Chapter 96: The Hokage Is Indeed the Enemy of Absolute Justice! (5000 words)

"To merely tolerate Danzō’s crimes—treating him as a black glove, knowing full well the depth of his wickedness, yet never punishing him, and instead tacitly permitting, even supporting, his actions… this is already complicity with the very evil that plagues the Ninja World."

Under the cold, unblinking gaze of a dozen Anbu Ninjas, and with Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression frozen in stunned disbelief, Uchiha Iizumi spoke each word like a blade slicing through silence.

Every syllable cut deep into the Third Hokage’s composure—sharp, precise, merciless.

"How dare you claim to be anything but an Evil Offender, Third Hokage? Just because you wear the title of Leaf Village’s leader, do you believe you’re above the law? That you’re granted privileges no other criminal enjoys?"

Hiruzen’s lips twitched. He had no quick retort.

Because, in truth, he had treated Danzō as a black glove. Root was the shadow beneath the Leaf’s light. Only through the balance of light and darkness had the village grown strong. And in that darkness, Danzō had done things—filthy, brutal things—done with Hiruzen’s silent consent.

Everyone in the village knew it. But no one spoke. They gave the Hokage his dignity. They gave him his face.

But not everyone bowed.

Not Uchiha Iizumi.

And when Naruto’s face flickered with sudden, dawning shock—his eyes wide, his breath caught in his throat—Hiruzen’s heart plummeted.

He cleared his throat, straightened his posture, folded his hands behind his back, and spoke with the solemn authority of a man defending his honor.

"Danzō’s Root is not under my command. It is a separate system—two distinct chains of authority. Strictly speaking, there is no direct superior-subordinate relationship between me and him."

"He often acts on his own. Makes decisions I don’t even know about. Only after the deed is done does he come to me, asking me to clean up the mess. As Hokage, I must maintain stability in the village."

"In such circumstances, I have no choice but to cover for him. If I were to act against him, Root would fracture. The village would descend into chaos. And countless innocent lives would be lost."

He sighed softly, letting the weight of helplessness settle into his voice.

It wasn’t all lies. Sometimes, Danzō’s actions were beyond his control.

But this speech—while it sounded like a rebuttal to Iizumi—was really meant for one person.

Naruto.

Hiruzen couldn’t let Naruto think his Hokage grandfather was a monster.

"…So that’s how it is…" Naruto scratched his head, blinking in confusion. He didn’t fully understand. But he did understand the man’s words. They were simpler, more direct than Hiruzen’s careful phrasing.

And… maybe that was the point.

Hokage-sama wasn’t bad. He was just… caught in the middle.

This strange, overwhelming attention—being at the center of so many eyes, so many voices—felt new. Unsettling. But also… thrilling.

He turned to watch the terrifying man—Uchiha Iizumi—expecting more.

But instead, Iizumi simply turned his back.

To Hiruzen Sarutobi. To Uchiha Fugaku. To everyone.

Words were wasted on them. Time spent with them was time stolen from Justice.

He only spared Naruto a single glance—a fleeting silhouette—before covering the white sheets back over the corpses on the slab.

Then, without a word, he said:

"Want to see real Justice? Then follow."

And with that, Uchiha Iizumi strode forward, ignoring the line of Anbu Ninjas blocking the path. With Uchiha Izumi and Tachibana Jiro at his side, and a sleek black Ninja Cat padding silently behind, he marched straight toward the Morgue’s exit.

Hiruzen gave a subtle hand signal.

The Anbu parted—like water before a blade—clearing a path.

Naruto glanced left, then right, then scrambled after them, scrambling like a shadow clinging to a storm.

"…Ah…" Hiruzen sighed, watching Naruto scuttle after the figure of Absolute Justice. "If only I’d arrived ten minutes earlier… I might have saved him from this path."

But it was too late.

The mark of Iizumi’s Justice had already taken root in Naruto’s soul. And with the truth of the past laid bare—those long-buried secrets, those names whispered in the dark—Naruto’s trust in his Hokage grandfather had begun to crack.

Now, all Hiruzen could do was pray.

Pray that Naruto’s Justice would never carry the two words: Zetsu.

Justice itself was not evil. Hiruzen believed in it. He was Justice.

But Absolute Justice?

