Chapter 164: Kushina's Resolve! The Akatsuki Organization's Hunt

Outside the Leaf Village.

A black Ninja Cat bolted out of the gates, sprinting frantically in one direction, its breath ragged and limbs trembling with exhaustion—yet it refused to stop. It felt as though its four legs might shatter from the strain, but still, it pushed on, driven by sheer will, until its vision blurred, its ears rang, and darkness crept into the edges of its sight.

Then—finally—it spotted a familiar figure ahead.

"—Meow!!"

The black Ninja Cat could no longer speak in human words. It could only let out one desperate, shrill cry, which made the orange Ninja Cat a few steps ahead fluff up its fur in shock.

And the several figures behind the orange cat paused in their tracks.

"Iizumi-sama! That’s one of my cat grandchildren!" Kikujirō turned, instantly recognizing the exhausted black cat collapsing before him.

At once, a high-rank Investigator Corps ninja dashed back and gently lifted the trembling creature into his arms.

"P-Please… Iizumi-sama… Tachibana Jiro-sama…" The black cat gasped, barely able to catch its breath. Its voice was hoarse, dry with fatigue. "The Root Ninjas… they… they took Uchiha Sasuke… and Hyūga Neji. They tried to attack Uchiha Izumi… and Mitarashi Anko. While you two were away, the Root struck at the followers of Absolute Justice!"

"Also…" The cat continued, voice cracking. "They’ve targeted us too—Ninja Cats. At least eight of us have been captured. The rest are hiding… or running to warn you, just like me."

The words hit like a thunderclap.

Tachibana Jiro’s cat face went slack with disbelief.

"How dare she?!" The words escaped him in shock—clearly referring to Tsunade Konoha.

He knew the old woman had always disliked Iizumi-sama. But even when enraged, she’d always swallowed her pride, just scowling in silence, muttering sarcastic remarks. Never had she taken such bold action.

Now, she’d gone too far.

"Meow! I’ll go back!" Tachibana Jiro took a deep breath, then turned to face Uchiha Iizumi with unwavering seriousness. "That old hag has attacked my kittens and grandkittens. There’s no turning back now. If any of them are lost, she will pay—dearly."

He knew Iizumi-sama was leaving the village to hunt Orochimaru. Now was not the time to distract him with internal conflict.

Then—suddenly—he felt something land in front of him.

With a leap, he snapped it up in his mouth.

"Meow? Scroll?!" He mumbled, confused.

"Summoning Scroll," Uchiha Iizumi said flatly. "It can summon a raven."

"A raven?" Tachibana Jiro blinked, still not understanding.

Then—one second later—his eyes widened.

It hit him.

That “raven” wasn’t a bird. It was Uchiha Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan—the eye that wielded the power of Kakusei no Ketsu.

Iizumi-sama had entrusted him with Shisui’s eye.

That meant permission—unspoken, but absolute—to unleash chaos within the Leaf Village if needed.

Of course, Tachibana Jiro hoped he’d never have to use it.

He remembered Iizumi-sama’s warning: Kakusei no Ketsu could only be used once every few years… maybe even decades.

"I understand, meow!" Tachibana Jiro opened his mouth wide, scrambling with his fat paws to secure the scroll across his back.

"Should we return with you?" One of the Investigator Corps ninja asked hesitantly. "This is serious. Sending just one cat feels… risky. Especially with you being such a grumpy old tomcat who lectures everyone."

"Unnecessary," Uchiha Iizumi said, watching Tachibana Jiro vanish into the distance, sprinting back toward the village. "He’s more reliable than anyone else."

"Never underestimate him."

…

Land of Rain. Akatsuki Organization.

"Ho… another special Ninjutsu. Must be that eye of his," Orochimaru murmured, glancing at the faint, ghostly figures beside him. He stroked the ring on his finger. "Is this meeting even worth my time? If there’s nothing urgent, I’d rather leave."

"It’s about Uchiha Izumi of the Leaf Village," Tendō Pain’s projection spoke slowly, the name causing Orochimaru to raise an eyebrow.

He remembered: his newest spy in the Leaf had been caught—by Izumi. That brat and he had never gotten along.

"Oh?" Orochimaru smirked. "Does he know about Akatsuki’s existence? Given his creed—Absolute Justice—he probably sees us all as irredeemable criminals. He’d likely rip us apart limb from limb."

Konan’s projection cut in, cold and sharp. "He doesn’t just know about us. He’s come to the Land of Rain. And he’s already connected with one of our new recruits."

Her gaze flickered toward Uchiha Obito—though her image was too blurred for him to notice.

Obito clenched his jaw.

Biwa Jūzō! That bastard! After being attacked once, he didn’t flee—he ran straight back to the Land of Rain! That’s why his cover nearly blew!

But… now, Izumi was here too?

Wait—no.

Several White Zetsu Clones near the Leaf had reported just two days ago that Uchiha Izumi was still inside the village.

So… who was Konan talking about?

A clone?

Then—was the Izumi in the Land of Rain a Shadow Clone? Or was the one in the Land of Fire the fake?

Obito felt a sudden urge to vanish from the Land of Rain.

