Chapter 103: Sasuke And Naruto’s Destiny Will Lead Him To Pursue Justice
“Your whole family is quite interesting, meow. A while ago, Fugaku brought Uchiha Itachi over, and tonight it’s you bringing Uchiha Sasuke. People who don’t know might think you planned it.”
Kijiro seemed to stand by the side, complaining while leading Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Sasuke both into the house.
Because after Ikeizumi came out, he had no intention of seeing them off.
Kijiro, who had followed Uchiha Ikeizumi for many years, immediately understood.
“Rookie, what are you standing there for? You come in too!”
Kijiro’s voice made Izumi “oh” and immediately follow.
She also gently closed the door behind her.
This was Izumi’s second time entering Uchiha Ikeizumi’s home. The last time, she was shocked and angered by Uchiha Itachi’s “Future Evil,” and didn’t have time to curiously look around the rooms inside.
This time, Izumi’s curious gaze, full of desire for knowledge, was carefully wandering around.
Senior Ikeizumi’s home was remarkably simple and neat.
The most eye-catching thing was the potted plant on the windowsill.
She could tell that every potted plant had been carefully trimmed, with many tools for maintaining the potted plants placed nearby. It seemed like this was Senior Ikeizumi’s hobby?!
Hiss! So the senior has hobbies too…
Izumi was greatly shocked.
After all, the rigid impression Senior Ikeizumi showed in front of her was like a cold person who wouldn’t be overly interested in anything except Absolute Justice and Sin.
Now it seemed her own rigid impression was too narrow.
Izumi silently memorized Senior Ikeizumi’s hobby in her heart.
“Meow, rookie, don’t think about giving gifts to Ikeizumi. Not only will Ikeizumi not accept them, he’ll turn your impression score with him negative!”
The low voice reminder from Kijiro, as if he saw through her little thoughts, startled Izumi.
Izumi whispered, “Not even something like a birthday gift?”
“Um…” Kijiro fell into thought: “That’s touching my knowledge blind spot, meow. After all, with Ikeizumi’s great fame, who has the guts to give Ikeizumi a birthday gift?”
On the other side.
Uchiha Mikoto had already taken Sasuke’s hand and sat down. Her expression was quite complex as she got straight to the point: “Ikeizumi, I’m very sorry to disturb you late at night. I wanted to see you, it wasn’t planned ahead, it was a sudden impulse tonight.”
She turned to look at the uneasy little Sasuke, the worry in her eyes impossible to hide no matter what.
“Itachi… he’s become very strange. Tonight, I found out he still wanted to attack Sasuke. The things he said to Sasuke made even me shudder… If it weren’t for that child Izumi stopping him, Sasuke might have…”
At this point, Uchiha Mikoto’s eyes were full of Sadness.
She couldn’t understand why such a thing would happen?
Did it really have to use such extreme methods to resolve the conflict between the village and the Uchiha? To resolve that conflict, could Itachi kill even his own family without hesitation?
In her eyes, her eldest son had transformed into someone she completely didn’t recognize.
And an extremely dangerous person at that!
Uchiha Mikoto wasn’t afraid of death. If one day her most beloved child decided to kill his mother, the only thing she could do was close her eyes and quietly await Death’s arrival.
She couldn’t be enemies with her own child.
But…
When it involved another child’s safety, in Despair, Uchiha Mikoto gave birth to a maternal protective instinct.
She didn’t want Sasuke to get hurt!
“Sasuke is a good child, he doesn’t usually have any overly extreme ideas. Most of the time, he acts very normally. In my view, he shouldn’t be someone who will do evil in the future.”
Uchiha Mikoto pleaded: “In the entire Uchiha Clan, probably only you can protect Sasuke well. I hope you can look after Sasuke and let him grow up healthily.”
“Ikeizumi… this isn’t a conversation between me as the clan leader’s wife and you, but as an incompetent mother talking to you. Sorry, I couldn’t control Itachi’s thoughts, and I didn’t teach that child well, leading him down the wrong path.”
“I can only do my utmost to protect Sasuke…”
“That’s all.”
