Chapter 131: Akatsuki’s Moves! Justice Must Break The Filter On Authority
“Tch… I never thought there’d come a day when I’d have to wear the Village of Rain headband and this ridiculous gas mask. It’s so annoying… and it’s lowering my class.”
Land of Fire, near Konoha somewhere.
Juzo Biwa, wearing a black gas mask, had a face full of displeasure.
Juzo Biwa hadn’t expected that shortly after joining that strange organization, they’d assign him such a bizarre mission.
—Pretending to be an envoy from the Village of Rain heading to Konoha Village, and taking the opportunity to make contact with “Uchiha Ikeizumi” in Konoha.
He glanced again at the several Village of Rain Chunin following beside him.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Akatsuki’s control over the Village of Rain was somewhat beyond his expectations; these rain ninjas were extremely obedient to that woman’s commands. When that woman issued orders, they didn’t even voice a single doubt.
It seems…
He had joined a formidable organization. But he didn’t understand why that woman wanted him to infiltrate Konoha Village and make contact with Konoha’s “Lava Release Ferocious Beast,” to probe secrets about “Uchiha Madara” from him.
Uchiha Madara…
This legendary man—wasn’t he already dead long ago?
Juzo Biwa’s mind also flashed with some words Konan had said to him.
—”This is the organization’s top secret mission. No one knows except me, the leader, and you. And you must never reveal the mission’s purpose to anyone, even if the other party is also a member of Akatsuki—you must remain silent.”
—”Konoha’s Uchiha Ikeizumi knows secrets about ‘Uchiha Madara.’ I need you to obtain those secrets.”
—”Why you? Although you’re known throughout the Ninja World for your cruelty, your cruelty is limited to the battlefield, and it’s only inflicted on enemy village foes. To Uchiha Ikeizumi, you’re no villain.”
—”According to Akatsuki’s current intelligence, Uchiha Ikeizumi has no tolerance for villains who burn, kill, loot, and plunder. When a villain appears before him, he kills without hesitation.”
—”Akatsuki’s others aren’t suited for this mission. Their sins are too deep to wash clean; if they appear before that man, they’ll immediately be seen as enemies.”
—”Remember, remain silent to everyone.”
—”Once this mission is complete, you’ll be one of our core members, no longer a rookie who just joined.”
After those words flashed through his mind one by one, Juzo Biwa pursed his lips with a face full of displeasure.
He, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
And he wasn’t even considered a “villain”?
However…
That woman was right; Juzo Biwa’s cruel nature was only unleashed on the Ninja World battlefield. Otherwise, he kept his cruel nature well restrained, never letting it affect unrelated people.
“So in that ‘Lava Release Ferocious Beast’s’ eyes, a ninja killing enemies on the battlefield for their own nation isn’t a villain? Or does it only count as a villain if innocents are harmed?”
Juzo Biwa clicked his tongue.
“Absolute Justice—such a strange Ninja Way. Uchiha Ikeizumi is also a strange Konoha ninja.”
He casually asked a Village of Rain Chunin beside him: “How much longer until we reach Konoha?!”
The rain Chunin replied: “Two days.”
……
“Uchiha Ikeizumi knows too many secrets about me. If he reveals my secrets, everything I’ve done… all my preparations will be wasted.”
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Ninja World.
Uchiha Obito sat on a large moss-covered rock.
He said in a cold tone: “Especially if Nagato and Konan realize I’m not ‘Uchiha Madara’ and even know about my Mangekyo Sharingan abilities… Nagato might not do anything, but that woman Konan might make a move against me.”
“Her gaze every time she looks at me is off— that vigilance, that distrust, I can still faintly sense it. And… I suspect Uchiha Ikeizumi knows more than that; he might know even more secrets about me.”
At this point, he looked at the black-and-white figure Zetsu in front of him: “He might even know about your existence. That’s why I need Akatsuki’s power to investigate that guy.”
