Chapter 120: What Should Be Done? Only Kill! The Anxious Daimyō of Fire Country (10,000-Word Epic Chapter)

“Shizune, bring out the money we picked up last night.”

Just as Shizune was lost in a flood of memories, Kushina’s sudden voice snapped her back to reality like a whip.

She quickly grabbed the money pouch lying on the floor and began placing each one carefully onto the table.

Shizune said, “Kushina-sama, we followed Uchiha Iizumi last night and collected four million seven hundred thousand taels in cash. Fortunately, most of it was in notes of a thousand taels or more—large denominations, so we didn’t have to carry too many bundles.”

“But…” She paused mid-motion, her fingers hovering over the sealed sack. Her voice faltered. “Some of the bills are stained with blood, Kushina-sama. Your hemophobia…”

Kushina glanced at the plump, blood-smeared sacks on the table.

She didn’t let Shizune open them. Instead, she took a slow, deep breath and said, “...Leave behind one million taels.”

“O-oh… huh? Wait—what?!” Shizune’s face twisted in shock. Her eyes widened, staring at Kushina as if seeing a stranger.

“Kushina-sama… you…?”

“I’m not mad,” Kushina said dryly. “There were seventy-nine children rescued from the basement yesterday. Spread across seventy-nine kids, four million taels comes to about fifty thousand each. That should be enough to raise them properly until adulthood.”

Shizune: “!!!”

“Kushina-sama… you’re going to adopt them?!”

She was genuinely stunned. Kushina, the woman who lived and breathed gambling—her entire life revolved around stakes and risk—had always treated money like a personal fortune to be wagered. Anyone who so much as touched her funds usually ended up flying across the room after a single punch.

And yet, here she was, about to hand over nearly five million taels—without force, without coercion—of her own free will.

Kushina rolled her eyes, poking Shizune’s cheek with a finger in exasperation.

“I don’t have time to raise a bunch of brats. I’m sending them to an orphanage. This money goes to the orphanage—so they can raise these kids right.”

Shizune rubbed her face, muttering, “It’s a good thing, sure… but with that much money… won’t someone steal it?”

Before last night, Shizune hadn’t dared to think ill of people. But after what she’d seen—after what she’d felt—her instinct now was to assume the worst.

“W-what if…?” she whispered weakly. “What if someone tries to use the children’s bodies for… something terrible?”

Kushina narrowed her eyes. The memory of last night surged back—raw, violent, and merciless. Her once-golden eyes dimmed, clouded with shadows.

“Then kill them.”

The words fell like a guillotine.

As Kushina spoke, the wooden table she leaned on cracked with a sharp crack. Fine fissures spiderwebbed across the surface. A deep, palm-sized imprint remained burned into the wood—evidence of the strength behind her hand.

Shizune flinched.

She hadn’t seen this side of Kushina in years—not since the woman had developed her hemophobia, abandoned the village, and buried herself in gambling. This was not the woman who lived for bets and dice. This was the real Kushina—the one who once ruled the ninja world with her fists and her name.

Why had she changed?

The answer came to her instantly.

Because of Uchiha Iizumi.

Since he’d stepped onto Takeshita Street, since he’d exposed the rot of the ninja world to Kushina, since he’d shown her his Absolute Justice in full—something within her had shifted.

She seemed… less broken. Less lost.

“By the way, Shizune,” Kushina suddenly asked, “where’s that Uchiha brat and the Ninja Cat?”

“They should’ve left Takeshita Street by now,” Shizune replied. “That cat—Tachibana Jiro—said Iizumi was only passing through. He and the cat were on an S-Rank mission from the Hokage-sama. I think they came here just to rest.”

“Hmph. Resting… and killing six hundred and fifty-nine people?”

Kushina smirked. “That kid meant to come here. Left a mess like that and just vanished—just like nine years ago. Never changes.”

Shizune corrected softly, “It was six hundred and forty. Nineteen of them… were you, Kushina-sama. I couldn’t stop you.”

“Cough!” Kushina cleared her throat, brushing the topic aside. She stood slowly. “Let’s go pick a proper orphanage for the kids. If we can’t find a good one, bring them all back to Leaf Village.”

“Old man Sarutobi won’t ignore that many war orphans. Hmm… maybe we can even save the money that way.”

