Konoha: The Absolute Justice of the Uchiha

Chapter 176 Juzo Biwa: "The Akatsuki are bullying me! They're isolating me!"

Konoha Village.

Jiraiya found Tsunade and stood in front of her, his expression very complicated.

Tsunade looked at him strangely and said somewhat impatiently, "Just say what you have to say. Don't stand in front of me without saying a word. What are you being so long-winded about?"

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya's lips twitched, and he took a deep breath: "Tsunade, Orochimaru... something's happened."

But after Jiraiya uttered what he considered to be a "shocking statement," he noticed that Tsunade's expression didn't seem to change much.

Jiraiya couldn't help but add, "Orochimaru is very likely dead. This is the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, and the Great Toad Sage's prophecies are never wrong."

Tsunade said expressionlessly, "Are you going to say later that Uchiha Ikezumi killed him?"

Jiraiya was taken aback: "You already knew?"

"I already knew," Tsunade said calmly. "Are you trying to use this incident to warn me—that Uchiha Izumi is too extreme, and Orochimaru is our close friend after all. He should have captured Orochimaru alive instead of killing him?"

Jiraiya's lips twitched: "You have too much prejudice against me... I wouldn't say something like that."

Tsunade said expressionlessly, "These two toads brainwash your moral values ​​every day, so it's reasonable for me to have this suspicion."

Tsunade continued, "Orochimaru is dead, so be it. This is the retribution he deserved, and his end was somewhat expected. If you are misled by a few toads and do evil like Orochimaru, I will kill you without Izumi's intervention."

Fukasaku Sennin: "..."

Shima Sennin: "..."

Jiraiya could only manage an awkward laugh and say, "When do you plan to tell this old man? I feel it will take a few days. The old man is currently overwhelmed with worries about Sarutobi Nadeshiko, and now the Uchiha clan is..."

Tsunade interrupted bluntly, "I've already had Shizune tell the old man. If he, a Hokage, can't even handle this kind of blow, what kind of Hokage is he? He might as well retire!"

"not to mention……"

Tsunade said quietly, "Being saddened by the death of a villain like Orochimaru shows that the old man can't distinguish right from wrong. I even suspect that the reason Orochimaru was able to escape Konoha back then was because the old man couldn't bring himself to kill him, which allowed a villain like Orochimaru to live and kill many innocent people over the years."

Jiraiya suddenly didn't know what to say; he felt that Tsunade in front of him had become extremely unfamiliar.

Tsunade seems to have become even more cold-blooded than before, like a creature lacking normal human emotions.

It's like...

It's just like with Uchiha Ike Izumi!
After watching Tsunade leave, Jiraiya frowned and finally just sighed softly.

“Little Jiraiya, this is the flaw of absolutism.” Master Shima said slowly, “It may indeed improve the order of a region in the short term and bring justice to some innocent victims. However, it will gradually strip a person of their emotions and kindness, turning them into a cold and heartless law enforcement tool.”

"Because if absolutists don't go to the point of 'disowning even their own family,' they are violating the 'way of forbearance' they believe in. In their eyes, that's not justice."

"Tsunade is changing in this direction, you mustn't follow her example."

Master Shima spoke earnestly.

……

"Lady Tsunade, this is roughly what that toad couple from Mount Myōboku said behind your back," said a slug sage clone perched on Tsunade's shoulder.

It can be observed that this split body is significantly smaller than before.

It was obvious that Tsunade secretly asked this split entity to split off another part so that she could eavesdrop on Shima and Fukasaku talking to Jiraiya.

"Tch, just as I expected. Those two toads are talking bad about me again, and about that guy Chiquan too. It seems that the toads of Mount Myōboku only have this kind of ability to bewitch people."

Tsunade pursed her lips, naturally feeling a little annoyed.

But she didn't want to remind Jiraiya.

Jiraiya is already an adult. If he can still be fooled by two toads like this, it means that no matter how much you remind them, it won't be of any use. They will only stubbornly stick to their own opinions.

Tsunade thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Slug Sage, do you think those two toads' assessment of me was accurate?"

