Chapter 39: All I Can Do Is Purge Evil with Absolute Justice

"Senior," Izumi whispered timidly, "the bodies have turned to bones—everything’s been wiped clean. Where exactly should we start?"

Uchiha Iizumi spoke with quiet detachment. "Newcomer, go back to the Investigation Corps."

"Huh?" Izumi blinked, startled.

"Find the list of all missing persons from Leaf Village over the past five years. Bring me that list. Tachibana Jiro—have your cat descendants conduct a full sweep of the village sewers. Collect every fragment of bone that looks even remotely human. I’ll walk around the village and see if I can catch a lucky break."

Unfortunately, while the Ninja World had advanced technology to extract DNA from bones, Leaf Village hadn’t established a database of its citizens’ DNA—so identifying the victims by genetic means wasn’t possible yet.

As Izumi puzzled over how wandering around the village could possibly help, a sudden memory struck her.

Her eyes widened.

The senior once told me… his two eyes possess the power to see through evil!

That’s how he found the killer every time before!

Shaking off her hesitation, she snapped to attention. "Yes, Iizumi Senior!"

Tachibana Jiro echoed, "Yes, Iizumi-sama!"

…

Izumi hurried back to the Uchiha compound, nearly sprinting toward the Investigation Corps Building—when a familiar silhouette ahead froze her in place.

She rubbed her eyes, shook her head, and closed them for two full seconds before opening them again.

The figure was still there.

"...Itachi-kun?" Izumi whispered, voice trembling with disbelief.

The figure turned.

And there, before her, was the face she knew by heart—Uchiha Itachi, the eldest son of the Uchiha clan.

"Ah, Izumi," Uchiha Itachi said, forcing a polite smile despite the weight pressing on his chest. His tone was strained, distant.

Izumi’s face lit up. "Itachi-kun! It really is you! You’re back in Leaf Village, but you didn’t say anything—I thought you were still on a mission outside the village!"

Uchiha Itachi managed a weak chuckle. "I just got back, actually."

He felt no joy at their reunion.

Because in the brief time since his return, he had already sensed the growing rift between the village and the Uchiha clan—unbridgeable, festering.

The most explosive point? Uchiha Iizumi had killed the Hokage’s eldest son, Hiruzen Shintetsu.

Darkness now loomed over the Uchiha clan like a prison, trapping every member inside with no way out.

If this tension kept escalating—until the village resorted to extreme measures—then the Uchiha clan would be erased.

And in retaliation, the Uchiha would strike back, devastating the village, crippling its spirit, and shattering the Hokage’s trust.

And then...

What about Sasuke?

A cascade of grim thoughts spiraled through Uchiha Itachi’s mind, casting shadows over his eyes. His heart grew heavier.

"Is something troubling you, Itachi-kun?" Izumi noticed the change in his expression. "Did the Anbu mission go badly? Or—?"

Uchiha Itachi snapped back to the present, his face blank. "...Nothing."

Only then did he notice Izumi’s attire—her uniform marked the Uchiha Police Force.

He remembered: she’d only graduated from the Ninja Academy half a month ago.

He shifted the conversation, hoping to calm his own turbulent thoughts. His voice remained flat. "You joined the Investigation Corps, then? How’s it going? Getting used to it?"

Izumi nodded, smiling confidently. "Yeah! I’m still a trainee—there’s a long probation period before I can become a full member. It’s exhausting, but I’m managing. Iizumi Senior may seem strict on the surface, but he actually cares about his subordinates."

Uchiha Itachi froze. "...Iizumi Senior?"

Izumi’s smile flickered, stiffening.

Damn it. I’m so tired, and I didn’t sleep well last night—my memory’s gone to hell. I completely forgot Iizumi Senior and Itachi-kun don’t get along!

"Uchiha Iizumi, right?" Uchiha Itachi asked.

"...Yes." Izumi replied, her voice tight.

She wanted to smack herself.

