Chapter 110: Night of the Massacre — But the Shimura Clan

When Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the scene with a group of Investigation Corps ninja, breathless and urgent, he found only Uchiha Izumi and Hatake Kakashi standing amidst the wreckage.

His gaze fell upon Naruto Uzumaki—and his heart froze.

The crimson blood staining the boy’s face sent a chill down his spine.

Nine-Tails Jinchūriki…

He’s been injured!

Fugaku’s first instinct was to assess Naruto’s mental state. The moment he confirmed the boy wasn’t losing control, the tight knot in his chest loosened—just slightly. The weight on his heart finally settled.

Then his eyes shifted to Sasuke.

The boy was battered, covered in bruises and scrapes, his clothes torn. Fugaku’s brow furrowed deeply.

If this were Itachi, Zetsu wouldn’t be this disheveled. Two brothers, blood kin, yet the difference was staggering.

That was the first thought that flashed through Fugaku’s mind.

Seeing Sasuke like this, Fugaku didn’t even feel concern—his instincts were already comparing the boy to Uchiha Itachi.

And then came the sight of the destroyed homes, the scattered, terrified members of the Uchiha clan.

A burning rage stirred within him.

He took a deep breath and turned to Izumi.

“Izumi,” he asked, voice sharp, “Where is Iizumi?”

Uchiha Izumi calmly pulled out a clean handkerchief, wiping Naruto’s face first, then pressing it firmly over the wound. Her expression remained icy, distant.

“Iizumi-sama is carrying out Absolute Justice,” she said coldly. “Fugaku Clan Head, I urge you not to interfere.”

She paused, then added with unwavering certainty:

“Her judgment will soon execute every Evil Offender who dared challenge Absolute Justice. Justice does not tolerate evil.”

With that, she dismissed him entirely.

She handed the handkerchief to Naruto to hold himself, then rummaged in her pouch and pulled out a pack of antiseptic wipes.

“Sasuke-kun,” she said, “let me treat your wounds.”

Sasuke blinked, glancing up at his father.

Fugaku was frowning, lost in thought—completely ignoring his younger son.

With a tight, silent pout, Sasuke stepped forward.

Even my own father cares more for a stranger than he does for me.

Fugaku didn’t have time to care. From Izumi’s words, he learned that Uchiha Iizumi had survived the assassination attempt. So Uchiha Setsuna’s scheme had failed. A breath of relief escaped him.

But…

Where was Iizumi going?

To hunt down Setsuna?

Or was she targeting the mysterious “Ninja Clan” Setsuna had mentioned?

Fugaku realized he’d forgotten to ask Setsuna about the identity of that clan.

Right.

He turned to Kakashi.

He recognized the silver-haired Hatake Kakashi immediately.

“If Hokage-sama learns Naruto Uzumaki was injured,” Fugaku said, “please ensure the Uchiha Clan is cleared of any involvement.”

Kakashi hesitated.

For a split second, he thought he detected something in Fugaku’s tone—almost like pleading.

…Probably just my imagination.

The Uchiha Clan Head? Asking the Hokage for mercy over a minor incident?

Nonsense.

Still, Kakashi gave a small, solemn nod.

“I’ll report everything truthfully to the Hokage.”

Fugaku exhaled—again.

Then he noticed two Investigation Corps members suddenly turn and flee.

His expression darkened.

But he didn’t stop them.

---

…Not dead…

Whew…

Uchiha Setsuna slowly closed his eyes, his face eerily calm. Yet beneath his forehead, veins pulsed wildly, like serpents beneath stone.

He had given the Shimura Clan the most likely weakness of Uchiha Iizumi—everything he knew about her vulnerabilities.

And yet… even with only a handful of surviving members, the Shimura Clan had failed utterly.

He had let them plant Explosive Tags throughout the Uchiha Compound, even turning a blind eye.

He’d already prepared for Iizumi to either die… or be crippled.

If she died, perfect.

If she lived, he’d send someone to finish her.

But she hadn’t died.

She hadn’t even been hurt.

It was a blind spot in his plan.

Useless. Utterly useless.

Uchiha Setsuna opened his eyes, grinding his teeth.

