The Third Hokage leaned forward in his seat, pointing directly at himself with a raised eyebrow. "Are you speaking to me?" he asked, his tone sharp but tinged with curiosity.
Uchiha Izumi met his gaze calmly, a faint but confident smile playing on her lips. "Yes, Hokage-sama, I am indeed enforcing the law."
The Third Hokage's expression twisted into a bitter laugh, as if the very notion was absurd. "Enforcing the law? Do you even understand how outrageous those hoodlums were? They relentlessly harassed that family day and night. It was this ninja who stepped in, defeated those hoodlums, and protected the villagers. Everyone applauded him, showing just how desperate they were to be freed from those ruffians."
He glanced sharply at Izumi. "And you—Uchiha Izumi—are the public security officer in charge of that area. And yet, you condoned those hoodlums running wild, causing chaos. This does nothing but damage the reputation of the Konoha Ninja."
He paused, then added gravely, "Not only that, but you also beat a righteous ninja unconscious—right there in the street. Everyone witnessed it."
The room fell silent, heavy with the weight of his words.
The Third Hokage turned his gaze to Uchiha Fugaku, Izumi's father. "Fugaku, can your clan truly bear the responsibility of maintaining Konoha's public order if this is how your daughter conducts herself?"
Before Fugaku could respond, Izumi interrupted sharply.
"Old man, are you confused?"
The bluntness stunned everyone. Even Danzo Shimura, known for his iron will and composure, stared at Izumi in disbelief. No one dared speak to the Hokage so casually, let alone with such defiance. Was this truly the same obedient Uchiha Izumi they had known?
A ninja guard standing near the Third Hokage immediately barked, "Uchiha Izumi, how dare you disrespect Hokage-sama!"
But Izumi simply ignored the outburst, instead sneering quietly.
"Hehehe, Hokage-sama, you must realize that although these people are hoodlums by reputation, they didn't actually do anything illegal. Yet they were brutally beaten by that ninja. In my opinion, he is the one who committed the crime."
The ninja frowned, indignation flashing in his eyes. "Damn it! You…"
Before he could finish, the Third Hokage raised a hand, silencing him.
"This is a public order issue," the Hokage said, turning back to Izumi. "The Uchiha Police Force is responsible for public order in this matter, isn't it?"
Izumi smiled sweetly, her eyes sharp as daggers. "Oh? Hokage-sama, you say this is a police matter. That ninja beat up residents and law enforcement personnel in front of a shop, so naturally, I took action to restore order."
She leaned forward slightly, emphasizing her point. "Is there any law that states a ninja can go around hitting people gathered outside a shop? Does that mean anyone passing by can be attacked? That's absurd, Hokage-sama."
She glanced at the assembled crowd, then back at the Third Hokage. "You preach civilized law enforcement, yet my temporary workers tried to advise those hoodlums to go home and stop hindering business. But those diligent employees were inexplicably beaten by this ninja. This is a slap in the face to the Konoha Police Force—and by extension, a slap in your face!"
The Third Hokage opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. He was speechless.
Sensing his hesitation, Homura Mitokado stepped in smoothly.
"But how did you manage to recruit hoodlums into the police force?" he asked carefully. "Doesn't this severely damage our image?"
Izumi's smile deepened, calm and unbothered.
"That's something you'll have to ask our Hokage-sama," she said lightly.
All eyes shifted to the Third Hokage, who looked caught off guard. He gave a weak laugh and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Me? You want me to answer that? No, you should be explaining yourself! How could you recruit hoodlums into the police force? What exactly are you trying to do?"
Izumi's smile turned teasing, almost playful.
"Isn't the presence of hoodlums in the village a direct result of poor management, Hokage-sama? If you had managed things better, would there even be hoodlums causing trouble?"
She paused and then added pointedly, "You should be thanking me. I recruited these hoodlums as temporary workers to help solve their employment problems. I'm your benefactor, Hokage-sama."
Her words stung like a whip.
"You—"
Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu, and even Danzo Shimura exchanged secret glances, their lips twitching with barely concealed amusement.
Uchiha Fugaku covered his mouth to stifle a laugh, though his expression remained unreadable.
The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed, dissatisfied with the scene unfolding before him.
They're laughing, he thought bitterly. And saying I'm managing poorly.
Izumi suddenly turned her gaze to Danzo Shimura and said with a sly grin, "I think if Danzo-sama became Hokage, there wouldn't be any hoodlums in the village."
Danzo was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected praise.
He quickly regained his composure and smiled confidently.
"That's right. If I were Hokage, there'd be no more hoodlums roaming Konoha."
The Third Hokage looked at Danzo silently, thinking, You'd no doubt deal with them harshly, yet you have the nerve to claim you'd do better than me.
Izumi laughed lightly and teased Danzo. "Hahaha, Danzo-sama, I'm only joking. You'll never become Hokage—you can just dream about it."
Danzo coughed awkwardly in response.
"Cough, cough."
Uchiha Fugaku also coughed several times, his eyes flicking between Danzo and Izumi. Everyone else stared at Danzo, whose face darkened with anger.
Izumi's smile remained unfazed.
"Danzo-sama, don't take a child like me seriously."
Danzo stood abruptly, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Uchiha Izumi, aren't you being far too presumptuous?" he growled.
Izumi sneered coldly.
"Old man, you're taking an inch because I gave you a mile. Why don't you unwrap the bandages on your eye and arm and let everyone see what's really inside?"
The room fell silent.
Everyone's eyes shifted toward Danzo.
Danzo sat back down slowly, his face calm but guarded.
"This is my secret jutsu," he said quietly. "I cannot reveal it to outsiders."
Izumi scoffed, "Hmph. So you'll always be an unpresentable coward, only able to mutter about 'for Konoha' from the shadows while sucking the lifeblood from this village and sacrificing other ninja to strengthen yourself."
Danzo's face twisted with rage, wanting to order her arrested.
But Izumi pressed on relentlessly.
"As long as Danzo-sama dares to unwrap his bandages, we'll let you apprehend us. Do you have that courage?"
Everyone's eyes bore into Danzo, waiting.
His face flushed a deep red and then paled, but he said nothing.
Izumi turned to Fugaku.
"Clan Head, shall we leave?"
Before walking away, she called back to the group with a warning.
"Oh, and don't keep bothering me when there's nothing important. I don't want to see you again unless that old man Danzo takes off his bandages."
With that, she slammed the door shut behind her.
The room fell into heavy silence, tension hanging thick in the air.
Finally, the Third Hokage sighed deeply.
"I thought you could help solve the Uchiha Izumi problem, Danzo, but it seems it's only gotten worse. Next time, don't bother coming. Your presence makes us passive."
Danzo said nothing, but his glare followed Izumi's retreating back like a dagger.
Uchiha Fugaku turned to the others, curiosity in his voice.
"What exactly is under Danzo's bandages?"
Izumi, from outside the door, answered without hesitation.
"Probably Sharingan—at least eight of them—but all sealed by a powerful jutsu. Even Sharingan can't see through it. That's why he never dares to remove the bandages."
Fugaku's eyes widened in shock.
"What! That many? Where did he get so many Sharingan?"
Izumi shrugged lightly.
"He probably started collecting them a long time ago, especially during the war."
"That man!" Fugaku growled. "How dare he! I will discuss this with the elders immediately."
Izumi gave a final nod.
"Alright then, Clan Head. Goodbye."
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