Chapter 147: With Itachi Dead, The Uchiha Clan Members Will Only Cheer In Joy
“Two Konoha Sannin were at the scene, and one of the Sannin even chose to stand on Uchiha Ikeizumi’s side.” At the same time, inside the Hyuga Clan Compound, Hyuga Hiashi slowly exhaled.
The veins around his eyes gradually receded, and he muttered to himself: “It seems Hokage and Uchiha Ikeizumi won’t have any armed conflict tonight.”
Feeling the heatwave still lingering in the air and breathing in the faint sulfur smell permeating it, Hyuga Hiashi felt lingering fear.
He was somewhat relieved that the “Susanoo” summoned by Uchiha Ikeizumi was facing away from the Hyuga Clan Compound.
If it had been facing the Hyuga Clan, and that sword had come down… it probably would have split the Hyuga Clan Compound in half!
Because this place was merely less than a kilometer from the center of the battle between Uchiha Ikeizumi and Uchiha Itachi.
That was why Hyuga Hiashi could use Byakugan to see the situation there clearly.
He even knew who Uchiha Izumi was fighting.
At that moment, Hyuga Hiashi vaguely sensed something and suddenly turned his head to look in one direction. He saw an anxious figure flash by from there, and the other party seemed to sense something too, turning back for a quick glance toward Hyuga Hiashi.
“Uchiha Fugaku…”
Hyuga Hiashi immediately recognized that face, which made his expression somewhat complicated: “When he finds out who was killed by Uchiha Ikeizumi, I wonder what he’ll think.”
“Hm?”
Hyuga Hiashi suddenly sensed another malicious gaze directed at him.
When he looked over, he saw Neji Hyuga not far away already turning around, his cold little face tense as he walked toward a room.
“Sigh, this child still can’t let it go?”
Hyuga Hiashi sighed softly, feeling a bit guilty, but not knowing how to broach the subject with Neji.
……
“Ikeizumi, why do you have Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami? Who were you fighting just now? Did that person also use Susanoo? Was that person also a Uchiha Ninja?”
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn’t get too close to Uchiha Ikeizumi; this was an instinctive precaution.
This was also why he couldn’t refute Tsunade’s question.
Facing the questions from Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Ikeizumi glanced at Izumi and said: “She’ll answer you.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen: “…”
Was this considered disdainful even for a few extra words with him?
“Eh?”
Izumi was stunned. She looked left and right, swallowed hard, and quickly put away the scroll sealing “Amaterasu.”
She then immediately perked up and said: “Uchiha Itachi has developed the pathological extreme ideology that Senior Ikeizumi once prophesied. He plans to collude with ‘Uchiha Obito’ and, within the next two months, trigger a Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall in the Uchiha Clan.”
“He even wanted to assassinate a Konoha Ninja who believes in absolute justice; he wanted to kill me! At the critical moment, Senior Ikeizumi appeared, saved me, and judged Uchiha Itachi in the name of 「absolute justice」, killing Uchiha Itachi!”
“Uchiha Itachi’s future sins have already taken substantial form, so he must pay the price of embracing sin. Senior Ikeizumi killing him saved the entire Uchiha!”
“Even the entire Ninja World! Because Uchiha Itachi with such twisted extreme ideology would eventually brew an even greater sin in the Ninja World.”
Just as the Uchiha girl was speaking boldly without restraint, at this point, she suddenly saw someone else arriving. Or rather, the other party had already been there for more than ten seconds.
The other party must have heard what she said.
“Fugaku Clan Leader…”
The arrival was none other than Fugaku, who had hurried over in a panic.
At this moment, Fugaku was completely stunned.
Izumi’s earlier words echoed endlessly in his mind.
“Fugaku…”
Sarutobi Hiruzen also saw Fugaku and subtly noticed that Fugaku’s emotions were unusually off. Connecting it to the girl’s earlier words, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a heavy breath.
“My condolences.”
In the end, those were the only two words Sarutobi Hiruzen could say.
And his voice brought Fugaku back to his senses from his daze.
Uchiha Fugaku stiffly turned to look at Uchiha Ikeizumi, his fists clenched at some point. He, who usually prided himself on his calm, now felt turbulent emotions surging.
