Chapter 24: Iizumi Senior, isn't this tantamount to rebellion?

“Uchiha Iizumi…”

Uchiha Setsuna, his face dark and thunderous, spat each word with venomous precision:

“He’s been brainwashed by the Fire Nation Will of the Senju—just like that Uchiha Itachi!”

“He no longer serves the Uchiha Clan. He’s loyal only to the Leaf Village… loyal only to the Senju! He’s a traitor to his own blood!”

To Uchiha Setsuna—a hardline extremist elder—any clan member who opposed the coup plan was nothing short of a coward. And those who publicly stood by the Hokage? They were already lost, their minds poisoned by Fire Nation Will, beyond redemption.

As for Uchiha Iizumi…

Uchiha Setsuna suspected he was something far worse—a fusion of both extremes, even surpassing them.

Because that damn Uchiha Iizumi had just revealed a killing intent toward him—raw, unfiltered, and utterly real.

He wanted to kill him.

“Grand Elder Setsuna,” one of the other hawkish Uchiha elders said, voice low and tense, “Iizumi may end up becoming our greatest obstacle—just like Itachi did.”

“That man… he was never truly on our side from the beginning. His allegiance has never lain with the Uchiha.”

Uchiha Setsuna let out a cold snort.

His expression unreadable.

Whatever he was calculating, it wasn’t visible.

…

On the other side of the village.

After leaving the Root Base, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not return to the Hokage Tower. Instead, he made his way to the Leaf Village Prison—where he waited in silence.

It didn’t take long.

Soon, a member of the Uchiha Police Force arrived, dragging along a bound Naruto Uzumaki.

This was Fugaku’s direct order.

“Hokage… sir?”

The Investigation Corps ninja stiffened upon seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi and the cluster of Anbu Ninja standing beside him.

After all, he was an Uchiha—yet the boy in his grip was the rumored vessel of the Nine-Tails.

“It’s alright,” Hiruzen said, calm and reassuring, his smile gentle.

“I’ve always trusted the Uchiha Clan. I believe you wouldn’t do anything out of line. From what I’ve seen, Fugaku made the right choice. You’re on his side, aren’t you?”

The ninja lowered his head.

“Indeed, Clan Head Fugaku ordered me to transfer Naruto Uzumaki to the Prison immediately—so no other clan members would come into contact with him.”

Hiruzen nodded in approval.

He continued, “Leave Naruto to me.”

The ninja hesitated.

“But… what about Uchiha Iizumi? If I hand him over to you, what will he say?”

After all, Iizumi was someone even Fugaku couldn’t control.

Fear lingered in his voice.

Hiruzen chuckled softly.

“That won’t be a problem. Iizumi’s goal was to teach Naruto a lesson—to have him locked up. And now, you’ve brought him here.

As Hokage, I have the authority to pardon Naruto and release him from prison. That’s my right. If Iizumi objects, he’ll come after me. Not you.”

“…Yes, Hokage-sama.”

The ninja exhaled, then reluctantly released Naruto’s arm.

“Hokage Grandpa!!”

“Waaah…!”

After a day of terror, Naruto finally felt safe. He rushed toward Hiruzen like a child escaping a nightmare, nearly sobbing.

Hiruzen patted the boy’s head gently, his tone turning serious.

“Keep a close watch on Root,” he told the Anbu behind him. “I suspect Danzō won’t let this go. That man doesn’t tolerate defeat—especially not when the one who wronged him is a prodigy from the Uchiha Clan.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.”

…

Night fell.

Unintentionally stirring the storm in the Leaf Village, Uchiha Iizumi strolled through the streets with Izumi, seemingly unaffected by the chaos swirling around them.

He looked as calm as ever—like the world’s shifting tides had no bearing on him.

That composure slowly eased Izumi’s frayed nerves.

“Newcomer,” Iizumi said, straightening up.

“Reporting in! Iizumi Senior!”

She cleared her throat. “Today, we identified nine ‘Evil Offenders.’ Three disrupted village order, two were involved in theft, two committed brawls… and…”

Her voice dropped, hesitant.

“…Two obstructed law enforcement.”

She paused.

“Seven were arrested. Two… were eliminated on the spot.”

The two who had been executed—those who had obstructed justice—were the two Root ninjas killed by Uchiha Iizumi.

Iizumi glanced at him.

“You missed a lot.”

“Huh?” Izumi blinked, confused.

She hadn’t missed anything! She’d written everything down in her notebook.

But under Iizumi’s steady gaze, her confidence wavered.

The words “I didn’t miss anything” died in her throat.

“…Did I miss something?” she whispered weakly.

Uchiha Iizumi spoke, as calm as a death toll being read:

“Shimura Danzō… Hiruzen Sarutobi… Uchiha Setsuna… and…”

He named them one by one—like a grim reckoning.

“…All of them stood against Justice today. But because our Justice is still too weak, they walk free.”

“These evils… these people who must be purged…”

“You’ve left them all out.”

Izumi’s blood ran cold.

Iizumi Senior had just named nearly every major figure in the village—high-ranking elders, even fellow Uchiha.

If all of them were to be “purged”…

That wasn’t just justice.

That was… rebellion.

“Add them to the list,” Iizumi said flatly.

“Y-yes, Senior…” Izumi took out her notebook, trembling as she wrote.

Her fingers shook, especially when she reached Hokage-sama—Hiruzen Sarutobi.

She felt a chill.

If the Anbu found this notebook…

She’d spend the rest of her life in the Leaf Village Prison.

As she walked beside Iizumi, scribbling notes, her peripheral vision caught something.

A small figure darted into view at the corner ahead.

Izumi’s eyes widened.

She watched, stunned, as the child suddenly turned the corner—colliding straight into Iizumi.

Thud!

The child fell hard, scattering the small bag of goods he’d been carrying.

“Ow…!”

A soft cry of pain.

“Sasuke, watch where you’re going,” came a gentle, apologetic voice from ahead.

“I’m sorry. He’s just too careless.”

“Huh? You’re…?”

“Iizumi?”

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end