Author Notes: To be honest it is difficult to write this book, because I didn't prepare outline or draft. I only have ending on my mind, why?
The nature of this story is based on livestream (comment). I plan to make Raiken not following the path I prepared but the path where audience (comment). So when comment become less, I don't know what path I should choose.
You know influencer live stream? When audience said, please back flip, then he backflip. I hope you understand.
Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 31: Arrogance
From a distance, four figures stood inside the restaurant observing the ongoing patrol conducted by the Uchiha Clan.
Raiken, Kenshiro, Arata, and Hiroki had sat at the corner while looking at the people, they are taking time for themselves to learn more about Konoha.
Suddenly, everything become silent when a group of patrol from Uchiha Clan walked in at the market, their attention shifted to a police officer. They are quietly watching the movements and behavior of the patrolling Uchiha.
Raiken kept his arms folded, his expression unreadable. His gaze followed the young Uchiha moving through the streets with arrogance.
They take a while to patrol there before leaving after 5 minutes.
"What do you think of their behavior?" Raiken finally asked, breaking the silence.
"They're too arrogant," Hiroki replied bluntly, not bothering to hide his disapproval.
"I don't want to speak ill of our allies," said Kenshiro cautiously, "but, Master, I've seen firsthand how some Uchiha treat civilians. There's a level of pride that crosses into arrogance. And… do you want to know about it?"
Raiken eyes narrowed slightly, then he opened his mouth. "Tell me exactly what you saw and how you settle it"
Kenshiro hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "It happened just a few days ago…"
---Flashback---
The sun was high that afternoon, Kenshiro could be seen walking alone and are trying to familiarize himself with Konoha, this place is bigger than he thought that is why he need to memorize the road. While at other alley, young genin from the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Kuruki, had just graduated and had entered Police Force, he is currently off duty.
Kuruki had been wandering the streets when he noticed a group of children arguing. Among them was Uchiha Sakuna, another academy student, and infront of him stood a civilian boy named Raiji, accompanied by his friend Meiji.
At first, Kuruki leaned casually against a wall, watching with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He seemed almost entertained by the petty argument — until Sakuna lost.
The civilian boy words cut sharper than any kunai. Whatever Sakuna had said, Raiji's quick tongue and stubborn will turned the tide of the exchange. Until Sakuna no longer can hold and try to beat them, but eventually two vs one he lost the fight.
Kuruki smirk vanished. His pride as a member of the Uchiha Clan flared, and he stepped forward to intervene, not because justice demanded it, but because his clan honor, in his mind who ever dared to be rude to Uchiha Clan should be captured.
Even though Kuruki had heard enough to know that Sakuna had started the fight, mocking the civilian boy and belittling him, the Uchiha blood loyalty that run through the blood vessel outweighed fairness. Uchiha blood came first.
"Brother Kuruki, they're the ones who hit me!" Sakuna quickly complained, his voice thick with false innocence.
"You just mocked Raiji for being an orphan," Meiji shot back sharply. "You tried to order him around because he doesn't have parents."
"Shut up!" Kuruki barked, his voice rising with authority he hadn't yet earned. "I'm a member of the police force. How dare you raise your voice in front of me?"
His words silenced the boys, but their eyes still burned with anger and hatred. Kuruki noticed the look and took a step closer.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked coldly. "Do you want to get arrested?"
Raiji and Meiji bravado wavered. They were just children, and the idea of being arrested was enough to spark fear in their hearts. Sakuna, standing beside Kuruki, grinned smugly at their discomfort.
That was when Kenshiro, who had been nearby, finally approached. He had heard every word and understood exactly what was happening.
"You kids, what are you doing here?" Kenshiro's tone was calm but enough to stop what they are doing.
For Raiji and Meiji, Kenshiro arrival was like seeing a lifeline tossed to a drowning man. Even though Kuruki wore the uniform of the police force, the presence of another adult, one who was clearly not aligned with the young Uchiha, brought a surge of relief.
"Sakuna was mocking my friend Raiji," Meiji said quickly, pointing at the Uchiha boy. "He even tried to bully him."
Kuruki eyes narrowed, sensing the situation slipping away from his control. He had dealt with civilians before, and intimidation usually kept them in line. But this is first time he saw Kenshiro, not everyone in Police Force knows about Kenshiro.
"Who are you," Kuruki demanded, his voice dropping low, "to interfere with the police force in the middle of our duty?"
Kenshiro didn't flinch. "I know you're a police force member, but I saw you standing there, watching this happen. Instead of stopping the bullying, you chose to use your position to intimidate civilians."
Kuruki bristled at the accusation. "You're obstructing police work. That's a crime. How dare you talk to me like that?" He stepped forward, reaching for Kenshiro arm as if to make an arrest.
Kenshiro eyes hardened. In that instant, it became clear that Kuruki, still just a genin, was no match for him.
"Let me go! If you dare to lay hands on a police member, you're dead!" Kuruki shouted, only to find himself swiftly pinned to the ground. Kenshiro, remaining calm, formed a quick series of seals and used a silent fuinjutsu to seal Kuruki voice.
He then turned his attention to Sakuna and the two civilians.
"You kids, follow me to the Konoha Military Police Force. Otherwise… don't blame me for what happens next," Kenshiro said firmly.
Sakuna tried to resist, but he too was silenced by Kenshiro fuinjutsu. Both he and Kuruki were dragged toward the Konoha Military Police headquarters, while Raiji and Meiji followed quietly, relieved to be under Kenshiro protection.
Upon arriving, Kenshiro met with Fugaku and recounted the entire incident. Fugaku, who had met Kenshiro several times before, trusted his account without hesitation. As a result, Sakuna and Kuruki were issued stern warnings, and Kuruki salary was docked by fifty percent for a month.
---Present Time---
"…and that's how it went," Kenshiro concluded.
Raiken took a slow breath, processing the story in the context of the broader situation. "So even the youngest among them have already begun to think they can do whatever they please simply because of their clan name," he said, his tone calm but edged with disapproval.
"It's not all of them," Arata added quickly. "Some of the Uchiha are still fair and just. But there's a dangerous mindset growing among the younger generation. They think the clan's strength makes them untouchable."
Raiken glanced back toward the patrolling Uchiha in the distance. "Power without discipline will always turn into arrogance. And arrogance, when left unchecked, will eventually bring ruin, not just to them, but to everyone connected to them."
For a long moment, none of the four spoke. The noise of the marketplace seemed distant, drowned beneath the weight of their thoughts.
Finally, Raiken turned to the others. "We'll keep watching. And if it becomes necessary, we'll act. But for now… we observe."
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