Anger.
Grief.
Reluctance.
Confusion.
Hatred.
……A variety of emotions exploded in his heart like bombs, making the whites of his eyes redden. Even the muscles on his usually stoic face twitched slightly.
That was his eldest son, whom he was most proud of; that was the future of the Uchiha Clan in his eyes; that was his own flesh and blood.
Now, he had become a soul slain by the blade of absolute justice.
As a father, he hadn’t even arrived in time to save his eldest son or see him one last time.
Fugaku had thought his heart was tough enough.
But the sorrow of a white-haired person sending off a black-haired one could not be eliminated no matter what. He truly felt the pain that Sarutobi Hiruzen had experienced twice!
“Ikeizumi…”
“Why?”
Fugaku’s voice had become hoarse. He was trying his best to control his emotions as he questioned Uchiha Ikeizumi: “Itachi is still just a child whose values aren’t fully mature. Even if some improper thoughts arose in his heart, he shouldn’t… shouldn’t…”
At this point, even Fugaku himself couldn’t continue.
Shouldn’t what? Shouldn’t have been killed?
From the stance of absolute justice, from the stance of the Uchiha Clan, was that really the case?
“You should have known this day would come.” Uchiha Ikeizumi gave a cold glance and said: “If you hadn’t dismissed what I told you as mere wind past your ears, if you had strictly watched the beast you birthed, or forcibly twisted that beast’s ideology… none of this tonight would have happened.”
“Uchiha Fugaku. Compromise is your greatest human trait. Facing the village’s increasing pressure, you chose compromise; facing the extreme ideology of the beast you birthed, you also compromised.”
“The root of all this can even be traced back to you.”
He stepped up to Uchiha Fugaku, his eyes meeting the other’s gaze.
“Who was it that sent Uchiha Itachi to the battlefield at four years old? When Uchiha Itachi’s comrades were killed and he awakened Sharingan, who didn’t comfort him but instead praised him for awakening at eight?”
“Who, upon learning his eldest son would fall into the abyss of sin, didn’t stop it at all but instead slacked off and even indulged it?”
“Uchiha Fugaku, your actions bred evil. But you, cowardly and indecisive, will never admit it’s your fault.”
“Don’t dirty my ears with your nauseating words.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi gave Uchiha Fugaku no face whatsoever.
He laid out all of Fugaku’s flaws and faults.
And Uchiha Ikeizumi didn’t exaggerate.
Because these were all things Fugaku had done.
In this family, aside from Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Sasuke, the other two were innately abnormal.
“Fugaku.”
A hand patted Fugaku’s shoulder, signaling him to calm down. Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Izumi with a complicated expression: “You’re saying Itachi colluded with Akatsuki’s Uchiha Obito?”
Izumi shifted her wary gaze from Uchiha Fugaku. She had been worried this Uchiha Clan Leader would attack Senior Ikeizumi in a fit of emotion. Fortunately, this clan leader, who had spent his life in indecision and compromise, compromised once again.
She immediately nodded: “Yes!”
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent.
He could roughly guess Uchiha Itachi’s intent—Itachi must have felt he couldn’t deal with Ikeizumi’s absolute justice alone, nor exterminate the Uchiha Clan by himself.
Itachi needed external help. And he, as Hokage, would never allow the Uchiha’s destruction. So he couldn’t borrow power from the Hokage and had to seek it from outside the village.
Itachi chose the “Akatsuki” organization and “Uchiha Obito.”
“Hoo!”
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. He had advised Itachi multiple times and warned him repeatedly. Normally, Itachi listened to him very well, so why was he so stubborn now?
He had clearly said “Understood” and “Got it” to him several times.
But what exactly did he understand? What did he get?
Itachi…
Did he really understand?
Sarutobi Hiruzen eased his helpless emotions and, forced to accept that Konoha had lost another powerful combatant, said with a complicated expression: “Where’s Itachi’s corpse? Return Itachi’s corpse to Fugaku and let him take it back…”
Fugaku’s slightly twitching facial muscles paused, and he shifted his gaze to the Uchiha girl.