Among all the people or summoned creatures she knows, Tsunade would probably only show politeness to the Slug Sage.

The Slug Sage slowly said, "No. What they told Jiraiya was evasive. They emphasized that believers in absolute justice abandoned their emotions and their egos. But they didn't mention why believers in absolute justice had to be so ruthless as to do that."

"Although I am not human, I can make a bold assessment—the reason why absolute believers in justice would do something so extreme as to betray their own family is usually because their relatives have committed unforgivable evils. The two toads ignored this 'cause' and only spoke of the 'effect'."

"They also didn't mention why absolute justice would arise in the ninja world. When one extreme ideology emerges, another extreme ideology will inevitably exist. The fact that absolute justice can flourish in the ninja world means that absolute evil exists in the ninja world."

"This is my opinion on the matter."

Tsunade remarked, "Perhaps, Lady Slug, you should open a school for ideological correction in Konoha, and throw all the guys in the village in there so they can understand why the ninja world needs justice."

"I am not good at teaching and nurturing students."

"It is gentle," said the Slug Immortal.

……

Inside the Hokage Building.

Shizune, who had informed Hiruzen Sarutobi of the information about Orochimaru, nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, then cautiously looked at the Hokage before her, whose expression had suddenly become blank.

Shizune was somewhat worried about the Hokage's emotional state, after all, Orochimaru, one of the Three Legendary Sannin, was, after all, the Hokage's disciple.

The Hokage has now received news of his disciple's death.

Secondly, she felt a little guilty because Shizune remembered that when Tsunade was drunk last night, she said something incoherent and very loudly, probably heard by all the neighbors.

—The old man was alright when he was young, but now that he's old, he's a complete failure as Hokage! I could have done a better job as Hokage! Even a dog could have done a better job!

Although I managed to cover Tsunade's rambling mouth in time.

I wonder if Konoha's Anbu heard it.

Did you report this to the Hokage?

Fortunately, Shizune's worries were unnecessary. Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, waved his hand, and said, "I understand. You may leave now."

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

Silently, she quickly left.

"...Sigh." Not long after Shizune left, a deep sigh echoed in the Hokage's office. Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples. It was impossible for him to have no feelings for Orochimaru at all; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so soft-hearted as to let Orochimaru go in the first place.

Upon learning of Orochimaru's death, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a profound sense of loss, like a parent outliving their child. What saddened him was that this wasn't the first time he'd experienced this.

"Lord Hokage..." Just then, a voice came from behind, and the familiar voice made Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes sharpen instantly.

He cast aside his sorrow and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see that Kakashi Hatake had somehow slipped through the window and entered.

Kakashi, wearing an Anbu mask, said, "We've uncovered another Sarutobi clan ninja who was secretly collaborating with a Kumogakure spy. This time, we captured him alive. Moreover, because we had already contacted the sealing team ninjas for backup, we prevented the cursed seal in his mind from being triggered."

"We obtained the most important information through our investigation of the Yamanaka clan ninjas within the Anbu." As he said this, a hint of complexity appeared in Kakashi's otherwise calm tone.

Hiruzen Sarutobi also sensed something was off about Kakashi's tone.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart sank.

Kakashi continued, "The mastermind behind the attempt to sow discord between the Hokage and Uchiha Izumi was indeed a spy from Kumogakure. Three Sarutobi clan ninja were deeply involved. One died due to an Anbu error, another is the person I just mentioned to the Hokage, and the last one..."

"It's Sarutobi Nadeshiko."

His words caused a huge uproar. Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened, and he jumped up from his chair, instinctively uttering an incredulous statement: "Absolutely impossible!"

Kakashi remained expressionless, seemingly having anticipated Hiruzen Sarutobi's emotional outburst. He slowly said, "But that is the truth. If the Hokage does not believe it, he can arrange for another Yamanaka clan ninja to examine the memories of the Sarutobi clan ninja who colluded with the Kumogakure spy."

"If the Hokage no longer trusts the Yamanaka clan ninja, he can interrogate the Sarutobi clan ninja himself. His psychological defenses have been breached by the Anbu, and he will answer truthfully whatever the Hokage asks him."

