Chapter 87: Obstructing the Enforcer, Kill on Sight (Dual Chapter – Request for Subscription)

Panting and trotting closely behind Uchiha Iizumi, Izumi suddenly noticed that the senior ahead of her had stopped dead in her tracks.

Fortunately, the young girl managed to halt her momentum just in time.

Otherwise, she would’ve crashed straight into her predecessor.

“P-Preceptor… what’s…?” Izumi started, but her words were cut short by Tachibana Jiro, who had perched on her shoulder.

“Shh,” the cat whispered. “Iizumi-sama has spotted his prey. His eyes have once again seen the Evil of the Ninja World!”

The Evil of the Ninja World?

The phrase sent a jolt through Izumi. She instantly straightened up, her senses sharpening.

Peeking cautiously from behind Uchiha Iizumi’s back, she followed her predecessor’s gaze—and saw a group of over a dozen individuals gathered in a tight cluster ahead.

“These people…” Izumi furrowed her brows. “They’re not from Leaf Village.”

Her certainty was absolute. Whenever Uchiha Iizumi appeared on the street, Leaf villagers fell silent instantly. Anyone with ill intent would immediately turn and flee, avoiding her like a plague. Even those whispering about last night’s events turned pale as chalk when the very subject stood before them.

Izumi wanted to tell them: There’s nothing wrong with discussing Iizumi-sama, as long as you’re not doing evil. Even talking about her face-to-face isn’t a crime.

But the village’s misunderstanding of her predecessor ran too deep.

Well… perhaps this misunderstanding is a form of reverence for Absolute Justice. As long as people fear it, they won’t dare commit evil.

She sighed inwardly.

Which is why, seeing these dozen people react so differently—so utterly unconcerned—she was certain: They couldn’t be from Leaf Village.

---

“He… is Uchiha Iizumi?” Yoyoenin Kyosuke didn’t flinch at the solemn presence of the Guardian Ninja Twelve. His eyes locked onto Uchiha Iizumi’s from across the space between them, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

He fanned himself with his fan, amused. “A member of the Uchiha clan? I’ve heard of them, of course, but never seen one in person. Cold demeanor… quite intimidating.”

“Nanmu, don’t worry,” Yoyoenin Kyosuke chuckled. “You said he’s from the Investigation Corps, right? The budget for Leaf Village’s Investigation Corps is funded by my father—the Daimyo of Fire Country.”

“Maybe we could even become friends. If he’s as talented as you claim… I’d gladly pay a fortune to hire him as my personal guard.”

But before he could take a single step forward, Nanmu suddenly reached out and gripped his arm.

“Hey! What are you doing?” One of the attendants snapped. “You’re here to guard, not interfere!”

The response was instantaneous—a single, icy glance from Nanmu, a veteran of the Ninja World’s bloodiest battles.

The man’s blood turned to ice. A cold sweat erupted across his skin.

Nanmu turned his gaze back to Uchiha Iizumi, his voice tight with warning.

“Kyosuke-sama… I saw murder in his eyes. You must leave—now. Find ninja reinforcements.”

His hand trembled slightly as he drew his sword an inch from its sheath.

“Because… this is a killing intent targeting you.”

“…What?!”

The gasp echoed through the group.

---

At that moment, Uchiha Iizumi moved.

He didn’t rush. Each step was deliberate, unhurried, yet heavy with intent.

In his line of sight, a young man dressed in an ornate shōtō robe had a crimson rectangular frame hovering above his head.

Inside the frame, red characters scrolled like a scroll of condemnation—recording his crimes.

The man stood out like a black sheep in a flock of sheep.

Uchiha Iizumi spoke, voice calm but precise.

“Yoyoenin Kyosuke. Eleven years ago, you accidentally killed a household servant and dumped her body in a dry well. When the family came seeking justice, you ordered your retainers to beat them into critical injury.”

Behind him, Izumi stiffened.

She fumbled in her tool pouch, pulling out paper and pen with lightning speed, scribbling down every word.

Tachibana Jiro tilted its head, ears twitching, muttering under its breath: “…Yoyoenin?”

