Chapter 113: Uchiha Itachi: I Will Save Leaf Village My Way

In Fugaku’s eyes, Uchiha Sasuke would forever fall short of Uchiha Itachi—be it talent, insight, or capacity. The difference was not just vast; it was absolute.

Earlier, when Uchiha Iizumi had rejected Sasuke’s request to join the Root under the pretext that “Sasuke doesn’t understand Justice,” Fugaku had felt a flicker of relief—followed by a quiet disappointment.

Even Iizumi thinks Sasuke isn’t cut out for this.

So perhaps Sasuke really is only a fraction of Itachi’s worth.

Who could have predicted…

That the very rejection would ignite something within Sasuke?

In an instant, the boy’s sluggish mind snapped into focus. His once-dull perception suddenly sharpened, and—miraculously—he grasped one of the core principles of Justice.

At that moment, Fugaku felt a deep, rising dread. And his fear was not unfounded.

Uchiha Iizumi spoke, voice cold and unwavering:

“Remember every word you just said. Never forget what you’ve learned today. This Ninja World is not as it should be. Its very foundation is twisted, diseased—bred from a system that fosters abominable evils.”

“Absolute Justice demands the purging of all such filth. Even if it costs you your life, so be it. Sasuke—your vow to uphold Justice… are you willing to sacrifice your life for it? Are you ready to bear the burden and responsibility of Justice?”

“Yes! Yes!” Sasuke gritted out, his voice raw with conviction, answering both questions in rapid succession.

Uchiha Iizumi gave a single, slow nod.

“Then you may follow me.”

Sasuke’s face lit up with ecstatic hope.

But Iizumi’s expression remained blank.

“I hope your Justice earns me a passing grade.”

“…Grade?” Sasuke blinked.

Justice… has a score?

Izumi stepped in to clarify.

“Sasuke-kun, Iizumi-sama evaluates your conduct continuously. A perfect score is 1,000 points. Only when you reach that level will you be considered acceptable—adequate—by her standards.”

She paused, her tone shifting slightly.

“But… if you earn a negative score? Well… Sasuke-kun, you might not survive.”

Sasuke: “!!”

Survive?

“Mew~ Because in Iizumi-sama’s eyes, a negative score means you claimed to believe in Justice—but acted against it. A betrayal of Justice… has very serious consequences, you know~”

Tachibana Jiro, the Ninja Cat, leapt onto Sasuke’s shoulder with a theatrical flourish. The sudden weight nearly toppled the boy.

With a delicate paw, the cat poked Sasuke’s flushed face.

“Back when Iizumi-sama was building her apprentice program, two young members of the Uchiha Police Force joined. One earned a negative score. And Iizumi-sama… personally executed him.”

The cat tilted its head.

“Little guy… if you’re scared, you can still back out. It’s not too late.”

Sasuke was sweating. This was worse than breaking the Uchiha clan’s most sacred taboos.

But then…

Itachi’s face—so distant, so unfamiliar—flashed in his mind.

And the Genjutsu memory of the Massacre Night—blood-soaked, chaotic, horrifying—raced through his thoughts like a film reel.

He glanced at his father.

Fugaku’s face was stone. Resolute. Rejecting.

He could almost feel the silent command in his father’s eyes: Deny her. Walk away. Don’t do this.

Father didn’t want him to believe in Justice.

But…

If he didn’t find a way to grow stronger?

If he didn’t change this world with true resolve?

If he just sat by, waiting for the same tragedy to repeat itself…

That was not the future he, Uchiha Sasuke, wanted to endure.

Naruto Uzumaki—the dead-last, the laughingstock—had faced Iizumi and been judged negative… and still stood.

So why should he fear?

He was an Uchiha. Proud. Unyielding.

“I… won’t regret it.”

“I don’t want to back out.”

Sasuke forced himself not to meet his father’s gaze. As he looked away, a sliver of his peripheral vision caught it—just for a heartbeat—the flicker of profound disappointment in Fugaku’s eyes.

…

“Fugaku… this is quite the spectacle. The Uchiha Clan, embracing Absolute Justice—it’s a new path. A bold one.”

Tsunade Konoha’s voice carried a sharp, mocking edge.

Fugaku’s pupils narrowed.

“Advisor Xiao Chun…” He tensed, about to defend himself—

But she was already turning, her face dark and stormy, hands clasped behind her back. She walked away without another word.

Hyūga Menji’s voice came from the side, calm and measured:

“She’s angry. Not at Iizumi’s actions—she knows she can’t refute them. But at the fact that Iizumi is right. That’s why she’s upset. You needn’t take her words to heart, Fugaku.”

