Chapter 156: Orochimaru: “Iizumi, it's been a while!”

Chapter 156: Orochimaru: “Iizumi, it’s been a while!”

Uchiha Iizumi refused to let the same mistake happen twice.

The tragic fate of Hiruzen Sakuko, if repeated, would render the so-called Absolute Justice utterly laughable—proof of a system that refuses to learn from its own errors.

Now, the Hyūga Main Family was reduced to a handful of women and children, barely surviving under the protection of a single branch-level shinobi serving as Root’s last pillar.

If a single delusional branch member dared to target these defenseless innocents…

Seven-year-old Hyūga Hinata would not survive Zetsu’s wrath.

Would anyone in the Hyūga Branch Family truly lose their mind and commit such a crime?

Uchiha Iizumi knew the answer: yes, they would.

In this warped, twisted ninja world, there would always be those whose minds were warped beyond reason, whose morals were irredeemably corrupted.

Though harsh, this was the truth Uchiha Iizumi had witnessed too many times to deny: not every victim was innocent, nor were they all kind.

His cold words left Hyūga Hinata stunned, her mouth still smeared with soup.

She glanced fearfully at Uchiha Iizumi—this man who had imprisoned her father, the terrifying figure now seated before her.

She dared not defy him, not even when Zetsu had forced her to eat so much ramen earlier.

“B-but…”

Hinata’s small face twisted in conflict. Her fingers twisted together beneath the table, fingers clenching and unclenching as she mustered the courage to whisper, barely audible:

“I… I can’t leave Hanabi behind. She’s my little sister… she’s five years younger than me. She’s only two now… she still needs someone to care for her, to teach her how to live. Usually, Father took care of her… but Father… ah!”

She froze, horrified at her own slip.

Her voice rose slightly, her words tumbling out faster:

“I-I didn’t mean to say anything bad about you… I don’t think it was wrong to lock Father up… I just… I need to take care of Hanabi…”

“Bring your sister.”

Uchiha Iizumi cut her off, expressionless.

“And take the other women of the Hyūga Main Family, too. Be at Ichiraku Ramen by eight tonight.”

Hinata blinked, stunned.

The man’s tone wasn’t loud, wasn’t threatening—but that very calmness made her more anxious than any shout.

This was someone even her father couldn’t challenge.

“Gulp…”

She swallowed hard, then nodded rapidly, like a chicken pecking at grain.

“…Yes.”

She wouldn’t defy Zetsu.

“Go to school.”

Uchiha Iizumi’s words sent her shooting upright like a spring-loaded chair had burned her bottom.

“Y-yes!”

She bolted from the ramen shop without looking back, sprinting toward the Ninja Academy as if a predator were chasing her.

To an outsider, it looked like she was fleeing from a monster.

Tachibana Jiro watched the small girl vanish down the street, ears twitching.

“It’s not possible,” it muttered, puzzled. “Did Hyūga Hiashi really abuse her? How could a kid that small eat all that ramen? How long has she gone without food? A whole month? Meow?”

Tachibana Jiro was shaken.

It shook its head, about to speak—when it froze.

Its eyes narrowed, fixed on Hinata’s retreating figure.

“Iizumi-sama…” it said quietly. “There’s a shadow following her. Not from the Hyūga clan.”

“A rat infiltrated Leaf Village.”

Uchiha Iizumi rose, watching the figure’s head, where a bright red square hovered above it like a beacon.

He placed money on the table and spoke slowly.

“Still, a useful rat.”

Tachibana Jiro tilted its head.

Then Uchiha Iizumi continued:

“Looks like Orochimaru sent him. Smells of the same corruption. Formerly an Unforgivable Offender.”

“The future crime…”

He paused.

“He plans to kill the Hyūga Main Family’s Byakugan. No survivors. He’ll extract the eyes, then flee Leaf Village.”

Tachibana Jiro’s eyes widened.

It licked its paw, then brushed its face with it, speaking in human tones:

“We could use him to root out Orochimaru. You’ve been watching him for a long time, Iizumi-sama.”

…

‘First, use Genjutsu to control Hinata. Then use her to find her sister, Hanabi. Kill both. Extract their Byakugan. That’s the only way to escape safely. If I drag two kids, Root won’t be fast enough—Leaf Village shinobi will catch us.’

‘If I get the chance to kill other Main Family members, I’ll do it. More Byakugan means greater favor with Orochimaru.’

‘Then I won’t just be a tool. I’ll be his right hand.’

The spy, hidden in plain sight behind Hyūga Hinata, plotted his crude scheme.

With the Main Family mostly imprisoned, no one was watching Hinata or Hanabi. The odds were good.

Even if the plan was rough, failure wasn’t an option.

Delay meant no chance at all.

The plain-faced man smirked, his grin a forced imitation of Orochimaru’s:

“Don’t blame me, kid. Don’t blame Orochimaru. Blame Uchiha Iizumi.”