“Vaporized.” Izumi answered: “Not a single cell left.”
She thought for a moment and added consolingly: “If you really want to bury something, you can use his clothes from life to make a cenotaph.”
Just as she said this, Izumi heard Senior Kijiro’s voice: “Rookie, take that rookie and go together. No need to chatter on with these guys here.”
Izumi hurriedly turned her head.
She saw Senior Ikeizumi and Senior Kijiro had already ignored Hokage and Fugaku Clan Leader.
They had left.
“Got it!” Izumi immediately helped up Mitarashi Anko, who still hadn’t woken, carried her on her back, and followed them away.
Sarutobi Hiruzen: “…”
Fugaku: “…”
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn’t help looking at Fugaku beside him, whose body was trembling slightly. He frowned, coughed, and said: “Fugaku, I don’t want to see serious infighting in the Uchiha Clan.”
“An infighting Uchiha Clan will become extremely unstable, which isn’t good for Konoha. Fugaku, don’t do anything that I or others don’t want to see.”
“As for Itachi…”
Sarutobi Hiruzen said in a deep voice: “Itachi chose to cooperate with Akatsuki to deal with his own village’s ninja. That’s intolerable to many, even rogue ninja behavior.”
“Fugaku, this matter blowing up won’t benefit the Uchiha Clan, and even less you. It’ll also deal a heavier blow to Itachi’s reputation.”
At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen inevitably thought of his second son, Sarutobi Asuma.
Asuma had colluded with a colleague from the Twelve Guardian Shinobi. Just that alone made many in the village despise him.
Let alone Itachi suddenly colluding with Akatsuki for some reason.
Akatsuki, Uchiha Obito, Masked Man… that might very well be the one who caused the Konoha Nine-Tails incident! Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn’t understand why Itachi would cooperate with such people.
“…Yes, Hokage.”
Fugaku was silent for several seconds.
In the end, he lowered his head.
……
Half an hour later.
Uchiha Fugaku didn’t know what mood he was in as he walked back to the Uchiha Clan Compound. The moment he stood at his doorstep, he slightly raised his eyelids and saw his wife and second son already waiting at the door for a long time.
Uchiha Mikoto noticed Fugaku’s emotions were extremely off.
Even on the day Sasuke started believing in 「absolute justice」, Fugaku hadn’t shown such emotions.
“What happened?” Mikoto quickly asked.
“Itachi…”
Fugaku lowered his eyes and said: “He chose the path Ikeizumi prophesied. He wanted to kill Uchiha Izumi, that girl who believes in absolute justice. Then Ikeizumi appeared, and Itachi…”
“Died.”
After saying this in an extremely low tone, Fugaku walked past Mikoto without even glancing at Sasuke, straight into the house.
Leaving only a lonely back view for his wife and second son.
And his fists hidden in his sleeves were already clenched white.
The veins on the back of his hands trembled slightly.
Fugaku hated himself for compromising again, hated himself for not fulfilling a father’s duty—to avenge his killed eldest son.
But he alone didn’t hate himself for teaching Itachi wrong.
Fugaku didn’t think there was anything wrong with his education policy; sending his child to the battlefield at four was even less of an issue, because he believed only that could test Itachi’s potential and stimulate the Uchiha Clan’s potential.
His second son, Uchiha Sasuke, this child who hadn’t experienced war, was a perfect counterexample.
Though stimulated by Itachi to awaken, he still couldn’t compare to Itachi.
“Itachi… died…” Sasuke didn’t know his father was still disdainful of his talent at this moment; he was shocked beyond measure by Uchiha Fugaku’s words.
“Killed by Teacher Ikeizumi…”
Sasuke wanted to stop Uchiha Itachi from falling into the abyss, so he craved the power of absolute justice. But he didn’t expect that before he gained stronger power, Itachi was already beyond saving.
Unlike Fugaku, Sasuke felt no hatred at all, only shock and confusion.
He couldn’t help looking at Uchiha Mikoto.
He found his mother’s reaction mirrored his own, perhaps even more intense. Because his mother’s eyes seemed reddened.
