Chapter 103: The Fate of Sasuke and Naruto Will Drive Him Toward Justice (5000 words)

“You’re all quite the interesting bunch, aren’t you? Just recently, Fugaku brought Uchiha Itachi over. Now you’ve dragged Uchiha Sasuke here. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d planned this together.”

Tachibana Jiro stood by the door, half-sarcastic, half-amused, as he ushered Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Sasuke into the house.

Iizumi had not dismissed them. That was enough for Tachibana Jiro, who’d served by Iizumi’s side for years. He knew the unspoken rules better than anyone.

“Newcomer,” he said, glancing at Izumi, “what are you waiting for? Come in.”

Izumi gave a soft “Oh” and stepped forward, quietly closing the door behind her.

This was her second time entering Uchiha Iizumi’s home. The first time, she’d been overwhelmed—shocked, even—by Itachi’s chilling revelation of the “Future Evil.” Root hadn’t had time to even glance around the room.

Now, with curiosity tugging at her, Izumi’s eyes wandered cautiously through the space.

The house was simple. Clean. Orderly.

But one thing stood out: the potted plants on the windowsill.

Each one had been meticulously pruned. Beside them sat gardening tools—shears, soil scoops, pots of fertilizer.

So this was Iizumi’s hobby?

Wait…

He actually has a hobby?!

Izumi was stunned.

She’d always seen Iizumi as a rigid, cold figure—someone consumed solely by Justice and the eradication of evil. To think he’d care for plants, tend to them with such precision… Her assumptions had been too narrow.

She quietly filed that fact away.

“Hey, newbie,” Tachibana Jiro murmured, as if reading her mind, “don’t even think about giving Iizumi a gift. He won’t accept it. And worse—he’ll mark you down in his book. Negative points, guaranteed.”

Izumi flinched.

“Even… birthday presents?” she whispered.

“Hmm…” Tachibana Jiro scratched his chin. “That’s entering uncharted territory. Honestly? Who’d dare give Iizumi a birthday present? With a name like his? No one’s that bold.”

---

On the other side of the room, Uchiha Mikoto had guided Sasuke to sit. Her expression was heavy, layered with sorrow and unease.

“Izumi,” she began, “I’m sorry to disturb you so late. I didn’t plan this. It was… a sudden impulse.” She glanced at her son, her voice softening. “Itachi… he’s changed. So much. Tonight, I found him trying to… to hurt Sasuke. The things he said—words I never thought he’d speak. Even I felt a chill down my spine.”

Her voice cracked.

“If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what might have happened.”

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

How could this happen?

Why must the village and the Uchiha clan be torn apart by such violence?

Can he really kill his own family?

In her heart, her eldest son was gone. Not just a boy, but a stranger. A threat.

She wasn’t afraid of dying. If the moment came when Sasuke raised his hand against her—she would close her eyes and accept it.

But not if it meant losing him.

That was the line she wouldn’t cross.

And now, as a mother, she felt something new—a fierce, protective instinct. Not just for her own child, but for the child who still believed in kindness.

“Sasuke… he’s not like that. He’s not filled with hatred. He’s… ordinary. Normal. I don’t think he’ll ever become evil.”

She looked up, her voice trembling. “Among all the Uchiha, only you can protect him. I beg you—watch over him. Let him grow. Let him live.”

“I’m not speaking as the wife of the clan head,” she said, her voice breaking. “I’m speaking as a mother. A failure. I couldn’t stop Itachi. I failed to teach him right. He took the wrong path.”

Her hands trembled. “All I can do now… is protect Sasuke.”

“Nothing more.”

Silence fell.

Uchiha Sasuke stared at her, wide-eyed. His small face was pale.

He’d never seen his mother cry.

Not like this.

The weight of her words crushed him.

Itachi… my brother… the one I looked up to… he’s the one who wants to kill me?

His throat tightened. He wanted to speak. To ask why. To scream. But the words wouldn’t come.

Instead, tears welled in his eyes.

The pain wasn’t just grief—it was betrayal.