“Useless trash… All of you. If it weren’t for the Uchiha Clan, this entire village would fall apart. Without us, these fools wouldn’t even be able to guard the Leaf!”

His voice cracked with fury.

Hayato…

The image of his grandson flashed before him—his face, once full of life, now reduced to ash, vaporized by molten lava.

And now, Iizumi—his target—had survived an assassination attempt, unscathed.

The memory struck him like a blade.

He clutched his chest.

His face flushed crimson. His breath came in ragged gasps.

After a long, painful moment, he managed to steady himself. His lips were pale.

“U—Chi—Ha—Ii—Zu—Mi!”

---

Hiruzen Sarutobi had long abandoned calming the furious clan heads who had been “disturbed” by Uchiha Izumi.

When he realized Naruto might be in danger, he didn’t hesitate. He led every available Anbu Ninja straight into the Uchiha Compound.

Now, seeing so many Anbu intrude, most Uchiha ninjas were furious.

No one liked strangers—especially dangerous ones—loitering at their doorstep.

But when Uchiha Fugaku was in charge?

The Compound became open to all.

“Fugaku!” Hiruzen’s voice rang through the ruins. His face was grim. “Is Naruto here?”

Fugaku had already braced himself.

But before he could speak, Naruto’s voice cut through the silence.

“Hokage Grandpa!!!”

Hiruzen’s frown softened—just slightly.

He forced a smile, stepping forward to greet the boy.

Then he saw Naruto clutching his head.

And the white handkerchief now soaked in blood.

The smile vanished.

“Medical Ninja!” Hiruzen snapped.

An Anbu medic stepped forward immediately.

Hiruzen rushed to Naruto’s side.

“Naruto, let the medic treat you first.”

Naruto pointed weakly at Sasuke.

“Hokage Grandpa… can you please help him too?”

Hiruzen paused.

That boy… Fugaku’s younger son, right?

“Of course.”

He stepped aside, letting the medic tend to Naruto first.

Then he turned back, voice gentle but probing.

“Naruto… what happened to your head? Who hurt you?”

Naruto answered honestly:

“It was the blast.”

Hiruzen’s eyes widened.

Explosion?

He glanced at the wreckage—craters, shattered walls, debris scattered like bones.

If Naruto had been caught in the blast zone… he’d have been dead.

Hiruzen’s face darkened.

He turned to Kakashi.

“Kakashi… you were supposed to watch Naruto. You know more than he does.”

“That silver-haired guy said it was the Shimura Clan!” Naruto interjected, still under treatment.

“Shimura… Clan?” Hiruzen froze.

Kakashi exhaled, then recounted every detail—calm, precise.

Hiruzen’s expression grew darker with every word.

So the Shimura Clan had tried to assassinate Uchiha Iizumi.

But the explosion had nearly killed Naruto… and Sasuke.

If Iizumi hadn’t thrown Naruto clear, if Kakashi hadn’t caught him…

They’d be dead.

“Wait,” Hiruzen said suddenly. “You said she walked toward the Shimura Clan’s base alone?”

Kakashi nodded.

“When?”

“Five minutes ago.”

Hiruzen stared into silence.

Too late.

Tonight… a Night of the Massacre was coming.

But not the one Iizumi predicted.

This one wouldn’t be the Uchiha Clan’s downfall.

It would be the Shimura Clan’s.

Hiruzen knew Danzō’s influence. He knew what the Shimura Clan had become.

They were loyal—fanatically so. Would die for the Leaf without hesitation.

But Danzō had twisted them.

And tonight? They’d crossed a line.

If not for Iizumi’s mercy—her choice to save innocents—the explosion would’ve killed dozens of Uchiha civilians.

But now?

For Absolute Justice…

Everyone involved… must die.

“Hokage Grandpa!” Naruto suddenly grinned, full of pride. “Today, Iizumi-sensei made me carry out Justice myself! I passed her test!”

Hiruzen blinked.

…Why does he call her “sensei”?

He was about to mentally sigh, to question why a child would idolize someone so cold…

Then his eyes snapped wide.

What?!

He stared at Naruto, stunned.

“Naruto… did Iizumi… encourage you to kill someone? You passed her test… so that means…”

He stopped. Couldn’t finish.

His gaze shot to Kakashi—sharp, accusing.

