Chapter 135: Ikeizumi’s Deterrence! If You Don’t Cooperate, Kill Directly!
The next day.
Early morning.
When they saw one corpse after another, covered in white cloth, being transported out from the Mitokado Clan, Utatane Clan, Uchiha Clan Police Force, and Sarutobi Clan sequentially.
The residents of Konoha vaguely realized that a major, unknown incident had likely occurred last night.
“Sarutobi, Utatane, Mitokado, Uchiha!”
A Konoha Genin clicked his tongue in astonishment, “What in the world is going on? This includes almost half of Konoha’s major ninja clans, doesn’t it? They couldn’t have had a violent internal conflict last night, could they? There are already twenty to thirty corpses being transported from each of those clan compounds!”
“I heard this matter is related to Uchiha Ikeizumi,” a Konoha Chunin beside him said, a cigarette holder in his mouth, his expression grim. “I have a friend who is a member of the Sarutobi Clan, and he said Uchiha Ikeizumi broke into their clan grounds last night.”
“And he took four people from the Sarutobi Clan. This means the four corpses transported out by the Uchiha Clan today are not Uchiha Clan ninjas, but members of the Sarutobi Clan.”
Someone couldn’t help but gasp in disbelief, “Wait a moment… the Sarutobi Clan, isn’t that the ninja clan the Hokage belongs to? Did the Hokage just let Uchiha Ikeizumi take them away like that?”
The Konoha Chunin pinched the cigarette holder in his mouth and said, “My friend told me that Uchiha Ikeizumi was acting on the side of justice. Not only did the Hokage not stop him, but other ninjas from the Sarutobi Clan also did not obstruct Uchiha Ikeizumi.”
“He also said—the four clan members who were taken away, including the two who died in internal conflict, deserved their fate. The Hokage has already expelled them from the Sarutobi Clan.”
Everyone exchanged glances. The major incident that occurred last night seemed to be more dramatic than they had imagined.
And this news quickly swept through Konoha like a hurricane.
The crimes of some of those killed last night were also leaked.
Especially the couple from the Sarutobi Clan who killed each other.
Their shocking crimes, which shattered moral principles, left countless people dumbfounded and even caused a strong physiological aversion.
…
Meanwhile, in a certain inn in Konoha.
“…Hoo!” Tsunade, with a toothbrush in her mouth, lowered her eyelids. Her face was still somewhat pale, and dark circles had formed under her eyes, indicating she hadn’t slept for even an hour since last night.
She glanced at the little girl lying on the tatami mat, sleeping soundly.
She kicked Shizune, who was softly snoring beside her, with her bare foot.
As if she had hit the bullseye by accident, Shizune suddenly opened her eyes, covering her backside, her pretty face flushed red as she sprang up.
Shizune’s eyes seemed to well up with wronged tears, “Lady Tsunade, can you please not wake me up this way next time!”
—This method is like a sleazy degenerate!
This thought flashed through Shizune’s mind, but she dared not say it aloud.
Tsunade ignored Shizune’s complaints and mumbled, “Check the child’s injuries, see if there’s any improvement.”
“…Oh!”
As Shizune carefully checked, Tsunade, still with the toothbrush in her mouth, slid open the door.
She walked out barefoot and shifted her gaze slightly to the right.
“You’ve been guarding all night?” Tsunade asked.
Uchiha Ikeizumi, who had been dozing by the wall, slowly opened his eyes and said calmly, “I went out for half an hour to clear my head, but unfortunately, I ran into two people who made me feel even worse.”
“Who?” Tsunade asked curiously.
“Uchiha Fugaku.”
“Uchiha Itachi.”
Tsunade immediately understood. During her stay in the village these past few days, she had also heard the prophecy of the “Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall.” She also knew that the brat named Uchiha Itachi was a dangerous and unstable character.
“Since you knew that brat would do such a thing in the future, why didn’t you just kill him directly? After all, don’t you believe in absolute justice?” As she spoke, toothpaste foam escaped from Tsunade’s mouth.
