Chapter 84: Great Prosperity Prison

Damned, today is our first day back in Konoha carrying out a mission under Lord Shisui, and we can't even catch a bun‑stealing petty thief; Search, broaden the scope and keep searching!

On the streets, Koizumi Mayu led her squad from the main road to the alley's end, still failing to catch the bun‑stealing thief, and she couldn't help but become angry and ashamed, her fury burning.

"Captain, we've already searched the streets we're responsible for; the people must have fled elsewhere. The urgent priority is to continue patrolling, keeping Lord Shisui's orders paramount."

Seeing Koizumi Mayu getting worked up, a few of her companions hurried to restrain her.

They haven't caught a single lawbreaker yet, which in theory is a good thing, but today is their first day on the job; how can they have no business? Koizumi Mayu frowned, thought for a moment, then nodded heavily, "You're right. For Konoha's stability and to live up to Lord Shisui's trust, we must enforce strict patrols and never let any illegal villager slip by!"

"Yes!"

Everyone nodded in unison, divided into squads and dispersed again; a sharp glint flashed in Koizumi Mayu's eyes.

"Before these eyes, no illegal villager will ever be let go!"

Thinking that, Koizumi Mayu turned her head and saw a vendor's cart crossing the boundary line by an inch.

She immediately stepped forward, pointed at the line and said, "What are you doing? Don't you know street vendors can't cross the line?"

The vendor, stunned by the roar, blinked, then hurriedly lowered his head; he saw the cart had only barely crossed, not even half a wheel, and even the Police Department staff had pretended not to see.

The vendor wore a disdainful expression and retorted, "It's not a big deal; why are you shouting so loudly?"

Shout?

Koizumi Mayu's eyes widened; she had expected the man to honestly admit his mistake and correct it, but instead he turned the accusation back on her.

"I'm with the Police Department, can't you see? Your act is illegal! It's destabilizing Konoha!" Koizumi Mayu slapped her clothing, instantly flaring with anger.

"Seen it, so what?"

"I've been using a chicken feather as a banner; I've always set up my stall this way. No Uchiha has ever complained about me before; you don't even have the Uchiha crest, so what can you do to me?"

The vendor said this with a scornful look; not only did he not move the cart back, he even nudged it further toward the line.

Several nearby stall owners covered their mouths and snickered, pointing and gesturing.

"What a meddlesome affair, such a disgraceful sight."

"The Uchiha have never demanded this of us; why is he being so serious?"

"Exactly, watch out we might report him!"

Koizumi Mayu's body trembled slightly, her face flushed red; she scanned the stall owners and saw some of their goods also crossed the line, causing her to burst into a bitter laugh.

"Fine, fine, since you refuse to repent, don't blame me for not giving you a chance."

Having said that, she turned and walked away.

"You gave me a scare; I thought you were going to do something. I didn't expect you to just leave like that—still better than the Uchiha!"

The vendor, seeing this, burst into a mocking laugh; the onlookers all nodded in support.

However, moments later, Koizumi Mayu returned, this time accompanied by eight ninjas in matching uniforms.

She raised her hand dramatically, without a word of waste, "I've warned you; you persist in refusing to change, so by law I will take you all away!"

As the words fell, both stall owners, vendors, and the onlookers were shocked and pale.

Even such a minor matter warrants arrests?

"What are you doing? We just accidentally crossed the line; no Uchiha has ever arrested us before. On what authority do you seize us? You can't do this!"

"Wait a moment, let's talk calmly; can we just move it now?"

The targeted stall owners and vendor's faces changed; they hadn't expected the other side to be serious.

But it was too late; the ninjas cared about nothing, and upon hearing the captain's order, they moved immediately to seize them all.

Koizumi Mayu snorted coldly, "I gave you a chance; any words can be said inside later."

Although it was her first time using force, she already realized reasoning with these people was futile; taking action was simpler and effective.

Several were arrested, the shops sealed, the carts taken away, and the onlookers stared in stunned silence, their hearts still trembling.

"How can they be like this?"

"Too..." The crowd exchanged glances, a wave of unease rising instantly.

This unease arose quickly and was fulfilled just as fast.

The group of ninjas assigned to patrol duties discovered numerous villager issues within a single morning; their well‑meaning warnings were met with impatient scolding and surrounding scoffs.

Their goodwill was trampled like this, and the offenders still dared such rudeness!

What does it mean that no Uchiha has ever dealt with them? That's exactly what the Uchiha taught them! What "compassionate law enforcement" is this? It's absurd! A bunch of troublemakers who treat Konoha's laws as nothing and see the Police Department as worthless! If that's the case, then arrest them!

The group of contract ninjas, after enduring varying periods of patience, finally unified their mindset.

"If you have authority but don't use it, it becomes void."

Crossing the line to set up a stall? Arrest! Getting into a verbal spat? Arrest! Drinking and causing trouble? Arrest! Cutting corners? Arrest! Defaming the Police Department? Arrest!!! Subsequently, in just one day, the Uchiha Prison became overcrowded! Yang Zhe watched the ninjas continuously bring in prisoners, his face growing increasingly grim.

"No, if they keep arresting like this, the reputation of our Police Department will be ruined!"

Seeing the cells run out, Yang Zhe could no longer sit still; he immediately rose to go report to Shisui.

"Don't interfere!"

Unexpectedly, at that moment, Hui, who was registering the criminals nearby, suddenly stopped, handed the item in his hand to Yang Zhe and said, "Lord Shisui has already instructed that I handle this; you just record it."

"You?"

Yang Zhe was puzzled, but seeing Hui's confident demeanor, he nodded without further question.

Hui understood the background, but this couldn't be told to other Uchiha; after a brief instruction, he took the list and went to the prison to interrogate each.

"Name."

"Fang Village vendor."

"What crime?"

"Sir, I crossed the boundary while setting up my stall and was taken in; it's all a misunderstanding, sir!"

Those who came in, after being locked up for half a day, became much more compliant and even used respectful language.

"Crossing the line, according to regulations, this calls for confiscating the cart, three days imprisonment, and a fine of 5,000 taels." Hui flipped through the ledger, said slowly.

"What?"

The vendor was startled; he hadn't expected it was merely a wrong stall location, and the punishment to be so severe. He immediately wailed, "No, please, sir, I still have an elderly mother and a wife to support; the whole family depends on this meager income. I beg you to be merciful!"

He said this while about to kneel and beg; any of the three punishments could take half his life, and he could not endure such a penalty.

"Stop!"

Hui raised his hand to block him, then sighed, his face troubled, and said, "Although Lord Shisui always asks us to be lenient, the officer who brought you said your attitude was poor at the time, which destabilizes Konoha and puts me in a difficult spot."

The vendor's eyes flickered, and he immediately explained, "No, no, no, I have always respected the Uchiha. Because they lacked the Uchiha clan crest, I thought it was fraud, which made my attitude poor. Had I known they were ninja hired by the Uchiha, I would have cooperated honestly!"

Hui raised an eyebrow, instantly delighted, "Really?"

"Absolutely!"

"Fine, then. Let's let it go this time. Register it, and pay an additional five hundred taels as fine, then you can take the cart away."

"Yes, yes, thank you, sir!"

The vendor was overjoyed, not expecting that after pleading he could leave by just paying a fine; the Uchiha people were surprisingly kind! "Um, sir, may I ask one more question?"

At the exit, the vendor, who had been following the guard, suddenly turned back and said.

"What is it?"

"When will the Uchiha return to the Police Department?"

Hui looked at the vendor in surprise, a smile in his eyes, pretended to think, then after a moment sighed, "Probably... it'll still take some time."

(End of chapter)