Chapter 150: Ikeizumi's Intimidation!
The next day.
Morning.
When a series of white-shrouded bodies were transported from the Mitokado, Utatane, Uchiha Police Force, and Sarutobi clan compounds, the residents of Konoha began to realize that something big had happened last night.
"Sarutobi, Utatane, Mitokado, Uchiha!"
A Konoha Genin was shocked. "What's going on? It's almost half of Konoha's major ninja clans! There's no way they had a civil war, right? There must be twenty or thirty bodies being moved from these compounds!"
"I heard it has something to do with Uchiha Ikeizumi," said a Konoha Chūnin next to him, with a senbon in his mouth and a somber expression. "I have a friend in the Sarutobi clan, and he said Uchiha Ikeizumi broke into their compound last night."
"And he took four people from the Sarutobi clan. In other words, the four bodies being transported from the Uchiha compound today are not Uchiha ninjas, but Sarutobi clan members."
Someone was speechless. "Wait a minute... The Sarutobi clan? Isn't that the Hokage's clan? Did Lord Hokage just let Uchiha Ikeizumi take them away?"
The Konoha Chūnin gripped the senbon in his mouth. "My friend said that Uchiha Ikeizumi was on the side of justice. Not only did Lord Hokage not stop him, but none of the other Sarutobi ninjas did either."
"He also said that the four clan members who were taken away, including the two who died in the internal conflict, all deserved to die. Lord Hokage has already expelled them from the Sarutobi clan."
Everyone looked at each other. The major event that happened last night seemed to be more dramatic than they had imagined.
This news quickly spread throughout Konoha like a hurricane.
The crimes of some of the people killed last night were also leaked.
Especially the Sarutobi couple who killed each other.
The shocking crimes that shattered all sense of morality left countless people speechless and physically repulsed.
…
At the same time, in a certain Konoha hotel.
"…Phew!" Tsunade, with a toothbrush in her mouth, had a pale face and dark circles under her eyes, a clear sign that she hadn't slept for even an hour since last night.
She glanced at the little girl sleeping soundly on the tatami mat.
She kicked the gently snoring Shizune beside her with her bare foot.
As if she had hit the bull's-eye, Shizune's eyes snapped open, and she bounced up, covering her butt with a red face.
Tears seemed to well up in Shizune's eyes. "Lady Tsunade, can you please not wake me up like this next time?!"
This is just as vulgar as a lowlife!
This thought flashed through Shizune's mind, but she didn't dare to say it out loud.
Tsunade ignored Shizune's complaint and said indistinctly, "Check the child's injuries and see if she's healing."
"…Okay!"
While Shizune was carefully checking, Tsunade pulled open the sliding door with the toothbrush in her mouth.
She walked out barefoot and looked to her right.
"Did you stand guard all night?" Tsunade asked.
Uchiha Ikeizumi, who was resting against the wall, slowly opened his eyes. He said calmly, "I went out for half an hour to clear my head, but I was unlucky and ran into two people who made me feel worse."
"Who?" Tsunade asked curiously.
"Fugaku Uchiha."
"Itachi Uchiha."
Tsunade suddenly understood. During her few days in the village, she had heard about the prophecy of the "Uchiha clan massacre." She also knew that the kid named Itachi Uchiha was a dangerous and neurotic character.
"Since you knew that kid would do something like that in the future, why didn't you just kill him? After all, don't you believe in an extreme form of Absolute Justice?" As Tsunade spoke, toothpaste foam came out of her mouth.
Uchiha Ikeizumi said, "What if… I see a baby who will kill someone one day in the future. And then I kill that baby, saving that person in the future."
"Do you think that action is correct?"
Tsunade was stunned. She thought for a moment and said, "Then I probably understand. Absolute Justice judges based on actions, not intentions? But are you really going to wait until that kid massacres his clan before you make a move? If so… wouldn't your Absolute Justice be too late?"
Uchiha Ikeizumi said, "Justice will judge him in the moment before he becomes completely hopeless and decides to act."
Tsunade was enlightened and said with interest, "So you're not as extreme as they say, brat!"
She asked in confusion, "Since there are so many rumors about you in the village, why don't you come out and clarify them?"
"These rumors are good for justice."
Uchiha Ikeizumi said indifferently, "They allow people to understand what happens when they cross the line of justice, even if the consequences they imagine are demonized and exaggerated."
"Bearing so much public pressure…" Tsunade said thoughtfully. "It must be hard on you, right?"
"I don't feel anything."
"I don't care."
At that moment, Shizune, who was inside the room, ran out quickly. When she saw Uchiha Ikeizumi, she was stunned for a moment, but then she reacted and reported to Tsunade, "Lady Tsunade, the child has recovered well. She only needs a few days of rest and can be sent back."
"And…"
Shizune scratched her head awkwardly. Just then, a little girl with a panicked face cautiously peeked out from behind her.