Uchiha Ikeizumi said, “If… I see a baby who will kill someone one day in the future. And then I kill that baby to save that future person.”
“Do you think such an action is correct?”
Tsunade was stunned and pondered for a moment, “Then I roughly understand, absolute justice—judge by deeds, not by intentions? But do you really have to wait until that brat causes the downfall of the clan before you take action against him? In that case… isn’t your absolute justice a bit late?”
Uchiha Ikeizumi said, “The moment he becomes utterly incorrigible and decides to act, absolute justice will pass judgment on him.”
Tsunade suddenly understood and said with interest, “So, you brat aren’t as extreme as they say!”
She asked doubtfully, “Since there are many rumors unfavorable to you in the village, why don’t you come forward and clarify them?”
“These rumors are beneficial to justice.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi stated indifferently, “They can realize through gossip what consequences they will face if they cross the bottom line of justice, even if the consequences they imagine are demonically exaggerated.”
“Bearing such immense public pressure…” Tsunade mused and asked, “It must be difficult for you, right?”
“I don’t feel anything.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Just then, Shizune quickly ran out from the room. Upon seeing Uchiha Ikeizumi, she paused for a moment. Then, realizing the situation, she reported to Tsunade, “Lady Tsunade, the child has recovered very well. She only needs a few days of rest and can be sent back now.”
“Also…”
Shizune awkwardly scratched her head. At that moment, a little girl with a panicked expression cautiously emerged from behind her.
Shizune looked down apologetically, “I accidentally woke her up.”
“Who… who are you people?” Sarutobi Sakurako asked, drilling out of the room. She quickly moved away from the three strangers in front of her. If it weren’t for the fact that the disheveled Tsunade seemed completely harmless, she would have probably already been scared and run away.
Sarutobi Sakurako took a couple of uncomfortable steps in place. She felt a slight discomfort in her body, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly where it was.
Sarutobi Sakurako swallowed nervously, “Where is this? Why am I here? Where are my Father and Mother?”
The last sentence suddenly made the atmosphere fall silent.
Tsunade looked at Uchiha Ikeizumi, who said, “Your question will be answered by the Third Hokage.”
“The Third Hokage… Hokage-sama?!”
Sarutobi Sakurako was startled.
Uchiha Ikeizumi said indifferently, “Do you see my attire? I am a ninja from the Uchiha Police Force. I will take you to the Third Hokage. Don’t ask too many questions on the way.”
Sarutobi Sakurako dared not speak. She found this man terrifying!
…
Hyuga Clan.
Hyuga Neji looked at Hinata with great indifference as she let out a soft cry and assumed a Gentle Fist stance to charge at him. He merely shifted half a step back, and Hinata’s palm brushed past his chest without even touching his clothes.
Neji suddenly lunged forward, hooking Hinata’s ankle with his toe. With a gentle pull, Hinata cried out in surprise and tripped to the ground.
Overlooking Hinata, who was trying to scramble up in a panic, Neji’s mind flashed with the image of his Father.
He then recalled the painful sensation of having the Caged Bird Seal engraved on him.
At just eight years old, a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.
“Hm?”
Just then, Hyuga Hiashi, who was watching Hinata’s poor performance with disappointment from not far away, suddenly sensed something acutely. His expression turned grim, and he immediately formed a hand seal. Just as he was about to activate the Caged Bird Curse Mark, Hiashi suddenly noticed the killing intent flashing in Neji’s eyes, which was forcefully suppressed.
Hyuga Hiashi’s movement faltered.
“…” Unaware that he had narrowly escaped a painful fate, Neji’s eyes flashed with a hint of complexity.
Because the moment the killing intent arose, he thought of Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke.
He also thought of that man, Uchiha Ikeizumi.
And…
That man’s absolute justice!
‘Is it an act of justice to transfer the hatred of my father being a scapegoat onto an innocent young lady who knows nothing about it, without discrimination?’ — This was the reason Hyuga Neji forcefully suppressed the killing intent that arose in his heart.