And from across the room, Uchiha Iizumi remained silent.

No promise. No refusal.

Just a quiet question:

“Fugaku can’t protect him?”

Mikoto let out a bitter laugh.

“Fugaku… he might stop Itachi. But…” She looked down. “I know him better than anyone. If his own son came to him, bloodstained and holding a blade… he’d break. He’d accept Itachi’s actions. He’d give up.”

Sasuke’s breath hitched.

Father… can’t stop him?

Does that mean… Father will let him do it?

Will Mother go with him?

He clenched his fists so hard his nails bit into his palms.

Seven years old. What could he possibly do against a fate like this?

Uchiha Iizumi finally spoke.

“Uchiha Itachi will not kill Uchiha Sasuke.”

Mikoto looked up, her eyes searching. “The future changes. Isn’t that what you yourself said before? You tried to change it. But Itachi… he’s too set in his ways.”

Her voice wavered. “I don’t know if the future will be good or bad. But Sasuke… he could believe in Justice. That’s the only way I can see him surviving.”

“I think you’ve misunderstood,” Iizumi said.

Mikoto froze.

“The future actions of Uchiha Itachi are evil. Do you really believe Absolute Justice would stand by and let the Night of the Massacre unfold?”

He turned his gaze toward Sasuke, who sat frozen, his face a mask of confusion and pain.

“Protecting the innocent… that is Justice’s duty. No plea from a mother is needed. Absolute Justice would act anyway.”

He paused, then added:

“And as for Sasuke believing in Justice…?”

His tone was blunt.

“A child who doesn’t even understand what Justice is—forced to believe in it—will never grasp the burden of it. Right now, his understanding of Justice is less than Naruto Uzumaki’s.”

Mikoto gasped.

The words struck her like a blade.

That’s… that’s it.

She finally saw it.

Iizumi’s Justice wasn’t just a doctrine. It was pure. Unwavering.

Even without her plea, he would have acted.

She had come to him… but he had already decided.

Sasuke’s ears twitched.

“Less than Naruto Uzumaki?”

The words burned.

Why did that sting so much?

He didn’t know.

But the name… Naruto Uzumaki…

That sounded familiar.

Wait—wasn’t that the dead-last kid from class?

A confused, restless child who always failed, always laughed too loud, always got into trouble?

The one everyone ignored.

And yet…

Iizumi had called him better than him?

Sasuke’s face twisted.

He didn’t like it.

But he couldn’t say anything.

Not with Iizumi watching.

---

Back in the capital of Fire Country, under the cover of night, the Guardian Ninja Twelve had gathered.

Only… one was missing.

Nanmu.

Now, it was Guardian Ninja Eleven.

The group split into two factions.

One led by Hiruzen Asama, advocating for balance between the Hokage and the Daimyō of Fire Country.

The other, led by Kazuma, insisted the Hokage had no place—ninja should be under the direct control of the Daimyō.

Five versus six.

Tensions were high.

But the Daimyō’s order had brought them together—just barely.

“Hmph,” Kazuma sneered, his white hair and scarred face glinting under the moonlight. “Uchiha Iizumi. The Dual Bloodline Limit. Sharingan and Molten Release? Sounds like a nightmare.”

He turned to Asama. “Asama, before we kill him—how about we take out the Leaf Village Hokage first? He’s been hiding this from the Daimyō. Didn’t even send Kyosuke’s body back. What’s his motive?”

Asama narrowed his eyes.

He didn’t want to work with these extremists.

They weren’t after Iizumi—they wanted him.

But he had lost Nanmu.

Now, with only five left, he couldn’t take on Iizumi alone.

One chance.

One shot.

So he had no choice.

“Don’t forget what the Daimyō said,” Asama replied coldly. “Our target is Iizumi. No one else. And you’ll follow my orders.”

His eyes hardened.

“And if you touch the Hokage… I’ll kill you before you can draw your blade.”

Kazuma laughed—a harsh, grating sound.

But he didn’t push further.

