Chapter 165: Ikeizumi And Orochimaru! Chaotic Konoha
Under Koharu Utatane’s wide-eyed, unthinkable gaze, Lady Tsunade said pointedly without mincing words: “Not only are the Root Ninjas who harmed you, kid, committing evil; the masterminds behind indulging and ordering Root Ninjas to harm you are also committing evil.”
“All of them, from top to bottom, must pay the due price for this. And this isn’t even some rule privately changed by 「Absolute Justice」—this is the real Land of Fire Law!”
At this point.
Lady Tsunade’s gaze fell on Koharu Utatane once again.
She said without any hesitation: “Old woman, as the Root Leader, you indulged your subordinates in harming others. By Land of Fire Law, though you didn’t act yourself, you are one of the masterminds.”
“I suggest you go to the Uchiha Police Force for a visit!”
“As for those subordinates of yours who harmed others…”
“They need to ‘report’ to the Police Force even more. I’m giving you two paths: one, turn yourselves in; two, get thrown in by me.”
Lady Tsunade’s undisguised stance and merciless words made Koharu Utatane tremble with anger all over.
She had clearly already yielded, even agreed to release the person, yet why was Lady Tsunade still clinging to her relentlessly?
What difference was there between her behavior and Uchiha Ikeizumi’s mad dog-like refusal to let go once it bit someone?
She was absolutely imitating Uchiha Ikeizumi!
“Lady Tsunade, don’t go too far…” Koharu Utatane took a deep breath, gritting her teeth: “Even if I turn myself in to the Uchiha Police Force, do you think the Police Force dares to keep me? Do you think Uchiha Fugaku dares to throw me into Konoha Prison? Clinging to me is just futile!”
Hm?
Wait…
Koharu Utatane’s expression suddenly changed; she had actually been led astray by Lady Tsunade and started thinking she had really committed a crime!
“What’s there to fear, meow? If cowardly Fugaku doesn’t dare keep you or throw you into Konoha Prison, that’s reasonable. But I ain’t afraid of you, old thing, meow!”
A sudden voice entered the ears of everyone present.
The speaker’s tone sounded extremely weird, not like human speech.
And at this moment.
One figure after another flashed closer, blocking all four directions: front, back, left, and right.
Koharu Utatane hurriedly looked around left and right.
Her pupils contracted slightly.
Looking around, one Uchiha Police Force Ninja after another, having received some message from who knows where, rushed over and surrounded Koharu Utatane and the several Root Ninjas!
Every Police Force Ninja was fully armed, carrying all sorts of ninja tools, with many scrolls and explosive tags at their waists; some had even summoned their summoned beasts.
Those who didn’t know might think they were heading to some battlefield in the Ninja World.
Koharu Utatane even saw an orange cat standing on the shoulder of one Police Force Ninja, quite fat.
That orange cat looked somewhat disheveled, its fur very messy, with plenty of fallen leaves and dry twigs clinging to it.
It seemed to have rushed back from outside the village into the village, then immediately gone to the Police Force to rally people without hesitation.
“Uchiha Ikeizumi’s ninja cat!!!”
Koharu Utatane didn’t know Kijiro’s name, but she knew it was that detestable ninja cat by Uchiha Ikeizumi’s side.
Hadn’t this damned ninja cat left the village with Uchiha Ikeizumi?
How was it here? Had it gotten the message and hurried back?
If it returned to the village…
Did that mean Uchiha Ikeizumi had come back too?
Koharu Utatane suddenly became alert.
“Don’t look, meow.”
Kijiro caught its breath a bit, hiding the fatigue on its face, staring tightly at Koharu Utatane with sharp fangs bared at the corners of its mouth: “Dealing with you doesn’t need Ikeizumi-sama’s help; I’m Kijiro, and that’s enough!”
Nearby not far away, Sage Fukasaku seeing the tense atmosphere couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.
It said to Jiraiya: “Little Jiraiya, is Konoha always this chaotic on normal days? Why does the situation in Konoha Village now feel even messier than during the Ninja Wars years ago?”
Jiraiya couldn’t help showing a wry smile: “I don’t know why the village’s situation turned out like this; I’ve only returned to the village these past few days by chance.”
On the other side, Sage Shima spoke: “It looks like a fight between different ideologies held by both sides. From various events in Ninja World history, ideological struggles are the hardest to mediate.”