Uchiha Mikoto said all the words in her heart.
This made Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Izumi, and Kijiro—the two people and one cat—all look at her with shocked and stunned gazes.
Sasuke’s eyes widened, his little face full of shock. He looked at Mother, whose eyes were teary with Sadness. The words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat, unable to come out. That empathetic, heartbreaking feeling made Sasuke’s eyes well up too.
He had never seen such a sad Mother…
And the culprit of all this was his once most beloved older brother, Uchiha Itachi, who was going to slaughter the Uchiha Clan!
Uchiha Ikeizumi neither agreed nor refused, simply asking: “Can’t Clan Leader Fugaku protect him?”
“Fugaku, he might be able to stop Itachi. But…”
Uchiha Mikoto smiled bitterly: “I’m the one who knows him best. When his eldest son appears before him one day with a bloodstained Cleaver, all his fighting spirit will dissipate. He will fully accept Itachi’s decision.”
Sasuke was stunned.
Father couldn’t stop his brother either?
Or did Mother mean that if it really came to that, Father would give up resisting?
At that time…
Mother would leave with Father too, right?
Sasuke quietly clenched his fists.
He pursed his lips, saying nothing, only because he felt deep powerlessness. Something even Father and Mother couldn’t solve—could he, a seven-year-old child, solve it?
Uchiha Ikeizumi looked at the clan leader’s wife and explained: “Uchiha Itachi won’t kill Uchiha Sasuke in the future.”
Uchiha Mikoto said softly: “The future can change, can’t it? Otherwise, Ikeizumi, you wouldn’t have advised me and Fugaku before. That was the change you wanted to make back then. It’s just that no one expected Itachi’s heart to be so stubborn.”
Her beautiful face showed confusion and dejection: “I can’t see if the future will change for the better or for the worse. Sasuke can also believe in Justice. This is the only way I can think of for Sasuke to survive.”
“I think you’ve misunderstood something.” Uchiha Ikeizumi’s words stunned Uchiha Mikoto.
Uchiha Ikeizumi slowly said: “Uchiha Itachi’s future actions are Sin in themselves. Do you think Absolute Justice will stand by and silently watch the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall happen?”
“Protecting the innocent is Justice’s duty and obligation. No need for you to request as a mother—Absolute Justice will protect those it needs to protect without hesitation.”
“As for Uchiha Sasuke believing in Justice…”
Uchiha Ikeizumi glanced at Sasuke, whose face was full of deep frustration and powerlessness.
All Emotions were “written” on Sasuke’s little face.
Anyone could tell what he was thinking with one look.
He said without any politeness: “A brat who hasn’t even understood what Justice truly is—force him to believe in Justice, and he’ll never understand what bearing Justice means. Right now, his understanding of Justice is not even as good as Uzumaki Naruto’s.”
“Sorry, I was too narrow-minded.” Uchiha Mikoto was deeply moved. Just a few short sentences made her realize how pure Uchiha Ikeizumi’s sense of Justice was.
In other words… even without her pleading, when the moment was about to happen, Uchiha Ikeizumi would still act.
Sasuke’s ears twitched suddenly.
Even Sasuke himself didn’t know why, but “not even as good as Uzumaki Naruto” gave him a strange sense of displeasure. But because he feared Uchiha Ikeizumi too much, Sasuke didn’t show this displeasure too obviously.
Moreover…
Why did the name “Uzumaki Naruto” sound so familiar?
Wait!
Isn’t that the dead last?!
Full of endless Doubt, Sasuke, who was inexplicably dragged here by Mother, was also inexplicably dragged away by Mother. He even saw Mother deeply bow to Uchiha Ikeizumi.
On the way home, Sasuke lowered his little head, clutching his clothes, and asked: “Mother, were you trying to leave me with him just now? You think my brother might kill me, right?”
A rare silence from Mother.
Gave Sasuke a silent answer.
……
Capital of the Land of Fire.
Late at night.
Under the Daimyo of the Land of Fire’s mobilization, the Twelve Guardian Shinobi gathered, but one “Nan Wu” was absent. Thus, the Twelve Guardian Shinobi became the Eleven Guardian Shinobi.