Shizune lowered her head and said apologetically, "I accidentally woke her up."
"Who… are you?" Sakura Sarutobi came out of the room and quickly moved away from the three strangers. If it weren't for the unkempt Tsunade who didn't look threatening at all, she would have probably been too scared to run away.
Sakura Sarutobi took a few uncomfortable steps. She felt that her body was a little off, but she couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.
Sakura Sarutobi swallowed hard. "Where am I? How did I get here? Where are my father and mother?"
The last question made the atmosphere suddenly fall silent.
Tsunade looked at Uchiha Ikeizumi, and Uchiha Ikeizumi spoke. "The Third Hokage will answer your questions."
"The Third Hokage… Lord Hokage?!"
Sakura Sarutobi was stunned.
Uchiha Ikeizumi said indifferently, "Do you see this uniform I'm wearing? I am a ninja of the Uchiha Police Force. I will take you to the Third Hokage. Don't ask questions along the way."
Sakura Sarutobi didn't dare to say anything. She felt that this man was terrifying!
…
The Hyūga clan.
Neji Hyūga watched coldly as Hinata, with a soft roar, rushed toward him in the Gentle Fist stance. He only moved half a step back, and Hinata's palm brushed past his chest, not even touching his clothes.
Neji suddenly moved forward, hooking his foot around Hinata's ankle. With a light tug, Hinata cried out and fell to the ground.
Looking down at Hinata, who was trying to get up in a panic, Neji's mind flashed with the image of his father.
He couldn't help but recall the painful feeling of being branded with the Caged Bird seal.
The eight-year-old boy's eyes even flashed with a hint of killing intent.
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Hiashi Hyūga, who was watching Hinata's terrible performance with disappointment, suddenly sensed something. His face darkened, and he immediately made a hand sign, ready to activate the Caged Bird curse mark. But then Hiashi suddenly noticed that the killing intent in Neji's eyes was forcefully suppressed.
Hiashi Hyūga's movements were momentarily halted.
"…" Neji, who didn't know that he had just walked a thin line between life and death, had a complex look in his eyes.
Because the moment the killing intent rose, he thought of Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
And he also thought of the man, Uchiha Ikeizumi.
And…
That man's Absolute Justice!
"Is it a form of justice to indiscriminately inflict the hatred of my father's death as a scapegoat onto a naive young lady who knows nothing about it?" This was the reason why the killing intent in Neji's heart was forcefully suppressed.
At that moment, he felt a little confused. After all, he was only a second-year student at the Ninja Academy. He wasn't much smarter than Itachi Uchiha, but at least he wasn't as neurotic.
Neji couldn't figure it out.
"Neji, you must understand your status and the difference between superior and inferior." Until Hiashi Hyūga's cold warning suddenly sounded.
Neji was startled.
He immediately took a step back and instinctively touched his forehead, but the extreme pain he had expected did not come.
Hiashi Hyūga's gaze sent a chill down Neji's spine.
He only heard the other party say coldly, "This is just a verbal warning. There won't be a next time. Don't let me see you do something you shouldn't, and don't let me see you have thoughts you shouldn't, Neji."
"…Yes, Lord Clan Head."
Neji lowered his head and squeezed the words out from between his teeth.
"It's getting late," Hiashi Hyūga continued. "Take Hinata to the Ninja Academy. Don't be late."
"Yes."
…
The Sarutobi clan compound.
"I heard that four bodies were transported from the Uchiha Police Force this morning before dawn," said a Sarutobi clan Special Jōnin, his arms crossed and his expression gloomy. "Kōya Sarutobi, Tsunayuki Sarutobi, Kōji Sarutobi, Ruina Sarutobi. If I'm not mistaken, those four bodies must be them."
"The Uchiha Police Force doesn't usually execute criminals in private. At the very least, they should follow a proper death penalty procedure. It must be that Uchiha Ikeizumi found something and didn't hesitate to kill all four of them."
With that, his gloomy expression turned into a dark one.
"Those four people have families in the Sarutobi clan. Their families have either lost their pillars or their mothers. Phew… What a terrible day!"
Beside him, another short Sarutobi clan ninja said, "They have already been expelled from the Sarutobi clan by Lord Hokage. There's no need to feel this way about their deaths."
"…Heh, you're quick to distance yourself!" a Sarutobi clansman sneered. "If I remember correctly, one of the clan members who was taken away was your blood relative, wasn't he?"
"Are you afraid that his crimes will get you involved and cause that plague, Uchiha Ikeizumi, to come after you?"
The short Sarutobi clan ninja's face turned red as he argued, "You're acting like you would dare to do anything to Uchiha Ikeizumi. Why didn't I see you say a word last night?"
The Sarutobi clansman's face was filled with shame and anger. "That's because Lord Hokage stopped us! If only Lord Hokage hadn't, hadn't…"
He suddenly choked up.
His eyes widened as he looked at the gate of the Sarutobi clan compound.
