Uchiha Chizumi wasn't going to let the same mistake happen twice.
If something like the Sarutobi Sakurako tragedy happened again, then his so-called "Absolute Justice" would just be a joke.
Right now, the Hyuga main family was down to just a few women and kids, barely holding it together under the protection of one special jonin.
If even one unhinged branch family ninja decided to make a move on them...
A seven-year-old like Hinata wouldn't survive.
And would someone in the branch really lose their mind like that?
Chizumi was absolutely sure they would. This ninja world was twisted and sick—there were always people with broken minds and warped morals.
It sounded harsh, but Chizumi had seen enough to know: not every victim was innocent or kind.
His cold, matter-of-fact words left Hinata blinking, still with a bit of broth at the corner of her mouth, completely stunned.
She looked up at Chizumi nervously.
This was the man who threw her father in prison. And now he was giving her "orders."
Hinata didn't dare argue. She didn't even dare say no.
Just like she hadn't dared turn down all that ramen earlier.
"But…"
Her tiny face scrunched with hesitation. Hands hidden beneath the table, her fingers twisted and fidgeted. It took everything she had just to say, barely louder than a whisper, "I… I can't leave Hanabi behind. She's my little sister. She's five years younger than me."
"She's only two. She still needs someone to take care of her. Dad usually does that, but now he's… ah!"
Hinata cut herself off, panicking as she realized she'd said too much.
Her voice had gotten a little louder, her words a little faster.
"I-I didn't mean anything bad about you! And I'm not saying it was wrong to arrest my father—I just meant that I need to look after Hanabi, so…"
"Then take your sister with you."
Chizumi cut her off without expression. "And bring the other women and children from the Hyuga main house too. Meet me at Ichiraku Ramen before eight."
Hinata froze.
He hadn't said it in a scary tone. But somehow that calm, flat voice made him even scarier. And this was someone even her father couldn't stand up to.
Gulp.
Hinata swallowed hard and nodded quickly like a nervous little bird.
"…Okay."
There was no way she could say no.
"Go to school," Chizumi said simply.
Hinata shot to her feet like the chair was on fire.
"Okay!" she shouted, and without looking back, bolted out of the ramen shop and took off running toward the Ninja Academy.
Anyone who didn't know better would've thought something was chasing her.
Jujiro stared after the little girl dashing away in panic, and muttered with a puzzled look, "Meow… Hiashi definitely wasn't feeding her properly. No way a kid that small eats that much unless she's been starving. How long has it been? A month?"
Today had been one shock after another for the talking cat.
He shook his head and was about to say something else to Chizumi when he suddenly paused, narrowing his eyes at Hinata's retreating back.
"Chizumi-sama…"
Jujiro said, "That kid has a tail. Someone's following her—and it doesn't look like a Hyuga."
"A rat that snuck into Konoha." Chizumi stood up, glanced at the very obvious red indicator over the stalker's head, and placed money on the table as he said, "But a useful rat, maybe."
Jujiro looked confused.
Then Chizumi added, "Looks like a new spy from Orochimaru. Shares the same disgusting aura. Probably someone with a criminal past too."
"And he's planning something nasty…"
Chizumi's voice dropped slightly. "He's going to help Orochimaru steal the Byakugan from the Hyuga clan. No survivors. He'll kill the targets, take their eyes, and run."
Jujiro's expression shifted.
He licked his paw, ran it across his face, then spoke, "Maybe we can use him to dig up Orochimaru's whereabouts. You've had your eyes on that snake for a while now, haven't you?"
…
Meanwhile, not far away...
First, genjutsu to control Hinata. Then have her lead me to Hanabi. Once I've got both brats—kill them, take their Byakugan. That's the only way I can leave Konoha safely.
There's no way I can escape while dragging two toddlers around. I'd be caught in no time.
And if I come across any other main family members while I'm at it? Might as well take them too. The more Byakugan I bring back, the more Orochimaru-sama will value me.
