Chapter 122: Akatsuki's Attention! Absolute Justice Sees No "Superior Humans"! (10,000-Word Epic Chapter)

A gory chunk of flesh slithered down from Mitarashi Anko’s face, then plopped onto the ground. She blinked blankly, wiping at her damp cheek—only to smear a thick streak of blood across her skin.

Her gaze swept the scene. Three pools of crimson stained the earth. Mangled human remains sprawled across her line of sight, a grotesque mosaic of violence.

The words of Uchiha Iizumi echoed in her mind.

Red beans—Konoha Anko—suddenly realized: I might have caused this.

She breathed in the thick, coppery stench of blood. With a grim resolve, she turned to face Uchiha Iizumi behind her.

Though his expression remained unreadable, she still felt guilt clawing at her chest.

“If I hadn’t attacked him… maybe you’d have left one alive,” she whispered.

She was certain Orochimaru had implanted some cursed seal on those three ninja. And the trigger? Killing them—or driving them to the brink of death.

Perhaps it was her Multiple Shadow Snake Hands venom that activated the final seal on the last survivor.

“Doesn’t matter,” Iizumi said flatly. “Orochimaru’s style—no matter how untouched the man was, the seal would have activated anyway.”

Anko froze. “You… you know a lot about Orochimaru.”

“I’ve been hunting the ‘evil’ he represents for years,” Iizumi replied. “Back then, Absolute Justice was too weak. The only real chance—when he defected—was lost. I failed to kill him.”

Anko’s mind raced. That’s why Orochimaru is so obsessed with him.

Being watched constantly by a Molten Release Beast like Iizumi… no wonder Orochimaru lived in constant dread.

Just as her thoughts spiraled, she noticed Iizumi walking away—unbothered, as if the three assassins were nothing more than insects.

She shook her head and hurried after him.

She hadn’t forgotten—she was still a prisoner. Granted temporary freedom, but only under strict conditions.

The mangled corpses. The bodies of other Evil Offenders Iizumi had slain along the way. All were silent warnings: Do not defy Iizumi’s Absolute Justice.

Or else…

She’d be the next one on the ground.

…

“Hoho… all the seals activated? Died fast. Those three probably didn’t even get a chance to fight. That kid—Shun—must’ve finished them in an instant,” came a voice from deep beneath the Leaf Village.

Orochimaru, crouched in his underground lab, narrowed his eyes. He felt it—something had changed.

“Looks like the olive branch I tossed was rejected,” he murmured, licking his lips with a serpentine tongue.

A cold, twisted smile stretched across his pale, almost corpse-like face.

“Still as stubborn as ever, treating me like your enemy.”

“Funny… your resistance only makes me more interested in you. The more you fight me, the more I want your body.”

“You’re growing faster than I imagined. Such a vessel… perfect for me.”

“Hoho… don’t die before I get to meet you, my little mascot.”

Just as the serpent-like man chuckled to himself, his expression flickered.

A shadow passed over his golden vertical pupils—flickers of annoyance, then sudden, chilling intent.

But he masked it instantly.

“Hoho… you show up uninvited again? It’s rude. Can’t you just send a message like everyone else?”

From the wall behind him, a figure slowly emerged—black and white, shifting like ink in water.

Orochimaru turned, eyes slitted.

“Gen… You know my name. But I don’t know yours. Isn’t that a little unfair?”

Zetsu remained expressionless. “No need to take your anger out on me. I’m only a messenger.”

“The Leader sent me with a warning: Wherever you hide, Akatsuki will find you soon. Don’t join us unless you’re willing to act. You can’t enjoy our benefits without fulfilling your duties. There’s no such thing as free rides.”

“I’m just the runner.”

Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed into slits. His killing intent spilled from his pupils like poison.

“So… you’re here to assign me a mission?”

Zetsu’s voice stayed calm. “Uchiha Iizumi. The Dual Bloodline Limit ninja from the Leaf Village. You’ve heard of him, haven’t you? After all, you were one of the Three Legendary Sannin.”

A flicker of surprise flashed in Orochimaru’s eyes.

Then a grin spread across his face. “Akatsuki… have they noticed him too?”

More accurately—Itachi has been fixated on this kid lately. Obsessed, almost fanatical. He even suspects I leaked intel to Iizumi. Had to prove my loyalty to him. Zetsu’s thoughts were silent, but his face betrayed nothing.

