Chapter 91: What's the Difference Between Him and Uchiha Itachi? (Two-in-One – Please Subscribe)

Leaf Village Investigation Corps Building.

Office.

"...Is this information accurate?"

When a member of the Uchiha Police Force reported that the envoy sent by the Daimyo to Leaf Village had been killed by Uchiha Iizumi, Fugaku remained silent for five full seconds before the news even began to sink in.

He never expected that Uchiha Iizumi—just the night before having caused a massive incident—would deliver another shock so soon after.

An envoy of the Daimyo.

A Daimyo’s heir.

Fugaku felt dizzy. His mind reeled.

Now, not only was the Uchiha clan’s relationship with Leaf Village strained—but it seemed the Daimyo himself would now hold a grudge against the entire Uchiha clan.

After all, the Investigation Corps’ funding had long come directly from the Daimyo’s treasury.

The Uchiha clan’s livelihood depended heavily on that support.

To kill the Daimyo’s son was to insult the Daimyo himself—and drag the entire clan into ruin.

Could Fugaku honestly tell the Daimyo, “This was just Iizumi’s doing. The Uchiha clan had nothing to do with it?”

Even if that were true…

Would the Daimyo believe him?

The Investigation Corps member answered, “It’s what everyone’s saying. There were multiple eyewitnesses. Rumor has it that the Third Hokage was even present at the scene. If this weren’t true, it wouldn’t have spread this fast.”

Fugaku froze.

His heart tightened instantly. He straightened, eyes sharp. “Did Iizumi have a confrontation with Hokage-sama?”

“No,” the member replied. “Apparently not.”

Fugaku exhaled slightly—relieved, but only half.

Still, the death of the Daimyo’s second son loomed like a blade hanging over his head. He stood up, walking to stand beneath the Uchiha clan’s ancestral crest.

As if the symbol could give him strength.

As if it could calm his nerves.

“But…” the member added, “Iizumi did exchange heated words with the Third Hokage. The village is saying that the envoys committed crimes, so Iizumi executed all of them—over a dozen people. Only one survivor was left.”

“By the time the Hokage arrived, he told Iizumi that this was wrong. That’s when the argument started.”

Fugaku let out a heavy sigh.

“He was wrong. Under Fire Country law, the upper nobility enjoy immunity. Even without that law, the Daimyo’s heir is off-limits—Zetsu cannot touch them.”

His voice carried unmistakable frustration.

But the damage was done. Even the Hokage couldn’t stop Iizumi.

Now Fugaku faced a new nightmare: How would the Uchiha clan handle the pressure from the Daimyo?

How could they explain this to the Daimyo?

“Iizumi… has gone too far!” Fugaku muttered, not knowing how many times he’d felt this way recently.

Each time, it was because of Iizumi.

Another scandal. Another disaster.

Each one drained him.

“This time… he’s crossed a line no one can touch,” Fugaku thought, his head throbbing.

A Fire Country ninja killing the Daimyo’s son?

If word got out to other nations in the Ninja World—there would be outrage.

“Fugaku-sama,” the member hesitated. “Was Iizumi truly wrong? He claimed the envoys had committed crimes. If they were guilty enough to deserve execution… then his actions were justified.”

“He was merely upholding his own Absolute Justice. And isn’t that one of our Police Force’s duties? To uphold justice?”

Fugaku glanced at him coldly. “His actions shattered the alliance between the Uchiha clan and the Daimyo. It will damage the village’s relationship with us.”

“His justice is personal. The Uchiha Police Force exists to protect Leaf Village’s justice. That is the root of our survival here.”

The member fell silent, lips parting as if to speak—but then closing again.

Was Iizumi’s justice really just his own?

That man had once declared he would Purge all evil from the Ninja World.

Not just Leaf Village.

That was a justice so grand, so absolute—it transcended borders.

And here was Fugaku—so focused on balancing the Uchiha clan’s relationship with the village, so afraid to even speak of the future…

So afraid of Uchiha Itachi, the one who would one day destroy the clan.

Compared to Iizumi—fearless, defiant, willing to stand against the Third Hokage, to kill a Daimyo’s son for justice…

Fugaku seemed… weak.

The Investigation Corps member, himself a moderate like Fugaku, felt a flicker of doubt—of resentment—toward his clan head.

…

On the other side of the village.

A gathering of Uchiha extremists.

Among them, Uchiha Setsuna—whose hatred for Iizumi burned fiercer than any flame.

Now, upon hearing of the morning’s events in Leaf Village, he fell into a chilling silence.

So did the others.

Finally, one of the elders—a man with a single black eye patch—spoke, voice heavy with hesitation:

“That boy… Iizumi… was that not a little too extreme?”

Another chimed in:

“They say Yoyoenin Kyosuke was the Daimyo’s favorite. His death in Leaf Village… those four old bastards at the top are going to be in chaos.”

Setsuna’s lips twitched.

At last, he spoke:

“Do you think we aren’t in chaos? Can we withstand the Daimyo’s wrath?”

The others fell silent.

No.

Even the Uchiha extremists had only planned a coup within Leaf Village—overthrowing the Hokage, seizing power.

They had never dared to target the Daimyo—the village’s biggest patron.

And if they did succeed, they’d still need the Daimyo to legitimize their rule.

Yet here came Iizumi—his Absolute Justice more radical than any plot they’d schemed for years.