Uchiha Itachi hesitated, then finally spoke—carefully, like a warning to his last remaining friend. "Izumi… I don’t mean to overstep. But Uchiha Iizumi’s mindset… it’s dangerously extreme. Shisui—he once told me… Uchiha Iizumi’s loyalty lies neither with the Uchiha clan nor with Leaf Village. Only with himself."

"He’s the kind of person who harms not just his enemies… but even those close to him. Especially with his Absolute Justice—it’s going to bring disaster to the clan."

"Absolute Justice won’t bring any trouble to the Uchiha clan," Izumi shot back almost instinctively. "Izumi Senior’s justice has never failed."

"He fulfills every duty of an Investigation Corps ninja. He quietly upholds Justice—alone, without fanfare. He’s been the one holding back the corruption and rot in Leaf Village."

"Everyone just doesn’t understand him. He doesn’t speak unless he thinks it matters. That’s why people misunderstand him."

"But I believe… those misunderstandings will fade. One day."

She didn’t know why she was defending him.

Maybe because she’d chosen to follow Absolute Justice—and so, by default, she wanted to protect the man who embodied it.

Uchiha Itachi studied her—her hesitant posture, her determined eyes.

"Is this truly your choice?" he asked, voice flat. "To follow a path so extreme?"

"I’m serious," Izumi said, her face earnest. "Ever since I started at the Academy, I’ve wanted to walk in your footsteps, Itachi-kun—someone who’s a true genius of Leaf Village. But I’m ordinary. I only graduated at twelve. I had no plan for my future..."

"But I believe I can still find my worth here. When I met Iizumi Senior and learned who he truly is… I finally knew my purpose."

"Uchiha Itachi," she declared, "to purge evil from the Ninja World with Absolute Justice—that is my path as a ninja."

Uchiha Itachi stared in silence.

"...So this is your strength?" he said flatly. "Impressive. But your path… it’s already veering off course."

"Meow! Newcomer, what are you doing?"

A strange voice cut through the air.

A black Ninja Cat stood on the rooftop beside them, its fur slightly bristling.

"Grandfather Tachibana sent me to check on you. Did you get the missing persons list?"

"Wait—aren’t you the cat that was guarding the sewer entrance?" Izumi looked up, startled. "Ah! Hold on—I’ll be right back!"

She dashed into the Investigation Corps Building.

Uchiha Itachi watched her go, then turned his gaze back to the cat.

The cat stared back.

"Uchiha Itachi…" The Ninja Cat’s fur stood on end. It took a small step back.

Like all cats linked to Uchiha Iizumi, it held no affection for the clan’s heir. If anything, it felt wary—almost hostile.

Uchiha Itachi hesitated.

Then, he chose not to use his Sharingan to interrogate the cat.

"Tell Uchiha Iizumi," he said slowly, "what he’s doing only deepens the rift between the village and the Uchiha. If this continues, there’ll be no turning back. I urge him to consider the village’s position… and the value of peace."

…

"Meow! Iizumi-sama! Disaster!" The cat didn’t wait. It bolted back toward the compound.

Panting, it cried out, "Iizumi-sama! The Uchiha… Uchiha Itachi has returned!"

"Return? He’s a Leaf ninja," Uchiha Iizumi said, unfazed. "That’s normal."

The cat paused. "But you said before—he was destined to commit unspeakable evil! You can see the future, don’t you? Your power has never failed!"

Uchiha Iizumi paused, his steps slowing.

"If you know someone will commit atrocities… but they haven’t done it yet… what would you do?"

The cat looked up, eyes wide. "I’m just a cat. I can’t handle such deep questions…"

"Maybe…" it whispered. "...I’d try to stop him?"

Uchiha Iizumi exhaled. "I warned the Clan Head. I told his wife to get Itachi examined—he’s clearly mentally ill. I even told Shisui: Save him. He’ll regret it."

"I’ve tried every way to prevent this. But if he still chooses to fall into darkness… then all I can do is purge the evil with Absolute Justice."

Suddenly, a distant shout cut through the air.

"Senior! We found it—the list of missing persons!"

A Uchiha girl ran toward them, arms full of documents.

…

…

Whew. This chapter hit 3,000 words again—couldn’t hold back this time. (´•ω•`)_

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end