It paused, then continued: “Unless one side is completely wiped out, otherwise… ideological conflicts will continue.”
“Ongoing ideological conflicts lead to armed conflicts. Thus, it becomes the situation we see now.”
Sage Shima continued: “Little Jiraiya, if you don’t step in to stop this farce, they might really fight.”
“Understood.”
Jiraiya took a deep breath; he had already thought of a plan to make both sides step back. Just as he took a step forward in his wooden clogs, suddenly a hand landed on his shoulder.
That hand nearly slapped Sage Shima off his shoulder.
Jiraiya found he couldn’t move; the hand pressing on his shoulder was extremely strong, sinking his shoulder down.
Looking back in shock, Jiraiya saw it was actually Lady Tsunade!
“Jiraiya, if you stand against justice.” Lady Tsunade’s tone was emotionless as she said slowly: “Then our friendship all these years is hereby erased. Remember, don’t let these two weird-shaped toads affect your values.”
“Weird-shaped… toads…”
Sage Shima, who had nearly been slapped, heard this.
Even with centuries of composure, her eyelids couldn’t stop twitching wildly.
“What an impolite Shikkotsu Forest kid…”
Sage Shima gritted her teeth and shot back without hesitation: “I wonder how Slug Sage taught you!”
“What generation are you to judge Slug Sage?” Lady Tsunade glanced at her, still merciless: “Even that big toad wouldn’t dare say that about Slug Sage.”
Sage Shima’s eyelids were twitching as fast as spasms.
Seeing things going south, Sage Fukasaku hurriedly jumped over.
He immediately pulled Sage Shima back, saying repeatedly: “Calm down, don’t argue too much with this junior.”
Then, Sage Fukasaku looked up at Lady Tsunade and said: “Little Tsunade, we two haven’t negatively influenced little Jiraiya’s values. On the contrary, through our careful guidance, he became a hero of the Ninja World.”
“A hero who peeps at women’s bathhouses?” Lady Tsunade dug her ear.
Jiraiya weakly interjected: “…That was just for material.”
As a result, the strength of the hand on his shoulder suddenly increased.
Crushing the wooden clogs under Jiraiya’s feet.
Lady Tsunade said coldly: “You two old toads’ outdated ways from centuries ago are obsolete now. Whether it’s Shikkotsu Forest’s Slug Sage or that giant snake in the Dragon Cave, they’ve never interfered in the Ninja World with their own will.”
“Because they know the Ninja World changes constantly; meddling with outdated thinking could cause unpredictable consequences.”
“If that leads to some catastrophe, you two Sages would never forgive yourselves. Yet Mount Myōboku tries to interfere in everything in the Ninja World every moment.”
“I’m starting to suspect whether the Ninja World’s successive great wars were butterfly effects caused by Mount Myōboku’s interference.”
“Is Mount Myōboku the source of much of the Evil of the Ninja World?”
The sudden hats thrown and the stepping on one while praising another.
Made Sage Fukasaku’s expression turn a bit ugly.
Jiraiya, caught in the middle, was sweating profusely.
Lady Tsunade had clearly just been verbally attacking Koharu Utatane; why was she now turning on these two Mount Myōboku Sages?
Was it because the Uchiha Police Force Ninjas arrived, making Lady Tsunade realize she didn’t need to intervene here anymore?
……
Lady Tsunade’s verbal sparring didn’t affect Kijiro’s side.
A crowd of Uchiha Police Force Ninjas had the Root Ninjas surrounded airtight.
Many Police Force Ninjas had even drawn their ninja swords.
Their gazes toward the Root Ninjas were filled with intense hostility.
Pairs of scarlet Sharingan made Koharu Utatane’s scalp tingle.
Even if the Police Force hadn’t mobilized everyone, at least half had rushed here!
This ninja cat had such strong rallying power in the Police Force?
No!
Perhaps it was Uchiha Ikeizumi’s rallying power!
It represented Uchiha Ikeizumi!
……
“The situation… seems a bit beyond Hokage’s expectations.”
Yamato, hidden in the shadows monitoring Root, sensed something wrong.
He immediately made a hand signal.
One Anbu subordinate understood and turned to run back to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Soon.
The Anbu Ninja found the Third Hokage and reported everything about Koharu Utatane’s situation.