“You’re to share everything you know,” Zetsu said. “And follow the Leader’s orders.”

Orochimaru’s lips curled. So it’s Itachi who wants to investigate Iizumi. A man who knows too much… a threat that can’t be ignored.

Before he could speak, he paused—thinking.

“Is this really the Leader’s command?”

Zetsu met his gaze. “What do you think?”

“Hoho…”

Orochimaru didn’t deny it. He just smiled.

…

Half a day later.

Dusk.

Capital City of the Land of Fire.

Anko had thought Iizumi was merely passing through. But he stopped.

“We’re here.”

Two words. That was all.

The truth hit her: This was his destination.

Tachibana Jiro let out a soft “Mew,” then spoke in human voice:

“Even though I was born in the Land of Fire, I’ve never been to the capital before. I don’t think Iizumi-sama has either, right, mew?”

“Hmm.” Iizumi’s reply was barely audible.

His gaze swept over the bustling city—vibrant, alive, glowing with lights and laughter.

To others, it was paradise.

To him? A breeding ground for sin.

He saw two Red Mark criminals ahead—and over a dozen White Mark offenders.

“Even the heart of civilization can’t stop evil,” he said. “If anything… the richer and more powerful a place is, the more it becomes a nest for corruption.”

Tachibana Jiro caught the weight of that.

But Anko? She was lost.

She hadn’t known about Iizumi’s ability to see past and future evil until after she’d left the village with two comrades on a mission.

Now, she scanned the crowd—ordinary people walking, laughing, shopping—but saw nothing unusual.

Then—her breath caught.

Iizumi was drawing his Ninja Sword.

The blade gleamed silver, still streaked with dried blood.

She noticed the edge was dull—like it had seen too many lives end.

But the real shock? Why was he drawing it in public?

Even ninja shouldn’t be this reckless. This obvious.

Sure enough, within seconds, two men in samurai garb rushed toward them, swords drawn.

“Hey! You, ninja! Put that blade away!” one barked. “This is the Capital City! Not some backwater village! Don’t bring that weapon near dignitaries!”

Leaf Village… backwater?

Anko’s lips twitched. No wonder the capital’s people think so highly of themselves.

“Hey! I’m talking to you!” the samurai snapped, blocking Iizumi’s path.

“Perfect,” Iizumi said, his eyes fixed on the space just above their heads.

“Saves me the walk.”

The two men exchanged uneasy glances. Something about this ninja felt wrong.

The crowd gathered, curious, tense.

Anko panicked. “Iizumi—those are Capital Police! You can treat them like Uchiha Police Force—”

But she never finished.

Iizumi spoke again—cold, precise.

“Adachi Sōjin. Ten years ago, you killed a man in the line of duty. The victim’s family demanded justice. You broke both of the man’s legs. His wife? You dragged her into your home, raped her with your colleague, Sakigawa Keiji. She hanged herself from grief.”

His gaze shifted to the second man.

“Sakigawa Keiji. Ten years ago, you and your partner, Adachi Sōjin, raped a woman. She died by suicide.”

“You’re an Investigator Corps member. You knew the law. Yet you broke it—worse, you committed atrocities with no remorse. Ten years of silence? That means you’ve never regretted a single thing.”

“Who the hell are you?!” Sakigawa roared. “You’re just a ninja from some village! You can’t just make up lies like this!”

“Where’s your proof?!” he shouted. “In the Land of Fire, spreading false accusations in public is a crime! You’re defaming my honor!”

“Besides… besides…” His voice cracked. “You’re just a ninja!”

But then—his eyes met Iizumi’s.

A cold, primal fear surged through him.

He couldn’t speak.

Iizumi’s voice cut through the silence like a knife.

“Proof comes soon.”

“Then give it—”

Thwip!

Anko watched in horror as Iizumi drew his sword in one fluid motion—no flourish, no show.

The blade slashed across the left man’s throat.

One moment, he was alive.

The next—his head rolled, spraying blood across the street.

Iizumi raised the bloody blade, pressing the dull edge against Sakigawa’s collarbone.

The man’s face was drenched in warm blood—his own, spilled from the corpse beside him.

The crowd screamed. People scattered like frightened birds.

Sakigawa’s legs trembled. A hot stream of urine mixed with blood on the ground.

“Ten years ago… you raped an innocent woman. She died because she couldn’t bear the shame,” Iizumi said, voice like a whisper from hell.

He hadn’t lied.

