"Just keeping an eye on the Jinchuriki, and I run into something like this… If I remember right, that girl was one of the Sarutobi clan kids from last night, wasn't she?"
At the Ninja Academy, hidden in the shadows, Kakashi gazed at a body that was growing cold.
"Sigh… If only she'd been in the same class as Naruto Uzumaki."
Kakashi wasn't sure why he felt a pang of guilt.
Maybe because, as an elite Anbu Jonin, he could've saved her if he'd been there. He could've stopped a child from taking her own life in an instant. The problem was, he hadn't seen it happen.
A shadow clouded Kakashi's visible eye. "Did she end her life because of past trauma? But why choose the Ninja Academy as the place…?"
He couldn't make sense of it. Tasked with secretly monitoring Naruto, he couldn't reveal himself now.
He could only watch the Academy's movements, noting the anxious expressions of the teachers.
And…
His gaze fell on Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, standing not far from Sarutobi Sakura's body.
"She used a kunai to slit her throat…" Sasuke stared at the bloodstained kunai clutched in Sakura's hand, unable to fathom the resolve it took to do such a thing. "She must've been in immense pain before she died. There are still two clear tear tracks on her face."
"Tch! Too bad the teachers won't let us get closer," Sasuke muttered, annoyed. As the second son of the Uchiha clan leader, he hadn't joined the Police Force but knew their procedures well.
If he could just examine the scene closely, he might uncover something.
"Dead-last, what do you think?" Sasuke asked Naruto.
"Stop calling me 'dead-last,'" Naruto grumbled, then squinted his blue eyes to the right. "I don't know if it's just a feeling, but I think it has something to do with those guys over there."
"Those guys?" Sasuke followed Naruto's gaze, spotting a few older Academy students—two or three years their senior—sneaking glances their way.
When they noticed Naruto and Sasuke looking, they quickly averted their eyes, pretending nothing was wrong.
Their reaction made Sasuke suspicious.
"Naruto! Sasuke!" Suddenly, both felt their collars yanked tight.
It was as if someone had hoisted them up, accompanied by a scolding voice: "Didn't I tell you to stay back? The teachers will handle this. Get back to the classroom and study!"
Sasuke struggled, gritting his teeth. "We follow [Absolute Justice]! We have a duty to investigate!"
Naruto, feet dangling, chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, Iruka-sensei, let us down!"
"No way!" Iruka's dark face was stern. "I don't care what you believe in. At the Ninja Academy, you listen to me. This isn't some ninja game. Treating a serious matter like this as play is disrespectful to the dead, got it?"
With that, Iruka dragged them toward the classroom, glancing back at a female teacher.
He paused, his tone low. "Maple-sensei, this girl was in your class, right? She ended her promising life out of nowhere. Any ideas why?"
Maple Hoshima froze, her face etched with grief as she shook her head. "I don't know. She seemed off this morning when she arrived. Maybe… something happened at home?"
"I see…" Iruka nodded. "I'm new here, but as a teacher, you're responsible for every student. When the Police Force arrives, don't hide anything. That's the only way to uncover the truth and let the child rest in peace."
Maple's brows furrowed. "Iruka-sensei, what are you implying? That Sakura didn't take her own life?"
Iruka shook his head. "I didn't say that."
He said no more, dragging Naruto and Sasuke away, ignoring their protests.
…
"…Found him!" On the other side of the village, an Anbu sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi searched for nearly fifteen minutes before spotting Uchiha Akainu.
Taking a deep breath, he appeared before Akainu.
To avoid misunderstanding, the Anbu spoke quickly. "Uchiha Akainu, the Hokage requests your assistance with a special case!"
Jiro, the ninja cat, narrowed his eyes. "The Third asking Akainu-sama to handle a case? That's like the sun rising in the west."
"What case did the old man give the kid?" A woman's voice startled the Anbu, followed by a pat on his shoulder.
He spun around, shocked—an elite Anbu like him hadn't sensed someone approaching!
It was Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, with her student Shizune in tow.
"Lady Tsunade?" The Anbu blinked, surprised to see her with Akainu, but quickly answered her question. "It's about a girl named Sarutobi Sakura. Not long after the Hokage enrolled her in the Academy, she… took her own life there, slitting her throat with a kunai."
Tsunade: "!!!"
Shizune: "!!!"
Akainu's face remained impassive, but Tsunade and Shizune's eyes widened in shock. Tsunade grabbed the Anbu's collar with terrifying strength, lifting him off the ground. "What the hell happened? How could that girl possibly want to kill herself?"
