woman incited the child to maliciously ambush me, a security force member. She committed perjury, stirred the crowd to surround me, and deliberately interfered with my enforcement duties. She is no ordinary citizen—I suspect she's a spy and must be taken in for investigation. I ask you not to obstruct my work."

Hearing this, Cang Kong and the civilians gasped in shock and disbelief. "How dare this young girl!"

One nearby ninja stepped forward indignantly. "How bold! Do you know who he is?"

Izumi's eyes glinted with cold defiance. "Of course I know. The Third Hokage himself. But does his position exempt me from enforcement of the law?"

The ninja opened his mouth to respond, but the Third Hokage raised a hand to silence him.

The crowd fell silent, tension thick in the air as they awaited the Hokage's verdict.

---

Izumi's heart beat steadily. She knew the road ahead would be filled with obstacles, but she was ready.

Her Sharingan burned bright—not just a symbol of power, but of justice in a world rife with deception.

She was no longer a mere girl. She was a force to be reckoned with.

And this was only the beginning.

---

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