Shizune: “….”

Kushina really knew how to exploit the Hokage-sama.

But wasn’t she essentially robbing her own village?

Then again… Kushina’s grandfather was the First Hokage.

So was this… granddaughter selling her grandfather’s land without a second thought?

…

Meanwhile, deep within a secluded forest just beyond Takeshita Street.

A figure and a cat—flickering through the trees at blinding speed—suddenly slowed, then stopped.

Less than three seconds later, rustling sounds echoed behind them.

Then, panting, a man in a dark cloak appeared—Tsukikage Shinku, breathing heavily, his face pale.

“Huff… huff… Gone?”

He stood less than ten meters from Uchiha Iizumi, yet his eyes darted wildly, confused.

If someone had looked closely at his pupils, they would have seen a faint, swirling pattern—like a Sharingan reflected in the depths of his irises.

He believed his tracking was flawless. But he hadn’t noticed—he’d already fallen under Uchiha Iizumi’s Genjutsu.

In that instant, his head dipped slightly, as if something heavy had pressed down.

His pupils widened.

Then, without warning—there he was.

Uchiha Iizumi stood right before him, as if materialized from thin air.

Tsukikage Shinku stumbled back, heart hammering.

“Don’t move, mew.”

A strange, playful voice rang from above his head.

At the same moment, he felt the cold pressure of a blade at his temple.

“Mew… You’re the one from the Tsukikage Clan, right? The sickly one—Tsukikage Shinku?”

Tachibana Jiro’s voice again, from above.

A fluffy orange tail slowly lowered, swaying just before Tsukikage Shinku’s eyes.

He realized—a talking Ninja Cat was perched on his head.

And Uchiha Iizumi had known he was being followed… all along.

Worse—Tsukikage Shinku realized, with dawning horror, that he’d likely just been under a Sharingan Genjutsu. And it hadn’t broken yet.

One wrong move, and he’d be dead.

“I… I mean no harm,” he said, sweat dripping down his temples. But it wasn’t fear of death—it was the truth. He hadn’t wanted to kill Uchiha Iizumi. He’d never had the nerve.

Tsukikage Shinku stared straight into Iizumi’s eyes—those Three Tomoe Sharingan that burned with cold judgment.

“I just… came to ask you one question. Even if you don’t answer. Even if you kill me right now. I just… I need to know—why must Justice always end in murder?”

His voice trembled.

“Can’t there be… another way? I don’t oppose your Justice. But… shouldn’t Justice be something everyone can accept? Something that doesn’t leave wounds in the soul?”

As Uchiha Iizumi took a step forward, Tsukikage Shinku felt his courage crumble.

The closer Iizumi came, the heavier the dread became. His breath caught. He couldn’t even meet his gaze.

Then, Iizumi stood mere inches away.

“Is your kindness… your mercy… meant to be given to Evil Offenders?”

The voice was ice.

“When a criminal kills an innocent… what punishment is enough? What does Justice look like—so that the victim’s soul can finally rest?”

“Say whatever you want. No rules. No judgment.”

Tsukikage Shinku froze.

He’d come to ask why Iizumi hadn’t spared his only blood relative.

But now, every word from Iizumi’s lips felt like a hammer on his soul.

“The twisted ninja world breeds evil. And worse—it numbs people to it. They no longer feel disgust. They no longer feel outrage.”

The silence stretched.

“When you wonder why Justice must kill your kin… have you ever asked what he did?”

“Have you ever thought about what your mother felt… the moment he raised his hand against her?”

“Tsukikage Shinku… feel the moment your mother died in the arms of the son she loved most.”

“That is my Absolute Justice. Your answer.”

The moment the words left Iizumi’s lips, the world shattered.

Tsukikage Shinku’s vision warped. He knew—this was Sharingan Genjutsu again.

He’d been caught twice—without a single clue.

But… something felt familiar.

“Wait… this place… is… the Tsukikage Clan’s residence?!”

Then, without warning, his body moved—not his own.

It was as if his mind had been forced into another body.

Whose body was this?

“Mother! Why?! Why should everything go to Shinku just because he’s a year older? Because he’s the firstborn? Because he’s the sickly one?!”