After all, Uchiha Itachi was also his mother’s own flesh and blood, raised by her single-handedly; how could there be no feelings?
“Fugaku! Where’s Itachi’s corpse?”
At this moment, Mikoto suddenly spoke up, calling out to Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku paused, took three deep breaths in succession, and silently said: “No bones remain.”
Mikoto’s pretty face froze.
Fugaku turned around, looked at his wife, and said frankly: “Are you still wondering about Ikeizumi? He’s fine. Itachi gave his all, even used Susanoo, but couldn’t harm Ikeizumi at all. I…”
“Hoo! I didn’t attack Ikeizumi either. I suppressed the hatred in my heart, chose silence under Ikeizumi’s aggressive questioning, and compromised under Hokage’s warning.”
“Maybe some of Ikeizumi’s evaluation isn’t wrong; I’m an indecisive person skilled at compromise.”
Fugaku was prepared for his wife’s disappointed look.
But unexpectedly, Uchiha Mikoto just nodded, sighing with a complicated tone: “Itachi chose the wrong path; Ikeizumi just made him pay for his wrong choice. Fugaku, rather than calling it retreat or compromise… this time, you truly understood what’s right and what’s wrong.”
Fugaku was stunned.
“In your eyes, Itachi was wrong? Ikeizumi was right? Even though Itachi died at Ikeizumi’s hands tonight, you still think so?”
He asked.
“Yes.” Mikoto nodded.
Fugaku: “…”
Fugaku’s expression was a bit dazed.
……
“Why do I feel like I’ve become unlucky since coming to Konoha?”
Juzo Biwa squatted in a small tavern in Konoha.
Yes, he had returned and retrieved his lost Executioner’s Blade.
Because Juzo Biwa feared that straying too far from Konoha and Uchiha Ikeizumi’s support would lead him to encounter Uchiha Obito and the others again.
With his own power alone, he couldn’t beat those three.
Juzo Biwa exhaled alcohol breath, grabbed his sake cup, and drowned his sorrows.
He glanced at the distant area where the commotion had already subsided.
Juzo Biwa muttered inwardly: “How do Konoha’s civilians survive in such a ‘harsh’ environment?”
He had clearly seen the clash of the two Susanoo earlier. He had never seen such a terrifying technique; at the time, Juzo Biwa even thought Konoha would be destroyed by the aftermath of those two giant “monsters.”
He had been ready to flee for safety.
But unexpectedly, the other “giant monster” was so fragile.
The battle ended with one swing of the sword.
“Speaking of which…” Juzo Biwa stared at the sake in his cup and murmured: “I haven’t thanked Uchiha Ikeizumi; that Lava Release Ferocious Beast saved my life tonight after all.”
At that moment.
In the reflection of the liquor, Juzo Biwa suddenly saw a blurry figure appear behind him, making his pupils contract sharply. He immediately grabbed the Executioner’s Blade beside him.
If the figure behind moved at all, he would swing the Executioner’s Blade back without hesitation.
“It’s me.”
The quite familiar voice made Juzo Biwa freeze.
Before he could turn his head, the man behind had already sat in the seat next to him.
Juzo Biwa broke out in cold sweat.
“Ha, misunderstanding.” He immediately released the Executioner’s Blade, signaling no hostility. He knew that as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, reacting like this in front of Uchiha Ikeizumi made him seem very cowardly. But he knew even better that being enemies with this man was no different from suicide.
His life still had use.
He couldn’t die in Konoha Village.
Uchiha Ikeizumi asked: “How long do you plan to stay in Konoha?”
Juzo Biwa glanced at him and replied: “Probably until those three stop guarding me outside, then leave Konoha. By then, I won’t return to Akatsuki; I’ll find another organization as my nest.”
“No.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi said: “You need to return to Village of Rain, return to Akatsuki, and inform Konan of the secrets you know.”
Juzo Biwa’s eyes widened: “Hey, joking with my life isn’t good, right? I clearly can’t beat those three!”
Refusal was written all over Juzo Biwa’s face.
“I’ll go with you.” Uchiha Ikeizumi’s sudden words dissipated half of Juzo Biwa’s resistance.