The Anbu sweated profusely, feeling the killing intent radiating from a Sannin. "I don't know… neither does the Hokage."
Driven by survival instinct, he added, "The Hokage was furious when he heard. That's why he sent me to get Uchiha Akainu to investigate…"
"Lady Tsunade, calm down…" Shizune, holding Tonton, tugged at Tsunade's sleeve.
Tsunade took a deep breath, her face dark, and let go. The Anbu's feet hit the ground.
"Kid, we need to—" Tsunade turned to Akainu, only to find him and Jiro already gone.
"Shizune! Follow them!"
"Yes!"
…
Soon after, at the Ninja Academy.
Three Uchiha Police Force ninjas, stationed closer to the Academy, arrived before Akainu.
The teachers hadn't just notified the Sarutobi clan—they'd informed the Police Force too.
After all, a life was lost—a ten-year-old girl, with witnesses. It couldn't be covered up, and the teachers didn't dare try.
"Deceased: Sarutobi Sakura, Sarutobi clan. Ten years old, female, fourth-year Academy student. Cause of death: throat laceration leading to asphyxiation and excessive blood loss," one Uchiha ninja said, crouching to examine the body. "The weapon is likely the kunai in her hand—an Academy training tool."
"No second set of fingerprints on the kunai. The throat wound's entry suggests she did it herself."
"Logically, we can rule out homicide and confirm suicide. But…" His tone grew serious. "There's residual Sharingan chakra on her body. She was under a Sharingan genjutsu within the last twenty-four hours!"
The recording Uchiha paused, frowning. "You sure?"
"No mistake," the examiner replied. "I was shocked too, so I checked multiple times. It's definitely there."
The third, arms crossed, added, "So her suicide is tied to our clan? Why would someone use Sharingan genjutsu to control a Sarutobi kid?"
"And which Uchiha—"
His words were cut off by a cold voice. "The Sharingan chakra on her is from my Mangekyo Sharingan."
The three Uchiha ninjas froze. "!!!"
They turned to see Uchiha Akainu.
Akainu didn't let their shock linger. "But I only used genjutsu to make her forget traumatic memories, not to drive her to suicide. Of course, I have no proof, so you're free to suspect I'm lying."
"…We'd doubt anyone but you," one Uchiha said, taking a deep breath. "That explains the Sharingan chakra."
The examiner stood. "Everyone knows Uchiha Akainu, who follows [Absolute Justice], never lies."
The third dropped his arms, avoiding any defensive posture before Akainu. "Didn't expect our first meeting after your return to be like this. You may have heard, but on the night Setsuna held that clan meeting, we three were the first to walk out."
"We spoke with your subordinate, Uchiha Izumi, about meeting you someday. Never thought it'd be over a tragedy like this."
Akainu didn't respond. He stepped past them, standing beside Sarutobi Sakura's body.
He stared at her pale face, marked by tear tracks, drained of blood.
For some reason, the three Uchiha ninjas felt a chilling aura in the air.
Even as elite Uchiha Jonin from the Police Force, they felt an overwhelming pressure.
Their palms sweated involuntarily—not from fear, but from their bodies' instinctive reaction, beyond their control.
Then, two figures dashed in. The Uchiha recognized the more… prominent one as Tsunade.
The sight of the blood froze Tsunade. Her body trembled, her pupils quaking.
Normally, she'd close her eyes or look away to avoid the blood.
But now, she forced herself to stare at the small body.
"Huff… huff…" Her breathing was ragged, her back soaked with cold sweat. Her distress worried Shizune behind her.
"Kid, is she… really a suicide?" Tsunade gritted her teeth, mustering her willpower to face Akainu.
"Yes," Akainu nodded slightly. "She ended her life decisively, without a hint of hesitation."
Tsunade studied his impassive face. "You… don't feel anything about her death?"
"I do," Akainu said coldly. "But [Absolute Justice] doesn't allow personal emotions to show. That's seen as weakness."
Tsunade blinked, caught off guard.
Akainu continued, his voice colder. "Her suicide wasn't random. There's a reason—sin at work."
Tsunade caught the chill in his tone. So, he did feel something, maybe strongly, but as he said, he didn't show it.
"Sin?" Shizune cautiously interjected. "Did someone push her to suicide?"
She looked at Sakura's body, thinking such a method required immense resolve.
"Some know more than we do," Akainu said, his gaze shifting to the group of Academy teachers, particularly one woman avoiding his eyes.