“Because… if not for me, Orochimaru wouldn’t have even known about the Byakugan. The chance was too slim. But I locked up most of the clan—gave him the opening.”

“—You were going to say that, weren’t you?”

The voice came from behind him—sudden, cold, and sharp.

His body froze.

Every hair stood on end.

His pupils contracted.

Cold sweat flooded his forehead.

His muscles locked rigid.

Exposed? How? When?

He spun around like a startled cat, fur bristling—only to face the man he feared most.

The spy’s breath hitched.

He nearly suffered a heart attack.

“Uchiha…”

“Iizumi!!”

…

Land of Rain.

The sky was choked with storm clouds, rain slashing down in sheets, soaking Biwa Jūzō and Uchiha Iizumi’s Wood Clone to the bone.

Biwa Jūzō spat out a blade of wild grass.

“This is the Land of Rain. Over three hundred days a year, it rains. Land of Water? That place is practically dry compared to this.”

“Akatsuki’s headquarters is here. Though I suppose you already knew that.”

He paused.

“Do you see Akatsuki as a force of evil?”

“Yes.”

Rain streamed down the Wood Clone’s face, but it didn’t blink.

“Even without their twisted ideology, just their actions—fomenting wars between small nations for profit—makes Akatsuki a nest of ninja world’s corruption.”

Biwa Jūzō laughed.

“I’m glad I’m just a rookie. If I’d met you earlier, I’d already be dead.”

“Yes.”

The reply was as blunt as ever.

Biwa Jūzō stiffened.

The thrill of walking through the gates of death and back was unsettling.

After a moment, he spoke:

“The woman told me to return here, go to a place she named. She’ll be waiting. I think she’s trying to avoid Uchiha Obito—getting intel in secret.”

“Go.”

The Wood Clone’s voice was calm.

…

Leaf Village.

Hyūga Hinata burst into the Ninja Academy, gasping for breath, leaning against the wall to catch her wind. She kept glancing back—only to relax when she saw no one following.

“Hey, you’re that Hyūga Hinata, right?”

A voice rang out beside her.

She jumped, startled.

Two older Ninja Academy students loomed over her, taller by a full head.

“…Yes.”

She nodded, voice small.

“Hah, heard your whole Main Family got arrested by Uchiha Iizumi. That Uchiha demon only catches criminals, right? Your father—head of the Hyūga—got locked up. So he must’ve been bad too!”

One boy tapped her head with a paper fan.

“Bad blood makes bad children. One day, you’ll go on a killing spree in this academy, won’t you?”

Hinata knew she was being bullied.

She remembered being tormented as a child—until Naruto Uzumaki saved her.

She instinctively searched for him.

But Naruto wasn’t there.

She bit her lip, eyes downcast.

“I… I won’t kill anyone… I’m not a bad person…”

“Say you’re not, and you’re not?” The second boy sneered. “Bad seeds aren’t obvious until they bloom. But you’re different—you’re his daughter. You’re bad by blood.”

Tears welled up.

She tried to speak—but what if she really was a bad person?

Her father was in prison…

Yet… why hadn’t that terrifying man arrested her?

Why had he protected her—arranged for her and Hanabi to be taken out of the clan?

“Hyūga Hinata, you—”

A sudden crack split the air.

The first boy screamed, clutching his head, collapsing to his knees.

The second spun around—only to cry out, clutching his own head, writhing in agony.

Hinata looked down.

Two wooden Kunai had fallen—blunt, worn, with faint traces of blood on their tips.

They’d cracked skulls.

“Still so timid.”

A familiar voice.

Hyūga Neji stepped forward.

“Neji… brother…”

Neji ignored the two writhing boys.

He stood before Hinata, face blank.

“No one can protect you forever. Not even Justice. If you don’t want to be bullied, drop the pride of a Main Family heiress. Forget that useless ‘I don’t want to hurt anyone’ weakness.”

He turned to the boys.

“If I catch you bullying another student again, you won’t just get hit with wooden Kunai.”

They recognized him—the genius of the Ninja Academy, Hyūga Neji.

One groaned through clenched teeth:

“You’re from the Branch Family! Why help her? You beat the Main Family! Are you just used to being their dog now?”

The other stared, paralyzed.

If Neji snapped… they’d both be beaten to pulp.

But Neji remained calm.

“I acted as the embodiment of Absolute Justice. Not as a Branch Family member. There’s a difference.”

He sounds like that terrifying man…

Hinata thought.

He’s trying to imitate him… but he’s not very good at it.

Then Neji looked at her.

“If it happens again, come to me.”

He walked past her.

…Neji brother seems… less hostile now.

Hinata thought, heart a little lighter.

…

“You… what are you babbling about?”

He Chuan Shang’s innermost shirt was soaked through with sweat.