At this moment, he suddenly felt a bit lost. After all, he was only a second-year student at the ninja academy, and his academic level wasn’t higher than Uchiha Itachi’s; he was just not as neurotic as Uchiha Itachi.
Neji couldn’t figure it out.
“Neji, understand your status and distinguish between seniority and inferiority,” Hyuga Hiashi’s cold warning suddenly rang out.
Neji was startled.
He immediately took a step back and instinctively reached for his forehead, but the extreme pain he expected did not occur.
Hyuga Hiashi’s gaze made Neji’s skin crawl.
He heard the other man say coldly, “This time is just a verbal warning. There will be no next opportunity. Do not let me see you do anything you shouldn’t, nor let me see you have any thoughts you shouldn’t have, Neji.”
“…Yes, Clan Leader,”
Neji lowered his head and forced the words out through gritted teeth.
“It’s getting late,” Hyuga Hiashi continued. “Take Hinata to the ninja academy; you can’t be late.”
“Yes.”
…
Sarutobi Clan Residence.
“I heard that four corpses were transported out by the Uchiha Police Force before dawn this morning,” a Sarutobi Clan Special Jonin said with his arms crossed and a gloomy expression. “Sarutobi Kyoya, Sarutobi Tsunayoshi, Sarutobi Koji, Sarutobi Mizuna. If I’m not mistaken, those four corpses must be them.”
“The Uchiha Police Force doesn’t usually execute criminals privately; at least there should be a proper death penalty procedure. It must be that Uchiha Ikeizumi who, after uncovering something, unhesitatingly killed all four of them.”
Having said that, his gloomy expression turned into a somber one.
“Those four people had families in the Sarutobi Clan. Their families have either lost the pillar of their household or their mothers. Sigh… what a terrible day!”
Beside him, another short Sarutobi Clan ninja said, “They have already been expelled from the Sarutobi Clan by the Hokage-sama, so there’s no need to have such emotional fluctuations over their deaths.”
“…Heh, you’re quick to draw the line!” a Sarutobi Clan member sneered. “If I recall correctly, one of the taken clan members was your blood relative, wasn’t he?”
“Are you afraid that his evil deeds will implicate you, and then that plague god Uchiha Ikeizumi will come after you too?”
The short Sarutobi Clan ninja’s face turned red as he defended himself, “It’s as if you dared to do anything to Uchiha Ikeizumi. Why didn’t you say a word last night?”
The Sarutobi Clan member’s face flushed with shame and anger, “That’s because the Hokage-sama stopped me! If only the Hokage-sama hadn’t, hadn’t…”
As he reached this point, his voice suddenly faltered.
His eyes widened, looking towards the outside of the Sarutobi Clan residence gate.
His facial reaction drew the attention of several people around him, and they followed his gaze in the same direction.
Suddenly!
Everyone’s heart skipped a beat. Their muscles tensed instinctively, and they stared at the man who appeared within their line of sight with uneasy vigilance.
“…Uchiha Ikeizumi!”
The Sarutobi Clan Special Jonin’s palms were sweating.
“Wait! That child!” Suddenly, he saw a young child accompanying Uchiha Ikeizumi. He immediately recognized the child, and his eyes widened slightly, “The daughter of Sarutobi Kazuki and Sarutobi Megumi…”
The poor child…
“Uchiha Ikeizumi!” He gritted his teeth, a surge of courage rising from somewhere, and said to Uchiha Ikeizumi, “How is this child with you? What did you do to her? This child is already so pitiful, she was…”
He had barely said this when he suddenly couldn’t continue.
“Cough cough…”
Suddenly.
A faint cough sounded from behind these Sarutobi Clan ninjas, causing them to turn around in astonishment and find that Konoha’s Third Hokage was standing behind them.
“Hokage-sama!”
The Sarutobi Clan ninjas quickly made way.
Uchiha Ikeizumi looked coldly at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who instinctively shifted his gaze, avoiding looking into Uchiha Ikeizumi’s eyes.