[Hoshima Maple—Today, after learning of Sarutobi Sakura's tragic experience last night from a Sarutobi junior, she deliberately mentioned Sakura's mother's infidelity and drowning of her own infant, provoking Sakura and inciting her to suicide, leading to Sakura's fatal action.]
[Sin Level: Red!]
The blood-red text was stark in Akainu's eyes.
His movement made Tsunade realize something. "Akainu, did your eyes… see her sin?"
Her voice, though soft, reached the teachers. They froze, realizing Akainu was looking their way.
Suspicion flickered as they scrutinized each other, especially Maple Hoshima.
As Sakura's teacher, her already unnatural expression grew more strained after Tsunade's words. Her face stiffened, her eyelids twitched, and her lashes trembled.
"Maple-sensei…" one teacher gasped.
Maple clutched her Leaf headband, as if it could protect her. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but a glance at Akainu turned her face pale.
As the target of his gaze, she felt the weight of his stare, his reputation flooding her mind, collapsing her defenses.
"I…" She covered half her face, trembling. "I didn't know she was so fragile. I just hated her mother… because the infant she drowned was supposed to be my brother's child. His only legacy before he died unexpectedly."
"I only learned today from three Sarutobi kids in class. They openly discussed Sakura's 'secrets,' some right in front of her."
"I was angry at her mother and repeated what I heard to Sakura. I just…" Her voice broke. "I just repeated it."
"Just repeated it?" Akainu was suddenly before her.
Maple looked up, moving her hand, and met his cold Sharingan eyes.
"I… I…" Tears filled her eyes, streaming down. "I said a lot of vile things. I told her… with parents like hers and what she'd been through, she'd be better off dead…"
She clutched her head in pain. "I didn't know it'd turn out like this. I didn't mean to say things even adults couldn't handle to a child. I didn't plan this. I regret it."
Akainu's cold voice cut through her act. "You only regret getting caught. Drop the crocodile tears—they just make me sick."
Akainu never believed an evildoer's tears or their claims of regret.
They weren't sorry for their actions—only for being seen by justice.
"Hey!" Tsunade's voice rang out as she approached, her face dark, glaring at Maple. "Where are those three Sarutobi kids you mentioned?"
"Lady Tsunade…" Shizune swallowed hard, sensing her teacher's killing intent.
…
In Iruka's classroom, Naruto sat, staring out the window. "Damn it, Iruka-sensei's watching us like a hawk. We can't get out!" He fidgeted, ready to stand, but Iruka's glare stopped him.
"Argh!" Naruto clutched his head, ruffling his hair in frustration. "Who'd have thought justice's biggest obstacle would be Iruka-sensei!"
Sasuke, arms crossed, his face cool, muttered, "We'll have to wait until class ends."
He noticed something outside. Frowning, he nudged Naruto. "Dead-last, aren't those the three we saw earlier? The ones you thought might be involved?"
"Huh? Where?" Naruto ignored Iruka's darkening face and looked. "It's them! It's class time— even if their teacher's gone, they should be studying. Those three have been sneaking around outside."
Sasuke's tone grew urgent. "Dead-last, are they heading for the Academy gate?!"
Naruto blinked. "Yeah, looks like it…"
"Wait!" Naruto shot up, shouting, "Are they really involved? Are they trying to run?!"
Sasuke stood too. "We have to stop them."
"Naruto!!! Sasuke!!!" Iruka's forehead veins pulsed. "You two, stay put! Stand at the back now! I told you, this isn't for kids. The Uchiha Police Force will handle it!"
Naruto: "…"
Sasuke: "…"
The class's eyes turned to them.
"When did Sasuke get so close to Naruto?" Sakura Haruno muttered, jealous. "They've been together all the time lately. I haven't had a chance to talk to Sasuke. I can't even sit next to him or whisper in class…"
She turned to her "rival." "Ino-pig, do you know what's up with them?"
"Ino… pig?!" Ino Yamanaka, lost in thought, glared. "Stupid forehead! Who wants to play your silly crush games? How would I know why they're so close?!"
"Sakura! Ino!" Iruka snapped, breaking a chalk stick, his veins still throbbing. "You two, to the back! No more nasty nicknames!"
Ino: "…"
Sakura: "…"
They stood at the back, and Sakura glanced at Ino, puzzled. Lately, Ino seemed off.
Normally, Ino liked Sasuke too, turning from friend to "rival" overnight. But now, she seemed indifferent, always lost in thought during class.
Sakura didn't get it.
It felt like everyone at the Academy was changing, and she was in the dark.
Sasuke glanced at Sakura and Ino, uninterested, about to whisper to Naruto when he suddenly looked out the window. His cool facade broke. Ignoring Iruka, he shouted, "Dead-last! It's Akainu-sensei!"
