Chapter 124: Hiruzen Sarutobi: “How Could You Defect?” — Justice That Stands Against Ninja World! (10,000 Words)

The searing heat of Lava burned through the Daimyō of Fire Country’s inner organs in an instant, reducing them to ash. His desperate attempt to flee froze mid-motion, his body locked in a rigid, grotesque posture.

“Gh—cough… cough…”

Panic etched onto his face, his fading consciousness triggered uncontrollable streams of snot and tears. The sight was nothing short of pitiful—a man utterly undone by fear.

When the Lava hound finally retreated from his body, the Daimyō collapsed forward, his limbs failing him completely.

Thud.

His face smashed into the floor, the impact fracturing his nose. Blood erupted across his features, splattering onto the ground and seeping into the cracks beneath.

No cry escaped him. His life had already been extinguished.

Daimyō of Fire Country…

Executed.

The entire Daimyō’s mansion fell into a silence so absolute it felt like time itself had paused. The guards, servants, and retainers—separated by Lava’s barrier and too terrified to approach—stared in horror at the spectacle before them.

The Daimyō’s heirs stood frozen, their faces blank with disbelief, as if questioning whether this was real or some cruel illusion. Even Mitarashi Anko, standing behind Uchiha Iizumi, couldn’t help but pinch her own arm hard.

Pain…

It hurts…

The bruise forming on her flesh confirmed it wasn’t a dream. Not a genjutsu.

The man who had stood at the pinnacle of power in the Land of Fire—above all others, a sovereign among men—had been killed by Uchiha Iizumi… as easily as slaughtering a pig.

Too simple. Too reckless. Too swift.

A death like this—of such a figure—should’ve been accompanied by grandeur, ceremony, a dramatic stage.

No…

What am I even thinking?

Shouldn’t I be thinking—Root shouldn’t have killed someone like this in the first place?

Anko’s mind was a storm. Her thoughts swam, her head aching.

“M—Master Daimyō!!”

The silence shattered at last. A wail tore through the air—raw, grief-stricken, desperate. The cries of servants, retainers, and officials echoed around the mansion, each voice broken with sorrow.

“Father!!”

The Daimyō’s eldest son staggered forward, his legs unsteady, his body drained of strength. He’d anticipated this moment, yet nothing could prepare him for the psychological blow of witnessing it firsthand.

He fell to his knees, reaching for his father’s body, hands trembling. But as soon as his fingers brushed the corpse…

“Aaagh!!”

Too hot!

His hands burned instantly, skin reddening and blistering.

The body wasn’t dead—it was like a living furnace. Radiating heat so intense it felt like touching a red-hot iron. The son recoiled, unable to touch anything without pain.

Yet one truth remained crystal clear:

His father was truly dead.

The one who killed him—Uchiha Iizumi—was no ordinary Leaf ninja.

Root had no concept of “lord and commoner.”

If he said he’d kill, he meant it.

Then—

A sudden chill shot through the Daimyō’s son.

His body froze.

He slowly lifted his head, eyes locking onto Uchiha Iizumi’s cold, emotionless gaze.

His mind exploded.

Not with rage.

But with pure, unfiltered terror.

Cold sweat drenched his back.

“I—I—I—”

He stammered, words failing him. His breath came in ragged gasps. His face turned pale.

“Once someone commits evil—regardless of rank, age, or gender—they must pay the price,” Uchiha Iizumi said, voice flat, devoid of warmth. “Small crimes? Punished in prison, forced to reflect. Great crimes? They must die to atone for their sins.”

“You think I shouldn’t have killed him, don’t you?”

A pause.

“Because he’s special. Because he’s different from ordinary people. Because you believe the moral justice of ordinary men doesn’t apply to the Daimyō of Fire Country.”

Each word landed like a blade.

To the Daimyō’s son, it felt like a series of unanswerable, life-or-death questions.

Uchiha Iizumi didn’t mean it that way—but he felt it.

If I answer wrong… I’ll die.

Like my father.