This was the proof.

Sakigawa’s voice cracked. “Y-yes… I did…”

Tears streamed down his face.

“I… I didn’t mean to… I just… I’m sorry!”

Iizumi leaned closer.

“See? I told you—proof arrives fast.”

Thwack!

The dull blade dragged across his neck.

Not a clean cut. The skin tore, the head still half-attached, hanging by a thread.

The body collapsed.

Two men dead.

In broad daylight.

In front of the entire city.

Anko stood frozen.

She knew Iizumi was extreme. She’d seen him kill fellow villagers without hesitation.

But this… this was different.

This was public. Open. Unstoppable.

And this wasn’t the Leaf Village. The Uchiha Police Force had no authority here. This was the Capital City—the seat of power.

She felt a chill.

Did he even know?

The ninja cat had said he’d never been here before…

And yet… he knew names. Details. Crimes.

How?

…

“Tch. Some madman,” muttered a man hidden in the crowd.

He frowned, peering through the gap in the people.

That outfit… Uchiha Police Force? Could it be?

A normal Uchiha ninja outside the village wasn’t rare. But an Investigation Corps Uchiha? That was unheard of.

Shouldn’t matter. I’ve been gone from the Leaf for fifteen years. No one remembers me.

He turned—then froze.

Iizumi’s eyes had locked onto him.

His heart stopped.

No… it can’t be. It’s just a coincidence.

But then—just for a split second—the man saw red in Iizumi’s eyes.

Sharingan.

The last thing he felt was his body freezing—his arms pinned to his sides, legs locked together, face twisted in silent agony.

He tried to breathe—but couldn’t.

His face turned purple. Veins bulged.

A few people nearby noticed. One reached out—then the man collapsed.

Eyes wide. Blood vessels bursting.

Dead. From a genjutsu-induced suffocation.

“Third,” Iizumi said, his eyes returning to normal.

A notification flashed in his mind: Red Mark Criminal Eliminated.

But the target was just a low-rank Leaf rogue. No meaningful loot.

Anko stared at the corpse.

Was that man a criminal too?

She didn’t get it.

Iizumi knew the two samurai—had names, crimes, details.

But the man in the crowd? They’d never met.

How could he know?

Then Tachibana Jiro spoke.

“Iizumi-sama’s eyes can see every evil a person has done in the past… and every evil they’ll commit in the future. Don’t question his judgment, young lady.”

Young lady?

Anko almost smiled—then remembered: she was a prisoner. And a cat was still higher than her.

But the real shock?

He can see the future?

She was stunned.

…

Meanwhile.

“Huh… caught up,” Jiraiya muttered, watching a group of children—five to fourteen years old—walking ahead.

At the front? A familiar silhouette.

“Kushina…”

A wave of emotion washed over him.

He hadn’t seen her since he left the village, chasing Orochimaru across the Ninja World.

And now, he was meeting her—like this.

“Not very stealthy, hiding behind trees,” Kushina called out, voice sharp.

She stopped, turned—eyes narrowed, fists clenched. She looked ready to fight.

“Wait! Wait!” Jiraiya yelped, clutching his ribs.

He remembered the last time he tried to sneak a peek—she’d broken three ribs.

He jumped down, hands raised.

“It’s me!”

The children scattered. The white-haired, wild-eyed man wasn’t exactly reassuring.

Even though Iizumi’s Three Tomoe Sharingan had given them temporary peace—dreams of safety—deep down, they still feared men like him.

They all ran to Kushina.

“She’s strong!” one whispered. “She can punch through stone!”

Kushina gently touched a girl’s head. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”

She looked at Jiraiya—surprised.

“You’re tracking me?”

Jiraiya scratched his head. “I… I was worried. You didn’t stop Iizumi from killing hundreds. I thought you might be in danger.”

“Tch,” Kushina waved it off. “I’m fine. And I didn’t stop him. I followed him.”

Jiraiya blinked.

“…What?”

“I killed nineteen people behind him,” she said flatly.

“These girls? They’re survivors. I couldn’t find a good orphanage. So I brought them to the Leaf. Maybe the old man can take them.”

She paused. “I’ll tell you later. Not here. They’ve just started forgetting.”

“Iizumi used his Sharingan to wipe their memories,” she added. “He almost passed out from overuse.”

Jiraiya stared.

That’s not the Iizumi I know.

But in just one day… he’d changed her.

…

Land of Fire.