“I’ve brought the person back for you,” Uchiha Ikeizumi said, ignoring the Special Jonin’s question. He added expressionlessly, “She doesn’t remember that incident. Her injuries will heal with a few days of rest. As for her parents, you will have to inform her. This is also a responsibility you, as Konoha’s Third Hokage, must bear.”
As he finished speaking, Sarutobi Sakurako, standing beside him, ran towards Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Then she glanced at Uchiha Ikeizumi with a timid expression.
“…” Sarutobi Hiruzen’s expression was complex as he stroked the child’s head. After a two-second silence, he said to Uchiha Ikeizumi, “Ikeizumi… Thank you for your kindness to this child.”
All the Sarutobi Clan ninjas were stunned.
Why did the Hokage-sama thank this Uchiha Ikeizumi?
Wait!
They suddenly remembered what Uchiha Ikeizumi had just said—she didn’t remember that incident; her injuries would heal with rest.
“That incident,” did it refer to the harm inflicted on her by her father?
And “injuries”… what injuries could a child have?
Could it be?
At this moment, all the Sarutobi Clan ninjas fell silent.
Because they had all realized something.
This “Uchiha Plague God” had quietly, and without exaggeration, done such a thing for a child? Wasn’t this the act of a good person?
Is he…
A good person?
…
Ninja Academy.
The seven-year-old Hinata Hyuga followed Hyuga Neji like a little shadow.
As the pair of cousins walked into the ninja academy, Hinata finally mustered a bit of courage, tugged on Neji’s sleeve, and whispered cautiously, “Brother Neji… the way you looked at me at home just now was really scary…”
Hyuga Neji’s footsteps halted.
His fists clenched slightly.
But then he loosened them.
The esteemed Young Mistress of the Main Family fearing a member of a Branch Family seemed utterly absurd.
Her cowardice made Neji feel even more uncomfortable.
He took a deep breath and said expressionlessly, “You are too weak. If you had been even a little bit stronger, you wouldn’t have feared my gaze.”
Just as he was about to ignore Hinata and head directly to his classroom.
A sudden voice made Neji pause.
“Huh? Were you the guy who suddenly showed up at my house last night? And you asked a bunch of weird questions for no reason.” The speaker was none other than Naruto. Naruto had spotted Neji at a glance, mainly because of Neji’s long hair, which was too conspicuous.
Naruto walked over, stared at Neji, and muttered while stroking his chin, “I remember your name is… Hyuga…”
“Hmm—” Naruto paused. “You didn’t tell me your name, did you?!”
Neji said, “Hyuga Neji.”
“Oh!” Naruto suddenly realized.
Just as Naruto was about to say something, Neji interrupted him and asked directly, “Uzumaki Naruto. Is it an act of justice to inflict the grudges and hatred of one’s parents upon their offspring?”
Naruto: “…”
He suddenly regretted calling out to the other person; this strange fellow was asking more strange questions.
But since the question involved justice, he felt obligated to answer.
Naruto could only ponder as he said, “It definitely doesn’t count! If it did, would anyone in the ninja world be alive? Who can guarantee that their father, their grandfather, their great-grandfather… didn’t do anything wrong? If justice requires their descendants to be considered villains too, then they’d have to kill everyone in the ninja world to cleanse it, wouldn’t they?”
Just saying it sent a shiver down Naruto’s spine.
That was too extreme, even more extreme than Teacher Ikeizumi!
“…Is that so.” Neji let out a sigh, realizing his previous thought hadn’t been wrong after all.
In other words, his past actions of pouring hatred and negative emotions onto Hinata Hyuga… were wrong?
Yes!
The real culprits were the people in the Main Family who made the decisions.
They were the ones who used his father as a scapegoat.
Thinking of this, he glanced at Hinata beside him with a complex expression.
To his surprise, he saw that Miss Hinata was currently looking down deeply, as if afraid to look up at anyone.
Neji: “???”