To others, “Daimyō of Fire Country” was a title of power, of respect.

But to this man…

It was a death sentence.

“No… no, that’s not right,” the son stammered desperately, trying to force his thoughts into words. “The Daimyō… he’s still a man. Father… maybe he grew used to being above everyone. Maybe he forgot how to look down. He… he didn’t realize the harm he caused. He thought it was nothing… but to others, it was crushing.”

“It’s like that saying… that phrase…”

His mind went blank. Panic clawed at him. He couldn’t scratch his skin—couldn’t even breathe properly.

“A grain of dust in history, a mountain to the common people.”

Uchiha Iizumi spoke coldly, completing the quote for him.

“Yes! Exactly! Father ignored the people. He only saw his privilege as Daimyō. That’s why he allowed Kyosuke to do as he pleased. That’s why he created laws that drained the people dry, that exploited them, that kept taking and taking.”

“He never thought about the consequences. Because he wouldn’t pay the price. The people would.”

“So…?”

The Daimyō’s son knew what he was about to say would brand him as disloyal, cowardly.

But…

Better to live as a coward than die as a hero.

He was only in his thirties. He wasn’t ready to die.

He bit his lip, then—

“…So Father’s fate was deserved. He planted the seed. He reaped the harvest. This was his destiny.”

Silence.

The entire mansion fell silent.

The servants, warriors, retainers, even the other heirs—all stared at the eldest son in disbelief.

He was the heir. He should inherit the Daimyō’s title.

And yet, in front of everyone… in front of the man who killed his father… he declared his father’s death justified?

No room for revenge. No justification for vengeance.

The son had nearly said, “You killed him exactly right.”

Could it be…

He truly had no desire to avenge his father?

All eyes turned to Uchiha Iizumi.

And then… silence.

No judgment. No anger.

Because they were afraid too.

Under Uchiha Iizumi’s unblinking stare, the Daimyō’s son trembled, staring at his father’s corpse. His mind spun.

Even without words, he spoke again—

“T-The laws of the Land of Fire… they’ll need to be rewritten. More carefully than ever. No longer just for the elite. The people must be considered. We must… we must… act with justice.”

He dared a glance at Iizumi.

“With justice, we must enforce bold, decisive, and absolute reforms.”

Uchiha Iizumi nodded, expression unchanging.

“Today’s Land of Fire. Today’s entire Ninja World. Is sick—twisted by the absence of justice. It breeds endless evil, so deep it cannot be cleansed by mere bandages.”

“Only through absolute justice, rooted in the source, can the Ninja World be straightened.”

“Agreed?”

“Yoyoenin Kōjin.”

The Daimyō’s son froze.

How did he know my name?

No—wait. As the heir, it made sense.

But still…

“Y-Yes!”

The word came instantly, like a reflex.

He scrambled to add more.

“And… the funding from the Daimyō’s mansion to Leaf Village has been… too low lately. And too vague. It should be broken down. For example—the Uchiha Clan, as part of the Leaf Police Force, should receive separate funding. Two hundred million? Or—five hundred million a year?”

Uchiha Iizumi’s gaze grew colder.

The air grew heavier.

A wave of oppressive, lethal intent swept through the room.

The Daimyō’s son paled.

Wait—this guy’s a Uchiha, right? Why would he care if I give the Uchiha Clan more money?

Unless…

Is he actually taking this seriously?

A chilling thought struck him.

His brother, Yoyoenin Kyosuke—killed by this very woman.

Father had told him, via Hiruzen Asama: Uchiha Iizumi believes in Absolute Justice.

An extreme, uncompromising, pure justice.

No mercy. No exceptions.

And now… he’d killed the Daimyō.

So…

Was giving the Uchiha Clan extra funds… a bribe in her eyes?

The Daimyō’s son exhaled—only to realize he’d been holding his breath.

Now, sweat poured down his back.

He forced a nervous smile, desperately trying to align with Iizumi’s mind. His lips trembled.