Capital City.

The news spread like wildfire.

A Leaf ninja—in broad daylight—had killed three people.

Two were from the Capital’s Investigative Corps.

The outrage was instant.

The Daimyō of Fire Country’s face darkened.

Leaf ninja? Killing in the streets?

He hadn’t even waited for Guardian Ninja Twelve to return.

Now he felt exposed—vulnerable.

They protect me. Without them… I’m just a rich man in the market, easy prey.

Panic rose.

Then—a thought.

He stood, voice sharp. “Issue a Ninja Reward Wanted Notice! Offer ten million ryō! Make sure every ninja in the city knows!”

He had money. More than anyone.

Sweeping away a threat? Worth every coin.

Who knows? Maybe he’ll come for me next.

He wasn’t alone in fear.

Then—another messenger burst in.

“Daimyō-sama! The killer—the Evil Offender—he attacked the Yukiharu Clan residence!”

The Daimyō froze.

“H-he… he came out covered in blood.”

“Investigative Corps men went in… only eleven survived.”

“Fifty people… slaughtered. The Clan Head? Decapitated.”

“Most survivors… servants. Gardeners. Maids.”

The room fell silent.

Yukiharu Clan. One of the oldest, most powerful families in the Land of Fire.

They’d been around before the Leaf Village was founded.

They owned industries, influence, power.

Even the Hokage treated them with respect.

And now… gone.

A cold shiver ran down the Daimyō’s spine.

Asama… Kazuma… Dilu…

When are you coming back?

He was shaking.

“Send someone after him!” he shouted. “Increase the bounty! From ten million… to fifty million! I’ll pay it myself!”

“B-but—” the messenger stammered.

“Now!” The Daimyō kicked him out.

The man crashed into the Daimyō’s heir—the future Daimyō—who stepped in, pale.

“Father… I heard about the killings. Is this why you’re so angry?”

“He didn’t just kill three,” the Daimyō said, voice trembling. “He wiped out the Yukiharu Clan.”

The heir’s eyes widened.

…

Anko was numb.

She realized: Iizumi doesn’t care who they are.

Not the Investigative Corps. Not the noble families. Not even the Daimyō.

To him, all were Evil Offenders to be purged.

She watched him slaughter fifty people from a noble house—only ten left.

She knew then: There’s no stopping him.

How many more would he kill before his Absolute Justice was satisfied?

And… why didn’t anyone stop him?

The Guardian Ninja Twelve—Asama was one of them!—where were they?

Then—Tachibana Jiro spoke.

“Iizumi-sama… should we ask someone where the Daimyō’s residence is?”

Anko’s brain short-circuited.

The Daimyō?

“Not yet,” Iizumi said, calm. “I’ve come all this way. I won’t leave without finishing what I came for.”

“Here… the true nest of evil isn’t just one man. It’s everyone who believes themselves above others.”

“The so-called ‘nobles’—born with the idea they’re better. They think laws don’t bind them. And sometimes, the laws help them.”

“They see ordinary people as less than. As animals.”

“Until I purge every sin in this city… how can I cleanse the whole Ninja World?”

His words hit Anko like explosive tags—shattering her mind.

Kill the Daimyō?

She was sweating.

She finally understood.

That’s what he meant.

He’s not just hunting criminals.

He’s going to assassinate the Daimyō.

But this… wasn’t a stealth assassination.

This was open. Public.

He didn’t see the Daimyō as special.

To Absolute Justice… there are no ‘superior humans.’

“Mew,” Tachibana Jiro said, voice like thunder.

“You were Iizumi-sama’s classmate. Didn’t you know? In Absolute Justice… no one is above another.”

Anko whispered it.

“Absolute Justice… sees no superior humans…”

…

Meanwhile.

In the heart of the city’s most crowded district, a group of guards tore down old notices.

They slapped new ones up—five million ryō reward.

People crowded around.

“Ninja Wanted… Five million ryō?”

“Wait… Daimyō’s seal?”

A Leaf ninja stared.

“Name unknown… age unknown… gender male…”

“Only a rough sketch. One detail: a cat. And a short-haired woman in ninja gear.”

“Crimes: Killed two Investigative Corps men in daylight. Killed a civilian remotely.”

And… what’s this?

“Massacre of dozens of nobles?”

The ninja’s eyes widened.

Who is this guy?

So bold…

But the description… it felt… familiar.

Was it just a coincidence?

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end