“I need to grasp his intelligence, then erase him from the Ninja World and completely eliminate this source of unease in my heart.”
Zetsu pondered for a moment and said: “Obito, if you propose investigating Uchiha Ikeizumi to them, they might realize Uchiha Ikeizumi definitely holds something.”
“Neither Nagato nor Konan will investigate as you intend. They’ll likely secretly investigate in the shadows, trying to uncover your motives.”
Obito frowned: “Unlikely—what motives could they think I have?”
Zetsu shook his head: “You said it yourself—that woman Konan is very wary of you. In my view, all your actions appear deeply meaningful and impurely motivated to her. Especially as ‘Uchiha Madara,’ why investigate a Uchiha Clan junior for no reason?”
Hearing this, Obito’s expression became somewhat unusual.
He felt he had been cautious enough against Konan’s distrust.
Could that woman’s mind be this meticulous?
Zetsu continued: “As long as Konan harbors such doubts, she’ll definitely investigate from that angle. Obito, I’ve warned you long ago not to be so impatient.”
There was some helplessness in Zetsu’s eyes; the Uchiha Obito before him was only in his early twenties.
In the eyes of a being who had lived for over a thousand years, all of Obito’s actions were too hasty, appearing very immature, leading to the current passive situation.
In the end…
Uchiha Obito was just a cheap substitute for Uchiha Madara.
He wasn’t even a tenth of Uchiha Madara.
Now that Obito’s impatience had created a potential secret-exposure mess, Zetsu still had to console him and tell him not to be so hasty…
If it were Uchiha Madara, would Zetsu need to be this exhausted?
Zetsu sighed inwardly.
“But the problem shouldn’t be too big.” Zetsu spoke up: “Konan won’t necessarily uncover anything. After all, even we don’t know why Uchiha Ikeizumi knows so many secrets. By the time she realizes what we want and needs other plans, it’ll be too late.”
Obito breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Zetsu suggested: “Obito, if you want to investigate Uchiha Ikeizumi or even kill him, starting from him directly will be very difficult—that guy’s quite formidable.”
“However…”
“If he’s alone, he’s hard to find weaknesses for, but he has a subordinate. It’s that Uchiha Clan kid who awakened Three-Tomoe earliest in history.”
“Uchiha Izumi!” Without Zetsu finishing, Uchiha Obito narrowed his eyes and slowly said the last name.
……
Konoha, Hyuga Clan Compound.
Uchiha Ikeizumi had left, Sarutobi Hiruzen had left, and Anbu had left.
Only the silent Hyuga Clan members remained, along with the blood-drenched corpse of a Hyuga Clan junior.
Feeling the clan’s gazes, Hyuga Hiashi sighed helplessly inwardly but said expressionlessly: “Take the body inside. Find a day to bury him properly.”
“Hiashi-sama…”
A Hyuga Clan ninja tried to say something but was coldly interrupted by Hyuga Hiashi: “This matter ends here. Best to act like it never happened. Pursuing it further benefits no one in our Hyuga Clan.”
“The result of deep pursuit would be the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, or Hokage, or Uchiha Ikeizumi, or even the Uchiha Clan… all standing against the Hyuga Clan.”
Just thinking of that scene.
Hiashi felt a chill in his heart.
Though the Hyuga Clan always boasted as Konoha’s greatest ninja clan, that was only after the Uchiha Clan was continuously marginalized by the village. Before that, the true greatest Konoha ninja clan was undoubtedly the Uchiha Clan.
If the Hyuga Clan were also marginalized by the village’s forces.
Hyuga Hiashi didn’t dare imagine what a great clan like the Hyuga would become—a third-rate ninja clan?
Back then with the Cloud Hidden incident, the Hyuga Clan endured it. So many years passed, acting like nothing happened.
Today, it was just one Hyuga Branch Family junior dead.
The Hyuga Clan endured without pressure.
“Take this child back.” Facing some clan members’ gazes, Hyuga Hiashi’s tone grew colder as he reiterated.