The eleven people’s positions clearly divided into two factions.
One faction led by Sarutobi Asuma advocated maintaining Balance between the Konoha Hokage and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
The other faction led by Kazuma believed the Hokage shouldn’t exist and that Ninjas should be controlled by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
The former had five people.
The latter had six.
The two sides originally didn’t get along well, but under the Daimyo of the Land of Fire’s mediation, they temporarily gathered together.
“Tsk tsk, Uchiha Ikeizumi… he’s indeed quite famous. I hear he’s a Dual Bloodline Limit Ninja? Sharingan plus Lava Release—heh, sounds tough to deal with.”
Kazuma, with his naturally graying long hair and a ferocious knife scar on his face, stared at Asuma mockingly: “Asuma, don’t mind killing the Konoha Hokage before killing Uchiha Ikeizumi? After all, he hid this from the Daimyo, and didn’t even send anyone to transport Senior Kyusuke’s Corpse. As the Konoha Hokage, what are his intentions?”
Asuma furrowed his brows.
To be honest, he didn’t want to work with these six radicals in front of him.
Compared to Hunting Uchiha Ikeizumi, these six were more inclined to Hunt Konoha Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen!
But…
His side had already sacrificed “Nan Wu,” and with the remaining five’s Power, he didn’t know if they could take down Uchiha Ikeizumi.
To deal with Uchiha Ikeizumi, there was only one chance, so in this situation, he could only cooperate with these six.
“Don’t forget what the Daimyo instructed you.”
Asuma retorted: “This time’s target is only Uchiha Ikeizumi. The others are not in our mission. And the Daimyo said this time, you need to follow my command.”
His eyes narrowed as he continued: “Also, if you dare make a move on Konoha’s Hokage, I’ll kill you before you do.”
Kazuma grinned ferociously, staring at Asuma without fear.
But he didn’t continue steering the topic to the Konoha Hokage.
“Don’t waste unnecessary time.”
Asuma vigilantly eyed Kazuma and said in a deep voice: “Move out!!!”
The Eleven Guardian Shinobi immediately set off.
……
The next day.
Uchiha Sasuke, harboring worries, barely slept all night.
His mind was still echoing with Uchiha Itachi’s mocking cold words, Mother’s sad and helpless Emotions, Father’s silence after returning home, and what that guy Uchiha Ikeizumi said to Mother last night.
“What does he mean I can’t understand the meaning of bearing Justice?”
Sasuke, full of sleepiness, muttered: “What does he mean I’m not even as good as Uzumaki Naruto? Isn’t he just a dead last?”
He sat at the dining table gnawing on breakfast, but when his gaze unintentionally fell on the chair where Uchiha Itachi usually sat most often.
Sasuke’s movements couldn’t help but stop.
Doubt, anger, unwillingness, fear… various complex Emotions made Sasuke silent. Sasuke didn’t know what kind of gaze he should use to view his brother, nor if he should hate him.
This was too complex for a seven-year-old child.
Sasuke had no appetite and went to the Ninja Academy alone.
The moment he entered the Ninja Academy classroom.
He started searching for a certain dead last’s figure.
“…Where is he?!” In his Memory, that dead last usually came to the classroom quite early. Every time he entered, he could see him, but today he found the guy missing.
Moreover, Sasuke could clearly feel many Ninja Academy students staring at him with strange gazes.
Sasuke knew the reason well.
These people must have heard about the Uchiha Clan’s Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall a year from now, and about Uchiha Itachi’s cruel methods.
To say he had no Fluctuation was impossible. Current Sasuke couldn’t ignore these gazes at all.
He felt a bit irritated.
He didn’t know how long he waited, but just as class time was approaching, a disheveled figure finally rushed in hurriedly.
Sasuke looked up and saw that striking blond hair.
“Why does this guy look so dirty…”
Sasuke frowned.
A bit disgusted.
But Uchiha Ikeizumi’s words flashed through his mind again, making Sasuke stand up directly. Under the whole class’s gaze, he walked to Uzumaki Naruto’s side and sat in the adjacent seat under Naruto’s puzzled gaze.