He lifted his gaze slightly.

“I know you’ve always stood for peace. For Leaf Village. That hasn’t changed.”

Fugaku answered at once:

“The Uchiha Clan and Leaf Village must remain in balance.”

Menji placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Then trust that.”

And with that, he too walked away.

Fugaku turned toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage.

But the Hokage’s attention was fixed—unwavering—on Naruto Uzumaki, the Jinchūriki.

When the boy leaned slightly toward Uchiha Iizumi, Fugaku saw the Hokage’s expression darken—just slightly, but unmistakably.

…

“Tch… Asama. Is there some grand ‘celebration’ happening in Leaf Village today? How lively.”

Beyond the village’s borders, miles away, the Guardian Ninja Eleven—exhausted from a nonstop journey—stood on the treetops, breathing heavily.

The voice belonged to Kazuma, his lips curling into a sneer.

“The fire’s spreading fast. If the Hokage dies in that blaze… wouldn’t that be a perfect ending?”

Asama crushed a leaf between his fingers. His cold gaze flicked toward Kazuma.

After a moment, he spoke, voice low:

“I know you’re distracted. But if you don’t focus on Iizumi, you’ll die. He defeated Root’s leader—Shimura Danzō. You’d be a fool to underestimate him.”

Kazuma snorted.

“You’re overestimating him. He’s just one man. Even with his ‘Molten Release Beast’—he’s still alone. We’re eleven elite shinobi from the Land of Fire. Together, we could take down a village’s Kage.”

He smirked.

“Why should we fear him?”

Asama’s jaw clenched. Veins pulsed at his temples. The mention of his brother, Hiruzen Shintetsu—killed by Iizumi—was a wound he refused to open.

But he held his tongue. For now.

“Regardless of your feelings,” he said, voice flat, “you were given orders by the Daimyō. You follow my command. Don’t speak unless necessary.”

“Rest. Recover. Then, we purge the Uchiha ‘pest’ from the Land of Fire—on the Daimyō’s behalf.”

“Tch.” Kazuma’s eyes flickered with disdain.

But he said nothing more.

…

The next day.

Two reports shook Leaf Village to its core:

- Uchiha Iizumi had executed over a dozen smugglers trafficking massive quantities of banned narcotics.

- The Shimura Clan, attempting to assassinate Iizumi, had been eradicated—annihilated in a single night.

Rumors spread like wildfire.

“Uchiha Hayato, Uchiha Chitō, Uchiha Masaru—three of our own clan’s shinobi. Just because they trafficked forbidden drugs, he kills them? Does he have no sense of kinship at all?”

“It wasn’t just Uchiha. Others died too—members of the Tsuchi Clan, the Hyūga Menji branch. All caught in the crossfire.”

“Hayato… he was Setsuna’s grandson. A pompous brat, but still… a clan member.”

“‘Absolute Justice’… so it’s real? Not just some myth to scare us?”

“The explosion in the Uchiha Compound? That was the Shimura Clan’s doing. Iizumi went alone—into their stronghold—and wiped them out.”

“Shimura Clan? Danzō’s clan? Good riddance! They stole Sharingan from our people for years.”

“Izumi’s stronger than the clan head. Finally, someone with spine.”

…

The Uchiha Clan’s reaction was explosive.

Some raged at Iizumi’s “butchery” of their own. Others praised his unwavering Justice. Many began comparing him to Fugaku—once the chosen leader.

And what did they find?

The man they had elected as clan head—Fugaku—was less than this young Uchiha.

The Shimura Clan had infiltrated the Uchiha Compound, planted explosive tags, and caused massive destruction.

And what had Fugaku done?

Nothing.

No investigation. No confrontation. No attempt to hold them accountable.

But Iizumi? He acted.

He did something.

And in that moment, the long-simmering resentment of the Uchiha—years of silence, of retreat, of submission—finally boiled over.

A wave of defiance surged through the clan.

“Grand Elder Setsuna! Lead us! Join forces with Iizumi and impeach the cowardly Fugaku!”

A group of young, fiery Uchiha shinobi rushed to find Setsuna, their voices trembling with fervor.

“Now, Iizumi holds the greatest individual strength in our clan—strong enough to terrify even the Hokage! And you, Elder Setsuna, are the voice of our revolution! With your word, we can launch a coup against the Hokage!”

“Together, we’ll crush Fugaku’s faction. The weak Uchiha will vanish. A new, powerful Uchiha will rise—dominating Leaf Village!”