“……Yes!”
And what happened outside the compound quickly spread throughout the entire Hyuga Clan Compound.
A great Konoha ninja clan had one of their Hyuga Clan juniors killed at their own clan gate.
Normally, they’d demand an explanation from Hokage and the killer, right?
But their own clan leader chose to swallow his anger.
Anyone would stew in frustration!
“Even if that Uzumaki Naruto is likely the Nine-Tails Demon Fox Jinchuriki, even if that Uchiha kid is truly the Uchiha Clan Head’s second son… can they kill a Hyuga Clan child in broad daylight? Can they ignore the Land of Fire’s laws?”
A Hyuga Clan ninja gritted his teeth: “Hokage has always reminded us ninja clans to behave in Konoha Village. We’ve been proper enough, but why do the rule-breakers ride over us, while we who follow rules can’t resist?”
He grew angrier; if he were a Uchiha Clan ninja, he’d probably be on the verge of awakening: “The one killed was one of our Hyuga Clan! He was just a child! Even if he did something wrong, it shouldn’t mean killing him!”
Beside him, a cold-faced Hyuga Branch Family Jonin with arms crossed said expressionlessly: “In Hokage’s heart, the Hyuga Clan is probably just a tool.”
Someone pursed their lips: “Hokage doesn’t dare show Uchiha Ikeizumi a bad face but shows us one…”
“That’s because Uchiha Ikeizumi is strong enough. If our Hyuga Clan had such power, we’d truly be the greatest ninja clan, surpassing the Uchiha Clan. Then Hokage would have to treat us differently.”
“……”
Waves of dissatisfied murmurs ceased as Hyuga Hiashi “unintentionally” passed by.
Listening to his clan members’ indignant discussions.
Hiashi felt very helpless.
If the Hyuga Clan had power like Uchiha Ikeizumi’s, Hokage and others would indeed treat them differently—but that different treatment would be negative.
His clan members probably didn’t understand why the Uchiha Clan was marginalized.
It was because they were too strong, with enough capital to sit at the table, strong enough to affect some people’s rule over Konoha!
As clan leader, his choice to endure at the critical moment.
Was to avoid the Hyuga Clan becoming a target like the Uchiha Clan.
Being too prominent wasn’t good.
Unfortunately.
Some young clan members might not understand his actions yet, but once they learned a bit about Konoha’s situation, they’d understand his good intentions.
Hyuga Hiashi didn’t want to lead the Hyuga Clan to greater glory like Uchiha Setsuna.
Nor maintain balance between Uchiha and Konoha like Uchiha Fugaku.
He only wanted to stay low-key, lower.
Only then… no matter who became Konoha’s Hokage, the Hyuga Clan would remain one of Konoha’s top ninja clans.
However.
His stance was all seen by Neji Hyuga.
“Main Family…”
“Father…”
Neji watched Hyuga Hiashi’s receding back, clenched his fists tightly, and took a slow deep breath. After thinking for less than two seconds, he turned and walked out of the Hyuga Clan Compound.
He remembered Uzumaki Naruto had gone this way.
As for why not go straight to Uchiha Ikeizumi?
A trace of deep fear in Neji’s heart unconsciously ruled out that option.
Even he didn’t know why.
……
Inside the Uchiha Clan Compound.
By the time Yamanaka Yoshinobu sent Naruto home and Sasuke to the Uchiha Clan, night had fully fallen.
Sasuke watched the Anbu ninja Body Flicker away, a flash of envy for the Anbu ninja’s strength deep in his eyes.
But the envy quickly faded.
Because Sasuke knew he’d one day be that strong, even stronger! His goal wasn’t a mere Yamanaka Yoshinobu, but Uchiha Itachi!
“That dead-last was right… Executing justice really brings「 Absolute Justice」’s gift!” Sasuke’s eyes held shock as he muttered to himself alone.
