Chapter 25: This Is the Night of Absolute Justice's Execution

Uchiha Meihime recognized Uchiha Iizumi—not just because the man was notoriously infamous within the Uchiha clan, but also because three years ago, the two had clashed once before.

From what she knew, if not for Uchiha Shisui standing beside Itachi at the time, the incident might have ended badly for her son.

After a brief moment of shock, Meihime snapped into action, swiftly pulling Sasuke up by the arm.

Her eyes instantly sharpened with wary distance and caution.

“Iizumi-sama, Sasuke is just being impulsive—he hasn’t broken a single law of Leaf Village.”

She was afraid that this extreme clan member might harm her young son.

But to her surprise, Uchiha Iizumi merely gave her a faint glance—no words, no expression—before turning and walking away.

As if her fear and tension were nothing but a foolish fantasy.

Huh…

There was no trace of hostility from him at all.

“Wait, Iizumi-senpai!” Izumi called out, quickening her pace to catch up.

“Mom… who is he? He’s so cold,” seven-year-old Sasuke pouted, his little face etched with annoyance.

“He’s… someone who doesn’t fit in,” Meihime replied, choosing her words carefully. “Sasuke, remember not to get too close to him.”

“Why?” Sasuke asked, brow furrowed.

Meihime recalled Itachi’s past ordeal and paused, then said, “I don’t know the full details… but I know he’s dangerous. If you really want to know, wait until Itachi returns—he’ll know more. He’s… at least familiar with Iizumi.”

“Huh?”

But Sasuke’s attention had drifted elsewhere.

“Brother’s coming back?!”

Meihime smiled faintly and nodded. “Yes. His Ninja Cat arrived yesterday and told me he’ll be back in two days.”

Yet the smile on her face felt strained.

It was good that Itachi would return safely after completing his mission.

But…

There was still Iizumi in the village.

If the two happened to cross paths again…

She couldn’t help but worry.

…

Night fell.

Izumi dragged her exhausted body home, her body finally relaxing after holding itself taut like a tightly strung Root cord all day. She collapsed onto the sofa, utterly drained, feeling as if every ounce of energy had been drained from her.

The day had been nothing short of intense.

Her mind felt overwhelmed, struggling to process everything.

She was just a newly graduated genin of Leaf Village—how had she ended up in the middle of this?

“Honestly… how did Iizumi-senpai even end up on the path of Absolute Justice?”

Alone at last, Izumi let her thoughts wander.

“You’re curious?”

“Hmm…” She answered instinctively.

“Hmm?”

Then she froze.

That wasn’t her mother’s voice.

It was… Iizumi-senpai’s voice.

“Wha—?!”

Izumi shot upright in shock, instinctively turning toward the source.

There, perched casually on the windowsill of her open window, was Iizumi-senpai—half-crouched, calm as ever, his steady gaze unreadable.

To Izumi, his thoughts had always been a mystery. She could never guess what he was thinking.

But wait—why was he here?!

Uchiha Iizumi spoke, voice low and even.

“Tachibana Jiro found new evidence. I happened to pass by your place, so I picked you up. Besides, this should be a rare chance for real combat.”

From the corner of the window, a large orange cat’s round face popped out, grinning.

“Meow! Rookie! Move it!”

No wonder—his Ninja Cat was just as sharp and decisive as he was.

Izumi scrambled to her feet. “Yes, senpai!”

She turned toward the kitchen and called out, “Mom, no need to cook dinner for me! I’ll eat out tonight!”

With her gear packed, she leapt straight out the window.

Only then did she finally register it.

“R… real combat?” she whispered, stunned.

Uchiha Iizumi simply said, “Follow me. We’re leaving the village.”

Leaving the village?!

A whirlwind of questions spun in Izumi’s mind—but now wasn’t the time to ask.

She forced herself to keep pace, sprinting through the rooftops behind him.

…

“Meow! Rookie, my little ones found a secret base outside the village!”

Tachibana Jiro chattered as they leapt from roof to roof.

“It looks like an experimental facility—about ten or fifteen kilometers from Leaf Village.”

Izumi followed closely behind Uchiha Iizumi and the cat, her breath ragged but her curiosity burning.

“Tachibana Jiro-senpai… how did you know there was a case here?”

“Pure instinct,” the cat replied, his voice oddly sharp. “Meow! I’ve served Iizumi-sama for five years now! I’ve inherited at least one percent of his wisdom and skill! But mostly, it’s because my little ones spotted Anbu-style ninjas entering and exiting the base.”

“Any facility tied to Root or Anbu? Not a good sign,” Tachibana Jiro declared.

“Because Iizumi-sama once said—there isn’t a single good person in Leaf Village’s Anbu or Root.”

Izumi swallowed hard.

She could already sense what “real combat” truly meant.

Was her senpai really planning to storm an Anbu base?

“Rookie,” Iizumi’s voice carried through the wind, faint but clear.

“Don’t assume Anbu are good just because they serve the Hokage. If you see them through rose-colored glasses, you’ll suffer. Root. Anbu. They’ve always been among the greatest concentrations of evil in the ninja world.”

Izumi’s heart skipped.

“Yes, I understand, Iizumi-senpai!”

She sensed there was more beneath those words—something deeper.

Don’t idealize the Hokage.

Then it hit her.

“Iizumi-senpai… is this case really within the jurisdiction of the Investigation Corps?” she asked, voice trembling slightly.

Uchiha Iizumi didn’t turn.

“It’s within the scope of Justice.”

Gasp.

Izumi realized—her senpai didn’t care about village rules.

He didn’t care about Investigation Corps protocols.

Tonight… was his night.

The night of Justice.

“No,” Iizumi’s voice echoed softly from the darkness.

“This is the night of Absolute Justice’s execution.

Since you’ve been chosen as the judge, you’ll have to learn to accept—this kind of night will come again… and again… and again.”

Izumi froze.

“!!”

Did he just read my mind?!

She felt a chill run down her spine.

“Meow… you’re just too easy to read, girl,” Tachibana Jiro added coolly.

“Your heart’s written all over your face—and your voice. You can’t hide anything.”

Izumi stared, utterly crushed.

Even a cat could see her thoughts?

Dazed and shaken, she suddenly realized—she hadn’t even noticed when she’d left the village behind.

Leaf Village was now hundreds of meters in the distance.

…

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end