“Absolute Justice… fused with revolutionary will… Fugaku will have no chance. He’ll have no choice but to step down.”

The young rebels’ hatred for Fugaku pleased Setsuna.

But their blind admiration for Iizumi… that made his face darken.

Don’t you realize… my grandson died at Iizumi’s hands?

One of the young men spoke up:

“Grand Elder, Hayato’s death was due to his incompetence. If he’d paid attention to the village’s dangers, he wouldn’t have walked into Iizumi’s trap. And storing so much contraband in the Compound? That proves he was mentally unstable.”

Another added:

“For the sake of the Uchiha’s future, we must abandon the weak.”

“Grand Elder wouldn’t mourn such a fool, would you?”

Setsuna: …

Before he could respond, another rebel cut in:

“Grand Elder’s capacity is no less than Iizumi’s! Iizumi sacrificed his own blood—Uchiha Oniwa—for Justice. You, too, could sacrifice your grandson for the clan’s destiny.”

Setsuna: ???

…

On the other side of the village.

“Father… why didn’t you stop Sasuke?”

Uchiha Itachi stood before Fugaku, his eyes locked onto his father’s.

“Absolute Justice stands in opposition to Leaf Village. If Sasuke chooses it… his future is destroyed.”

Itachi knew.

The reason he had spared Sasuke in the future was to ensure the boy would protect the fragile Leaf.

That was his plan.

But now—this?

Sasuke joining Iizumi’s faction?

That path was wrong.

It deviated from everything Itachi had prepared.

Why was he so certain?

Because in his eyes, Iizumi’s “Justice” wasn’t justice at all.

It was a weapon—hacking away at Leaf Village’s strength.

More shinobi dead. More high-ranking officials shaken.

The Shimura Clan—eradicated.

This was not justice.

This was chaos.

“Father… I’m lost,” Fugaku admitted, voice heavy. “What is right? You for peace. I for balance. Iizumi for Justice. Setsuna for power.”

“After Sasuke returned, I wanted to scold him. But Mikoto said… he made the right choice. She said Iizumi’s Justice might save most of the Uchiha.”

He repeated his wife’s words, voice hollow.

“She said… the more I try to balance, the more the scale tips. The more Setsuna seeks power, the deeper we sink. And you… you’re already fated to fall.”

Fugaku’s gaze was haunted.

Even his closest—his wife—supported a stranger.

That was the last thing he expected.

Then Itachi spoke, cold and unmoving:

“Father… Mother is narrow-minded. She’s never felt the true weight of this situation. She’s just a woman—her vision is short. She sees only surface truth.”

“Her belief that Iizumi’s ‘Absolute Justice’ is the future… is naïve.”

“She shouldn’t have allowed Sasuke down this path. And you shouldn’t be swayed by her words. She’s never led. She’s never decided. How could she see the whole picture?”

He paused.

Then:

“Father… your chance is gone.”

Fugaku froze.

He remembered.

That time… when I said I’d give you one more try.

Now, Itachi continued:

“I won’t let the Uchiha fall into chaos. I won’t let them threaten Leaf Village.”

His eyes locked onto Fugaku’s—Mangekyō Sharingan blazing.

“Are you trying to stop me, Father?”

“I remember you said… no matter what I decide, you’d be proud.”

Fugaku’s Mangekyō calmed.

He opened his mouth.

But no words came.

And as Itachi turned and walked away, Fugaku—still standing—made no move to stop him.

…

“Odd… I feel like the villagers’ attitude toward him has changed. Not as fearful. Not as hostile.”

Kakashi murmured to himself, strolling through the village.

“Maybe… the rumors were wrong. People are realizing—if you don’t do evil, you won’t be targeted.”

“Even more… they’re starting to see that Iizumi is cleaning up the village. Theft. Fraud. The cases are dropping.”

Naruto was still in the Ninja Academy. Kakashi, meanwhile, had nothing to do.

He wandered, and everywhere he went—people were talking about Iizumi.

But unlike before, when whispers were hushed, fearful—now they spoke openly. Excitedly.

“His power is changing the foundation of Leaf Village.”

Just as Kakashi was reflecting, a sudden, hard slap landed on his back.

“Pfuh! Cough! Cough—!”

Kakashi doubled over, coughing violently.

He lifted his dull, fish-like eyes—only to see a pair of thick, bushy brows, and a grinning face with two rows of dazzling white teeth.

“Kakashi! I’m back!!”

Maito Kai gave him a huge thumbs-up.

…

Ah. The troublemaker returns.

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end