Sasuke clearly remembered when his sharp kunai pierced that Hyuga Clan villain’s back.
The moment the opponent died, he distinctly felt a power not his own surge through his body, instantly converting to his own power.
The most obvious change was the increase in his chakra amount!
This shocked Sasuke greatly.
Executing one villain yielded more than a month’s hard training!
This…
Was Absolute Justice?
In a daze, Sasuke had unknowingly reached his doorstep. As he stepped inside, he suddenly thought of something, jolted in shock, and quickly looked down at his bloodstained hands.
But before he could deal with the blood, his mother’s voice reached his ears: “Sasuke, why are you back so late tonight? Did you hear Ikeizumi returned to Konoha and go see him? You… hmm? Sasuke, why so much blood on you? Are you hurt?”
Shortly after.
At the dinner table, Sasuke—having wiped off the blood and changed clothes—knelt properly beside it.
To his left, his mother’s worried gaze; to his right, his father’s stern gaze.
This put immense pressure on Sasuke.
He thought carefully; today’s events couldn’t be hidden, and his father and mother would surely learn.
So Sasuke lowly confessed the truth, but hid「 Absolute Justice」’s gift.
Before Uchiha Mikoto could react, Uchiha Fugaku couldn’t sit still.
“Sasuke… you killed someone in the village?!”
Fugaku took a deep breath, his stern face showing disbelief as he looked at his disappointing second son: “And it was a Hyuga Clan junior?!”
“……Yes.”
Sasuke lowered his head further; his father’s stern authority wasn’t easily worn down.
“Hokage was there too?” Fugaku now felt extremely weary: “And you killed that Hyuga Clan junior together with Uzumaki Naruto?!”
“……Yes.”
Sasuke’s response made Fugaku painfully close his eyes.
Great, now even his second son was stabbing the Uchiha Clan in the back, making it harder for the Uchiha Clan to gain high-level trust!
When both his eldest and second sons as clan leader were so extreme, even if Uchiha Setsuna was dead, could Hokage still trust him? Trust the Uchiha Clan?
As Fugaku slowly opened his eyes, gritting his teeth in anger to scold, Uchiha Mikoto suddenly interrupted.
“Fugaku, after learning Sasuke chose to follow Ikeizumi’s Absolute Justice, you should have expected this day. You understand Itachi—why can’t you understand Sasuke?”
Uchiha Mikoto stood by Sasuke’s side and said.
“You said—you’re proud of Itachi, even if he does what Ikeizumi prophesied. Because Itachi’s caliber makes you proud.”
“Now, Sasuke’s caliber may not match Itachi’s in your eyes. But it’s his caliber. When he acts for the Absolute Justice he believes in.”
“As his father… shouldn’t you be proud of him?”
“Moreover, Sasuke did nothing wrong. If he had, Hokage wouldn’t have let him return.”
His mother’s words made Sasuke’s deeply lowered head lift slightly.
“Mikoto, you’re spoiling him too much!” Fugaku frowned: “He’s not like Itachi—Itachi is for Konoha, he’s for Ikeizumi.”
“But Ikeizumi is for the Ninja World.” Mikoto said: “Sasuke follows his Ninja Way, ultimately for Ninja World peace and stability. With the Ninja World as goal, does Sasuke’s caliber really fall short of Itachi’s?”
Uchiha Mikoto paused slightly, then continued: “Besides, rather than me spoiling Sasuke, it’s you spoiling Itachi.”
Fugaku’s frown deepened; he always felt his wife Mikoto favored Uchiha Ikeizumi.
Sasuke suddenly noticed… the atmosphere between his father and mother seemed laced with discord.
Both seemed suppressing anger, restrained by their marriage, not showing it.
……
Meanwhile.
Naruto’s home.
“This should be that guy’s place, right?” Neji looked up at the very modest house before him. He’d lost track midway and asked everyone he met, stumbling his way here.
But standing there, Neji suddenly paused, a doubt arising in his heart—why did I come here?
