In Konoha, This Naruto Has Decided To Take It Easy

In the barbecue restaurant, nearly 30 people from the Intelligence Department were having a meal together. Just setting up the tables had already occupied half of the hall, practically taking over the entire space.

"Yamafuji, come over and grill some meat."

"Damn it, why me?!"

"The senior has spoken, and you dare disobey? Be careful, or I'll beat you up."

"Alright, alright, I'm coming."

Laughter filled the hall at these words. With a click, the fire was ignited. Some stood up to grill meat, while others chatted. The aroma of grilled meat spread, and a sip of alcohol instantly washed away their worries.

"The beer is served. Please enjoy, Shinobi-sama." The waiter served carefully.

When the owner of this barbecue restaurant saw that the guests were all Shinobi, he did not dare to show any neglect. The two most troublesome groups of people in the Land of Fire were undoubtedly nobles and Shinobi.

On are the evil nobles who hold power and wealth, while the other was a violent organization.

Although the law explicitly stated that Shinobi could not harm or oppress civilians, the world always had its exceptions. There were plenty of retired Shinobi out there.

If someone truly offended a Shinobi and was retaliated against, they wouldn't even have time to regret it.

Even if the Shinobi Village wouldn't just stand by and do nothing, that would only come after the fact.

By then, it would be too late, and even if the involved Shinobi were placed under a wanted order, what good would that do when the victim was already reduced to ashes?

These rules were meant to be mutual restraints. They worked, but they didn't provide absolute safety.

"When was the last time you ate properly?" Ino asked, placing a piece of grilled meat into Naruto's bowl with a hint of concern, "You don't have to push yourself so hard. It's bad for your health."

"One meal a day, it saves time." Naruto replied while burying his head in his meal, "I was worried about you, so I came straight back as soon as I had the chance."

"This… what's there to save time for?" Ino asked, "Have you been really busy lately? If things are too hectic, you really didn't have to rush back. I can handle things here on my own."

"Can you really handle them alone?" He stopped eating, then raised his head and stared at Ino.

Ino pursed her lips, then shook her head.

"No."

"Exactly. That's why I came back early." He said, "I didn't know exactly what was going on here, but I figured if I had the time, I should get back as soon as possible."

"You already admitted that this problem isn't easy to solve. So were you planning to shoulder it all by yourself next?"

Hearing this, Ino lowered her head. She had indeed thought about it. If those nobles wouldn't budge, she was prepared to fight them to the bitter end until she found a solution.

As for asking her father for help, she wouldn't resort to that unless it was absolutely necessary.

"I'm not trying to lecture you, just reminding you. If you really run into something you can't handle, even if I'm not around, you can still talk to Yamanaka-sama or consult it with Kakashi."

"They're veteran Shinobi with far more experience in handling situations than you. Their advice will always be the most reasonable and practical."

Listening to Naruto's warm words, Ino's face turned even redder. She didn't dare to lift her head to look at him.

"I understand. I was being too impatient with this matter."

"That's the right attitude. Don't be too hasty, and definitely don't be reckless." Naruto wiped his mouth with a napkin, "Impulsiveness is the devil. There's always a more secure solution."

"Nobles don't care about rules. All they see is profit. But at the end of the day, they're still civilians. Shinobi's methods don't work on them."

"So…"

Bang!

A sudden commotion erupted, interrupting Naruto's words.

His brows furrowed in displeasure as he turned toward the noise.

He then saw a fat man dressed in luxurious attire standing at the entrance, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, looking at everyone in the barbecue restaurant with a face full of disdain.

A few men who looked like servants had a conflict with the people from the Intelligence Department. The newcomer in the Intelligence Department, Yamafuji, was arguing with those people. Judging by their appearances, those people were also Shinobi.

Just as the Daimyo had the Twelve Guardian Ninjas under his command, many nobles in the Land of Fire also privately employed Shinobi enforcers under various titles.

As long as they didn't use Shinobi's ability openly, they were considered civilians. Nobles acted recklessly, their tactics growing filthier by the day, and afterward, they would always find ways to twist the situation in their favor.

"What's going on?"