…
“Hoo!”
On the other side, the physically and mentally exhausted Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Hokage’s Office Building. After exhaling heavily, he sat in his office chair and couldn’t help but rub his temples. “Comforting a ten-year-old child is more tiring than handling dozens of official duties!”
Recalling the child’s experiences, a shadow flickered in Hiruzen’s eyes.
Fortunately.
Under Ikeizumi’s Sharingan Illusion Technique, she had temporarily forgotten about it.
Perhaps she would remember it later through some chance encounter, but by then she would likely be an adult with a greater capacity to cope, and wouldn’t do anything foolish.
At this moment, a knock sounded on the door.
After Hiruzen Sarutobi composed himself and said, “Please enter,” an Anbu Ninja skillfully pushed the door open and reported with his head bowed, “Hokage-sama, the envoy from the Village of Rain in the Land of Rain, sent to exchange with our Konoha Village, has arrived.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback.
He frowned and thought carefully, realizing that there was indeed such a matter.
It was a request for contact and exchange from the Daimyo of the Land of Rain, aiming to ease and deepen the relationship between the two ninja villages. Homura Mitokado had approved this matter, and Hiruzen Sarutobi didn’t think it was a big deal, so he hadn’t inquired about it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly said, “If it were just an ordinary envoy from the Village of Rain, they probably wouldn’t need the Anbu to report to me, would they?”
The Anbu Ninja nodded, “We discovered that the leading envoy from the Village of Rain, despite wearing a gas mask and concealing his appearance, his special ninja tools have revealed his identity.”
“He is carrying the Executioner’s Blade from the Hidden Mist Village! And judging by his height and build, there’s a ninety percent chance he’s one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.”
“—Juzo Biwa!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyebrows immediately shot up, “One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Juzo Biwa… If I recall correctly, he already betrayed the Hidden Mist Village and is a rogue ninja of the Mist.”
“His appearance among the envoys from the Village of Rain, and even being the leader, means he has joined the Rain?”
The Anbu Ninja asked, “Hokage-sama, do we need to inform the Hidden Mist Village of this information?”
“No.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said, “Konoha doesn’t need the friendship of the Blood Mist for now, and it would also offend the Village of Rain.”
The Anbu Ninja said nothing further.
…
Meanwhile.
Konoha Gate.
“It seems some rather important information has been discovered.” A strangely shaped White Zetsu emerged from a tree trunk concealed by leaves, one eye peering through the gaps in the foliage at the group of ninja from the Village of Rain not far ahead.
Especially focusing on Juzo Biwa, who was wearing a gas mask.
The White Zetsu’s arm began to droop and extend slowly like branches, and when it touched the soil below, it seeped into the ground, establishing a connection with the root systems of the trees.
Utilizing the interconnectedness of underground plant roots, groundwater, and other organic matter, it rapidly transmitted the information to a farther region.
In less than ten seconds, “Zetsu,” who was miles away, narrowed its eyes. Its movement, which had been heading towards Konoha Village, slowed down slightly.
Uchiha Obito, who was beside him, also frowned and stopped, asking with considerable dissatisfaction, “Why did you stop?”
“Obito.”
Zetsu said, “I was right before. Konan did become suspicious. She sent a rookie from Akatsuki to Konoha, attempting to collect the secrets of Uchiha Ikeizumi on her own. Or rather, she wants to collect secrets concerning you and me.”
Hearing this, Uchiha Obito was stunned, “How does she know Uchiha Ikeizumi has secrets about you and me?”
Zetsu was silent for half a second, “From the moment you tried to investigate Uchiha Ikeizumi using Akatsuki’s power, Konan probably guessed it.”
“And,” Zetsu sighed helplessly in his heart, adding, “I already answered a similar question for you last time.”
“Currently, we need to do three things.”
Zetsu continued, “First, the original plan remains unchanged. We will still target that brat named ‘Uchiha Izumi.’ Second, if the Akatsuki rookie discovers anything, we can try to win him over to our side. If we can’t win him over, then kill him. Third, find a way to kill Uchiha Ikeizumi.”