He was stunned: “You…”
“Don’t tell me you’re targeting Akatsuki?”
Juzo Biwa vaguely remembered Uchiha Ikeizumi’s ninja way was 「absolute justice」. In this man’s eyes, Akatsuki, which stirred wars among small countries, was probably one of the sources of evil that his 「absolute justice」 needed to eliminate.
Sure enough.
Uchiha Ikeizumi’s next words confirmed Juzo Biwa’s guess: “Akatsuki harbors many sources of great evil targeted by absolute justice. Uchiha Obito, Orochimaru… these people all need to be judged by justice.”
“Akatsuki’s existence gathers these villains together, saving the trouble of searching the Ninja World for them. Clearing them all out is also the responsibility and duty of absolute justice.”
Juzo Biwa took a deep breath: “You’re probably the only one in the entire Ninja World who dares say such things.”
Recalling Uchiha Ikeizumi’s weird dojutsu.
Juzo Biwa added: “Maybe you really can do it.”
He knew agreeing to Uchiha Ikeizumi would mean betraying Akatsuki.
But he knew even better he had no choice.
“I’ll leave Konoha tomorrow morning.”
Just after Juzo Biwa said this, he suddenly thought of something and asked: “This is your real body, right?”
“Wood Style Clone.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi said honestly.
Juzo Biwa: “…”
No.
Huh?
He had thought Uchiha Ikeizumi would be his personal bodyguard, but who knew the other just saw him as a “tool key” to find Akatsuki’s base in Village of Rain!
Sending just a Wood Style Clone to Village of Rain with him—its only role would be as a locator?
Juzo Biwa’s face stiffened: “What if we run into Uchiha Obito who’s still not giving up halfway? Why not your real body come with me?”
“Konoha still has some trifles.” The Wood Style Clone said: “The real body needs to clear the sins seen one by one, and first build the prototype of the Land of Fire absolute justice team in Konoha; this counts as absolute justice’s first attempt.”
With that, Uchiha Ikeizumi’s Wood Style Clone stopped speaking and calmly watched Juzo Biwa.
Even without a word, even just a Wood Style Clone, it made Juzo Biwa break out in cold sweat under the gaze.
The pressure felt like facing that genin Might Duy head-on.
“Cough! Alright, we’ll set off tomorrow morning.”
Juzo Biwa really couldn’t withstand the pressure.
He could only believe Uchiha Ikeizumi had some trump card in this Wood Style Clone to protect him. After all, with this guy’s absolute justice, he wouldn’t let an innocent die, right?
……
The next day.
Early morning.
The news of Uchiha Itachi being killed by Uchiha Ikeizumi spread like wildfire in the village.
Especially causing huge waves inside the Uchiha Clan Compound.
“That ungrateful beast Uchiha Itachi is finally dead!”
Sasuke, somewhat dazed and on his way to the Ninja Academy, suddenly heard a Police Force Ninja excitedly say to his companion.
“This guy hid in Konoha for so long without daring to show his face, but Uchiha Ikeizumi still caught him and killed him outright.”
“If Uchiha Ikeizumi killed someone else, I might have some qualms, but killing Uchiha Itachi? I’d applaud!”
“After all, that beast wanted to exterminate the clan!”
That companion was also a Police Force Ninja. He tsked: “Last night’s commotion was probably them, right? Uchiha Itachi that ungrateful wolf was indeed the Uchiha Clan’s genius. Unfortunately, compared to Uchiha Ikeizumi, who rivals Shisui, he’s far inferior.”
“Fugaku’s been avoiding talk of his son, clearly wanting to protect Uchiha Itachi. Now, all he can protect is a corpse.”
“Actually, not even a corpse.”—This flashed through Sasuke’s mind as he passed by.
Uchiha Itachi’s death seemed like a foil to absolute justice.
His death made many clan ninjas even more accepting of Teacher Ikeizumi’s absolute justice.
The clan ninjas didn’t respect Father either.
They even called Father’s name directly, unwilling to add “Clan Leader.”
This might be why Father protected Brother.
“Justice shouldn’t be influenced by familial ties. Even blood relations, if they touch justice’s taboos, if they fall into sin’s abyss, should have familial ties severed without hesitation.”