But he was a carefully cultivated spy of Orochimaru—his acting was flawless.

No cracks in his expression.

He feigned shock, as if only now noticing Uchiha Iizumi’s Investigative Corps uniform.

“Uh… did I… accidentally break a Leaf Village law? I just arrived—don’t know the rules. You guys do believe in ‘ignorance of the law is no excuse,’ right?”

“Fake.”

Tachibana Jiro’s voice was merciless.

“Your micro-expressions are pathetic. You’re terrified. Shocked that Iizumi-sama found you. Shocked that he knows you’re linked to Orochimaru. Shocked he caught you before you even touched the Byakugan.”

“Meow. Orochimaru’s still popular outside Leaf. Sends spies like clockwork.”

He Chuan Shang staggered back, face pale.

“C-cat… it… it spoke?!”

“Iizumi-sama,” Tachibana Jiro said, “he’s not giving up.”

“Take him to the Yamanaka Clan.”

Uchiha Iizumi spoke slowly.

“Let them read his memories. See if he’s truly Orochimaru’s spy.”

He Chuan Shang: “!!”

Damn it!

He’d heard Iizumi was extreme—but only now did he grasp just how far beyond reason he truly was.

How could Leaf Village allow this man to run wild?

Without Orochimaru’s presence, Leaf Village was chaos incarnate.

His mind raced.

Then—crack!—he bit down hard on his own tooth.

A cloud of black smoke erupted from his mouth.

He inhaled sharply, then expelled the mist—fog swallowing half the street in seconds.

He turned and fled.

He could hold his own against Leaf’s elite, but not against Uchiha Iizumi.

That man’s power was beyond upper-class ninja.

Zetsu was not a threat he could face.

Damn it… I just failed my first mission…

Now I have to run—how do I get out of this village?

Whoosh—

A sudden streak of orange tore through the smoke—like an arrow released from a bow.

Tachibana Jiro’s paw swelled to monstrous size.

It slammed down—BANG!

He Chuan Shang dissolved into a puff of Shiro mist—a Shadow Clone.

Panting in a dark alley, He Chuan Shang wiped sweat from his brow.

That cat… it’s a monster. One hit, and I’d be a pancake.

He thought he was safe—when a clear voice cut through the silence.

“What are you doing lurking here? You look unfamiliar. And… you smell familiar.”

He Chuan Shang froze.

A Leaf Village kunoichi with short hair approached, flanked by a woman in Uchiha Police Force attire.

My… my eyes…

Mitarashi Anko narrowed her eyes, studying him.

“I can smell it. That same scent. Or rather… it’s from Orochimaru!”

No…

It’s Anko! Orochimaru’s student!

And the one behind her—she’s from Iizumi’s unit—Uchiha Izumi!

Damn it!

“Konoha Rin, wait!”

Uchiha Izumi called out, hand already on her sword.

“Don’t be fooled. You’re right. He is an Orochimaru spy.”

He Chuan Shang: “???”

What?! How did she know?!

How could she see through me? Does my face scream ‘spy’?

He was paralyzed.

“Enough acting.”

A cold, sibilant voice spoke.

“Uchiha Iizumi has found you. You can’t escape.”

A tiny, slender Shiro snake slithered from his sleeve, climbing up his arm to his shoulder.

As it spoke, Uchiha Iizumi’s voice echoed from behind him:

“Orochimaru. So long. Even just hearing your voice—still stirs my killing intent.”

“Iizumi-sama!”

“Iizumi?!”

Izumi and Konoha Rin turned—shock on their faces.

The snake raised its head, red eyes fixed on Uchiha Iizumi.

“Iizumi… still hate me? I never harmed you. Is it still your so-called Absolute Justice?”

“Your hatred is pointless. Even if you kill me, what change can you make in this broken world? Your ninja way won’t fix it.”

It paused, tongue flicking.

“Though… you have surprised me. How did you turn my former student into your pawn?”

Mitarashi Anko clenched her fists.

“Where are you hiding, Orochimaru?!”

“Don’t you miss your teacher, Konoha Rin? It hurts me that you don’t call me ‘Master’.”

The snake chuckled.

“I’ve never hidden. You just lack the eyes to see.”

It turned back to Iizumi.

“Iizumi, your talent is wasted. Join me. I’ll show you the true meaning of a ninja. What a real ninja should strive for.”

“Hmph…”

Flash!

A blade, no wider than a thumb, flashed—

and the snake’s head flew into the air.

Uchiha Iizumi stepped forward, one hand locking around He Chuan Shang’s throat.

As the man gasped, choking, Iizumi slashed open his shirt—revealing a vast, strange tattoo on his chest.

Iizumi released his sword, then slammed his chakra-wreathed fingers into the man’s chest.

“Ninjutsu…”

“Diamond Sealing!”

…

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end