“Dead last, what’s your relationship with him?” Sasuke asked Naruto in a defiant tone.
Naruto immediately looked displeased: “Hey hey hey, what’s dead last? I have a name! I’m Uzumaki Naruto! And if you don’t say the name, how do I know who ‘he’ is?”
Sasuke smelled an unpleasant sweat odor. He somewhat regretted sitting next to Naruto and unconsciously shifted a bit farther, saying: “The one I’m talking about is… Uchiha Ikeizumi.”
Naruto: “!!!”
“You know him?!”
Naruto was shocked.
Sasuke’s little face showed some pride: “He’s a Uchiha Clan Member. My father is the Uchiha Clan Head. How could I not know him? Also, you haven’t answered my question.”
This stumped Naruto. What was his relationship with Uchiha Ikeizumi? He couldn’t quite explain it himself.
Um…
Naruto muttered: “I asked him to teach me Absolute Justice, and he agreed… Hiss! I get it now!”
Naruto suddenly realized: “He’s my Teacher!!!”
Sasuke: “???”
Sasuke was dumbfounded.
Uchiha Ikeizumi, whom even Father was very wary of, and to whom even Mother brought him to seek help, actually took a sloppy Ninja Academy dead last as a disciple!?
And when Mother requested that he too believe in Justice, the other said he wasn’t as good as Uzumaki Naruto!?
Where was he inferior to him? In understanding of Justice?
Sasuke’s little face showed a very exciting expression.
“…Hey! Dead last!”
Sasuke gritted his teeth, averted his gaze without looking directly at Naruto, and asked hesitantly: “What exactly is Justice?”
……
“Uchiha Ikeizumi! Why can’t you let me off the hook? This is already many years-old history! I can’t even clearly remember how I did it back then!”
On a certain street in Konoha.
A Chunin shouted in terrified breakdown: “And the person I killed wasn’t from Konoha Village, not even from the Land of Fire. Why are you attacking a fellow village Ninja for an outsider?”
“We’re both Konoha Ninjas! Killing me for an outsider— are you still a Konoha Ninja?”
Uchiha Ikeizumi held his Ninja Sword diagonally, stepping forward step by step.
“Why?”
As that Konoha Chunin’s Pupils gradually dilated, Uchiha Ikeizumi had already passed by him. The Ninja Sword in his hand was already stained with glaring red Blood at some point.
“Because eliminating the Evil of the Ninja World is Justice’s responsibility and obligation. What I just said was only one of your many Sins. Letting an Insect like you go would be defiling Justice.”
A large Head rolled to the ground.
The headless Corpse also slumped heavily down.
“Senior, this is the second one today!” Izumi held her Notebook, recording while saying: “Lately, many Ninjas on missions outside have returned. I didn’t expect them to look normal on the surface but have done so many dirty deeds.”
At this point, even Izumi felt a bit scared.
Of course, her fear wasn’t because of Senior Ikeizumi’s Bloody Methods, but because the Ninja World’s pathological distortion exceeded her imagination.
In Izumi’s impression, Konoha was already one of the better Ninja Villages among the many in the Ninja World.
And Konoha Ninjas should have pretty high average quality, right?
But the Evil of the Ninja World lurking in Konoha…
Was still so numerous it made her hair stand on end!
After putting away the Notebook, Izumi hesitantly asked: “Senior, didn’t you say you wanted to develop followers of Justice? But last night, why did you refuse Aunt Mikoto and Sasuke? Even if Sasuke doesn’t understand Justice much yet, we can guide him patiently to accept your Absolute Justice, right?”
But Uchiha Ikeizumi said: “He will take the initiative to understand Justice.”
Izumi was stunned.
She only heard Senior Ikeizumi continue: “Uzumaki Naruto’s existence is the driving force for him to understand Justice. Because between him and Uzumaki Naruto, there is an inseparable bond of Destiny.”
Eh?!
Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto have an inseparable bond of Destiny?
It sounded a bit weird…
Aren’t both of them boys?
……
……
