Konoha: The Absolute Justice of the Uchiha

Chapter 41 Justice that is already late cannot be delayed any longer.

The next day.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had changed into mourning clothes early in the morning. Today was the day of his eldest son, Shinnosuke Sarutobi's, burial. Perhaps it was the weather, but a light drizzle was falling.

"Let's go to the Konoha Cemetery."

After saying a heavy sentence, Hiruzen Sarutobi took the lead and walked ahead, letting the rain fall on him.

Behind him were Sarutobi Shinnosuke's wife, Sarutobi Nadeshiko, and her son, Sarutobi Konohamaru.

At the same time, a group of Sarutobi clan members followed closely behind.

Besides.

Only a few of Sarutobi Shinnosuke's close friends remained.

The funeral of the Hokage's eldest son should have been attended by more people.

but……

Negative rumors about Sarutobi Shinnosuke were spreading rapidly in the village, and even though the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, tried to curb the rumors, he found that he couldn't control them at all.

The more public opinion is suppressed, the more the villagers believe the rumors are true.

This can be considered a traditional skill of the troublemakers in Konoha.

In this situation, it is not appropriate to make the funeral too grand.

After all, in the eyes of many villagers in Konoha, if a “villain” who does evil because his father is the Hokage of Konoha is given a grand funeral after his death, wouldn’t that be too unfair to the victims?

resignedly.

Considering the negative public opinion surrounding the village, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only keep things as simple as possible, inviting only some of Shinnosuke's friends from his previous life.

Not long after.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others arrived at the Konoha Cemetery, where the Konoha Funeral Home had already transported Shinnosuke Sarutobi's coffin.

"Lord Hokage, may I go see him again?"

Sarutobi Nadeshiko held Konohamaru's small hand, her eyes filled with tears.

"Yes." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded heavily.

"Mom, why is Father lying here..." Three-year-old Konohamaru asked, bewildered.

He was speaking somewhat haltingly.

Sarutobi Nadeshiko finally couldn't hold back her tears. Through her tears, she said, "Konohamaru, your father is asleep. But this time, he will sleep for a very, very long time. When you grow up, you will know why he sleeps for so long."

……

not far away.

Several staff members at the Konoha Funeral Home were whispering among themselves.

"That woman is the Hokage's daughter-in-law? She's really beautiful... Hey, Yamada, are you staring at her like a daze? I advise you not to get any funny ideas. She might be a ninja who could crush you with a single finger."

"Yamada? You've been acting strange these past few days. You don't respond when I call you. You wouldn't actually have taken a fancy to the Hokage's widow, would you?"

Yamada jolted awake and quickly retorted, "You rascal, don't talk nonsense! If the Hokage hears this, you'll be in big trouble!"

Suppressing his restless thoughts, he said again, "The time should be almost up. It's time to bury the coffin, isn't it?"

Several companions nodded in agreement, saying, "Indeed."

however.

Just as the funeral home staff were about to walk over, an unexpected disturbance suddenly broke out.

They vaguely heard people arguing.

"Hey! Uchiha Ikezumi! What are you doing here? You're not welcome here today!"

"The Uchiha police force enforces the law, and no unauthorized personnel may obstruct it. Otherwise, they will be killed without exception."

--"you!!!"

“Uchiha Ikezumi? That name sounds familiar…” a funeral home worker muttered, stroking his short beard. Then, noticing something odd about “Yamada” next to him, he asked suspiciously, “Hey, Yamada, why is your face so pale!?”

"N-nothing...it's nothing..." Yamada's lips were trembling slightly.

His forced smile looked more like a grimace: "I just got caught in the rain, maybe...maybe I caught a bit of a cold..."

Yamada was internally screaming the word "impossible."

It's absolutely impossible that my actions four years ago have been exposed!

Maybe……

Perhaps it's just a coincidence.

After all, Konoha Village is only so big. It's perfectly reasonable for that jinx from the Uchiha Police Department to go anywhere, right? It's also reasonable that I was just unlucky enough to run into him today, right?

Besides, he handled things so cleanly back then that for four consecutive years, no one from the police force bothered him.

How could it possibly be exposed?!
……

the other side.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others also noticed the commotion over there. When they vaguely heard the name "Uchiha Ikezumi," Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression visibly darkened.

When he saw his daughter-in-law, who was kneeling beside the coffin, suddenly stand up silently...

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

She feared that Sarutobi Nadeshiko, who had just experienced the pain of losing her husband, might do something irrational.

He said, "I'll go take a look. Nadeshiko, you stay here and accompany Shinnosuke on this journey."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and, with two ANBU guards, quickly rushed to the direction from which the commotion was coming from.

as predicted.

He met the person he least wanted to see during this period of time.

—Uchiha Ikezumi!

"Lord Hokage." Several Sarutobi clan ninjas who had been blocking Uchiha Ikezumi immediately stepped aside upon seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen and greeted him respectfully.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly walked forward and stood before Izumi Uchiha, less than two meters apart. "Izumi..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a complicated expression, "You should know that someone who did such a thing shouldn't be here. Your presence will only provoke many people and cause unnecessary conflict."