With a loud clatter, Ino immediately stood up, but Naruto was even faster than her. The moment she moved, he had already picked up a pair of chopsticks and strode over.

"You don't need to go over there. Just sit tight."

Seeing this, Ino tensed up all over, and subconsciously wanted to call out to stop Naruto as she looked at his back. She's worried that he would act rashly and get himself into trouble. But just as the words reached her throat, she swallowed them back down.

'Well, things can't get any worse than they are now anyway.' She reasoned in her heart.

'Besides, Naruto wouldn't act on impulse. After all, he had just been telling me not to be reckless. There was no way he'd rush in and start beating them up, right?'

'...That shouldn't be possible.'

Nobles were detestable. They're greedy, selfish, and always abusing their power. But as Shinobi, they couldn't retaliate in private. If they got caught, they would be judged.

The best way to deal with these shameless people was to stay calm. The more openly they targeted her, the more it showed how much they cared about the capital's communication project.

Ino took a deep breath, analyzing the situation in her mind. When she glanced at Naruto again, she saw he had already pushed his way through the crowd, reaching the heart of the conflict.

At that moment, she couldn't take her eyes off him. Her worried eyes were always on Naruto, and after thinking about it, she decided to follow, intending to de-escalate the situation.

Nobles were like ravenous wolves. Even though they were frail from indulgence, they were overwhelmingly powerful in the realm of politics and influence.

If someone acted on impulse and used Shinobi's ability against a noble, there would be terrible consequences.

Fortunately, Naruto remained calm and didn't act recklessly, allowing Ino to breathe a sigh of relief.

As she approached, Naruto's voice became clearer.

"Yamafuji, Matsuri, what the hell are you two doing? The Intelligence Department has no law enforcement authority. What are you doing to our esteemed taxpayers?"

"Damn it, get back here!"

"Everyone, stand down! I am Uzumaki Naruto, a high-ranking official in Konoha. If there's a dispute, just tell me, and I will see that justice is served."

Hearing this, Ino blinked in surprise. She finally remembered that Naruto actually held a high-ranking position.

If he hadn't mentioned it, she would have almost forgotten that the bachelor Clan Head was a high-ranking official.

"Konoha's high-ranking official? Why haven't I heard of you?" One of the lackeys scoffed.

"That doesn't matter. Let's get to the point first." Naruto ignored him, grabbing Yamafuji by the collar and pulling him back. His gaze swept past the crowd and locked onto the fat noble at the center of it all.

Without hesitation, he pointed at the fat man dressed as a noble and gestured for him to step forward.

"You. The fat one. Come over here and explain the situation."

Hearing this, everyone's pupils immediately dilated in shock and they all turned to look at Naruto.

They were shocked that he was actually pointing fingers at a noble, and they couldn't help but react in different ways.

"You bastard! How dare you speak to Harayama-sama like that?!" The leading thug roared in fury and lunged forward, utterly disregarding the consequences just for his master.

Naruto shot Yamafuji a look, signaling him to act.

Yamafuji hesitated for a moment, then thought about the barbecue that Ino had invited him to, and the gift that Naruto had just given him. Clenching his teeth, he stepped forward and delivered a powerful kick straight to the thug's face.

With a loud bang, the lead thug was sent flying backward, his nose shattering on impact. Yamafuji had just been transferred to the Intelligence Department, and as a rookie, he lacked restraint.

The kick was so powerful that the lead thug let out an ear-piercing scream, and half of his face seemed to cave in. His slaughtered-pig-like scream echoed in the hall, sounding extremely miserable.

"Alas, attempting to assassinate a Konoha's high-ranking official in public? How could you be so foolish?" Naruto stood calmly, twirling a red official seal between his fingers.

"That punch of yours was so powerful and strong, it's obviously a Shinobi's technique. This changes everything. Now, you've really put me in a tough spot."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the fat noble standing at the entrance. A faint smile played on his lips, but a gloomy look flickered in his eyes.

"You, the fat pig at the door, you'd best explain the situation properly. Now, on behalf of all the top leaders of Konoha, I am invoking the Article 32 of Konoha's Emergency Provisions."

"I hereby grant the Intelligence Department temporary law enforcement authority, designating them as a special security force, effective immediately."