A voice—familiar, dead—rang from behind him.

Tsukikage Seizui.

So… this was his mother’s body.

“He’s just a weakling! The future of the Tsukikage Clan shouldn’t be in his hands! We’ll never avenge Father if we follow him! What if he dies tomorrow? What about your husband’s murderer?!”

The voice grew frantic.

Tsukikage Shinku’s breath caught.

So that’s how he saw me…?

“Hush, Seizui,” a woman’s voice replied—his mother’s. “Shinku may be sickly, but his talent is greater than yours. His mind is steadier. You’re too volatile. Too consumed by hatred.”

“Seizui… if I gave the clan to you, you’d destroy it. You’d drag us all into ruin.”

Tsukikage Shinku recognized the voice. It was her.

Then—the memory.

Was this… the moment his mother died?

“Forgive me… Seizui. The future of the Tsukikage Clan… belongs to Shinku. It was decided long ago…”

—BANG!

A thunderous crack echoed behind him.

Tsukikage Shinku’s eyes flew open.

He felt the impact—a brutal blow to the back of his skull.

His body pitched forward. A wave of disbelief surged through him.

He felt it—the pain, the warmth, the metallic taste of blood.

Shock.

Awe.

Grief.

And then—she.

His mother’s final emotions—his own now.

She didn’t hate her son.

She didn’t understand why he’d turned on her.

She was sorry. So sorry.

She just wanted to see his face one last time. To say “I love you.” To tell him everything.

“H-ha… haa… haa…”

Seizui’s ragged breathing came from behind.

“This… this was your fault. You never saw me as your son. You gave everything to that sickly weakling. You forgot Father’s killer! You don’t deserve to be my mother!”

“Wait… wait… I need to calm down… I need to hide the body… no one can find out… can’t bury it in the village… must be outside…”

Tsukikage Shinku felt her mind—her terror, her regret.

She wanted to scream: Don’t bury it in the woods! They’ll find it! You’ll be ruined!

But she couldn’t.

In her final moments—she didn’t hate him.

No rage. No bitterness.

Just sorrow.

And in that instant—Tsukikage Shinku’s heart turned to fire.

Not at Iizumi.

At Seizui.

The man who had murdered his mother.

He wanted to cut off that hand.

To scream: Why?! Why did you do this?!

He wanted to rip off his head and let him think in the afterlife.

Then—through his own eyes—he watched Seizui drag his mother’s body into the night.

Using his Translucent Release Bloodline Limit, he carried her silently through the darkness.

He threw her into a deep pit.

Covered her face with dirt.

And as the last shovelful fell—the Genjutsu ended.

…

Tsukikage Shinku stood, tears streaming down his face.

Uchiha Iizumi’s voice came again, calm, distant.

“That was the memory of your brother… and your mother. Extracted by the Yamanaka Clan.”

“You don’t understand me. And I don’t understand you.”

“I’ve answered your question about Justice. Now… tell me. Why do you offer mercy to a monster?”

“Kneel!”

Tsukikage Shinku collapsed to his knees, trembling, his body drained.

He looked at his shaking hands.

Iizumi’s words echoed.

And he realized—he couldn’t answer.

Why should he spare him?

Because he was family?

Because of blood?

But Seizui had killed his mother.

“…I’m sorry…!”

Tears and snot poured down his face.

He dropped into a deep, trembling bow.

He didn’t understand why he’d ever thought like that.

But now… he understood why Iizumi did what he did.

If you want to punish the truly evil?

—Then there is only one way.

Kill.

…

Three days later.

Leaf Village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, though discharged from the hospital, still looked worn. The village’s affairs still needed his hand—especially after Uchiha Iizumi’s recent rampage.

But oddly… the village felt calmer. Quieter.

No deaths. No bloodshed.

Even the funeral parlor had slowed down. No more daily body deliveries.

For the first time in ages, the village felt peaceful.

And Hiruzen had managed to hold a proper funeral for Hiruzen Asama.

But now—just as peace settled in—the door burst open.

An Anbu Ninja rushed in, breathless.

“Hokage-sama!”

Hiruzen nearly choked on his pipe.

“What is it?!”

“Naruto Uzumaki… almost killed someone!”

“Cough! Cough—!”

