Chapter 41: Justice That's Already Late Cannot Be Late Any Longer

The next day.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had already donned his mourning robes early in the morning. Today was the day of his eldest son, Hiruzen Shintetsu’s funeral. Whether the heavens were mocking fate or not, a steady, drizzling rain poured down from the overcast sky.

"Let’s go. To the Leaf Village Cemetery."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with a heavy heart, then stepped forward without looking back, letting the cold rain soak through his clothes.

Behind him trailed his son’s widow, Hiruzen Fumiko, and their young son, Hiruzen Konoha Maru.

Alongside them marched several members of the Hiruzen clan.

And only a handful of Shintetsu’s close friends remained.

The funeral of the Hokage’s eldest son should have drawn more attendees.

But…

Rumors about Hiruzen Shintetsu had grown louder and more vicious. Despite Hiruzen Sarutobi’s efforts as the Third Hokage to suppress the rumors, Root had proven impossible to control.

The harder he tried to silence the voices, the more the villagers believed the accusations were true.

Such was the Leaf Village’s long-standing tradition—whispers of scandal, fueled by suspicion and spite.

Under these circumstances, holding a grand funeral would be unwise.

To many villagers, the idea of honoring a man who’d allegedly abused his power—because his father was Hokage—with a lavish ceremony after his death…

Was an affront to the victims.

Reluctantly, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to keep things simple.

He invited only a few of Shintetsu’s closest friends.

Soon, the group arrived at the Leaf Village Cemetery. The funeral parlor had already transported Shintetsu’s coffin to the burial site.

"May I… just see him one last time?"

Hiruzen Fumiko held Konoha Maru’s small hand, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Go ahead."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded gravely.

"Mommy… why is Father lying here?"

Three-year-old Konoha Maru blinked up at her, his words still clumsy and unsure.

Fumiko’s eyes finally broke. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she whispered,

"Konoha Maru… your father is sleeping. But this time… he’ll be sleeping for a very, very long time. When you grow up, you’ll understand why."

---

Not far away, workers from the Leaf Village Funeral Parlor huddled together, whispering among themselves.

"That woman is the Hokage’s daughter-in-law, right? She’s stunning…"

"Hey, Yamada—you’re staring like a fool. Don’t even think about it. She might be a ninja. One Root flick of the finger and you’d be dust."

"Yamada? You’ve been acting weird these past two days. I call your name, you don’t answer. You didn’t even flinch when I punched you. You’re not… actually smitten with the Hokage’s widow, are you?"

Yamada snapped out of his daze with a jolt, quickly denying it.

"Stop saying that! You’ll get me killed if the Hokage hears you!"

He forced his trembling voice to steady.

"Anyway… the time’s about right. It’s time to lower the coffin."

His companions nodded.

"Agreed."

But just as they began to move forward, an unexpected commotion erupted.

They heard raised voices—shouts, arguments.

"—Hey! Uchiha Iizumi! What are you doing here? This isn’t your place!"

"—Uchiha Police Force enforcement. No civilians permitted. Interference will be met with lethal force."

"—You—!"

"Uchiha Iizumi? That name… I know I’ve heard it before…"

One of the funeral workers rubbed his short beard thoughtfully.

Then he noticed something odd about Yamada.

"Hey, Yamada… why’s your face so pale?"

"Nothing… nothing at all."

Yamada forced a smile—crooked, trembling, worse than a grimace.

"Just… rain. Maybe I caught a chill."

Inside, his mind screamed No!

It couldn’t be him.

It couldn’t be now.

Four years had passed since that night—clean, perfect, no traces left.

No Investigation Corps ever came knocking.

No one ever connected the dots.

So why was he here?

Why now?

It had to be a coincidence.

After all, the Leaf Village was small.

And Uchiha Iizumi—the so-called “plague of justice”—was everywhere, like a shadow.

Maybe Yamada was just unlucky.

That’s all.

---

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi and his group had noticed the disturbance.

When he caught the name Uchiha Iizumi, the color drained from his face.

Then he saw Fumiko, who had been kneeling beside the coffin, suddenly stand up in silence.

His heart sank.

He feared the grief-stricken widow might do something reckless.

"I’ll go check it out," he said. "Fumiko, stay here. Comfort your husband in his final moments."

Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen Sarutobi advanced with two Anbu ninja at his back.

And there, standing at the edge of the chaos, was the one man he never wanted to see again.

—Uchiha Iizumi.

"Hokage-sama."

The Hiruzen clan’s ninja who had blocked Iizumi stepped aside instantly, bowing respectfully.