“We’ll reach the Land of Fire in another twenty kilometers,” Zetsu instructed. “Don’t use Akatsuki to investigate Uchiha Ikeizumi anymore. This will expose more information than we should.”
“…Hmph!” Obito coldly snorted. “It’s just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse by that woman.”
Zetsu sighed inwardly again.
If it were Uchiha Madara, even if he made a mistake, he wouldn’t be so stubborn and defensive.
He was still inferior to Uchiha Madara.
…
“Strange gaze…” Juzo Biwa narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on the treetops not far ahead.
“Tch… Is it an Anbu ninja from Konoha?”
He approached with some caution, as this was Konoha’s territory. If something happened, even if he was once an elite Jonin of the Hidden Mist Village, he might not be able to escape.
After all, this was Konoha Village, the place that could produce such a man!
Recalling the Konoha Genin during the Third Shinobi World War who almost wiped out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist… a look of unforgettable terror flashed in Juzo Biwa’s eyes.
He took a deep breath, shaking off the wild thoughts from his mind.
What was more important now was the mission given to him by that woman.
“Uchiha Ikeizumi…”
As Juzo Biwa was contemplating how to approach the famous “Lava Release Ferocious Beast,” a sudden voice completely captured his attention.
—”Izumi, do you need me to have Ikeizumi handle this case?”
Ikeizumi?!
Juzo Biwa turned his head nonchalantly and saw two Konoha female ninjas conversing not far to his front left.
He heard a female ninja, whose back was embroidered with the Uchiha clan crest, reply, “We can handle this type of case. If we rely on Senior Ikeizumi to personally handle every case, our 「 justice 」 will hardly grow.”
“Of course, we will definitely need to dispatch a Ninja Cat to report to Senior Ikeizumi. And we will need Senior Ikeizumi’s instructions on justice, after all, this case ultimately involves a ninja clan.”
Juzo Biwa pondered.
He said expressionlessly to a Rain Ninja beside him, “You guys go see the Konoha Hokage first. I’ll be there later.”
The Rain Ninja was taken aback, “But…”
Before he could ask, Juzo Biwa proactively said, “If the Konoha Hokage asks about me, tell him I’m quite interested in Konoha Village and plan to take a stroll around first. Tell him that if he’s worried about me doing anything in Konoha, he can send a few Anbu ninjas to follow me.”
Facing Juzo Biwa’s increasingly sharp gaze, the Rain Ninja broke out in a cold sweat and no longer dared to ask about things that were none of his business.
“Yes!”
…
Not long after.
Uchiha Ikeizumi, who had left the Sarutobi Clan Residence not long ago, learned of the new case they had discovered that morning from a Ninja Cat dispatched by Uchiha Izumi.
“Lord Ikeizumi! Lord Kijiro! Izumi and Mitarashi Anko, two rookies, have discovered that a ninja within the Aburame clan is using non-Aburame individuals to cultivate very special insects. Furthermore, the Aburame clan ninja has caused a death because of this.”
A tortoiseshell-colored Ninja Cat spoke rapidly in human speech.
“Meow? The Aburame clan?” Kijiro mused, “This ninja clan is known for its caution and meticulousness. If someone among them were to commit evil deeds, they certainly wouldn’t leave us any evidence.”
Kijiro clicked his tongue, “The reason the rookie sent a Ninja Cat to report, besides notifying Lord Ikeizumi, is probably also to ask Lord Ikeizumi how to handle it?”
“Alas, without her ‘Lord Kijiro’ guiding her, she’s still too green, meow.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi ignored Kijiro, who had inexplicably become smug.
He said to the tortoiseshell-colored Ninja Cat, “Tell her that if the villain cooperates with the investigation, follow the procedure; if the villain does not cooperate, kill him directly and take him to the Yamanaka Clan to retrieve his memories.”
“Meow! Yes, Lord Ikeizumi!”