Then I won't just be a disposable pawn—I'll be his right-hand man!
The spy stalking far behind Hinata thought over his plan. Crude, maybe—but the opportunity was there. Most of the Hyuga clan was in jail. No one was paying attention to the kids.
Even if it wasn't perfect, waiting any longer would just make it harder.
His average-looking face twisted into a mock-Orochimaru grin. "Don't blame me, kid. Don't blame Orochimaru-sama either. Blame Uchiha Chizumi."
Because…
If it weren't for me, Orochimaru wouldn't even be interested in the Byakugan. I'm the one who locked up most of the clan and gave him this golden chance.
"—That's exactly what you were thinking, wasn't it?"
The voice came from behind him, way too close for comfort.
The spy froze. Every hair on his body stood up. His pupils shrank. Cold sweat pooled on his brow. His whole body locked up.
What? How?! When was I spotted?!
He spun around like a startled animal.
And there stood the one person he didn't want to see.
"…Uchiha…"
"…Chizumi!!!"
…
Land of Rain.
Thick clouds hung low in the sky, and the drizzle came down steadily, quickly soaking both Biwa Jūzō and Uchiha Chizumi's Wood Clone.
Jūzō spat out a blade of grass he'd been chewing and said, "This is the Land of Rain. It rains at least 300 days out of the year here. The Land of Water gets a lot of rain too, but compared to this place, it's practically a desert."
"The Akatsuki's main base is here. Not that you didn't already know that."
He paused, then asked, "So, do you think Akatsuki is pure evil?"
"I do."
Rainwater slid down the clone's face, but it didn't even blink.
"Even if you ignore their warped ideology," Chizumi said coldly, "the fact that they incite wars between small nations to profit from chaos makes them a gathering of everything rotten in the shinobi world."
Jūzō let out a low whistle. "Guess I should count myself lucky I'm still new and not too deep in with them. Otherwise, I might've been dead the moment I met you."
"You would've been."
Chizumi's response was calm. Direct. Dead serious.
Jūzō's smile stiffened.
It felt like he'd just stepped one foot into the grave—and yanked it back at the last second.
After a beat of silence, Jūzō added, "That woman told me… if I ever made it back to Land of Rain, to head to a specific place she mentioned. She'd be waiting there. I think she wants to gather intel without Obito noticing."
"Then let's go," Chizumi's Wood Clone said simply.
…
Back in Konoha
Hinata arrived at the Ninja Academy completely out of breath. She leaned against a wall, trying to recover, then peeked behind her nervously.
The terrifying man hadn't followed her.
She finally let out a long, shaky sigh.
"Hey. You're Hinata Hyuga, right?"
The sudden voice made her jump.
She turned to see two upperclassmen, both taller than her, walking toward her with smug grins.
Hinata instinctively took a step back as they loomed over her.
"…Yes," she mumbled, barely audible.
One of them snorted. "Heard your whole clan got locked up by Uchiha Chizumi. That guy only goes after monsters, right? If your dad got thrown in prison, he's gotta be scum too."
He tapped her on the head with a folded paper fan—way too hard to be playful.
"If your dad's a monster, you probably are too. What if one day you snap and go on a rampage in school?"
Hinata realized she was being bullied again.
She remembered this feeling. When she was younger, other kids had picked on her too.
Back then, Naruto had saved her.
She instinctively looked around for him now—
But he wasn't here.
So she bit her lip and lowered her head.
"I… I'm not a monster. I'd never kill anyone… I'm not a bad person…"
"You saying it doesn't make it true." The second student sneered. "Bad people don't always look the part. But you? Your dad's a criminal, so you're definitely messed up too."
"I…"
Tears welled up and slipped down Hinata's cheeks.
She tried to defend herself again, but… was she really innocent?
Her father was in prison.
But if she truly was a bad person… why hadn't Chizumi arrested her too? Why had he gone out of his way to make sure she and Hanabi were safe?