“U-Um… I take it back. Maybe we should purge the Investigation Corps in the Capital City first—only keep those with true justice in their hearts.”

“Maybe… we should investigate every noble in the Land of Fire. No more hiding. No more loopholes. No more big fish escaping.”

“Maybe… we should reopen old cases. Give justice to the innocent.”

“Maybe—”

---

Meanwhile, in Leaf Village.

Tsunade Konoha stormed into the Hokage’s office, her face dark with fury.

She didn’t find Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Only Hyūga Menji.

She didn’t even blink.

“Why wasn’t I informed?” she snapped, voice sharp. “A massacre in the Capital City—how could you not tell me?”

Neither Hiruzen nor Menji had notified her.

Even though Hiruzen had warned many before leaving, Tsunade Konoha wasn’t among them.

Now, she was furious. Not about the chaos in the Capital—but about being left out.

Hyūga Menji sighed.

“Konoha… since you took over Root from Danzō, haven’t you noticed how much more impulsive you’ve become?”

“Hiruzen thought warning you would only complicate things. And now you know, don’t you?”

Tsunade clenched her jaw.

“If that Uchiha weren’t so extreme, I wouldn’t be this anxious every day.”

She took a deep breath, forcing calm.

“So… what’s the situation?”

Menji shook his head.

“Unknown. No word from the Capital City. Hiruzen and the Anbu won’t reach there for another full day.”

Tsunade paced, restless.

“Why did Hiruzen send that one out?”

“Hiruzen Asama,” Menji said, sighing again. “He tricked Hiruzen. Used a ruse to lure Uchiha Iizumi out. His recklessness… the consequences are irreversible.”

Tsunade was silent.

Then—

“None of these young ones are ever easy to manage.”

---

On a rooftop.

Maito Kai turned to Kakashi, watching the Uchiha Compound.

“Kakashi… why are we watching the Uchiha Clan so closely?”

Kakashi’s expression remained blank.

“Don’t know. Hokage-sama’s orders. We don’t question them.”

But Kakashi did suspect.

He didn’t believe the Daimyō had invited Hiruzen to the Land of Fire’s capital.

After all, the Daimyō’s second son had died in Leaf Village.

Relations were strained.

So why had the Hokage left?

Who could have such influence over the Hokage?

One name echoed in his mind.

Uchiha Iizumi.

And now, the Uchiha Compound was under watch—because the Hokage feared the clan’s extremists might act in his absence.

---

Inside the Uchiha Compound.

The hawk faction elders gathered. Uchiha Setsuna sat at the head, eyes gleaming with ambition.

“Setsuna, this is perfect timing!”

A wrinkled elder leaned forward, voice trembling with excitement.

“Hiruzen Sarutobi and most of the Anbu are gone. We’ve confirmed it. The Village is defenseless. If we strike now—we can take the whole village in one day!”

“Then, when Hiruzen returns… he’ll have no choice but to step down. The Fifth Hokage will be Uchiha!”

The words electrified Setsuna.

This was fate.

Hiruzen gone. Iizumi gone. Anbu gone.

Only the crippled Root and scattered, disunited clans remained.

This was the perfect moment.

“Approval from the people?”

Foolishness.

The clans would follow whoever won.

Like when Iizumi defied Hiruzen—and won.

And the Inuzuka-Nara-Yamanaka Alliance had sided with him.

If Setsuna led the coup—they’d back him too.

“YES!”

Setsuna slammed the table, face flushed with excitement.

But—

Crash!

The door burst open.

Uchiha Fugaku stepped in, followed by a silent line of Uchiha warriors.

He sat down without invitation.

“Setsuna-sama,” Fugaku said coldly, “this meeting should involve the entire Uchiha Clan. So… what were you discussing?”

“F-Fugaku?!”

Setsuna’s eyes twitched.

Fugaku wasn’t here to listen.

He was here to stop them.

The Clan Head… acting like the Hokage’s puppet.

Fugaku ignored the glare.

He had no choice.

To preserve the Uchiha bloodline, he had to serve the Hokage.