Hiruzen choked, tears welling in his eyes.

When he finally caught his breath, he stared at the Anbu, wide-eyed.

“What happened?!”

“The boy, along with Uchiha Sasuke, was with Uchiha Iizumi—‘executing Justice.’ They found a criminal. The man had raped his own daughter. Naruto was enraged. He stabbed the man in the abdomen with a kunai.”

“Fortunately, the Anbu monitoring Naruto—Yamada Ryosin—intervened in time. The man is alive… but severely wounded.”

“But… Iizumi… finished it. She cut off the man’s head.”

Hiruzen: “….”

Each word felt like a stone in his chest.

What was going on?

After Iizumi left, Naruto should’ve been calmer.

But now… he’d stabbed a man.

With a kunai.

A child.

And Iizumi… allowed it.

Hiruzen stood, his face grim.

“Take me to him.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama!”

…

They arrived at the Nara Clan’s residence.

Hiruzen paused at the gate.

Memories flashed—his forced compliance after the Inuzuka-Nara-Yamanaka Alliance pressured him.

He’d been humiliated. And the clan elders had looked at him with cold eyes.

But he pushed the thought down.

“Hokage-sama.”

“Hokage-sama.”

Nara Shikaku and Yamana Haiichi greeted him—almost as if they’d expected him.

Hiruzen nodded slightly.

Inside, he saw Naruto—face bruised, hands stained with blood.

Sasuke, knees scraped.

Uchiha Iizumi, standing calmly beside them.

Yamada Ryosin, watching from afar.

And on the ground—a corpse. A Yamanaka Clan ninja was performing a memory extraction.

Hiruzen opened his mouth—ready to scold Iizumi.

How could you let children do this?

But then—he stopped.

She was only twelve.

A child.

“Grandpa Hokage,” he said, crouching down, forcing a gentle smile. “Naruto… I know what happened. Tell me… why did you hurt that man?”

He thought Naruto looked guilty.

But Naruto’s reply was furious.

"Hokage Grandpa! He was a beast! Iizumi-san said the Ninja Cat found a case—said we could experience Absolute Justice!"

“We found him… he… he raped his own daughter!”

Naruto’s voice cracked. He couldn’t say more.

Iizumi spoke, calm.

“The man was a Leaf Village genin. He abused his daughter. When he realized the Investigation Corps was coming, he held a knife to her neck—tried to use her as a shield.”

“I used Sharingan to subdue him. Naruto grabbed a kunai from my pouch… stabbed him in the stomach.”

“The pain broke the Genjutsu. He kicked Naruto down. Sasuke tried to help—but was thrown back.”

“The Anbu stopped Naruto from charging again.”

“I cut off his head.”

“Third Hokage. That’s the full story. You don’t need to blame Naruto. You should praise him. He has the heart of Absolute Justice.”

The Yamanaka ninja stood, notebook in hand.

“Confirmed,” he said, voice hollow. “He was going to kill his daughter when caught. He wanted to drag her down with him.”

Hiruzen: “….”

He fell silent.

He realized—he’d been wrong to question Naruto first.

Who could’ve imagined such evil existed in Leaf Village?

After Iizumi left, shouldn’t such things slow down?

But no.

The pace only changed. The horror remained.

Hiruzen looked at the corpse.

His face twisted.

My Leaf Village… what has become of it?

…

Meanwhile, at the border of the Land of Fire.

Moriino Ibiki—his face a grotesque mask of scars and shadows—stared at Iizumi.

“…Izumi. I didn’t expect the Hokage to send you with secret intelligence.”

He smirked.

“We haven’t met in years. Last time, you were eleven. You handed me a dozen criminals… said ‘break them open.’”

“Then you made peace with the Yamanaka Clan. No need for torture. Just their mind-sealing techniques.”

He turned to Tachibana Jiro.

“That cat… the one from the Third Ninja War, right? The little shadow following you?”

“Respect the assistant, not the follower!” Tachibana Jiro hissed. “I’m Iizumi-sama’s most trusted aide! The real follower is the new Uchiha Iizumi!”

“New…?” Ibiki frowned.

“An initiate. One who believes in Iizumi’s Absolute Justice. Just… a bit too young.”