"Hinata Hyuga, you—"
Before the bullies could finish, something flew through the air with a sharp crack.
"AHHH—!"
Hinata looked up, shocked.
One of the students was crouched down, clutching the back of his head in pain. The other turned—just in time to get smacked too. He yelped, dropped to the ground, and trembled as he held his head.
Two blunt wooden kunai clattered to the ground beside them. Their tips were dulled, but still faintly stained with blood.
Those hits had probably cracked their skulls.
"You're still such a coward."
A familiar voice cut through the tension.
Hinata turned.
Neji Hyuga was walking toward her.
"Neji-nii…"
He didn't even glance at the injured students. He stood in front of her, face emotionless.
"No one can protect you forever," he said. "Not even justice. If you don't want to get pushed around, stop acting like some spoiled heiress. Stop clinging to the idea that 'not wanting to hurt anyone' is noble. It's just weakness."
Then he turned to the bullies, gaze icy cold.
"If I catch you picking on a classmate again, it won't be just your heads getting cracked."
The two boys froze.
They recognized him now—Konoha's top prodigy, Neji Hyuga.
One of them gritted his teeth, holding his head. "Aren't you from the branch family? Why are you protecting her? Didn't you already beat the main family? Or are you so used to being their dog you can't stop?"
The other student looked like he'd just seen a ghost.
If Neji got mad, they were both going to die.
But Neji didn't react at all.
"I'm stopping you because it's the right thing to do," he said. "Not because I'm a branch member protecting a main family member. That distinction matters."
Hinata blinked.
His voice—he sounded almost like that terrifying man.
It felt like Neji was trying to copy Chizumi's tone, though he hadn't quite nailed it.
Then Neji turned back to her.
"If this happens again," he said, "just come tell me."
And with that, he walked off, circling around her like she wasn't even there.
But still…
Hinata stood frozen, watching him go.
Neji-nii… doesn't seem to hate me as much anymore…
…
"You… what the hell are you even talking about?"
Hagakawa Naoto—sweating through the innermost layer of his clothes—forced out a panicked laugh.
He was a seasoned spy trained by Orochimaru, so his acting skills were sharp. His face showed just the right amount of confusion and fear, no cracks in the performance.
Spotting the police force insignia on Chizumi's gear, he quickly switched to a clueless outsider act, even throwing in a fake accent.
"Wait—did I break some kind of village law? I just arrived in Konoha not long ago. Still trying to learn the rules. I mean, your village has that whole 'ignorance is innocence' thing, right?"
"Lame performance, meow."
Jujiro shot it down on the spot, unimpressed. "That kind of expression work might fool some rookie genin. But me? I can smell your emotions. You're panicking, aren't you?"
"You're shocked Chizumi-sama found your trail. Even more shocked he knew you were connected to Orochimaru. And you're absolutely losing it because he caught you before you could lay a finger on a single Byakugan."
"Meow… looks like Orochimaru's doing just fine out there. Still sending his rats into Konoha, I see."
Naoto's whole body tensed. He started backing up in fear, staring at Jujiro like he'd seen a ghost.
"That cat… it's talking?!"
"Chizumi-sama," Jujiro said, voice serious, "looks like he's not giving up."
"Take him to the Yamanaka clan," Chizumi said coldly. "They'll scan his mind. We'll know whether Orochimaru sent him here or not."
"!!"
Naoto's eyes went wide.
Shit!
He'd heard rumors in Konoha about how extreme Uchiha Chizumi was. But only now—when he was about to be on the receiving end of Chizumi's "Absolute Justice"—did he truly understand just how insane the man was.
And the worst part? Konoha just let this guy do whatever he wanted.
Without Orochimaru-sama, Konoha had turned into a goddamn madhouse!
Naoto's thoughts raced. Then—he bit down, hard.
He shattered one of his own back molars, releasing a hidden poison capsule. Instantly, a cloud of thick black smoke burst from his mouth.
He inhaled sharply through his nose, then exhaled hard.