And—Setsuna’s actions would only provoke Itachi.

Hiruzen had warned him: Keep an eye on Itachi.

So Fugaku had to stop this.

The tension was unbearable.

One breath away from violence.

---

In a street of Leaf Village.

Uchiha Izumi, her forehead bleeding, drove her ninja sword deep into a Leaf ninja’s chest.

As the man’s eyes dimmed, she gasped for air.

She was battered—her left shoulder pierced by a shuriken.

“Today… in the name of Absolute Justice… you are judged.”

She pulled the blade free, then pushed the corpse forward.

Thud.

The body fell.

She exhaled.

To Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke, who stared in shock:

“No matter who you are—whether you’re from the Senju line, the Hiruzen family, or even the Hokage’s kin—Absolute Justice shows no mercy. It does not forgive evil.”

The fallen ninja?

A high-ranking Senju special jonin.

She remembered Iizumi’s words.

Enforce justice. Teach these two children.

Let them understand Absolute Justice.

“But… he wasn’t a criminal!” Naruto stammered, pointing at a wounded ninja nearby—his hand severed, screaming in agony.

“He tried to stop the fight,” Naruto said. “He was just trying to mediate!”

Izumi didn’t flinch.

“I warned him. Do not interfere with justice. Or you will be killed. He ignored me.”

She pulled the shuriken from her shoulder—blood dripping.

“By choosing to stand with evil, he became evil.

In the eyes of Absolute Justice… he was aiding the oppressors.

And justice will purge every obstacle—no matter who they are.”

She spoke not as a student.

But as a teacher.

And in that moment…

She became Iizumi.

Even in pain, she didn’t cry out.

That's how the senior did it.

But…

Where is she?

It’s been so long…

---

One day later.

Outside the Capital City of the Land of Fire.

Hiruzen Sarutobi crouched on a thick branch, panting.

His old bones ached.

The last time he’d moved this hard was during the Nine-Tails Uprising.

Years had passed.

He was older now.

The journey from Leaf Village to the Capital had left him breathless.

“…Even old age can’t be denied.”

Behind him, a line of Anbu waited.

“Hokage-sama?”

One asked.

Hiruzen stood, masking his fatigue.

“Enter the city. Protect the Daimyō.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama!”

The city’s defenses were laughable to them.

They slipped inside like shadows.

No one noticed.

A few steps in—and Hiruzen felt it.

The air was wrong.

People hurried past, faces tense.

Shops were shuttered.

Distant mournful music echoed.

The entire city felt… haunted.

Something’s wrong.

He led the Anbu toward the Daimyō’s mansion.

Then—

They passed a noble estate.

And saw bodies being carried out.

Each wrapped in white cloth.

Hiruzen stopped.

The Anbu halted with him.

The guards froze.

“Those… nobles?” Hiruzen asked.

A soldier swallowed hard.

“A ninja named Uchiha Iizumi.”

Hiruzen’s heart sank.

No…

“How many?”

“Don’t know. Killed from dawn to night… and still going.”

“Today… the air smelled like blood.”

Hiruzen paused.

Why did he call her “Ninja Lord”?

Earlier, the Daimyō’s retainers called her a criminal.

But this man—just a low-ranking investigator—knew her as ninja lord?

He nodded, thanked him, and vanished with his Anbu.

---

Moments later.

The Daimyō’s Mansion.

Leaf Village Anbu descended like crows, taking positions across rooftops, corners—surrounding the mansion.

Hiruzen stood at the gate.

Only two Anbu followed.

He inhaled.

Blood…

Not as thick as the noble estates, but still…

His heart tightened.

And then—

No guards.

No warriors. No sentries.

How can the Daimyō be so careless?

Or…

What if he’s already dead?

Hiruzen stepped inside.

“H-Hokage-sama?!”

A voice.

He turned.

Mitarashi Anko stood there.

And beside her—

Uchiha Iizumi.

Hiruzen’s blood ran cold.

It’s real.

He saw the blood on her clothes.