“Enough talk,” Asama said. “Move out.”

The eleven Guardians vanished into the shadows.

---

The next morning, Sasuke sat at the breakfast table, eyes heavy, mind racing.

Itachi’s voice. His mother’s tears. His father’s silence. Iizumi’s words.

“You don’t understand Justice.”

“You’re worse than Naruto Uzumaki.”

He chewed his food mechanically.

Then his gaze fell on the seat beside him.

The one Itachi always took.

His hand froze.

Anger. Fear. Confusion. Grief.

All of it swirled inside him.

He couldn’t eat.

He left without a word.

At the Ninja Academy, he scanned the classroom.

Where was he?

The dead-last. The one who always arrived early.

But today… he wasn’t there.

And the stares—every student was watching him.

He knew why.

They’d heard about the Night of the Massacre. They knew what Itachi had done.

They knew Sasuke was next.

He felt exposed. Vulnerable.

Minutes passed.

Then—thud.

A figure burst through the door, panting, hair messy, clothes stained.

Sasuke looked up.

Golden hair.

Uzumaki Naruto.

He wrinkled his nose.

He looks disgusting.

But then—Iizumi’s words.

“He’s better than you.”

Sasuke stood up.

In front of everyone.

He walked to Naruto’s desk.

And sat down.

Naruto blinked. “Hey—what’s with you? You’re not gonna say ‘hey’ or anything?”

Sasuke glared. “You. What’s your connection to Uchiha Iizumi?”

Naruto frowned. “Who? I have a name—Naruto Uzumaki. And you haven’t even told me who you are.”

Sasuke wrinkled his nose again—Naruto smelled like sweat and dirt.

He leaned slightly away.

“Uchiha Iizumi,” Sasuke said. “He’s from my clan. My father is the clan head. I know him.”

Naruto’s eyes widened. “Wait… you know him?”

Sasuke nodded. “And you still haven’t answered my question.”

Naruto paused.

Then his face lit up.

“I asked him to teach me Absolute Justice. He said yes. He’s my teacher!”

Sasuke’s jaw dropped.

What?!

The man who terrified his parents, who made his mother cry, who stood above even the Hokage…

He was teaching him?

That lazy, dirty, dead-last kid?

And worse—Iizumi said I was worse than him?!

Sasuke’s face twisted in disbelief.

How?

How could I be worse than him?

Is it… Justice?

He looked down.

His voice barely a whisper.

“…Hey. Uzumaki.”

He hesitated.

“Justice… what is it?”

---

On a quiet street in the Leaf Village, a mid-level ninja screamed.

“Why?! Why won’t you leave me alone?! This was years ago! I don’t even remember how I did it!”

He was cornered. Blood on his hands.

Uchiha Iizumi stood before him, blade drawn.

“Because eliminating evil from the Ninja World is Justice’s duty,” Iizumi said, voice calm. “That was just one of your crimes. You’re a vermin. To spare you… would be to stain Justice.”

The man’s eyes widened.

Then—thud.

His head rolled.

The body collapsed.

Izumi didn’t flinch.

Behind him, Izumi—his apprentice—wrote in her notebook.

“Second today. More ninjas returning from missions… pretending to be clean. But their records are filthy.”

She shivered.

Not from fear of violence.

But from horror.

Even in the Leaf Village—the best village in the world—evil was everywhere.

How many had she missed?

How many had she failed to see?

She looked up. “But… you said you wanted to spread Justice. Why did you turn away Mikoto-san and Sasuke-kun last night? Sasuke may not understand now, but we could guide him. Teach him.”

Iizumi turned.

“He will come to Justice on his own.”

Izumi blinked.

“Because of Naruto Uzumaki,” Iizumi continued. “Their fates are tied. Their destinies… intertwined.”

Izumi froze.

Wait…

Sasuke and Naruto?

How?

They were both boys.

And yet…

A strange sense of inevitability settled over her.

Like two stars drawn to the same orbit.

She didn’t understand it.

But she knew—this was not coincidence.

This was fate.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end