The tortoiseshell Ninja Cat came and went quickly. It soon ran back and found Anko and Izumi.
After relaying Uchiha Ikeizumi’s “instructions” word for word, Anko was slightly astonished.
Izumi, however, found it quite normal. “Let’s go to the Aburame clan’s residence and arrest the murderer!”
Anko was still finding the methods a bit too hardcore.
However.
Perhaps only such methods could curb the sins of the ninja world.
After all, the consequences of overly gentle methods and laws on sin were already evident—gentle methods and laws would only indulge sin and allow it to grow stronger.
Thinking this,
Anko’s slight discomfort vanished.
…
Meanwhile, within the Aburame clan’s residence.
Most of the Aburame clan ninja were gathered. The current clan leader, “Shibi Aburame,” was seated at the head of the table, his face obscured by sunglasses, making his emotions unreadable.
On his left and right sat several elderly members of the Aburame clan, who were elders of the ninja clan.
And not far in front of Shibi Aburame, a elite Chunin of the Aburame clan was kneeling. This Chunin was in a very dejected state, exuding an aura of negative emotion.
The atmosphere of the scene was quite oppressive.
“Kazuhiko.”
Beside him, an Aburame clan elder said hoarsely, “After making such a grave mistake, you fear Uchiha Ikeizumi coming after you and want the clan leader and us to cover up your crime. But have you considered that you didn’t have to do those wrong things in the first place?”
“When using another person’s body to cultivate special insects, you hid it from clan members; when you accidentally caused the death of the person used, you began to reveal this secret to us. Kazuhiko, do you consider the Aburame clan a shield for your evil deeds?”
The elite Chunin named “Kazuhiko Aburame” hastily raised his head.
“I already know I was wrong!” he pleaded immediately. “I won’t drag the Aburame clan down either. I just want to request that the Clan Leader arrange for me to leave the village quietly. Once I leave the village, the Clan Leader can then expel me from the Aburame clan!”
“Moreover, my parents sacrificed their lives honorably during the Third Shinobi World War. They were both heroes of Konoha. Can you help me, for my parents’ sake?”
Anyone could tell that Kazuhiko Aburame’s tone was filled with fear of 「 Absolute Justice 」.
An elder sighed helplessly and said to Shibi Aburame, “Shibi, you are the clan leader, the decision is yours.”
Another elder added, “Shibi, you must think carefully. This is about opposing Uchiha Ikeizumi.”
Shibi Aburame, who had been silent, was about to speak.
Just then.
A Genin of the Aburame clan rushed in, slightly out of breath, and reported, “Lord Shibi! Outside the clan grounds, there’s an Uchiha Police Force ninja! She’s a subordinate of Uchiha Ikeizumi, her name seems to be Uchiha Izumi!”
“…”
All the Aburame clan ninja present fell silent.
The elite Chunin named Kazuhiko immediately turned pale.
“Kazuhiko, surrender,”
Shibi Aburame said slowly. “The Aburame clan will not sacrifice the future of the entire clan for one person.”
Kazuhiko Aburame was stunned and muttered in confusion, “Can just one Uchiha Ikeizumi bring down the Aburame clan…?”
Shibi Aburame closed his eyes and recalled the terrifying torrents of lava. Every time he remembered those scenes, he felt a sense of suffocation, as if the scent of sulfur lingered in his nostrils.
Uchiha Ikeizumi…
He was undoubtedly the ninja in all of Konoha that one absolutely could not provoke.
And there was no exception!
“Yes.”
Shibi Aburame stated with certainty.
…
Outside the Aburame clan’s residence.
The young girl had one hand resting on the hilt of her ninja sword. If no one came out within three minutes, she was prepared to grit her teeth and force her way into the Aburame clan’s residence.
After all, Senior Ikeizumi had already given her instructions, and if she didn’t handle this case properly.
Then, in Senior Ikeizumi’s eyes…
It would surely be a negative score!