“Seven years ago,” Uchiha Iizumi continued, “you lost all your private savings in a casino. In rage, you ordered your men to set the place ablaze. The fire spread uncontrollably—burning down dozens of homes. On that day, four people died, nineteen suffocated, ten seriously injured, and thirty-one lightly wounded.”

Izumi’s pen dug through the paper. Her pale knuckles whitened. Veins pulsed visibly along her wrist.

She gritted her teeth.

“Damn Evil Offenders!”

A question flashed through her mind: How can someone who committed such atrocities still stand here, untouched?

Her eyes lingered on the word “retainer” written in her notebook.

A vague suspicion stirred—but she couldn’t grasp it yet.

Then Tachibana Jiro’s voice cut through the silence.

“The Yoyoenin… that’s the Daimyo’s family name. Only the Daimyo and his immediate family bear that name in Fire Country.”

Izumi’s face paled.

“The Daimyo of Fire Country…?”

“Mrow,” the cat mused. “He’s young—definitely not the Daimyo himself. Could be a cousin… or even a son.”

It licked its paw, then rubbed its face.

“Newbie, prepare yourself. Iizumi-sama doesn’t care about rank or power.”

“Back in the Third Ninja War, when she left the village, she encountered a nobleman. He believed himself above the law, committing atrocities with impunity. She went to his estate with a single kunai—and wiped out his entire family—nineteen souls. Not a single one was innocent.”

Izumi’s eyes widened in shock.

Uchiha Iizumi’s voice, quiet yet clear, carried forward.

“Three years ago… you raped an eleven-year-old girl while drunk. When you sobered up and feared exposure, you strangled her and dumped the body in the river.”

“One year ago…”

The words were scattered, disjointed—yet chilling.

Nanmu gripped his sword tighter, his nerves fraying.

What is this man babbling about?

Yet he knew—Uchiha Iizumi didn’t speak without reason.

Then—thud.

A sound from behind.

Nanmu turned.

Yoyoenin Kyosuke, the Daimyo’s son, stood frozen—his face ashen, eyes wide with terror, as if he’d seen a ghost.

And the other retainers? Their expressions mirrored his.

What in the world was happening?

Then Uchiha Iizumi spoke again—his voice like a blade sliding through silence.

“Yoyoenin Kyosuke. This is the sum of your twenty-four years of evil. Such crimes—unforgivable—must be purged by Justice!”

Nanmu’s breath caught.

No way… This cheerful, kind-hearted nobleman… could have done all that?!

But worse—how did Uchiha Iizumi know?

Had he made it up?

Yet if it was a lie… why were they reacting like this?

Yoyoenin Kyosuke’s pupils trembled in his eyes, his mind reeling.

How… how could he know?!

A cold sweat trickled down his temple. With every step Uchiha Iizumi took, he backed away—his body trembling with dread. The calm he once wore had vanished, replaced by raw fear.

He turned to his retainers, eyes blazing with accusation.

“Kyosuke-sama…!” one whispered, swallowing hard. “We swear—we haven’t betrayed you. We don’t even know this man. We don’t know how he found out…”

Nanmu said nothing. He had no words.

He’d been wrong. This man wasn’t noble. He was a monster.

But then—

“Uchiha Iizumi!” Nanmu barked, stepping forward, sword drawn. “This man is a Daimyo’s envoy! A guest of the Third Hokage! A high-ranking noble of Fire Country! If you don’t wish to spark a war between the Daimyo and Leaf Village, stop now! You will not take another step toward him!”

He’d accepted the Daimyo’s mission—his duty was to protect Yoyoenin Kyosuke.

He had no choice but to stand.

As an elite Jōnin, he was no match for Uchiha Iizumi’s Molten Release Beast—but he could hold out until backup arrived.

“Kyosuke-sama, retreat with the others!” Nanmu ordered coldly. “This is now our battlefield.”

“Hey! Nanmu!” one retainer cried. “You have to stop that madman!”

“I’ll do my best,” Nanmu muttered.

---

Meanwhile…

“…Naruto?!”