In seconds, the entire street was swallowed in pitch-black smog.
And without hesitation—he turned and bolted.
He wasn't stupid. He knew Chizumi wasn't some ordinary elite jonin—he was a monster. There was no point even trying to fight him.
Chizumi's power was way beyond anything Naoto could handle.
Dammit…
Orochimaru-sama just gave me this assignment and I already screwed it up! I just need to get out of Konoha—
SWOOSH!
A flash of orange tore through the black smoke like a missile.
It was Jujiro.
One of the cat's paws suddenly expanded to the size of a boulder, coming down like a hammer.
BANG!!!
Naoto's body exploded into white mist—just a Shadow Clone.
"Huff… Huff…"
Hidden in a narrow alley, the real Naoto wiped sweat from his brow, breathing heavily. His heart was still pounding.
That monster cat... if that strike had landed on the real me, I'd be a puddle on the ground.
Just as he started thinking he was safe for now—
"Hey, what are you sneaking around here for? You look kind of suspicious. And… you smell familiar."
"!!!"
Naoto spun toward the voice.
A short-haired kunoichi was walking his way. And behind her… another woman in a Konoha police uniform with a distinct Uchiha crest.
No way…
That's Mitarashi Anko! Orochimaru-sama's former apprentice!
Which means the one behind her must be—Uchiha Izumi! Chizumi's subordinate!
"Am I imagining things?"
Anko narrowed her eyes, staring him down. "You smell like me. Or rather… like him. Like Orochimaru."
Shit!
"Anko, wait!" Uchiha Izumi called from behind, her hand already resting on the hilt of her ninjatō. She was staring daggers at Naoto. "That's not your imagination. You didn't get it wrong. He smells like Orochimaru."
"He's a spy."
Naoto: "???"
What the hell?!
Chizumi seeing through me instantly was one thing—but you too?! What am I, walking around with 'SPY' tattooed on my forehead?!
He was panicking now.
"Hehe… no point pretending anymore," came a low, cold voice.
A tiny white snake slithered out from Naoto's sleeve.
It coiled up his arm…
…then perched on his shoulder.
And right after the snake spoke, another voice cut in from behind Naoto:
"Been a while, Orochimaru. Even if it's just your voice… hearing it again makes me want to kill something."
Naoto turned—
Uchiha Chizumi was standing behind him.
"Chizumi-senpai!"
"Chizumi?!"
Uchiha Izumi and Mitarashi Anko both froze as they spotted the figure behind Naoto.
Uchiha Chizumi stepped forward, his eyes cold and unreadable.
The little white snake lifted its head from Naoto's shoulder, its crimson pupils staring directly at him. It hissed slowly, deliberately, then spoke:
"Chizumi… you're still as hateful as ever. I never even wronged you—yet you still treat me like an enemy. Is it because of that so-called 'Absolute Justice' of yours?"
Chizumi didn't reply.
The snake chuckled darkly. "Even if you kill me, what will that change? You really think your justice can fix this broken world? You can't save it, Chizumi. Your ideals are—"
SHING—
A blur of silver flashed.
The next moment, the snake's head was flying through the air, cleanly severed—no chance to finish its monologue.
Chizumi had already stepped forward.
With one hand, he grabbed Naoto by the throat and slammed him against the wall.
Naoto's eyes went wide as he struggled to breathe.
Chizumi didn't say a word. He reached for his kunai with the other hand and sliced Naoto's shirt open—revealing a large, grotesque curse mark spread across his chest like a twisted spiderweb.
Izumi and Anko both took a sharp breath.
Chizumi let go of the kunai, letting it clatter to the ground.
Then he raised his hand—five fingers arched and wreathed in glowing chakra.
He drove it forward, palm-first, slamming it into Naoto's chest.
Naoto's body convulsed, his mouth hanging open in a silent scream.
"Secret Technique…" Chizumi muttered.
"…Adamantine Seal Release!"
~~~
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