That was a different beast.

One Leaf Village could not survive.

Another one like Iizumi would force him to resign—maybe even flee.

Because under Iizumi’s standards, Hiruzen Sarutobi would be on the list of Evil Offenders.

Not a confirmed killer. Not a monster. But a collaborator. A man who looked away.

He wasn’t sure he’d be marked for execution. But he couldn’t shake the chill of doubt.

That was why every time he met Iizumi, he brought an army of Anbu with him.

"Hokage-sama," one Anbu whispered, eyes fixed on Iizumi’s retreating back. "What now?"

Hiruzen’s warm, paternal smile vanished. His voice turned cold.

"Follow. We cannot let Naruto walk down that path—too extreme, too dangerous."

He took two steps forward—then stopped.

He turned to Fugaku, who stood stiff and silent, caught between loyalty and fear.

"Fugaku," Hiruzen said, voice softer now, "thank you. Your intent, your capacity—your leadership—I see it. The Uchiha Clan has a leader worthy of its legacy. Thanks to you, the prophecy of Iizumi’s future… may yet be avoided."

Fugaku exhaled.

He was acknowledged.

Not just tolerated. Not just watched.

Recognized.

And with that, he felt something stir in his chest—hope, pride, a quiet fire.

The village might finally begin to trust the Uchiha again.

The misunderstanding… it was over.

---

Outside the Morgue, Uchiha Iizumi approached a member of the Investigation Corps, requested the file on the four victims—a family of four—and handed it to Izumi.

"Newcomer," Iizumi said, "you take the lead."

Izumi stiffened. This was a test.

Not just a task. A trial.

She wasn’t just a follower. She was being asked to lead.

"Yes, Senior!" she snapped, grabbing the file.

But then she froze.

Where did she even begin?

Think, Izumi! She glanced at Naruto, who was peering over her shoulder with wide, curious eyes.

He’s one of them, she realized. One of Iizumi’s believers. Even if he doesn’t understand it yet. But the potential… it’s there.

"Read with me," she said, handing him a page.

"…Huh?" Naruto blinked, then grinned. "Really? I can?"

"Yep."

She pointed to the couple in the photo. "We need someone with a grudge against them. Someone close—family, friend, neighbor. The kids? Probably not. They’re too young. The real suspects… are the adults."

She turned to Tachibana Jiro. "Can your Ninja Cats help gather intel?"

"Of course, meow!" Jiro grinned, flipping down from his perch.

In seconds, over twenty cats—calico, tabby, black, white, speckled—had gathered at the front of the Investigation Corps building, whispering, chattering, sharing fragments of rumors.

Naruto stared, mouth agape.

"Kid," Jiro declared proudly, "my cats are the finest intelligence agents in the entire Ninja Cat world. Even the youngest among them has trained under Iizumi-sama for over a year. They’re your future seniors!"

"And from now on," he added, "you call me Tachibana Jiro Senior—just like Iizumi does."

With that, he leapt down, strutting before his feline army like a general before troops.

Within minutes, the cats split into groups, vanishing into alleys, rooftops, and shadows.

"Is that… it?" Naruto asked, scratching his head.

Izumi smiled. "Trust Tachibana Jiro Senior. His cats are incredible. Most of the time, we catch cases before they happen—because of them. They’re always listening."

She paused, then offered a metaphor: "Think of them like… Iizumi-sama’s Anbu."

Behind her, a line of Anbu Ninjas stiffened.

…What?

Did she just compare us to cats?

"…They’re useful," Hiruzen murmured, arms folded, leaning slightly away from Iizumi—his eyes never meeting the girl’s.

"Iizumi," he said, "if you joined Anbu, with a team like that, you’d be their commander-in-chief."

Iizumi watched a tricolor cat vanish down a street.

"Staying in a place like that… makes me sick."

Hiruzen: …

Another failure. Another jab.

This was the price of Absolute Justice.

It didn’t just reject the system. It rejected him.

And that meant Naruto—Naruto, with the Nine-Tails’ power—could become even more dangerous if he fell under Iizumi’s influence.

The thought chilled him.

If Naruto, already so volatile, embraced Absolute Justice… what would happen?

The Nine-Tails was unstable. Unpredictable. What if, under Iizumi’s doctrine, Naruto acted without restraint?