His reaction caught the attention of the others around him, and they followed his gaze to the same direction.
Instantly!
Everyone gasped, their muscles tensed instinctively, and they stared nervously and vigilantly at the man who had appeared in their sight.
"…Uchiha Ikeizumi!"
The Sarutobi clan Special Jōnin's palms were sweating.
"Wait! That child!" Suddenly, he saw a young child following Uchiha Ikeizumi. He immediately recognized who the child was, and his eyes widened. "The daughter of Kazunori and Yaotsuki Sarutobi…"
It was that poor child…
"Uchiha Ikeizumi!" He gritted his teeth and, with a newfound courage, said to Uchiha Ikeizumi, "Why is this child with you? What did you do to her? This child is already so pitiful. She was…"
He suddenly couldn't continue.
"Cough, cough…"
Suddenly.
A faint cough came from behind the Sarutobi clan ninjas, causing them to turn around in surprise. They saw the Third Hokage of Konoha standing behind them.
"Lord Hokage!"
The Sarutobi clan ninjas quickly made way for him.
Uchiha Ikeizumi looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi indifferently. Hiruzen Sarutobi instinctively looked away, avoiding Uchiha Ikeizumi's eyes.
"I brought her back to you," Uchiha Ikeizumi said, ignoring the Special Jōnin's question. He added expressionlessly, "She doesn't remember what happened. Her injuries will heal after a few days of rest. As for what happened to her parents, you will have to tell her. That is the responsibility you must bear as the Third Hokage of Konoha."
After he finished speaking, Sakura Sarutobi nervously ran to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
She then looked at Uchiha Ikeizumi with a timid expression.
"…" Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was a mixture of emotions as he stroked the child's head. He was silent for two seconds before saying to Uchiha Ikeizumi, "Ikeizumi… thank you for your kindness to this child."
The Sarutobi clan ninjas were all stunned.
Why would Lord Hokage thank this Uchiha Ikeizumi?
Wait!
They suddenly remembered what Uchiha Ikeizumi had just said—She doesn't remember what happened; her injuries will heal with a little rest.
Could "what happened" refer to her father's abuse?
And "injuries"… what kind of injuries could a child have?
Could it be?
At that moment, all the Sarutobi clan ninjas fell silent.
Because they all understood what had happened.
This "Uchiha plague" quietly and unassumingly did something like this for a child? Isn't this something only a good person would do?
Is he…
A good person?
…
The Ninja Academy.
The seven-year-old Hinata Hyūga followed Neji Hyūga like a shadow.
When the two cousins walked into the Ninja Academy, Hinata finally mustered up a little courage, tugged on Neji's sleeve, and whispered timidly, "Brother Neji… your eyes were so scary at home just now…"
Neji Hyūga's footsteps stopped.
He clenched his fists slightly.
But then he released them.
It's absurd for the dignified head of the main family to be afraid of my eyes, a member of the branch family.
Her weakness made Neji feel even more uncomfortable.
He took a deep breath and said expressionlessly, "You're too weak. If you were a little stronger, you wouldn't be afraid of my eyes."
Just as he was about to ignore Hinata and walk to his classroom.
A sudden voice made Neji freeze.
"Huh? Aren't you the guy who suddenly came to my house last night? And you asked a bunch of weird questions, too." The person who spoke was none other than Naruto. Naruto spotted Neji immediately, mainly because of Neji's long, distinctive hair.
Naruto walked over, stared at Neji, and mumbled to himself, "I think your name is… Hyūga…"
"Oops!" Naruto was stunned. "I don't think you ever told me your name?!"
Neji said, "Neji Hyūga."
"Oh!" Naruto was suddenly enlightened.
Just as Naruto was about to say something, Neji suddenly interrupted him and asked directly, "Naruto Uzumaki. Is it an act of justice to inflict the grudges and hatred of the parents onto their children?"
Naruto: "…"
He suddenly regretted calling out to him. This weird guy was asking weird questions again.
But since the question was about justice, he couldn't just ignore it.
Naruto had to think for a moment and then said, "Of course not! If it were, would there be any living people left in the ninja world? Who can guarantee that their father, grandfather, or great-grandfather never did anything wrong? If justice were to treat their children and descendants as evildoers too, it would probably have to kill everyone in the ninja world to cleanse it, right?"
Naruto shivered just thinking about it.
That's too extreme. It seems even more extreme than Sensei Ikeizumi!
"…Is that so." Neji let out a breath. His previous thoughts were indeed correct.
In other words, his past actions of venting his hatred and negative emotions on Hinata Hyūga… were wrong?
Yes!
The real culprits were the people who made the decisions in the main family.
They were the ones who made his father a scapegoat.
With this thought, he glanced at Hinata with a complex expression.
But he was surprised to see that the young lady, Hinata, had her head bowed low, as if she was afraid to look at him.
Neji: "???"
…
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