He had left the Hyuga Clan Compound because he couldn’t stand the great Hyuga Clan being led by weak Main Family.
Also because his hatred had been stirred then.
Under that emotion, he suddenly recalled Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke’s words that evening.
“I remember…”
Staring at the building, Neji Hyuga muttered: “I’m interested in their Ninja Way. It aligns with many of my ideas, even has points I never considered but make sense.”
“No…”
“‘Interested’ is just me not wanting to lose face. More precisely, their Ninja Ways stir a longing in me.”
Alone before Naruto’s home, Neji Hyuga truly faced his heart.
This finally dissipated the slight confusion on his face.
What Neji didn’t know was that as he muttered those words, Yamanaka Yoshinobu—still surveilling Naruto from the shadows—halted his steps to intercept.
Before, as a Hyuga Clan member, Neji was suspicious in Yamanaka Yoshinobu’s eyes.
Even suspected of coming to retaliate against the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?
Oblivious to this, Neji took a deep breath.
He stepped forward.
And rang the doorbell.
A dull, hoarse “ding-dong” indicated the doorbell hadn’t been replaced in ages, very old.
“Wait a sec, dattebayo!” A startled voice from inside, followed by clattering—like someone falling, scrambling up using furniture, then accidentally toppling it.
Click…
The door opened.
“Eh?”
Naruto’s small face was full of shock upon opening the door. Before, he’d imagined many possibilities—Hokage, Teacher Ikeizumi, smug Sasuke, Iruka-sensei, Senior Izumi, ninja Grandpa Hokage assigned to surveil him…
But all wrong.
“You’re…”
As Naruto looked suspicious, he suddenly noticed Neji’s uniquely colored eyes!
Naruto instantly went on alert.
He stepped back half a pace; though some spots still hurt, he assumed a guarded stance: “Your eyes look like Hyuga Clan’s. Hey! You here for revenge?”
“No.”
Neji replied expressionlessly: “That guy was killed by you deservedly, reaping what he sowed. He was unskilled. Also, it was his destiny.”
“A pitiful caged bird… dying by an outsider’s hand is better than by a clansman’s. At least, his soul is liberated.”
Naruto: “???”
The first few words made sense, but what was this muttering after?!
“You… come in and sit?” Naruto was baffled.
“No need.”
Neji’s Byakugan stared at Naruto’s blue eyes, his young face solemn as he asked: “How to judge if someone is truly evil? How to judge if their actions are truly evil deeds? Using vicious means to imprint a terrible curse mark on one’s own clansmen—isn’t that an evil deed deserving due price?”
Naruto: “???”
Facing question after question, Naruto’s mind stormed for a while.
He hesitated, then answered: “Of course, people who do bad things are evil! Evil people’s bad deeds are evil deeds! Especially if it harms innocents, directly or indirectly, with malicious intent—that’s definitely bad!”
“As for that vicious curse mark you mentioned… if it’s truly vicious and harmed many innocents, the one who did it isn’t good, right?”
Seeing Neji’s icy young face shift oddly, Naruto quickly added: “Provided you told me everything without hiding details, dattebayo.”
“And best have Teacher Ikeizumi take a look. Teacher Ikeizumi can see others’ past evil and future evil.”
“……Teacher Ikeizumi?” Recovering slightly, Neji Hyuga noted the title.
“The famous Uchiha Ikeizumi!”
Naruto grinned: “Even Grandpa Hokage can’t argue with Teacher Ikeizumi sometimes!”
Neji asked: “Is he your teacher?”
Naruto nodded: “My teacher on the path of justice!”
“Justice…”
Neji mulled the word.
“Hoo!” He suddenly exhaled, saying: “Then I have some understanding.”
With that.
He turned to leave.
Before going, Neji coldly added: “Don’t puzzle over my visit. I just used you to learn about him—your ‘Teacher Ikeizumi.'”