“I understand.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s expression showed little change; he nodded slightly and said in a deep voice: “Have Yamato stop their conflict.”
The Anbu Ninja was stunned and didn’t leave, standing hesitantly in place.
“I know Yamato and his Anbu squad lack the power to stop both sides’ conflict.” Without needing the Anbu Ninja to explain, Sarutobi Hiruzen continued: “I’m not asking him to suppress them alone, but to tell Koharu it’s my order to stop this conflict.”
“Since Lady Tsunade, Jiraiya, Ikeizumi’s ninja cat, and the Uchiha Police Force have all stepped in, let Koharu and her Root Ninjas go to the Police Force.”
“Say it’s my command. Tell her even if she’s locked in prison, I can get her out, so no need to be angry.”
The Anbu Ninja immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, with their Anbu squad’s power, trying to suppress both sides would likely cost several lives and still fail.
It seemed the current situation hadn’t exceeded Hokage’s expectations as Captain Yamato said.
Hokage had probably anticipated it all along.
As expected of the Third Hokage!
“Yes! Hokage!”
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the departing Anbu Ninja’s back.
“Kakashi…”
“Under my series of irrational actions, with Konoha this chaotic now, you should have found something.”
He murmured.
……
“Captain Kakashi, new discovery.” An Anbu Ninja whispered to Kakashi Hatake: “I found a ninja in the Sarutobi Clan constantly inciting the clan’s emotions. Though intense words are understandable in this situation, his behavior is a bit too unusual.”
“Whenever the Sarutobi Clan’s emotions are low, he’s always the first to stir them up, and every word points the spear at Uchiha Ikeizumi and his Absolute Justice. He even incites clan members to keep complaining to Hokage.”
“I think he’s suspicious.”
The speaking Anbu Ninja was from the Yamanaka Clan; currently, Konoha’s Anbu weren’t all aligned with Hokage.
At least…
The stances of Anbu Ninjas connected to the “Ino-Shika-Cho” families were somewhat wavering now.
“Investigate him.”
Kakashi took a deep breath and said: “Capture him directly and use the Yamanaka Clan’s secret technique to interrogate his memories.”
At that moment, another Anbu Ninja hurried over.
“Captain Kakashi, intercepted a ninja pigeon!” The Anbu Ninja extended a hand with a white ninja pigeon on his palm. The pigeon’s feathers bore eerie curse mark patterns.
The Anbu Ninja said: “This curse mark is probably for destroying the intelligence. But I was quick-eyed and quick-handed, cracking it immediately.”
Kakashi took the ninja pigeon and examined it carefully.
Suddenly, he grabbed the pigeon’s head and yanked it off.
Then, following the neck, he tore the ninja pigeon in half barehanded.
At the same time, a small scroll dropped out.
Kakashi swiftly caught it but didn’t open it himself; instead, he tossed it to a subordinate: “Hand it to the sealing team; have them steal the intelligence inside without damaging the scroll.”
“Yes!”
“Phew…” Kakashi shook the blood off his hand and exhaled: “Looks like someone is indeed scheming in the shadows. Is this Hokage’s method? Deliberately letting Konoha’s situation get chaotic, making the mastermind careless and expose themselves.”
Not long after.
The Anbu Ninja Kakashi first sent out returned carrying an unconscious Sarutobi Clan Ninja.
The Yamanaka Clan Anbu Ninja immediately used the clan secret technique.
Attempting to steal the memory secrets from the Sarutobi Clan Ninja’s mind.
But less than ten seconds into the Yamanaka Clan secret technique.
The Yamanaka Clan Ninja suddenly felt a heart palpitation; he immediately alerted and unhesitatingly interrupted the clan secret technique.
—Boom!!!
Suddenly, the unconscious Sarutobi Clan Ninja’s head exploded like a cracked watermelon.
Splattered brain matter even landed on Kakashi.
“…Had a backup plan, huh?” A glint of gloom flashed in Kakashi’s usually listless eyes: “Accidentally killing a Sarutobi Clan Ninja will be hard to explain to Hokage.”
“However…”
“We’ve gained important intelligence—some in the Sarutobi Clan are connected to this.”
Kakashi couldn’t help rubbing his brow; he didn’t want to touch such dark things. Afraid that seeing too much darkness in Konoha would make him unconsciously think the village was just like that, extinguishing his last shred of hope for it.