Didn’t I order you to keep Naruto away from Absolute Justice?

What had Kakashi done?

“Hokage-sama,” Kakashi said, grimacing, “it wasn’t like that.”

Hiruzen listened. His expression shifted—then softened.

It was just a test?

He cleared his throat.

…Phew. Good. I was about to make a fool of myself.

---

Inside the Shimura Clan’s compound, members waited anxiously.

When the elders finally returned, they rushed forward.

“Elder-sama… did you kill the Uchiha demon?”

The Head of the Shimura Clan shook his head.

“We saw her engulfed in the explosion. But we didn’t confirm her death. Staying longer meant facing the Investigation Corps.”

His milky eyes narrowed.

“And… I didn’t expect Hatake Kakashi to be there. If we hadn’t run, we’d have been caught.”

“Kakashi? The Copy Ninja?” a young clan member asked. “He’s an Anbu, isn’t he? Why was he there?”

The elder sighed.

“Who knows? But our goal was achieved. Tonight, I’ll go to the Hokage and confess. I’ll take full responsibility. The entire plot was mine.”

He raised his voice.

“If Uchiha Iizumi survives… she’ll come for me. Not you. You’ll be spared.”

“Now, while I distract the village, you must leave—on missions, scattered across the country. Return only after the storm passes.”

“I have a safe place for you.”

A cold voice cut through the air.

Everyone froze.

The Head of the Shimura Clan turned, face paling.

Standing in the doorway, sword drawn, was Uchiha Iizumi.

The clan’s elder staggered back.

“You… knew someone would attack you?!”

That was the only thought he could form.

How else could she have survived hundreds of Explosive Tags?

Unless she’d already activated her Molten Release Chakra Body—which meant she knew about the ambush.

But that meant she’d been warned.

Wait…

The elder’s face twisted with suspicion.

Was this a trap?

Did Setsuna and Iizumi collude?

Was this all staged—to justify a massacre?

“Hmph.”

Uchiha Iizumi exhaled slowly, then spoke.

“Head of the Shimura Clan… you’re the only one guilty.”

The elder raised his chin.

“I did this alone. The others were forced. Only I bear the sin.”

“Is that so?” Iizumi glanced at the clan members surrounding her.

Her eyes swept across them.

And every single one of them—except a few—was marked with a crimson symbol.

【Deeply Involved in the Assassination of Uchiha Iizumi】

One offense. One crime.

And yet, it was enough.

Because if Iizumi hadn’t used Wood Release to save innocent Uchiha lives, these people would have killed dozens.

They knew the risk.

But they did it anyway.

Root didn’t care about innocent lives.

And worse?

Some of them—the ones not marked—were still missing.

Not all of them had been caught.

It was inevitable. The Leaf Village was vast. Many ninja were on missions. Iizumi couldn’t be everywhere.

And before she’d grown strong, Absolute Justice was still weak.

But now…

“I see no innocent ones,” Iizumi said, voice like ice.

Then she locked eyes with the elder.

“And you, Shimura Sōya… your sin is the most glaring.”

Sōya’s blood ran cold.

She’s not here to kill me…

She’s here to wipe us out.

“Attack! Or we all die!” Sōya screamed, throwing down his cane and slamming his hands together.

“Wind Release: Wind Slash Technique!”

He poured every last bit of chakra into the attack.

Two invisible blades—like knives of air—slashed toward Iizumi.

She dodged one.

With a flick of her sword, she cut the other in half.

Then she raised her eyes.

And beneath the moonlight, her Sharingan flared—three tomoe spinning, red as blood.

The other Shimura ninjas sprang into action.

One bit his thumb, summoning a beast.

Others unleashed every jutsu they had.

Everything.

All their strength.

“No wonder you never made waves,” Iizumi said, sheathing her sword.

A blast of Wind Release shattered her body—four holes torn through her torso.

But no blood spilled.

Only molten lava oozed from the wounds.

Her right arm—now fully molten—swelled, glowing red.

The Wind Blade sliced halfway through her neck.

But the cut revealed only lava.

Lava poured down her body.

In an instant—the wounds healed.

Her arm pulsed, expanding.

“Molten Release…”

“Great Eruption!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end