Ibiki chuckled. “Believes in it? Hah. Interesting.”

He crossed his arms.

“Izumi… you’re no longer doing this alone?”

Iizumi replied, “One person’s Justice can’t purge all evil from the ninja world.”

Ibiki exhaled, staring at the sky.

“…I’d like to see a world without evil. Or at least, one where evil is contained. What would that look like?”

“Your actions in Leaf Village… they’ve reached even me. Killed your mentor. Killed your blood relative.”

He shook his head.

“Your belief… it should be shared. But you’re terrible at expressing it.”

Iizumi said, “Whether they believe me or not… doesn’t matter. As long as they believe Justice still exists, that’s enough.”

Ibiki sighed. “Still so idealistic.”

“Maybe,” Iizumi said. “But who else would give everything—even their life—for Justice?”

“I hope… when I return… my friends are still alive.”

He paused.

Then, turning to Ibiki: “You’re not coming with me.”

Ibiki raised an eyebrow.

“Where are you going?”

“Capital City of the Land of Fire.”

Ibiki blinked.

“An S-Rank mission?”

“No,” Iizumi said. “Not a mission.”

“Don’t ask. Better not to know.”

“Because… if you do, you might die trying to stop me.”

Ibiki’s eyes narrowed. Visions of betrayal, war, revolution flashed.

“…Hmph.”

He turned away.

“Dying by an enemy’s hand is honorable. But by a comrade’s? That’s pathetic.”

He buried his curiosity.

…

In the Capital City.

The Daimyō of Fire Country paced like a caged beast.

Something was wrong.

Asama and Kazuma were supposed to return with Kyosuke’s body.

They’d sent a Summon Beast to report.

But silence.

No word.

He hadn’t touched his cold meal.

Sweat dripped from his brow.

The Guardian Ninja Twelve—his only protection—were gone.

Without them, he lived in fear. Every night, he woke wondering: Will I find my concubine… or a killer’s blade?

“Knock. Knock. Knock.”

The door.

A familiar voice.

“Father… may I come in?”

The Daimyō exhaled.

His eldest son entered—short beard, solemn.

“Father… has Kyosuke’s body been returned?”

The Daimyō didn’t answer.

The silence said it all.

The son’s face paled.

“…Ten Guardians… and still couldn’t bring him back?”

The Daimyō said, “Not that they couldn’t. Just… no news yet. I trust Asama and Kazuma.”

He didn’t believe it himself.

The son pressed, “They went to Leaf Village… they weren’t just retrieving Kyosuke, were they?”

The Daimyō nodded.

“I ordered them to kill Uchiha Iizumi.”

“They should’ve finished. Maybe just… delayed in reporting.”

…

Back in Leaf Village.

Hiruzen found Naruto again.

Less than half an hour later, he returned to the Hokage Tower—silent, conflicted.

Relieved: Naruto hadn’t been controlled by the Nine-Tails.

Terrified: A child had stabbed a man.

For Justice.

At such a young age.

Was Absolute Justice already brainwashing them?

How long had it been? Days.

Why hadn’t Fire Nation Will sparked that kind of passion in Naruto?

Hiruzen sighed.

Since Iizumi had grown strong… his life had been nothing but trouble.

Then—knock, knock, knock.

Hiruzen frowned.

He opened the door.

Two Leaf Ninja entered—exhausted, grim.

“Chikushu? Kanzu?”

Hiruzen recognized them.

Then—one was missing.

“Where’s Fūfū?”

The lead ninja panted.

“He… he’s delayed. Came back a day late.”

Relief.

No loss.

But then—

“Hokage-sama! The Land of Fire… it’s over!”

Hiruzen tensed.

“Calm down. Speak slowly.”

“We passed through Takeshita Street. It was… a firestorm. Bodies everywhere. Over a hundred corpses. Maybe more.”

Hiruzen’s face hardened.

Takeshita Street—home to nobles, sin, and secrets.

This was massive.

“The killer… was Uchiha Iizumi.”

“Hokage-sama… he slaughtered the entire district.”

Shizune’s voice echoed in Hiruzen’s mind.

“Then kill them.”

Hiruzen stared at the sky.

And for the first time in decades… he felt fear.

Not for himself.

But for the world.

End of Chapter

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end