The Daimyō is dead.

Before he could speak—

A voice from the side:

“You’re… the Third Hokage? Hiruzen Sarutobi?”

Hiruzen turned.

A man—the Daimyō’s son, Yoyoenin Kōjin—stood there.

His face was weary.

But his voice… calm.

“Iizumi,” Hiruzen said, voice tight.

Confirmed.

The Daimyō was dead.

And Iizumi was still here.

Standing in the mansion.

Openly.

Unafraid.

The most extreme Uchiha ever.

Hiruzen’s breath caught.

And then—

“Father… paid for his mistakes yesterday.”

Hiruzen froze.

What?!

His eyes widened.

The Anbu behind him stiffened.

All eyes turned to Iizumi.

She killed the Daimyō…

And the heir accepts it?

No one protests?

Even the Hokage… is being judged?

Hiruzen felt the world collapse.

If the Daimyō’s son accepts this…

Then the entire Land of Fire will see me as her accomplice.

Especially when he saw the son’s gaze—shifting away, avoiding his eyes.

They think I ordered this.

No—

I’m just a victim of Absolute Justice!

“Iizumi!”

Hiruzen’s voice cracked.

“You what? That was the Daimyō! The sovereign of the Land of Fire! A Leaf ninja is a servant of the lord—a sword in his hand, a shield for his nation! Not a snake turning on its master!”

He was furious.

Heart pounding.

Fingers trembling.

“You were just a judge of evil—but now you’re destroying the world’s order! You’re at war with the entire Ninja World!”

Uchiha Iizumi stared back, unblinking.

“Before, wasn’t I already at war with the Ninja World?

In your eyes, Absolute Justice was unbearable.

So what’s changed?”

Hiruzen was silenced.

“Iizumi! That’s different!”

Hiruzen snapped.

“Before, you fought evil.

Now, evil and order will both oppose you.”

“The Ninja World… cannot tolerate a ninja who kills a Daimyō!”

Uchiha Iizumi spoke coldly:

“Correction. I entered openly.

I judged him in the name of Absolute Justice.

I ended a corrupt source.”

“Absolute Justice never hides.

It strikes in the light.

No ambush. No treachery.”

Hiruzen…

Had no answer.

She’s right.

But that doesn’t make it right.

He’d tolerated her before.

Even after Takeshita Street—hundreds dead—he’d let it go.

But this?

This was the end of everything.

And she stood there—calm, unbothered.

Hiruzen’s fury boiled over.

“Iizumi… I’ve been too lenient with you in Leaf Village!”

He was about to speak more—

But Iizumi cut him off.

“Third Hokage.”

Cold.

“Even the Daimyō’s son has no objection.

Yet you—the Hokage—weep for a criminal?”

“You don’t even have a grasp of right and wrong?”

Hiruzen stared.

Then—

He looked at the Daimyō’s son.

And saw him… nod.

“Hokage-sama… Father was wrong.

You don’t need to defend him.”

Hiruzen’s mind shattered.

“Your Majesty…”

Hiruzen stammered, desperate.

“Perhaps you misunderstand. Leaf Village has always stood with the Daimyō. Iizumi’s Justice… is not our will.”

He was pleading.

Because he knew—

If the Daimyō’s son believed he was in league with Iizumi…

He’d be ruined.

“Without the Daimyō’s support, we couldn’t survive.

We’re not farmers.

We depend on noble backing.”

The Daimyō’s son hesitated.

He looked at Iizumi.

Then at Hiruzen—his face dark, grim.

He almost believed.

But then—

He remembered the blood-stained streets.

The families wiped out.

The corpses.

His father’s death.

And his own cowardly words.

And the smell—

still in the air.

His heart sank.

He forced a smile.

“Hokage-sama… Father did lose himself in power.

He made mistakes.

You… really don’t need to defend him.”

“I only want to spend my life making up for his sins.”

“To restore the Land of Fire… to its true values—righteousness, morality, and Absolute Justice.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi…

Stood there.

Speechless.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end