At the very instant Uchiha Keizumi's words—those that many of the Kirigakure shinobi found difficult to comprehend—fell, it was as if the air around them was gradually heating up.
Many of the elite shinobi of Kirigakure began to feel that something was off.
And Terumī Mei, who was standing closest to Uchiha Keizumi, narrowed her pupils.
Because she could feel waves of scorching heat coming from behind her!
"This guy…" Terumī Mei was dripping with sweat. She clearly sensed the killing intent radiating from Uchiha Keizumi's body.
And Uchiha Keizumi's voice continued to echo. "The countless evildoers of the Bloody Mist have completely twisted the moral values of the entire Land of Water, erasing the very concept of justice. A Land of Water lacking just order has become the cradle and breeding ground for countless villains, constantly spawning unspeakable sins."
"Hey! What nonsense are you babbling about?" A Kirigakure jōnin, noticing that the atmosphere was becoming strange, tried to interrupt Uchiha Keizumi.
Yet unexpectedly, that so-called babbling Konohagakure shinobi began walking toward his direction as he spoke.
While moving forward, Uchiha Keizumi said, "As long as these Bloody Mist evildoers remain unpurged, the Land of Water will continue sinking one more day into the abyss of sin. Countless innocent people will also continue to struggle in such a hellish environment…"
"When even the basic survival of ordinary civilians becomes an unsolvable problem, and no one in the entire nation cares anymore—that means this place is almost beyond salvation."
His calm gaze fell upon every Kirigakure shinobi within his field of vision.
"Fortunately… in this hopelessly sinful environment, there are still a few people who do not belong. The existence of these few people gives this 'critically ill patient' that is Kirigakure a faint hope of being saved."
By the time he said this, Uchiha Keizumi was already standing right in front of that Kirigakure jōnin—the distance between them less than 3 meters.
"Hey! Konohagakure shinobi! Stop! Don't come any closer!"
Sweat was already beading on the Kirigakure jōnin's forehead. He couldn't tell whether it was from tension—or from heat.
Because he could feel the temperature nearby was abnormally high. In theory, it was already almost winter; the climate in Kirigakure shouldn't be like this!
Such an abnormal phenomenon...
Made him nervously place his hand on the ninja blade at his waist, ready to draw it at any moment.
"Kiridani Tetsuzō." When Uchiha Keizumi uttered a name, the pupils of that Kirigakure jōnin constricted.
Before he could speak again, Uchiha Keizumi continued, "Do you still remember the reason for the last person you killed? Was it because of a mission assigned by the village? Or was it simply because your hands itched, so you slaughtered a family of five somewhere in the Land of Water?"
At that moment, the Kirigakure jōnin named Kiridani Tetsuzō had yet to realize what Uchiha Keizumi intended to do, but behind him, Terumī Mei and Ao already had.
Realizing it, Ao's expression changed drastically, and he immediately shouted, "Uchiha Keizumi, wait—"
But it was already too late. The instant he shouted, there came a cracking sound as Tetsuzō's arm, which had been resting tensely on the hilt of his blade, was snapped apart. Immediately afterward, the sharp ring of a blade being drawn sliced through the air.
In the next second, Tetsuzō's head, frozen in an expression of astonishment, slid off to one side, and blood gushed from the severed stump of his neck!
The ninja blade hanging at Tetsuzō's waist was left with only an empty sheath.
That blade had somehow appeared in Uchiha Keizumi's hand!
"The first one."
Uchiha Keizumi's cold voice snapped all the Kirigakure shinobi back to their senses. Countless eyes, filled with disbelief, stared at him.
No one had imagined that a Konohagakure shinobi would actually dare to kill someone on Kirigakure's own soil!
And not just anyone—he had instantly killed a Kirigakure jōnin!
Moreover, this Konohagakure shinobi was someone brought back to the village by Terumī Mei herself.
What was going on with Terumī Mei-sama?
"Tetsuzō-sama!!!" The several Kirigakure shinobi who had been following behind Kiridani Tetsuzō cried out in shock, yet they still displayed the discipline expected of shinobi. One after another, they drew the ninja blades from their waists and, without hesitation, charged straight at Uchiha Keizumi.
Terumī Mei tried to stop that group of Kirigakure shinobi, but just as she opened her mouth, a blur of blade light flashed before her eyes.
And she saw that Uchiha Keizumi's figure had suddenly vanished.