Hiruzen Sarutobi approached slowly.

The two stood less than two meters apart.

"Iizumi…"

His voice carried a storm of emotion.

"You know what you did. You have no right to be here. Your presence only stirs pain, invites conflict."

"If you wish to mourn Shintetsu…"

The rain blurred his expression. He paused, then continued,

"Come back tomorrow. Today… it’s not the time."

Seeing Iizumi at his son’s funeral, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a strange relief.

At least the man hadn’t forgotten their past—his former master and student bond.

At least he still came to say goodbye.

So he wasn’t utterly broken.

But his Absolute Justice… it had become unbearable.

Once, before Iizumi’s blade had ever touched him, Hiruzen had seen him as a blade worth wielding—a double-edged weapon, yes, but one that could serve the village well if guided properly.

But when that blade turned on him…

When it cut into the Hokage’s own flesh…

That was when he realized:

Iizumi’s justice wasn’t justice.

It was obsession.

And now, Iizumi’s reply took him completely by surprise.

"Third Hokage… I may one day come to honor Shintetsu’s memory.

But not today.

I am here to enforce justice."

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s instincts screamed warning.

The two Anbu behind him narrowed their eyes.

The air grew thick, charged.

Enforce justice?

What did that mean?

Then—

"Uchiha Izumi."

Iizumi spoke.

"Yes!"

A sudden, sharp shout from behind him nearly made Hiruzen Sarutobi leap.

Only when he saw the girl step forward—Uchiha Izumi’s apprentice—did he understand.

His face darkened.

Why was this young Uchiha suddenly shouting like a battle cry?

Uchiha Iizumi turned to her.

"You speak."

"Yes, Izumi senior!"

Izumi swallowed hard, forcing down her fear.

"Hokage-sama, Izumi senior has uncovered a horrific case of murder and dismemberment."

She’s already questioned multiple suspects.

Only one remains—Yamada Toshikuro, from the Leaf Village Funeral Parlor."

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s brow furrowed.

"Dissection… of a mother and daughter?"

Izumi nodded.

"The killer dismembered them, then dumped the body parts into the village’s sewers.

Though Izumi only recovered partial bone fragments, she was able to identify the victims through forensic analysis."

"We’ve followed every lead.

Now… only Yamada Toshikuro remains."

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.

He had to admit—Uchiha Iizumi’s investigative skill was flawless.

Utterly, completely beyond reproach.

But still…

"Iizumi," he said, voice low, "today is Shintetsu’s funeral. Let him rest in peace.

If you must arrest someone, wait until after the ceremony."

Iizumi’s expression remained cold.

"Third Hokage… justice has been four years late.

Are you going to let it be late again?"

A pause.

Then, with icy clarity:

"Justice that’s already late cannot be late any longer."

His eyes locked onto Hiruzen Sarutobi’s, unblinking.

"Or… in your eyes, the peace of a man who fell into darkness…

is worth more than the justice long denied to two innocent victims?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi saw it clearly—not suspicion, not doubt, but raw, unmasked hostility.

Not something he had guessed.

No—this was something Iizumi willed him to see.

His face tightened.

"Give me this—a favor, Iizumi.

Let this day pass. We can talk tomorrow."

Iizumi’s voice remained steady.

"If your face could rewind time, bring back the dead, I’d give you the favor.

But it can’t."

Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Iizumi’s right hand slide to the hilt of his blade.

Behind him, the Anbu ninja gripped their own weapons.

The atmosphere crackled.

"Iizumi… I am the Hokage."

Click.

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyes snapped—because Iizumi’s thumb had already slid the guard open.

A single inch of silver blade emerged—icy, sharp, gleaming under the gray sky.

To Hiruzen, it looked like a dog that no longer obeyed its master.

A beast that dared to challenge the Hokage himself.

No one—not even Danzō—had ever spoken to him like this.

His face darkened.

"Must this go so far?"

Iizumi drew the blade fully.

The Anbu moved instantly, drawing their own swords—blocking Iizumi’s path.

"Put it away!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gritted his teeth.

The Anbu hesitated.

"Hokage-sama?"

"Put it away."

He repeated, voice like stone.

Reluctantly, they sheathed their weapons.

But their eyes never left Iizumi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at him—long, silent, unyielding.

Then, without a word, he turned and walked away.

"Iizumi senior… we…"

Izumi, shaken by the tension, stammered.

Iizumi cut her off, voice flat.

"Go in. Arrest him."

"Yes, senior!"

—

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end