Kakashi had already said all that, and Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that no matter how unbelievable it was, it was an undeniable fact.

He sat down with a blank expression.
The chair back seemed unable to support his spine, and his posture involuntarily hunched over slightly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked in a dazed tone, "Why? What were their motives?"

Kakashi replied, "The motive is to use the Hokage to deal with Uchiha Ikezumi. In their eyes, your hesitation to take action against Uchiha Ikezumi is too weak. And your clansmen all harbor hatred for Uchiha Ikezumi. They have never forgotten their hatred and have always remembered it."

"They think that if things continue like this, Hokage, you might forget how Uchiha Ikezumi 'persecuted' the Sarutobi clan. Well, at least in their eyes, Uchiha Ikezumi's actions of upholding justice are a form of persecution against the Sarutobi clan."

"The only exception is Sarutobi Nadeshiko."

Kakashi paused, then continued, "The reason she cooperated with the Cloud Village spy was because she wanted to avenge her husband. Her motive was that simple."

"The fact that she, a dignified elite Jonin, could be killed so silently is not because the person who attacked her was too powerful, nor because a member of the Sarutobi clan killed her."

"The person who killed her was her shadow clone. The other two Sarutobi clan ninjas simply arranged the scene after her death to make the Hokage suspect Uchiha Ikezumi."

"She used her own death to trigger this chaos in Konoha, to force the Hokage to part ways with absolute justice."

Kakashi didn't continue, because he knew that the Hokage before him also realized that Sarutobi Nadeshiko's revenge had failed.

Because this Hokage, who usually appears indecisive and hesitant, is exceptionally strong and wise at crucial moments.

"...Is this the truth?" Hiruzen Sarutobi tilted his head back slightly, looking at the ceiling above in confusion.

He was able to handle all the affairs, big and small, in the village.

However, he couldn't grasp the hearts of everyone in the village.

"Let this old man have some peace and quiet..." Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured.

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

……

Kakashi finally breathed a sigh of relief after leaving the Hokage Building.

The pressure has been immense lately in order to get to the bottom of this.

Perhaps the truth I've uncovered isn't the truth that the Hokage most wants to hear, but that's the reality.

In summary, could it be said that I've cleared Uchiha Ikezumi of any suspicion regarding his absolute sense of justice? Although Uchiha Ikezumi is unlikely to care about such a trivial matter anyway.

……

at the same time.

The land of rain.

Juzo Biwa grumbled on, "That woman pretends not to care that I brought you here, but she actually doesn't trust me at all. She didn't even bring me to the Akatsuki's core base. She says she's already treating me as a full member of Akatsuki, but in reality, what full member would be treated like this by her?!"

Juzo Biwa never expected that even after joining such an extreme organization as Akatsuki, he would still suffer workplace bullying!

hateful……

That damned, bastard woman!!!
As they were talking, Pipa Juzo glanced warily at Uchiha Ikezumi's wood clone beside him.

They even unconsciously moved slightly away from each other.

She was terrified that she had lost her value in Uchiha Izumi's eyes, and what would happen to someone who had lost their value? No one knew better than the ninjas from the Hidden Mist Village.

"Not urgent."

Uchiha Izumi's wood clone said indifferently, "Perhaps you don't need to actively search for the Akatsuki's core base; the main body's purpose for this trip can be achieved."

Pipa Juzo looked puzzled.

"The main body learned from Orochimaru that the Akatsuki organization has listed him as a top hunting target. In other words, they will actively seek out the main body."

"The purpose of the main body is to eradicate the evils within the Xiao organization. And now these evils are about to deliver themselves to our doorstep."

The wooden clone explained.

Juzo Biwa was immediately stunned: "Huh? You're wanted by the Akatsuki? How come I, an Akatsuki member, didn't know?"

Pipa Juzo realized what was going on as soon as he finished speaking.

His face turned ashen.

Workplace isolation!!!

Workplace bullying!!!

Juzo Biwa's favorability towards the Akatsuki organization instantly plummeted to rock bottom.

……

……

(End of this chapter)