Naruto perked up, looking out. "It's really him!"
Akainu… sensei?!
Sakura frowned, confused, noticing Ino tremble.
Did Ino know this "Akainu-sensei"? Was there a teacher like that at the Academy?
She looked out, curious.
And froze in shock.
…
Shunk!
A sharp silver kunai pierced a small hand, pinning it to the ground.
As a scream began, a foot stomped on the head, grinding it against the earth.
The Sarutobi boy's face scraped the ground, blood and flesh marring half his face, stifling his cry.
Akainu slowly withdrew the bloody kunai, keeping his foot on the boy's head.
"Why'd you stop running?" he asked coldly. "Your little legs were pretty fast."
Nearby, Tsunade, her face grim, held two other Sarutobi boys, one in each hand, and tossed them ten meters. They hit the ground hard, screaming—one covered in abrasions, sand embedded in his skin; the other with a broken arm, crying in pain.
"Akainu… these three?" Tsunade took a deep breath, avoiding the bleeding hand.
"Yes," Akainu said, looking down at the three Academy students.
[Sarutobi Kuranosuke—Publicly spread stories about Sarutobi Sakura's parents at the Academy, bullying her and reopening her forgotten 'traumatic scars,' leading to her suicidal thoughts and actions.]
[Sin Level: Red!]
[Sarutobi Terushi—Maliciously pulled down Sakura's pants in front of dozens of students, exposing her unhealed wounds.]
[Sin Level: Red!]
[Sarutobi Shoshi—Held Sakura's hands during Terushi's act, preventing resistance, nearly breaking her emotionally.]
[Sin Level: Red!]
"Akainu, what did they do?" Tsunade took another deep breath, knowing her anger at kids was wrong but unable to suppress it.
She'd thought she could save Sakura, even overcoming her hemophobia last night to treat her wounds with long-unused medical ninjutsu.
But Sakura's cold body told her her efforts were futile. She couldn't stop the ninja world's sins from reaching the girl.
"Don't worry about my feelings," Tsunade added. "Tell me their crimes. I can control myself."
But Akainu wasn't sparing her feelings.
He was silent, reading the blood-red text.
When he finished, he recounted their sins coldly. Each word stabbed Tsunade's heart, her face freezing in shock.
She'd fought in the Ninja War, seen all kinds of people, and thought Tanigakure Street had numbed her to sin.
She was wrong.
Her gaze no longer avoided the bleeding boy. Her hemophobia couldn't suppress her rising fury.
"You three… vile brats!" she hissed through clenched teeth.
…
Behind them, the rushing Academy teachers froze, having heard Akainu's recounting.
They couldn't believe kids their age could do such things. These three were close to graduating in a year or two!
They didn't know whether to condemn the bullying or themselves for failing to discipline their students.
And Maple Hoshima?
As a teacher, she hadn't stopped the sins under her nose—she'd joined in!
"…Sigh." A teacher closed his eyes, shaking his head at the crying Sarutobi boy with the pierced hand, who looked to them for help.
…
"All three are Sarutobi…" Kakashi, hidden in the shadows, felt no pity for them, his morals unshaken.
But as an Anbu under the Hokage, with three of the Hokage's clansmen involved, he had to report this.
Biting his thumb, he summoned a ninja dog. "Tell the Hokage," he said, relaying the situation.
The dog leaped off, heading for the Hokage Tower.
…
In Iruka's classroom, Sakura's pale face was due to witnessing Akainu stab a boy's hand and grind his face into the ground.
"I-Iruka-sensei!" she stammered, snapping out of it. "Someone's hurting an Academy student! Shouldn't we save them?"
Iruka's mouth twitched, his face stiff. "Ignore it. Don't look. I've said it before—this isn't for kids."
If Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Ino's earlier antics were just classroom disruptions, Sakura's plea now was asking him to risk his life!
Iruka knew the screams were tied to Uchiha Akainu. The man was likely "delivering justice" in broad daylight.
Saving someone meant obstructing [Absolute Justice].
Iruka was young, single, and wanted to live longer.
Sakura stared, baffled by Iruka's refusal to help.
…
"Akainu, these three…" Tsunade, calming slightly, felt at a loss. If they were adult ninjas, she'd break every bone in their bodies.
But they were just Academy kids, younger than her brother Nawaki.
"Life for a life. Blood for blood," Akainu said coldly. "If we lessen justice's judgment for any reason, it's no longer [Absolute Justice]—just justice compromising with sin."