The Mangekyō Sharingan of Uchiha Izumi had left deep psychological scars. The power was unnerving. Even Kuro Zetsu hadn’t fully recovered.

Tendō Pain spoke again. "He’s dangerous. His ideology—Absolute Justice—is fundamentally at odds with our goals. A threat like this must be eliminated. Anyone, anywhere in the Ninja World—should kill Uchiha Izumi on sight. If uncertain, use the ring to contact me."

Obito interjected, voice raspy, still feigning the tone of Uchiha Sharingan. "The new recruit knows where the Uchiha boy is. Using him, we can pinpoint Izumi’s location easily."

Back then, Konan would have been wary. This was a legendary ninja.

Now? She only curled her lip in silent amusement.

She let him speak.

"The newcomer was almost certainly coerced," Tendō Pain said. "Without Izumi’s approval, he can’t even meet the rest of us."

"Ho ho… so this is a death warrant for Izumi?" Orochimaru licked his lips. "But what if we capture him alive?"

All eyes turned to him.

"Anyone who brings Uchiha Izumi to me," Orochimaru said, voice dripping with desire, "I’ll pay handsomely. His body… I’ve long coveted it."

The last words hung in the air—ambiguous, chilling.

Obito shivered.

"...Agreed," Tendō Pain said after a pause.

…

"Ho ho… things are getting interesting," Orochimaru broke the Genkō Shin no Jutsu seal. He narrowed his eyes. "Why’d the Justice brat come to the Land of Rain?"

He suspected the boy knew he’d joined Akatsuki—and came to hunt him.

That fit Izumi’s style. Even when weak, he’d always acted with ruthless decisiveness.

So perhaps Izumi had stolen intelligence from the spy.

But… if he knew everything, he wouldn’t have come here. He’d have gone straight to the Human Experimentation Research Base.

No—this was just the beginning.

Orochimaru relaxed.

"Let’s see… which is stronger—the Uchiha’s legendary Mangekyō Sharingan… or the eye of a Sage?"

His eyes burned with greed—undisguised, unashamed.

He wanted both: the Rinnegan, and Izumi’s Mangekyō.

The Rinnegan was out of reach—for now.

But Izumi? With Akatsuki’s bounty on his head?

He’s mine.

"Just… don’t die yet," Orochimaru whispered. "Ho ho…"

…

Leaf Village.

As the dust settled, Kushina’s face was like frozen ice—directly confronting Tsunade Konoha.

Tsunade hadn’t expected this. Not from Kushina.

The way she stood—threatening, demanding—left no room for doubt.

Release them, or I’ll make you.

That much was clear.

Tsunade felt the weight of every gaze in the village. The air hummed with silent judgment. Everyone seemed to believe Uchiha Izumi was innocent. No one thought he’d made a mistake.

Was she the only one who saw the truth?

She took a deep breath.

"Root won’t release them. That’s Hokage’s order," Tsunade said, trying to hold her ground. "And besides… my Root isn’t Danzō’s. My people aren’t extremists."

She knew she was conceding. Softening her stance. Not punishing the followers of Absolute Justice.

After all, Kushina was one of the Sannin. The pressure was immense.

And Jiraiya… he too believed the Root’s actions were wrong.

Two Sannin. One voice. Tsunade Konoha had no choice.

"Old age is catching up with you," Kushina said coolly. "You’re hard of hearing. Let me fix that."

Then, flat and firm: "I said—release them."

As Kushina took a step forward, several Root Ninjas instinctively shifted closer to Tsunade.

Tsunade scowled, voice tight. "Kushina… you’re over forty. You should be above this black-and-white justice of Izumi’s. Your grandfather was the First Hokage. Fire Nation Will was his legacy. Are you really going to betray it? To follow Absolute Justice?"

Kushina’s expression remained blank. "Fire Nation Will has limits. When you see them, you don’t stubbornly cling to outdated rules. You adapt. But you… you cling to old dogmas. Only you would do that."

Her words—so bold, so heretical—left Tsunade and Jiraiya stunned.

She’s not just challenging the Hokage’s legacy… she’s threatening to overthrow it.

"Koharu-sama?" One Root Ninja stepped closer to Tsunade, sensing the shift.

"...!" Tsunade clenched her jaw, feeling the hostility radiating from Kushina.

Then she glanced at Jiraiya—standing just beyond, not joining Root, not opposing, but clearly not on their side.

"...Release them."

It was a bitter surrender.

She’d once backed down only under Izumi’s threat.

Now? Even the pressure from other followers of Absolute Justice forced her to yield.

The anger burned in her chest. She nearly choked on it.

Root Ninjas exchanged glances. Reluctantly, they obeyed.

Sasuke dropped to his knees, immediately helping Neji to his feet.

"Ah… cough, cough…" Neji stirred as Kushina landed, pain flaring in his gut. He coughed, then looked up at her. "Kushina-sama…"

"Inflicting harm on others—does that not count as evil?" Kushina’s gaze settled on him.

Then she looked back at Tsunade—whose face had turned even darker.

"Hyūga brat," Kushina smirked. "Enjoying the spectacle, are you?"

"Of course it does."

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end