"The Konoha Police Force? You're from the Uchiha clan?"
The Kumogakure leader gasped in surprise as he caught sight of the clan crest emblazoned on Jie Uchiha's clothes.
"So what if you're an Uchiha? Does being an Uchiha mean you can attack people whenever you please?" the Kumogakure leader shouted, his bluster masking his inner panic. "We are envoys of Kumogakure, representing our Raikage in the name of peace! By attacking us, are you trying to start another war? If you don't give us an explanation right now, we will return to Kumogakure immediately. Just wait for our army to bear down on Konoha's borders!"
"Silence," Jie sneered, casting a disdainful glance at the Kumo leader. "I didn't see any Kumogakure envoy. All I saw were a few incompetents acting tough by bullying children. And aren't you taking yourselves a bit too seriously? You think Kumogakure would dare go to war with Konoha over a few cowards?"
The Kumo leader was left momentarily speechless. He knew his village's situation perfectly well; they simply lacked the power to ignite another war. If they were truly strong, they wouldn't need to resort to bullying children to show off their might.
Unwilling to lose face, the leader scrambled for a retort to salvage his pride. Just then, the Anbu ninja finally arrived.
'Are the Anbu just like the detectives in old Hong Kong movies? They really only show up to clean up the mess after everything is over,' Jie complained inwardly, frowning slightly at their terrible timing.
Seeing the Anbu arrive, the Kumo leader instantly regained his false courage.
"Is this Konoha's attitude towards negotiations?" he barked at the masked ninja. "Kumogakure came here for peace, yet people from your village secretly attacked our envoy! I will report this exactly as it happened to Lord Raikage. If the Third Hokage cannot provide a reasonable explanation, there's no need to continue these peace talks."
The Anbu represented the Hokage, and the discord between the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Uchiha clan was practically an open secret in the ninja world. The Kumo leader refused to believe that Jie Uchiha would dare defy the Hokage's will in public. Forcing the Uchiha clan to bow their heads right in the middle of Konoha would serve as a far greater deterrent than bullying some kids. For a brief moment, the Kumo leader actually admired his own brilliance.
An Anbu ninja crouched down to check on Karui's injuries. He stood up, opening his mouth to speak, but a freezing glare from Jie immediately shut him up.
"The Konoha Police Force is handling this. The Anbu should stay out of it," Jie said calmly. "What the Anbu doesn't dare to manage, our Police Force will."
The arrogant smirk froze on the Kumo leader's face. Looking like a rooster being choked by the neck, he couldn't utter another word.
'The Uchiha clan actually dares to speak to the Hokage's direct representatives like this in broad daylight?' The Kumo leader's mind raced frantically. 'Is the Uchiha clan already the uncrowned king of Konoha? Does even the Third Hokage have to submit to them?'
The Anbu ninja remained silent for a moment. Then, as if recalling a specific order, he nodded.
"Then we will leave it to you, Young Clan Head. However, they are the Kumogakure envoy, after all. We hope you will act with discretion."
With that, the Anbu ninja vanished from the spot.
"Uh..." The Kumo leader hadn't expected the Anbu to actually back down. What was he supposed to do now?
If he continued to confront Jie, not only would he lose the verbal battle, but he would also have to stay constantly on guard against another sudden attack. After all, before Karui was injured, none of them had sensed any warning signs. Even now, he had no idea how Jie had struck.
Furthermore, the crowd of spectating Konoha civilians was growing by the second. The longer this dragged out, the more face Kumogakure would lose. Yet, slinking away with his tail between his legs left him feeling incredibly bitter.
"Arui, don't forget Lord Raikage's orders," a member of the envoy whispered, noting the tense standoff.
Arui, the Kumogakure leader, jolted as if waking from a dream. He had almost forgotten that they hadn't come to Konoha solely for peace talks.
"Hmph, this matter won't end here! Konoha must give us an explanation, otherwise, prepare for war!" Arui dropped a harsh threat before quickly grabbing Karui and leading the rest of the envoy out of the surrounding crowd.
Seeing the Kumogakure envoy beat a hasty retreat, the surrounding Konoha civilians erupted into fierce cheers.
"Long live the Young Clan Head!"
"I've hated these Kumogakure ninja for a while now. Beautifully done, Young Clan Head!"
"So the Police Force is the true guardian deity of Konoha! From now on, any Police Force ninja who eats at my restaurant gets a twenty percent discount!"
"Same for our shop! As long as you're from the Uchiha clan, it's a thirty percent discount!"
"The Young Clan Head eats for free! Free for the Young Clan Head!"
...
"Brother, you're so amazing! I want to become as strong as you when I grow up!"
Sasuke ran out from the crowd and hugged Jie's calf, his eyes shining with stars.
Jie patted Sasuke's head and smiled. "Let's keep walking. Don't let a bunch of rat droppings ruin our mood."
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