“Now you understand why I’ve always said Iizumi is the most extreme anomaly among us?” Setsuna’s eyes darkened. “In his eyes, if we are evil… he’d kill us too. Without hesitation.”

He turned, voice low, venomous:

“Tell me—what difference does it make between him and Uchiha Itachi, that little monster?”

…

Nara Clan Residence.

Yamana Haiichi, who had temporarily taken shelter with the Nara clan, sat across from Nara Shikaku, both deep in a game of shogi.

“Still can’t beat you…” Yamana Haiichi sighed, staring at his nearly dead board. “For the next few weeks, we’ll need your clan’s protection. Otherwise, I don’t know how I’ll house all my people.”

Nara Shikaku studied his friend’s face—the exhaustion deeper than any expression he’d seen.

After a pause, he asked:

“Haiichi… are you sure Iizumi can be a true ally for the Yamanaka clan? You’ve heard what he did today, haven’t you?”

Yamana Haiichi shook his head. “I never intended for Iizumi to be a shield for us.”

Shikaku blinked.

He saw the faintest smile on Haiichi’s stern face.

“I simply made what I believe is the right choice for the Yamanaka clan’s future.”

“That’s not like you,” Shikaku said, shaking his head. “You’re not the kind to gamble everything on one man.”

Haiichi picked up a stone, gaze down.

“Uchiha Iizumi is the most unique Uchiha I’ve ever met. Yes, he has the clan’s extremism—but it’s rooted in his Absolute Justice. His blade only cuts through evil in the Ninja World.”

He placed the stone on the board.

“Ryoku, he will change the entire Ninja World—completely. I’ve known him ten years. I’ve watched him for ten years.”

“Quiet, isolated… always carrying that strange aura I couldn’t name. But last night… when he fought Danzō, deliberately avoiding harming the Yamanaka residence… that’s when I finally understood.”

Shikaku frowned. “Understood what?”

“Ryoku… if you truly knew him, you’d know.”

Haiichi didn’t elaborate.

Shikaku didn’t press. He studied the board, his frown softening.

The village’s wisest man let out a quiet sigh.

“The boar, the deer, the butterfly—three clans, one fate.

Since you’ve staked everything on Iizumi… I’ll take the time to understand him. To understand his Absolute Justice.”

He paused.

“As for how… well, it’ll depend on how he stands firm in this storm.”

Just then—footsteps, heavier than usual, approached.

Akimichi Teizou, the head of the Akimichi clan, had arrived.

…

Meanwhile, at Ichiraku Ramen.

“Naruto… today you’re not with the Hokage-sama?” Te Da smiled at the boy.

One of the few in Leaf Village who didn’t look down on Naruto.

But then he noticed Naruto’s expression—unnaturally tense.

Normally, when the Third Hokage came with him, Naruto was full of energy.

Today? He was fidgeting, fingers twisting his shirt.

And when Te Da looked closer—there were faint tear tracks on his cheeks.

Poor kid.

Te Da sighed inwardly. He knew how hard life was for Naruto here.

He guessed someone had spoken harshly to the boy today.

Just as he was about to say, “Today’s basic ramen is half off—cheer up,”

he saw two more figures enter behind Naruto.

From their attire—Uchiha Police Force ninjas.

“Welcome…”

The words “to our shop” never left his lips.

His gaze locked onto the face of Uchiha Iizumi.

“Same as always. Four bowls,” Iizumi said.

“…Yes, of course.”

Te Da knew Iizumi well. He was a regular—though one the shop owner never felt at ease around.

The nickname “Uchiha Plague” carried more weight than “Fox Child.”

The Nine-Tailed Beast had caused pain years ago.

But Iizumi?

Te Da heard about his “achievements” every day—arrests, executions, blood on his hands.

More than once, the name Iizumi scared people more than Kyuubi ever had.

Still, rumors whispered that Iizumi’s reputation had… improved slightly.

But reputation didn’t erase fear.

“Naruto’s with him… How?” Te Da’s mind raced.

But he didn’t ask. He turned and began preparing the ramen.

…

“Meow, kid,” Tachibana Jiro leapt onto Naruto’s head.

“Why are you hiding like a turtle?”

The sudden weight knocked Naruto off balance. He crashed to the ground, forehead smacking the floor.

He didn’t cry out.

He scrambled up, face dirty, eyes wide with confusion.

Then—after a long breath—Naruto turned to Iizumi, voice trembling:

“…Am I… going to die?

If I’m the Nine-Tails… if I’ve killed people before…

Then I’m the kind of monster you’d kill, right?

Is this… the last meal I’ll ever have?”

Iizumi glanced at the blond boy.

Tachibana Jiro hopped onto the counter, answering for him:

“Kid, didn’t I just say it? You’re just a vessel. Iizumi isn’t some serial killer.”

“Relax. If you were truly evil, he’d have killed you the moment he met you.

He didn’t.

So you’re still alive.

So he invited you here for ramen.”

“Huh?” Tachibana Jiro suddenly froze.

Wait… Why had Iizumi invited this jinchūriki to eat ramen?

“His future holds no evil,” Iizumi said slowly.

“He’s a promising candidate.”

“Promising…?”

Izumi, standing nearby, suddenly widened her eyes.

She stared at Naruto—blank, confused, utterly lost.

“Wait… Is Iizumi-senpai trying to steal the Hokage’s trump card?”

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end