Naruto: “…”
“Why so many like smug Sasuke?” Watching the receding back, Naruto grumbled: “Jeez, no manners, not even a thanks.”
……
“Hiruzen, I heard everything!”
In the Hokage’s Office Building, Koharu Utatane said darkly to Sarutobi Hiruzen: “The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki killed in the village. Right? And it was a Hyuga Clan ninja! Hiruzen, this is「 Absolute Justice」’s harm from Uchiha Ikeizumi!”
“Under「 Absolute Justice」’s negative impact, even the Jinchuriki has learned to kill. Can you ensure he won’t do something more extreme soon?”
Here, Koharu Utatane continued darkly: “Also, Fugaku’s child was involved, right? He didn’t stop the Jinchuriki but joined in killing, maybe even instigated him.”
“I now suspect if Fugaku is truly on our side? Otherwise, how did he raise a son who instigates the Jinchuriki to kill?”
“I even more suspect Uchiha Setsuna’s death was premeditated—to lower our guard against the Uchiha Clan.”
“When the chance comes, will the Uchiha Clan without hesitation launch a coup?”
“Even, is this coup led by Uchiha Ikeizumi?”
Listening to Koharu Utatane’s increasingly outlandish words, turning to pure speculation and delusion, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned tightly.
He wearily interrupted Koharu Utatane: “Don’t voice mere guesses. Koharu, Konoha’s chaotic enough—don’t add new chaos.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen said deeply: “I didn’t expect Naruto’s justice to turn extreme too.”
“However…”
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought of something: “Didn’t I arrange Kakashi to supervise Naruto’s justice?”
On the other side, Homura Mitokado—who hadn’t spoken—explained: “While you were away from Konoha, didn’t you have Kakashi surveil Uchiha Clan movements?”
“Perhaps… in that brief gap of days, Naruto’s values subtly shifted, deepening Absolute Justice’s influence.”
“And with Kakashi on other tasks, no one stopped Naruto’s mindset change.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen: “…”
This blame had circled back, landing on him, Konoha’s Hokage.
“Hiruzen, though we can’t stop Naruto from following「 Absolute Justice」, why not divert his attention with other methods, focusing him elsewhere?”
Homura Mitokado continued: “Naruto’s young, values not set. Even today’s mistake can be reversed.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen paused: “What method?”
Homura Mitokado said: “That child, besides interest in Absolute Justice, still wants to be Konoha Hokage, right?”
As Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded confidently: “My years of effort weren’t wasted. Becoming Konoha Hokage is Naruto’s lifelong dream, the ideal I’ve instilled since childhood.”
Homura Mitokado said leisurely: “Then cultivate him early. Hiruzen, you want to groom him as Konoha’s Fifth Hokage, right?”
“Once you decide early cultivation, Uzumaki Naruto will have much to do. Though unable to escape his pursuit of「 Absolute Justice」…”
“At least it can divert some attention, preventing him sinking too deep into Absolute Justice.”
“Early cultivation…” Sarutobi Hiruzen inhaled deeply: “Koharu, what do you think?”
Koharu Utatane said: “Uzumaki Naruto’s father was Fourth Hokage; grooming him as Fifth isn’t impossible. But he must abandon so-called Absolute Justice, or as future Fifth, he’ll ruin Konoha with it.”
Though Koharu Utatane set conditions, she didn’t oppose.
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his temples: “We can try.”
But he wondered inwardly—earlier he told Ikeizumi indulging Naruto was forcing growth.
Wasn’t he doing the same now?
……
Late night.
As Uchiha Izumi slept soundly, sudden “knock knock” sounds jolted her awake. She instantly grabbed the ninja sword beside her.
Simultaneously activating Three-Tomoe Sharingan without hesitation.
Her gaze turned toward the sound.
“Kij… Senior Kijiro?!” Izumi paused, stunned to see Kijiro squatting outside the closed window, lightly tapping the glass with his paw.