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused mid-stride as he headed toward the entrance to greet the Daimyo’s envoy.

His eyes locked onto a familiar, small figure.

But… what was Naruto doing?

Hiruzen watched as the boy, sweat-drenched and panting, swept the street with a broom in one hand and a basket in the other.

Hiruzen approached and gently patted Naruto’s head.

Naruto turned, eyes lighting up.

“Hokage Grandpa!!”

“Naruto… what’s going on? Another prank?” Hiruzen asked, eyebrow raised.

Naruto’s smile faded instantly, replaced by a pout.

He recounted everything—the confrontation with Uchiha Iizumi, the way she’d lifted him up, then dropped him back down, and the punishment: six months of street cleaning.

His voice trembled with indignation, like a child pleading for mercy.

He looked up at Hiruzen with hopeful eyes—Please, just one more time, let me off.

But Hiruzen only smiled.

“Honestly… it’s not a bad thing. Might help you settle down. Saves me from another report about your mischief.”

Naruto’s face crumpled.

As he walked away, Hiruzen paused, deep in thought.

Then, without turning, he glanced toward a shadowed corner.

Instantly, an Anbu Ninja materialized, silent as a shadow.

“Hokage-sama. No Sharingan activation detected. He simply… reprimanded Naruto Uzumaki.”

Hiruzen exhaled slightly.

“Hmm…”

But then his expression darkened.

“Why didn’t you stop him? He was interacting with Naruto.”

The Anbu remained silent.

Hiruzen sighed.

Right… last time, the Anbu clashed with Uchiha Iizumi over Naruto. It caused a scandal. Danzō got dragged in. Two Root ninja died.

He couldn’t risk that again.

After a pause, Hiruzen spoke.

“From now on… keep Naruto away from the Uchiha clan.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.”

---

Crack.

Nanmu’s eyes narrowed.

He saw Uchiha Iizumi’s left hand resting lightly on the hilt—his fingers pressing against the tsuba, forcing the blade a full centimeter from its scabbard.

He’s not listening to my warning.

Damn it… this fanatical ‘Molten Release Beast’ doesn’t even recognize rank or status?! This is the Daimyo’s son!

Nanmu’s hand flashed through seals—lightning chakra swirling around his palm.

“Lightning Release: Fang Blade Technique!”

He swept his blade across the edge—ssssssssz—and a crackling storm of electricity wrapped around the steel, like the fangs of a wild beast.

“First strike—win!”

He vanished.

A streak of lightning, trailing electric sparks, slashed toward Uchiha Iizumi.

Clang!

The blades clashed mid-air, sparks erupting like a storm.

Nanmu twisted, deflecting the blow—then suddenly plunged his sword into the ground.

He pulled back, palms slamming together.

“Raikiri…”

“Lightning Cage Technique!”

Delay. That’s all I need.

He didn’t believe he could kill Uchiha Iizumi. But if he could just buy time…

Then—thunder roared.

A cage of crackling lightning surged forward, aiming to trap the Uchiha.

But at that moment—

Uchiha Iizumi’s right arm erupted.

Lava, molten and glowing, surged forward like a living lance.

In Nanmu’s stunned horror, the lava arm pierced through the storm of lightning.

Lightning struck—explosions of molten rock flew, craters pockmarked the arm—but Uchiha Iizumi didn’t flinch.

“Investigation Corps Enforcement. Obstructing the enforcer… kill on sight.”

The words rang out.

Nanmu’s eyes widened—he’d finally heard it.

Finally, he understood the gap between himself and the legend—the genius who stood alongside Shisui.

It wasn’t just skill.

It was absolute, unyielding justice.

And in that moment—

Boom!

The lava arm punched through Nanmu’s chest.

His ninja vest? Useless against the infernal heat—like paper.

The scorching wave fried his organs instantly.

His eyes bulged, bloodshot, as he stared at the figure before him.

He coughed—a thick, solidified clot of blood flew from his mouth.

And then, silence.

The final truth settled.

He had been outmatched.

Not just by power.

But by purpose.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end