Chapter 59: Uchiha Itachi Deeply Despised
“Have you found out who is spreading rumors against Itachi in Konoha?!”
In the Hokage’s Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Itachi, and an Anbu Ninja stood.
Sarutobi Hiruzen clasped his hands behind his back, standing in front of the office window, his face grim as he asked the Anbu Ninja with his back turned.
The Anbu Ninja lowered his head and answered truthfully: “Not yet, but it seems to have started from the Uchiha Clan.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a heavy breath of turbid air.
He turned and walked in front of Uchiha Itachi, saying with considerable guilt: “Itachi, sorry, it was my failure to notice in time the spread of negative public opinion against you, and I didn’t curb it at the first moment.”
Early this morning, Sarutobi Hiruzen had also told Uchiha Itachi to best forget what he had said to Uchiha Ikeizumi and not to tell others about that matter everywhere.
The purpose was to help Uchiha Itachi conceal the so-called future evil.
But who could have thought…
In just half a day’s time, rumors about Itachi’s “future evil” had spread throughout the entire village.
Even under the embellishments of many people.
They had turned into rumors!
Uchiha Itachi, however, calmly shook his head and said: “Hokage, I don’t mind. For me, my own reputation is far less important than a peaceful and stable Konoha.”
He looked down at his dangling hands and continued: “It’s not a bad thing either. It gives me a chance to get used in advance to this situation of being spurned and abused by countless people.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned.
This child Itachi… probably truly and unswervingly believes that he will exterminate the Uchiha Clan in the future.
……
When Uchiha Sasuke returned alone to the Uchiha Clan Compound, he was dazed and confused, with two faint, uncleaned tear streaks on his small face.
The whites of his eyes still showed some redness and bloodshot veins, his expression had lost its former vibrancy, and his gaze seemed to have lost its luster.
The moment he entered the Uchiha Compound, Sasuke clearly felt many gazes focused on him.
This made him feel like thorns on his back, uncomfortable all over.
“This little brat… is the younger brother of that bastard beast Uchiha Itachi, called Uchiha Sasuke, right?”
“He’s Uchiha Itachi’s blood relative. Hey, hey, he wouldn’t also want to kill us with his own hands, would he? Keeping this kind of kid in the Uchiha Clan would only be a disaster, right?”
“I heard these two brothers have a good relationship. How about capturing this kid to threaten Uchiha Itachi…”
“Will this kid die at Uchiha Itachi’s hands in the future? I clearly remember that beast even wants to kill his own parents.”
Faint whispers reached Sasuke’s ears.
Cold sweat broke out on Sasuke.
He no longer dared to argue with them about whether his brother was good or bad, nor did he dare to linger on the street. Even though this street was within the Uchiha Clan’s compound, he didn’t dare to stay longer.
Sasuke hurriedly quickened his pace and rushed home with his head down.
……
“…Fugaku, you’ve known for a long time already, haven’t you?” Uchiha Mikoto looked at her silent husband with a complicated expression.
Today, many clan members had come to visit.
Some clan members came angrily to question, some came with confusion to inquire… ultimately, these people were either sent away by Fugaku or brushed off.
Having lived with Fugaku for so many years, Mikoto knew clearly that her husband had been lying when talking to these clan members!
Even just hearing snippets from their mouths let Uchiha Mikoto know what was going on.
Facing his wife’s gaze, Fugaku sighed.
He no longer stayed silent, looking at his unknowingly clenched fist, and answered in a low voice: “I knew this morning… because I went to Ikeizumi with Itachi and heard it directly from Ikeizumi’s mouth. You should know too that although Ikeizumi is biased against Itachi, at least what he says won’t contain lies or deception.”
Uchiha Mikoto froze in place, her whole body seeming drained of strength as she staggered uncontrollably.
Fugaku quickly stood up to support Uchiha Mikoto.
“Ike… Ikeizumi… Hoo! Did Ikeizumi say anything more detailed about the ‘future’?” On Uchiha Mikoto’s beautiful and refined face, her delicate lips had already turned faintly pale. She asked tremblingly: “In the future, did Itachi… kill Sasuke too?”
Fugaku shook his head: “Only not Sasuke.”
This morning, Fugaku had not heard “Uchiha Sasuke” as a victim of the clan extermination from Uchiha Ikeizumi’s mouth.
At this moment, he suddenly paused, as if thinking of something.
Fugaku continued: “No Ikeizumi either.”
But at this time.
The couple heard a slight panting sound from outside the door. When they both turned to look, they saw Sasuke supporting himself with one hand on the door frame, his small face pale, eyes brimming with tears as he panted rapidly.
“I…”
Sasuke bit his lip hard, biting it until it broke, the faint rusty bloody taste making it hard for him to speak: “I know too.”
Fugaku was stunned.
Silence for several seconds.
A deep sigh.
……
Puchi— A sharp ninja sword instantly severed the two arms of a Root Ninja disguised as a Konoha civilian.
Senior Izumi followed closely behind Uchiha Ikeizumi, throwing two kunai.
The kunai precisely nailed the Root Ninja’s feet to the ground.
The intense pain made the Root Ninja’s body tremble slightly all over.
“Hoo, the third one today…” Senior Izumi wiped the glistening sweat from her forehead. After separating from Sasuke, she and Senior Ikeizumi.
Had been “hunting” Root Ninjas in Konoha whom Danzo had sent out to spread rumors.
Although the Root Ninja’s crime of “spreading rumors” did not warrant death.
The crimes they had committed before were enough for extreme punishment.
In Senior Ikeizumi’s words, the entire Root, except for the war orphans just recruited and brainwashed, had no innocents—killing them all wouldn’t wrong a single one.
So Senior Izumi had no psychological burden.
After all, she unconditionally trusted Senior Ikeizumi’s judgment!
Looking at the Root Ninja collapsed powerlessly on the ground from excessive blood loss.
Senior Izumi felt this guy probably wouldn’t last a minute.
There was no need for rescue anymore.
“You do it.” When Senior Ikeizumi’s icy voice rang out, Senior Izumi decisively drew her ninja sword, walked forward, and without hesitation slit the Root Ninja’s throat.
—This is executing「 absolute justice」.
Senior Izumi kept reminding herself in her heart.
But at this moment, she suddenly felt something strange, always sensing that the power in her body had inexplicably strengthened a bit. This weird illusion made her somewhat afraid.
Afraid that “bloodlust” was her true nature.
Afraid she would be controlled by killing.
“Senior, my body…” Senior Izumi decided to tell Senior Ikeizumi about the abnormality in her body at this moment.
Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Senior Ikeizumi as always.
“This is the gift of「 absolute justice」.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi said slowly: “Without absolutely powerful strength, how can you execute absolute justice in the Ninja World?”
……
……