But helplessly… Hokage had entrusted the task to him.
After all, Hokage truly had few usable talents left.
Most had died by Absolute Justice’s hand…
……
Members of Yamato’s Anbu squad rushed back urgently and quickly relayed Sarutobi Hiruzen’s order to Yamato.
Yamato was stunned.
This…
Wasn’t Hokage forcing Koharu Utatane and her Root to 「Absolute Justice」 bow their heads?
This would surely cause Koharu Utatane’s dissatisfaction, right?
Even if Hokage promised to release Koharu Utatane soon.
That dissatisfaction wouldn’t dissipate easily, would it?
But thinking carefully, Yamato realized between Absolute Justice and Root, the only soft target was indeed Root.
Couldn’t suppress Absolute Justice, right? What if it really pushed the Uchiha Clan to rebel?
On the contrary, Root, as “our own people,” was the easiest to suppress.
Yamato took a deep breath and immediately led several Anbu squad members to charge in.
Though the Anbu squad was small in number, the few still braced themselves and blocked between the Police Force Ninjas and Root Ninjas.
“Everyone, please don’t fight fellow villagers inside Konoha.”
Yamato, wearing an Anbu mask, coughed and said in a deep voice: “In the end, we’re all Konoha Ninjas; no need to ruin harmony over this.”
Then.
Yamato turned to Koharu Utatane. Lowering his voice, he said: “Advisor Koharu, Hokage’s meaning is for you to slightly bow to 「Absolute Justice」 first. After all, if Root and Police Force conflict, Root will suffer.”
Koharu Utatane: “???”
For a moment, Koharu Utatane suspected Sarutobi Hiruzen’s left and right brain were fighting each other.
He had clearly ordered her to lead Root to capture all Absolute Justice followers.
Now in crisis, Hiruzen wouldn’t have his Anbu support her, instead making her bow to 「Absolute Justice」?
The absurd situation nearly made Koharu Utatane laugh in anger.
Before she could speak, Yamato leaned in and whispered more, making Koharu Utatane’s old face fluctuate between dark and uncertain.
“…Hiruzen, he really said that?”
Koharu Utatane was silent for a moment, her tone thick with disappointment.
“Hokage did say that; please, Advisor Koharu and your Root, endure a little grievance.”
Yamato said lowly.
“Grievance… heh!” Koharu Utatane sneered sarcastically: “For Konoha, grievances must be endured.”
But she didn’t stubbornly continue.
She was just Konoha’s senior advisor; even taking over Danzo’s Root, she lacked his freedom. She had to obey Hokage’s orders.
She coldly eyed the aggressive crowd of Police Force Ninjas ahead.
Koharu Utatane snorted coldly: “Hmph! So what if it’s the Police Force?”
“No need for you to act!”
“I’ll go myself!”
Every word she said was squeezed through clenched teeth.
One could imagine…
How stifled she felt.
“Tch, the Mangekyo Sharingan Ikeizumi-sama gave, didn’t even get used…” Kijiro muttered. It guessed the Third Hokage’s invisible hand had forcibly made Koharu Utatane bow.
After all, in all of Konoha, the ones who could truly suppress Koharu Utatane were probably only Ikeizumi-sama and the Third Hokage.
As for Lady Tsunade? She could only make Koharu Utatane yield a step.
The Police Force Ninjas around Kijiro showed varied expressions.
“This guy is a Konoha Advisor, right? Also the new leader of Root Organization. For such a person to bow to justice.”
A Police Force Chunin took a deep breath, eyes filled with intense excitement: “As expected! Joining Absolute Justice’s faction is the Uchiha Clan’s future path!”
“Whether overthrowing the current Hokage or maintaining peace and friendship with him… neither can bring the Uchiha Clan back to its peak, let alone more glorious.”
“Only Uchiha Ikeizumi’s Absolute Justice can achieve that!”
As he finished, another Uchiha Ninja nearby glanced at him coldly: “Your justice isn’t pure enough; Uchiha Ikeizumi won’t accept you.”
“Pure?!” The Police Force Chunin was stunned.
The nearby ninja said expressionlessly: “Looks like you still haven’t grasped Absolute Justice from that team meeting. Absolute Justice can’t mix any impurities; it must be single-mindedly for justice, solely to eradicate sin in the Ninja World.”
