Chapter 23: He Isn't Truly "Loyal" to the Uchiha Clan!

Uchiha Setsuna clenched the top of his cane tightly, his weathered fingers—etched with deep grooves of time—turning pale from the force. His clouded eyes had begun to glow crimson, the Three Tomoe Sharingan fixed like a predator’s gaze upon Uchiha Iizumi ahead.

“Say that again, Iizumi… again.” His voice was low, heavy with menace, the air thick with tension.

Uchiha Iizumi did not repeat it.

Instead, he activated his own pair of Three Tomoe Sharingan—calm, unshaken, yet unmistakably defiant.

“Uchiha Iizumi! Are you even still a member of the Uchiha Clan?” roared another hawkish elder, his finger jabbing accusingly. “Everything we’re doing now is for the future of our clan! You stand here blocking us—do you mean to betray the Uchiha?”

“And besides… you were the one who brought the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki to our clan’s territory. Now you turn around and try to stop us from pursuing that beast? What kind of nonsense is this?”

Though his words were sharp, he dared not take a single step forward.

Finally, Uchiha Iizumi spoke.

“In your eyes… my actions now seem contradictory?”

The elder bristled, nostrils flaring. “Contradictory? Of course they are!”

Uchiha Iizumi remained calm. “Yet your mind—so smooth and wrinkle-free—hasn’t considered another possibility. From the very beginning, I have never stood on the same side as you—filth that threatens the Ninja World.”

As he spoke, he took a slow, deliberate step forward.

“But don’t misunderstand. I am not aligned with the likes of the Clan Head either.”

Uchiha Setsuna’s eyelid twitched violently. “Filth…”

He had dedicated his life to the Uchiha Clan—diligent, unwavering, convinced he had done nothing wrong. Even once, he had been imprisoned in the Leaf Village’s dungeon by that damned Second Hokage. And now, after all that… he was the filth?

The fire within Uchiha Setsuna was about to erupt.

“You—!”

The other hawkish elders surged forward in fury.

Uchiha Iizumi narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan sweeping over each of their necks, hearts, foreheads—every vital point.

“Enough!”

A commanding voice cut through the tension from behind Iizumi.

“If outsiders see us fighting among ourselves, what kind of image does that paint for the Uchiha Clan? Put away your swords!”

Uchiha Fugaku had arrived, stepping into the scene with cold authority. He stood beside Iizumi, his face expressionless, his gaze fixed on the elders.

“Gentlemen,” he said, “I am the current Uchiha Clan Head. The conflict between the village and our clan is my responsibility. And Naruto Uzumaki—no one will touch him.”

“Fugaku…” Uchiha Setsuna grimaced.

But before he could speak, Fugaku cut him off.

“Master Setsuna, I respect your seniority. You may call me ‘Master’—but you must also respect my decisions.”

“And I do this for the greater good of the Uchiha. Besides, I’ve already sent Naruto to the Leaf Village Prison. You’re too late.”

Fugaku had anticipated this confrontation. He’d acted swiftly—sending Naruto away before anyone could interfere.

Ignoring the storm of dark glares from the elders, Fugaku turned sharply to Uchiha Iizumi.

“Iizumi. Sheathe your blade. That is a command from the Clan Head.”

Uchiha Iizumi didn’t even flinch. The words passed through him like wind.

Fugaku exhaled through his nose—silent, frustrated.

He could feel it. The killing intent in Iizumi’s eyes hadn’t lessened. If anything, it felt like a single word more from him, and Iizumi would turn that blade on him.

Having a subordinate like this… truly a headache.

“Master Setsuna,” Fugaku shifted his focus, his voice cold and firm. “You should leave now. Do you truly wish to stand here, facing us both?”

“Fugaku,” Uchiha Setsuna breathed deeply. “You’re too hesitant. One day, you’ll regret this. You’re throwing the Uchiha’s future straight into the abyss.”

“Master Setsuna,” Fugaku replied, his tone unyielding. “I am the Clan Head. Even if you are my senior, I will not be dictated to.”

At least… not yet. Not while he still held some power.

“Hmph!”

Uchiha Setsuna’s gaze lingered on Iizumi’s cold, unyielding face—pale, youthful, utterly alien to the clan’s traditions. For a moment, it felt as if he were etching that face into memory.

“We’re leaving.”

…

“Phew…”

The tension had nearly drained Izumi of her strength. Now, finally, she could breathe.

She’d feared Iizumi’s words would end in blood—first against Root, now against her own kin. To live a life of Absolute Justice… it was too much. Like being hated by everyone in the Leaf Village.

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

Suddenly, she noticed Iizumi tossing the sword toward her. Startled, she instinctively reached out, catching the hilt—then carefully slid the blade back into its sheath.

At that moment, Fugaku Clan Head spoke.

“Iizumi… was that killing intent real?”

Uchiha Iizumi replied, voice steady. “I never break my word. Step one more forward, and they die.”

Fugaku exhaled slowly. “Though their methods may be extreme… they are still your kin. Sometimes, you don’t need to show such hostility toward your own people.”

His words carried hidden meaning—aimed at Iizumi’s cold distance toward his own son, Uchiha Itachi.

Fugaku still couldn’t understand. Itachi had never provoked anyone. Why did Iizumi hate him?

Uchiha Iizumi’s voice remained flat. “I’ve explained this once. I won’t repeat it.”

Fugaku paused.

“You mean… Absolute Justice has no distinction between personal and public?”

He remembered Iizumi’s words: “There is no private or public in Absolute Justice.”

“Huh… So you really mean it.” Even though he’d suspected it, the reality hit him like a physical blow.

Fugaku fell silent.

After a long moment, he added: “Even if we differ in ideals… you still stand apart from them. At least you don’t want chaos in the village. But be careful—Uchiha Setsuna and his kind can be… extreme.”

Uchiha Iizumi gave a dry, quiet reply.

“Tell me, Clan Head. Among all the Uchiha who’ve awakened their eyes—how many aren’t extreme?”

Fugaku fell silent.

…True.

Uchiha Iizumi added coldly:

“I still suggest you have your son see a psychologist. I’ve always suspected something’s… off with his mind.”

Fugaku: “….”

…

“Never has a junior dared to disrespect an elder like this! That look in his eyes—he wanted to kill me!”

Uchiha Setsuna, now far away, pounded his wooden cane hard into the ground—thud, thud, thud—each strike echoing like a curse.

His face, lined with age and fury, was dark with storm.

“He… is not loyal to the Uchiha! Not loyal!”

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end