Chapter 27: The New "Believer" of Absolute Justice

Inuzuka Makoto stared blankly, his mind drifting back to years past—the boy who had turned Orochimaru’s research base into a sea of molten lava.

Back then… so many comrades had died at that boy’s hands.

If not for the Hokage’s timely intervention, halting the Uchiha youth wielding Molten Release and Sharingan, even Inuzuka Makoto himself would have perished that night.

He had long believed he would never cross paths again with that terrifying figure—once thought to be a demon incarnate.

And yet… here he stood.

Before him, the very same man—grown taller, older, his face more mature, stripped of youthful innocence—had returned.

Makoto swore he could never mistake that face.

Even with the passage of time, the sharp angles of his jaw, the familiar set of his eyes—though hardened by years—the core of his features remained unchanged.

He snapped back to reality instantly, barely registering the reason for the intruder’s silence. His hand shot out toward the wall beside him, reaching for the alarm switch.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, his vision blurred.

A forearm shot upward, blocking his view—right in front of the alarm.

That arm… was his own.

Warm blood splattered across his horrified face. At the same moment, a clean, deep gash appeared across his neck, and crimson liquid gushed forth like a ruptured pipe, soaking his shirt.

His head rolled off, expression frozen in terror.

Uchiha Iizumi had already stepped over the lifeless body.

His voice, cold and flat, carried to the trembling Uchiha Izumi behind him:

“Newcomer… this is the iron-fisted method required to uphold Absolute Justice. You must harbor a hatred even deeper than evil itself—only then can you purge every shadow of wickedness from the Ninja World.”

“And… you must do so without mercy.”

As he spoke, Iizumi spun and flung a kunai to his left.

The blade sliced through the air, striking true—piercing the throat of a ninja who had just sensed the disturbance and rushed in to investigate.

“Ghh—!”

The man clutched his neck, gasping, panic flooding his veins. He couldn’t understand—why had enemies breached the village? Why hadn’t the Anbu sentries raised the alarm?

Iizumi paused briefly, then turned to the girl behind him.

“Newcomer, end his suffering. Let me see if your resolve for Justice matches the fire in your words. I’ll remind you—he took part in inhumane human experiments. He’s stained with the blood of war orphans.”

Izumi’s palms were slick with sweat. Her fingers tightened around the kunai.

She approached the writhing man, her eyes—once wide with fear—now locked onto his.

Her voice trembled, yet clear:

“Senior… I was afraid of you at first. The Investigation Corps spread so many rumors—terrible ones. When I first met you, I believed all the lies they told.”

She knelt beside him, her gaze softening.

“But these past few days… I’ve seen you for who you truly are. You’re nothing like the monster they claimed. You’re not a murderer. You’re not evil. You’re fighting for Justice.”

Her hands gripped the kunai tightly, lifting it high. Her arm trembled—but only for a moment.

Then, her grip steadied. Her eyes hardened.

The man had killed children. He had experimented on the innocent.

In the light of Absolute Justice…

He had to be purged.

With a roar of conviction, she drove the kunai deep into the man’s forehead. The blade punched through the Leaf Village forehead protector, the thin metal snapping like paper, before vanishing into his skull with a sickening thud.

【Ping! You’ve successfully trained a new believer of Absolute Justice! A “Red Mark” villain has been eliminated! Your chakra has slightly increased! Congratulations—you’ve unlocked a new skill: Training Dogs】

【Additionally, Uchiha Izumi has also received a minor chakra boost!】

Uchiha Iizumi glanced at the girl’s exhausted back, stunned.

This was the first time in years that the God Gift had reacted so strangely.

Was it her unwavering resolve that earned the divine recognition?

Or…

He watched her stagger to her feet, staring in shock at her bloodstained hands.

The answer formed in his mind—quiet, clear, undeniable.

“Uchiha Izumi.”

“Hai!” She snapped to attention instinctively, then froze. Her face paled.

Oh no… I just yelled that—without thinking!

Had she just ruined Iizumi’s entire infiltration plan?

But when she dared to look up, expecting a furious rebuke…

There was nothing.

No anger. No scolding.

Just a calm, emotionless tone.

“Newcomer. Your stupidity alerted the enemy. You lose 1,010 points.”

Izumi went deathly white.

The maximum score was 1,000. She’d once been rated just 10. Now, minus 1,010?

That meant… negative points.

And negative points meant…

Death?

“You now have zero points,” Uchiha Iizumi said, his eyes already scanning the approaching Anbu.

Izumi stood frozen, watching as Iizumi—alone, one blade in hand—charged headfirst into the three Anbu who had just arrived.

Her mind still echoed with the words: Zero points.

“So… for a moment… I was actually… at full score?”

The weight of her first kill—the guilt, the fear—melted away like snow in fire.

…

“You’re Uchiha Iizumi?” One of the Anbu instantly recognized the name, his voice sharp. “What are you doing inside the village? I warn you—stop right there!”

Another Anbu’s eyes narrowed. “Watch out—he’s covered in blood. Don’t look into his eyes!”

Too late.

Two of the three Anbu froze mid-step, their minds ensnared by the Sharingan’s genjutsu.

The last Anbu, an elite, reacted instantly.

He slammed his hands together, shouting:

“Genjutsu Release!”

Simultaneously, he flung two shuriken—one at each of his comrades.

Not out of madness. He knew he couldn’t break the Sharingan’s hold on his own. He needed to shock their bodies—force their minds back with pain.

It worked.

The two Anbu jolted awake, dazed and disoriented.

But before they could recover—

The crimson eyes of Uchiha Iizumi were already upon them.

He lunged.

His blade swept across one Anbu’s throat.

Clang!

The strike was blocked.

The Anbu staggered back, arm trembling, sweat pouring down his face.

“Sharingan… that’s terrifying. But… we’re a coordinated Anbu trio. One of us could break the genjutsu. We’re still in control.”

“Is that so?”

A voice came from behind them—so close, it sent chills down their spines.

“What illusion made you think the genjutsu was broken?”

…

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end