Hearing the girl’s mutter, Kijiro outside immediately grumbled: “What’s ‘Kijiro’? Call me Senior Kijiro, meow! Show some respect to your senior, rookie!”
Izumi quickly opened the window.
Before she could ask curiously, Kijiro got straight to it: “Lord Ikeizumi wants me to fetch you. Lord Ikeizumi said—the moment to execute justice has arrived.”
The word “justice” fully snapped Izumi from drowsiness.
“Got it!”
Wasting no time, not even changing from pajamas, she donned Police Force gear, patted her cheeks to wake fully, then jumped out the window.
“Need to call one more.”
As Kijiro added, he deftly jumped onto Izumi’s shoulder.
Izumi startled: “Who!?”
“Mitarashi Anko.”
……
Tonight, Anko hadn’t slept. She hadn’t expected so many major events in just one day.
And every one involved Uchiha Ikeizumi; even she, Mitarashi Anko, was personally involved.
Anko stood on her Jonin apartment balcony, gazing at Konoha’s nightscape.
“Konoha, even the whole Ninja World—really so much sin? But if not that much sin, what are the sins Uchiha Ikeizumi sees?”
She couldn’t imagine her childhood home harboring so many heinous sins.
“Hm? Who?!”
Suddenly, Mitarashi Anko alerted, her gaze landing on a rooftop ahead.
A figure had appeared there!
“It’s me.” Izumi’s voice came from across: “Senior Ikeizumi found an evil to execute and ordered me to bring you along.”
Anko remembered—this was the Uchiha girl by Uchiha Ikeizumi’s side, pretty cute-looking.
She recalled the girl’s sharp skills in the Uchiha Clan Compound, leaving a deep impression.
And she had the Uchiha Clan’s Three-Tomoe Sharingan; her strength probably not much weaker than Anko’s.
Or maybe a bit stronger?
If Orochimaru were still in Konoha, Uchiha Izumi might’ve been one of his experiment subjects… As this odd thought flashed, Anko’s eyes clouded uncomfortably.
Though Orochimaru cleared her memories, the deepest influences lingered, spawning these inexplicable thoughts.
Leaving Anko in a poor mood.
Composing herself, Mitarashi Anko nodded seriously, indicating understanding, then asked curiously: “What villain?”
“Don’t know.”
Izumi answered frankly.
……
When Kijiro, Izumi, Anko, and one cat met Uchiha Ikeizumi, as if reading their thoughts.
The moment they stopped, Uchiha Ikeizumi’s ethereal tone drifted: “Utatane Clan.”
“Utatane Clan?” Izumi paused: “Senior, you mean the villain’s location?”
“Mm.” Uchiha Ikeizumi said flatly.
“Utatane…” Anko startled: “Isn’t that Advisor Koharu Utatane’s ninja clan?”
She was stunned.
Today: first Uchiha Clan, then Hyuga Clan, now Utatane Clan…
Felt like offending all Konoha’s ninja clans top to bottom.
“Meow, no need for surprise.” Kijiro licked his paw, then groomed his face fur: “Utatane Clan is just our first stop tonight.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi said slowly: “Second stop, Mitokado Clan; third, Sarutobi Clan. Tonight, I’ll only hold off those you two can’t handle yet.”
Mitarashi Anko: “!!!”
Uchiha Izumi: “!!!”
This rounded up the ninja clans of Konoha’s three top leaders?
Anko seemed to realize something, inhaling sharply, trembling as she probed: “Ikeizumi, you want me and Uchiha Izumi to execute the villains in these three clans?!”
“Yes.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi said indifferently: “At the Hyuga Clan, I saw you still view Konoha Hokage… or Konoha’s power elite through a lens of hesitation. What you need is to break that mental lens.”
“If you can’t execute even their clan members, how will you muster the courage later to point Absolute Justice’s blade at them?!”
“This is Absolute Justice’s test for you. Mainly you, Mitarashi Anko. You’re oldest, most influenced by those three.”
……
……