He’d be worse than Iizumi.

More destructive.

More unstoppable.

---

Meanwhile, Tsunade Konoha returned to the Hokage Tower, face darker than storm clouds.

Hyūga Menji, waiting at the entrance, frowned. "Where’s Naruto? Why isn’t Danzō with you?"

He noticed the darkening of her expression.

Something had gone wrong.

"Tell me," Menji said, voice low. "What happened?"

Tsunade exhaled sharply.

"Iizumi… he influenced Naruto. With just a few words. The boy’s already drawn to his Absolute Justice. And when I tried to take him back—Naruto resisted. He fought me. The Nine-Tails… it nearly broke free."

Menji’s face tightened.

"This is… beyond expectations."

"He’s not just interested," Tsunade said. "He’s believing. And Iizumi’s power… it’s not just persuasion. It’s contagion."

Menji clenched his jaw. "But Hiruzen was there. He should’ve been able to stabilize Naruto."

Tsunade’s eyes narrowed. "I hope so."

"Otherwise…" She looked out the window, her voice a whisper. "If the Nine-Tails falls into the hands of the Uchiha… then the Nine-Tails Uprising… it might happen again."

Menji: "Iizumi won’t let that happen. He’s committed to his Justice."

Tsunade snorted. "You don’t understand. There will always be someone who thinks they can control the beast. But when it’s too late… it’s already too late."

---

By afternoon, the cats returned—each one bearing a scrap of truth.

Izumi gathered the data, sorted it, cross-referenced it.

She handed a list to Iizumi.

"Izumi Senior," she said, "these five are the most likely suspects. All have conflicts with the couple. All are ninja. All had the means—silently, swiftly—to kill four people in one night."

She was about to suggest bringing them in for questioning.

But then she remembered Iizumi’s ability.

Why question them? He can see their sins… in the past… and the future.

"Let my Anbu bring them in," Hiruzen interrupted, stepping forward.

"I am the Hokage. This is a village crime. I must lead. I must ensure justice is served."

He smiled at Naruto.

"Even with just the Fire Nation Will, you can uphold Justice in the Leaf. Only when Will and Justice are united can a ninja become truly great."

Izumi’s respect for the Hokage—fleeting as it was—dissolved.

She saw it now.

Hiruzen wasn’t helping.

He was protecting Naruto from Iizumi.

From Absolute Justice.

And in that moment, the truth struck her like lightning.

—The Hokage is indeed the enemy of Absolute Justice!

---

Under Hiruzen’s command, five Anbu Ninjas moved swiftly. Within twenty minutes, the five suspects stood before them.

Izumi felt a tug on her sleeve.

She looked down.

Naruto, eyes wide, whispered, "Are they really the killers? What if they deny it?"

She shook her head. "I don’t know. But Iizumi Senior… he sees everything. Past. Future. Truth. If a murderer stands before him, he’ll know in an instant."

She paused.

"Because he believes in Absolute Justice. That’s why he has this power."

Naruto stared at Iizumi.

So he really can see evil… like a weapon?

But… Absolute Justice? What was the difference?

Before she could ask, Iizumi spoke—cold, final.

"None of them."

Izumi: !!

Her heart stopped.

Did I fail?

Naruto: "What? Not any of them?"

Hiruzen blinked, stunned.

He’d trusted the list. He’d trusted the method.

And yet…

"Bring the others in," Hiruzen said, frowning. "We need more suspects."

"No need," Iizumi said flatly. "Tachibana Jiro. Investigate the seven-year-old victim’s relationships. I need a list of anyone who had a conflict with him. Age doesn’t matter."

"Yes, Iizumi-sama!" Jiro saluted—and was gone.

"Seven… that kid… the one I saw…" Naruto shuddered, remembering the small, lifeless body. The face frozen in terror.

Before he could speak, Hiruzen asked, voice careful: "Iizumi… a child that age… his enemies would mostly be other kids, wouldn’t they? What good is that?"

He wasn’t doubting. He was just… confused.

Because he knew Iizumi was smarter than him.

But Iizumi didn’t answer.

He only said:

"Your imagination of evil in the Ninja World is too limited. You don’t understand how twisted… how sick this world truly is."

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end