Just as Izumi’s slightly immature face grew serious, and she was fully prepared, she suddenly heard some movement from inside the Aburame clan’s residence and then saw a large group of people emerge.
“So many people!” Anko next to her began to sweat, “It’s practically the entire ninja clan coming out! Are they planning to oppose justice?”
As Anko murmured nervously, Shibi Aburame, walking at the front, stood before her and Izumi.
Shibi Aburame said, “The Aburame clan will not condone the misdeeds of its members. The criminal requested by the Police Force has been brought out.”
Anko was stunned for a moment.
Then, she watched as several Aburame clan ninja escorted a crestfallen Kazuhiko Aburame forward.
Shibi Aburame continued, “After he committed such acts, he is no longer a member of the Aburame clan. No matter how Absolute Justice deals with him, the Aburame clan will have no objections.”
This statement finally made Anko realize something.
Because Shibi Aburame said “Absolute Justice” and not “Uchiha Police Force.”
This meant…
It was because of Uchiha Ikeizumi’s deterrent power that he chose to hand over his clan member without hesitation. The Aburame clan feared not the Uchiha clan, but Ikeizumi’s Absolute Justice!
Fortunately, Izumi reacted quickly and said, “The choice the Aburame clan is making now is correct. Regarding compensation for the victim, the Police Force will handle the contact.”
Shibi Aburame said, “No matter how much the compensation amount is, our Aburame clan will pay double.”
Anko was dumbfounded.
It seemed that Ikeizumi’s deterrent power alone was enough to handle many cases.
…
Meanwhile
The Hokage’s Office Building.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was receiving an envoy from the Village of Rain. Upon learning that Juzo Biwa was still “strolling” within Konoha.
On his old face, he maintained a smiling and polite demeanor. In reality, however, he had already subtly signaled the Anbu Ninja to immediately track Juzo Biwa.
After all, such a dangerous former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist…
Who knew what he intended to do in Konoha?
But at this very moment.
A sudden, urgent knocking sound caused Sarutobi Hiruzen to frown, but he quickly swept the dissatisfaction from his face. After apologizing to an envoy from the Village of Rain and stating he would return shortly, Sarutobi Hiruzen exited the Hokage’s Office.
To his surprise, Sarutobi Hiruzen saw a clan member from the Sarutobi Clan.
Upon noticing the clan member’s anxious expression, as if wanting to speak but hesitating.
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s heart suddenly jolted.
A premonition of ill omen enveloped his mind.
“What happened?” Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn’t help but ask in a deep voice. “Could it be that Ikeizumi has come looking for the Sarutobi Clan again?”
The clan member shook his head, but before Sarutobi Hiruzen could breathe a sigh of relief, he swallowed and uttered a shocking statement: “Hokage, Sakurako Sarutobi… took her own life! She… cut her throat with a kunai! By the time someone found her, it was too late…”
Sarutobi Hiruzen: “!!!”
Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned for several seconds.
His old face was filled with disbelief.
“I… didn’t I comfort her this morning? I even personally took her to the Ninja Academy. And didn’t Ikeizumi handle that child’s memories? That was Mangekyo Sharingan’s Illusion Technique… there’s no way that child could have recalled that traumatic experience in such a short time.”
“How could this happen…”
Sarutobi Hiruzen gradually came back to his senses from his daze. He took a deep breath, and a shadow unconsciously fell upon his eyes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately questioned, “What exactly happened? That child should be at the Ninja Academy right now, shouldn’t she?”
The clan member hastily replied, “She committed suicide at the Ninja Academy! A teacher from the Ninja Academy came to inform our Sarutobi Clan. Their intention was to notify Sakurako’s parents, but…”
He fell silent.
After all, that child’s parents had already killed each other.
“Hoo!”
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately summoned an Anbu Ninja and sternly ordered, “Have the Uchiha Police Force launch an investigation immediately!”
“Wait!”
Just as the Anbu Ninja was about to leave, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly called out to him.
“Let… Ikeizumi handle it.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
“Yes! Hokage!”
…
…