“What you said about making the Uchiha Clan more glorious is completely low-level! Only those fixated on their ninja clan would have such naive, boring ideas.”
“In other words, no vision. No caliber.”
Listening to the whispers from these Uchiha Ninjas.
Kijiro’s fluffy cat face showed a somewhat abnormal expression.
“Tch…”
“Seems a few really have potential to believe in Absolute Justice.”
Kijiro muttered to itself.
……
“Looks like Ino-Shika-Cho isn’t needed.” From a high point nearby, Yamanaka Inoichi withdrew his gaze and sighed in slight relief.
Standing to his left, Choza Akimichi sighed: “Lady Tsunade really stands with Absolute Justice… Does this mean she’s in the same faction as us?”
To Yamanaka Inoichi’s right, Nara Shikahisa said: “As long as our three families don’t violate justice’s taboos, yes, same faction.”
If outsiders were here, they’d be shocked to see—behind the current Ino-Shika-Cho clan leaders in brief talk followed hundreds of ninjas!
All Yamanaka Clan, Nara Clan, Akimichi Clan Ninjas!
With one order from Yamanaka Inoichi, Nara Shikahisa, Choza Akimichi.
Hundreds of ninjas would unhesitatingly rescue Uchiha Sasuke and Neji Hyuga captured by Root.
However…
From what the three observed, it seemed Ino-Shika-Cho didn’t need to act.
At this time, Choza Akimichi asked Nara Shikahisa: “Do you think the Sarutobi Clan incident relates to Ikeizumi?”
“Yes.”
Nara Shikahisa smiled: “The relation is someone using this to provoke conflict between Hokage and Ikeizumi. Trying to stimulate the Third Hokage to kill Absolute Justice with his own hands.”
“The mastermind must harbor deep hatred for Ikeizumi; investigating this way, we’ll drag them out soon.”
Nara Shikahisa paused, then continued: “The Third Hokage isn’t so easily provoked. Someone wants to use him to kill Absolute Justice; he wants to use this chaos to expose the mastermind.”
“The Third Hokage is turning the tables.”
At this point, Nara Shikahisa shook his head helplessly: “If Ikeizumi were in the village, it wouldn’t be this troublesome. With his methods, he could easily drag out the mastermind.”
Yamanaka Inoichi said: “If he were in the village, no one would dare such a bold scheme against Absolute Justice.”
Choza Akimichi tsked: “Konoha’s situation is really complicated!”
……
As Konoha fell into chaos, Uchiha Ikeizumi and three other Uchiha Jonin were already over a hundred kilometers from Konoha.
And at this moment, Uchiha Ikeizumi ahead stopped.
The other three also halted immediately.
“Time to split.” Uchiha Ikeizumi’s brief words made the other three understand.
They followed Uchiha Ikeizumi out of the village not to hunt Orochimaru with him.
Because Uchiha Ikeizumi had given them another test—hunting great merchant Kato!
“Good!” The three didn’t say much; they knew if Uchiha Ikeizumi hunted Orochimaru alone, he had absolute confidence his strength matched the Sannin’s Orochimaru.
After splitting, Uchiha Ikeizumi dashed alone in one direction.
During which, he didn’t rest a single second.
As if tireless.
Until afternoon.
Uchiha Ikeizumi stopped again. He now stood at the peak of a mountain, with a sheer cliff at his feet ahead. Looking down, he couldn’t see the bottom, only layers of clouds obscuring the view.
Suddenly!
He flicked his right hand sideways; a shuriken instantly flew out, precisely hitting a well-hidden green venomous snake nearby.
At the same time, Uchiha Ikeizumi turned his back to the cliff, took two steps back, one foot slipped into void, and his whole body plummeted down.
After free-falling about a hundred meters, a very hidden cave appeared on the cliff face ahead.
Simultaneously.
On one side of the cave, a ninja without any headband met Uchiha Ikeizumi’s icy eyes in shock.
Whoosh—
A kunai connected to thin steel wire instantly pierced his throat.
Uchiha Ikeizumi yanked hard; his body was pulled toward the cave on the cliff, while the ninja with throat pierced by kunai was yanked off the cliff—their positions swapped directly.
The moment his feet touched solid ground, Uchiha Ikeizumi’s icy eyes turned into a pair of scarlet Sharingan.
“Orochimaru…”
“Found you.”
……
…..