Sasuke’s little face was serious as he tried to convince himself.
……
At the same time.
Hyuga Clan.
Neji hadn’t slept all night, making him look mentally exhausted and listless.
After a light breakfast, as he prepared to head to the Ninja Academy, he suddenly noticed several branch family ninjas from the Hyuga Clan walking past him with uncertain expressions.
Neji could see the indignant looks on their faces.
He was very familiar with that expression, as he often showed it himself.
He took a deep breath, immediately chased after, blocked the branch family ninjas, and looked up to ask them.
“What happened?!”
The several Hyuga Clan branch family ninjas stopped. They sized up Neji and immediately recognized him.
“You’re Lord Hizashi’s child…”
One branch family ninja was about to say something but was pulled by the one beside him.
He could only force a smile: “Nothing, not something for your age to get involved in.”
Neji had a bad premonition. Gritting his teeth, he voiced his guess: “Did a clan member die? If it was natural, you wouldn’t hide it from me. So, did a branch family member die because of the Caged Bird Seal?”
Silence…
Gave Neji his answer.
“Why? For what reason?” His fists quietly clenched, he bit his lower lip, asking repeatedly: “Is it because the main family needs another scapegoat?”
“Sigh.”
One branch family ninja ignored the others’ obstruction, sighed, and said to Neji with a gloomy expression: “A branch family elder secretly tried to break the Caged Bird Seal without the main family’s knowledge. But for some reason, perhaps bad luck, he was discovered by the main family.”
“Whether his attempt succeeded or was delusional, his action indeed violated Hyuga family rules, the greatest taboo in the Hyuga Clan rules.”
“A main family elder activated the Caged Bird Seal on him. And that branch family elder, being old, couldn’t withstand the pain of the Caged Bird Seal, leading to body illness and death.”
He added: “This happened at four a.m. last night.”
The branch family ninja half-squatted and ruffled Neji’s hair.
“No need for sadness; you’ll get used to it. This is our destiny. Caged birds can never fly out; as long as you don’t violate Hyuga Clan rules, you won’t meet the same end.”
Neji staggered back a few steps in a daze.
“If the family rules say so, is it right?” He looked up again and asked the branch family ninjas before him.
One branch family ninja replied: “A rule, if longstanding and everyone accustomed to it, is right. Because no branch family can break the rules; Caged Bird Seal binds us. No main family will change the rules; they’re the beneficiaries. Over time, rules are rules.”
After a few words, everyone present, including Neji Hyuga, fell silent.
All silent.
……
“Rules are rules,” “Habit is right,” “No one can break the rules,” “This is our destiny”… one sentence after another echoed in Neji’s mind.
Until he reached the Ninja Academy, until he entered his classroom.
Neji was still in a dazed, lost state.
He couldn’t help reaching up to rub the bandages tied on his forehead.
Beneath the bandages was the Caged Bird Seal.
Bang!
Suddenly, Neji felt he had bumped into someone. He heard the other exclaim and fall to the ground.
Coming back to his senses, Neji frowned and looked down to see thick eyebrows with a strange ponytail hairstyle clutching his knee and gasping.
“Hey, Neji, ignore that guy.” A ninja academy classmate patted Neji’s shoulder: “This guy can’t even learn the basics of guiding chakra through his meridians; even the teacher says he might not be able to use ninjutsu, has no talent to be a ninja at all.”
“And he insists on becoming a ninja every day. Tsk, a total dead last like that could never become a ninja! There are no ninjas in this world who can’t use ninjutsu! He’s not from our world, Neji; no need to bother with him.”
Neji brushed off the hand on his shoulder.
His cold gaze glanced at the speaker: “Your attitude is like the type of people I despise most. High and mighty, as if you can casually take a life, treat a life as a scapegoat.”
While that ninja academy classmate was stunned.
Neji was about to step over Rock Lee, but as he lifted his foot, he hesitated and put it down.
Neji pulled Rock Lee up.
“Sorry for bumping into you.” After saying this, he stepped past and went to his seat.
‘Justice should be like this.’
Neji murmured inwardly.
……
……