When Terumī Mei quickly shifted her gaze, she saw that Uchiha Keizumi was already standing behind those Kirigakure shinobi who had just rushed at him!
The ninja blade he had taken was now completely stained with thick, sticky blood!
[Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang…]
Each of the Kirigakure shinobi froze in place, and then, as if all their strength had been drained, they collapsed to the ground.
Almost all of these Kirigakure shinobi had become headless corpses!
As their bodies fell, their heads separated from them.
The thick stench of blood assaulted everyone's nostrils.
The reason it was said to be "almost"...
Was because there was one survivor.
The only survivor had both arms severed and was sitting on the ground in terror, staring blankly at the stumps where his elbows had been, as though unable to comprehend what had just happened. A dignified chūnin of Kirigakure, now sitting there like a frightened fool.
"Wait! No one is allowed to make a move!!!" Seeing this scene, Terumī Mei shouted these words at the top of her voice.
But clearly, she was not speaking to Uchiha Keizumi. She was addressing the group of Kirigakure shinobi hidden in the shadows, who were so shocked they were about to strike.
Unfortunately, Terumī Mei's authority and influence within Kirigakure had not yet reached the level they would attain in the future.
Upon seeing their fellow villagers killed by a Konohagakure shinobi, the Kirigakure shinobi hiding in the dark revealed themselves one after another, filled with murderous intent! They absolutely would not allow a Konohagakure shinobi to act so arrogantly within the Bloody Mist Village—how could they face anyone if they did?!
In an instant....
Layers upon layers of illusory mist rapidly spread throughout the village. Within the fog, faint figures seemed to dart about at high speed, as if searching for an angle and opportunity to strike.
"…This is bad."
Cold sweat streamed down Terumī Mei's face.
Among all the people present, she and Ao were probably the only two who knew that Uchiha Keizumi was someone who must never be provoked lightly!
She had personally witnessed that terrifying battle that could destroy heaven and earth—this was a man stronger than a tailed beast!
And one whose way of thinking was unlike that of any normal shinobi.
There was a real chance he might truly raze Kirigakure to the ground!
And he absolutely possessed the power to do so!
"…The Land of Water has been closed off from the world for too long. The shinobi of this village haven't had much contact with the outside for years. They have no idea what kind of power this Konohagakure shinobi commands!"
As Terumī Mei's face darkened, she immediately said to Ao beside her, "Ao! Go find Genji-sama at once! Now that the Mizukage has been killed, he's the only one left with enough authority to command the village!"
"If the shinobi of this village treat Uchiha Keizumi as an enemy, they'll only meet one end—death!"
Ao immediately nodded. Without wasting any words, he turned around and ran straight off, disappearing into the dense mist.
…
"…Truly decisive. He doesn't even bother to listen to what others have to say…"
Seeing this scene, Biwa Jūzō took a deep breath.
He had not forgotten that he was a rogue shinobi of Kirigakure, nor had he forgotten that he had already chosen to stand on Uchiha Keizumi's side.
However, just as he lifted the Kubikiribōchō, ready to join the battle, Izumi suddenly stepped forward and blocked his path.
Biwa Jūzō froze.
He then heard the girl from Konohagakure speak. "You'll end up killing Kirigakure shinobi who aren't actually evildoers."
Biwa Jūzō: "???"
Huh?
While he was still stunned, Izumi softly explained, "Do you know why Keizumi-senpai just left one survivor? It's because that person wasn't an evildoer. His attempt to attack Senpai wasn't motivated by criminal malice. That's why Senpai only cut off his arms and didn't take his life."
"Because Senpai possesses the ability to see through the evil in others. In Keizumi-senpai's eyes, none of the sins within the shinobi of Kirigakure can be hidden. He has always known clearly who must die, and who can be spared and given one more chance."
Biwa Jūzō froze again.
So… Uchiha Keizumi would actually spare someone's life?
Oh!
Right…
If Uchiha Keizumi really killed everyone without distinction, then it seemed he himself wouldn't still be alive right now.
At that moment, he suddenly saw the girl before him draw the ninja blade at her waist.
Before Biwa Jūzō could even ask, Izumi spoke as she walked forward. "I also possess the power to see through the evil in others. It's a power that Keizumi-senpai granted me."
"Just a friendly reminder—if your faith in Absolute Justice is sincere enough, you'll gain this power too."