"If you want to come and pay your respects to Shinnosuke..."

The drizzling rain obscured Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression. He paused, then continued, "You can come tomorrow, but today... let's skip it."

Upon seeing Uchiha Ikezumi at Shinnosuke's funeral, Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger actually subsided somewhat.

At least, Uchiha Ikezumi still remembered their past relationship as master and disciple.

At least, he was willing to come and see Shinnosuke off on his final journey.

It seems that Uchiha Ikezumi hasn't gone to such an extreme that he'd turn against his own family; it's just that his concept of "absolute justice" is far too extreme.

Before Uchiha Ikezumi's "sword" fell upon Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hiruzen believed that even though Uchiha Ikezumi was a double-edged sword, if he used her well, she would become an extremely outstanding elite ninja of Konoha.

but.

When Uchiha Izumi, this double-edged sword, wounded Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He suddenly felt that Uchiha Ikezumi's "absolute justice" was so extreme that it made him feel very uncomfortable.

however.

Uchiha Izumi's reply took Hiruzen Sarutobi by surprise: "Third Hokage, I may come to pay my respects to Shinnosuke-sensei one day, but not today. I'm here to uphold justice."

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a sudden alarm bell ring in his mind, and the two ANBU guards following closely behind him also narrowed their eyes.

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became subtle after Uchiha Ikezumi's words.

To execute...justice?!

What do you mean?
“Uchiha Izumi.” At this moment, Uchiha Ike Izumi said.

"Here!!!" The girl's shout almost made Hiruzen Sarutobi think that Izumi Uchiha was about to break ties with Konoha.

Until he saw Izumi emerge from behind Uchiha Izumi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened slightly, unable to understand why this Uchiha girl suddenly had to shout.

Uchiha Ikezumi said, "You tell me."

"Yes, Senior Chi Quan!"

Summoning her courage and suppressing her nervousness, Izumi spoke to the Hokage, "Hokage-sama, Izumi-senpai has discovered an extremely heinous murder and dismemberment case. Yesterday and this morning, he investigated many suspects, but the last suspect remains uninvestigated—it's 'Yamada Toshijiro' from the Konoha Funeral Home!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned: "A dismemberment case?"

Izumi nodded and said, "The victims were a mother and daughter. After the perpetrator dismembered the bodies, he threw the body parts into the sewers of Konoha. Although Senior Izumi could only find some skeletal fragments, he was able to identify the victims from the fragments."

“We are continuously investigating the suspects based on the clues, and now, only Yamada Toshijiro is left.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time.

He had to admit that he acknowledged Uchiha Ikezumi's crime-solving abilities, and he did so 100% of the time.

but……

“Ikezumi,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice, “Today is the day of Shinnosuke’s burial. Let him enjoy his final peace. If you want to arrest someone, you can wait until after the funeral.”

Uchiha Izumi said expressionlessly, "Third Hokage, justice has already been four years late. Do you want it to be delayed any longer?"

"Justice that is already too late cannot be allowed to be too late any longer." He stared directly into Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes: "Or is the Third Hokage's view that the peace of a villain who has fallen into the abyss is more important than the belated justice for two innocent victims?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi clearly sensed hostility in those eyes.

Do not……

Rather than saying that this was something he had captured himself, it would be more accurate to say that it was Uchiha Ikezumi's undisguised and naked hostility!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face tightened slightly, and he said firmly, "Ikezumi, give me some face. We can talk about it tomorrow."

Uchiha Ikezumi said, "If the Third Hokage's influence can turn back time and bring the dead back to life, I will give you that influence."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had already seen Izumi Uchiha's right hand resting on the hilt of his ninja sword.

The ANBU ninjas behind him quickly gripped their sword hilts.

The already delicate atmosphere instantly became tense and confrontational.

"Chi Quan, I am the Hokage..."

click-

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyelids twitched, because Izumi Uchiha's thumb had already pushed aside the hilt of his ninja sword. The exposed inch of snow-silver blade was particularly conspicuous in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.

This is practically a vicious dog that he, the Hokage, can't control!
Even Danzo wouldn't dare to be so tough on Hiruzen Sarutobi!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was in a terrible mood, his face visibly darkening: "Does it really have to come to this?"

Uchiha Ikezumi had already drawn his ninja sword.

The two secret guards immediately drew their swords without hesitation.

They quickly blocked Uchiha Ikezumi's path.

"Put it away!" However, Hiruzen Sarutobi's clenched teeth and uttered these words startled the two ANBU guards.

"Hokage-sama?"

"Put them away!" Hiruzen Sarutobi repeated, and the two ANBU guards had no choice but to sheath their swords, but the vigilance in their eyes did not dissipate.

They would immediately take action should Uchiha Izumi make any unusual moves.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Izumi Uchiha a deep look.

In the end, he turned and left without saying a word.

"Senior Izumi, we..." Izumi stammered, startled by the tense atmosphere.

Uchiha Ikezumi interrupted expressionlessly, "Go in and arrest them."

"Yes! Senior!"

……

……

(End of this chapter)