Chapter 58: Uchiha Itachi
"Have you found out who's spreading these rumors against Itachi in Konoha?!"
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Uchiha Itachi, and an ANBU ninja stood.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with his hands behind his back in front of the office window, his face grim, as he asked the ANBU ninja behind him.
The ANBU ninja, head bowed, honestly replied, "We haven't found out yet, but it seems to have originated from the Uchiha clan."
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled deeply.
He turned and walked towards Uchiha Itachi, saying with remorse, "Itachi, I apologize. This old man failed to promptly detect the spread of negative public opinion against you and did not curb it immediately."
Early this morning, Hiruzen Sarutobi had told Uchiha Itachi to forget what he had discussed with Uchiha Ikeizumi, and also instructed him not to tell anyone else about it.
The purpose was to help Uchiha Itachi conceal his so-called future evil.
But who could have known…
In just half a day, rumors about Itachi's "future evil" had spread throughout the entire village.
And with many people adding their own embellishments.
It had turned into full-blown gossip!
Uchiha Itachi, however, shook his head calmly. He said, "Hokage-sama, I don't care. My personal reputation is far less important to me than a peaceful and stable Konoha."
He lowered his gaze to his hanging hands and added, "It's not a bad thing. It allows me to get used to being scorned and cursed by countless people in advance."
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused.
This child, Itachi… he must truly believe, unwaveringly, that he will annihilate the Uchiha clan in the future.
....
When Uchiha Sasuke returned alone to the Uchiha clan compound, he was completely dazed, with two faint, un-wiped tear stains still on his small face.
The whites of his eyes were somewhat red and bloodshot, his expression had lost its usual vibrancy, and his gaze seemed to have lost its sparkle.
The moment he stepped into the Uchiha compound, Sasuke distinctly felt many gazes fixed on him.
This made him feel as if he had daggers in his back, making him uncomfortable all over.
"This brat… he's Uchiha Itachi's bastard brother, isn't he, the one called Uchiha Sasuke?"
"He's Uchiha Itachi's blood relative. Hey, hey, he's not going to try to kill us all too, is he? Keeping this brat in the Uchiha clan will only cause trouble, won't it?"
"I heard these two brothers are very close. Maybe we should capture this brat and use him to threaten Uchiha Itachi…"
"Will this brat die by Uchiha Itachi's hand in the future? I clearly remember that beast even killed his own parents."
Faint whispers reached Sasuke's ears.
Sasuke broke out in a cold sweat.
He no longer dared to argue with them about whether his brother was good or bad, nor did he dare to linger on the street. Even though this street was within the Uchiha clan compound, he didn't dare to stay long.
Sasuke hastily quickened his pace, heading home with his head down.
....
"…Fugaku, you knew all along, didn't you?" Uchiha Mikoto looked at her silent husband with a complex expression.
Today, many clan members had come to visit.
Some clan members came furiously to question, while others came with confusion to inquire… In the end, these people were either dismissed or appeased by Fugaku.
Having lived with Fugaku for so many years, Mikoto knew that her husband had been lying while talking to these clan members!
Even just hearing snippets from their mouths made Uchiha Mikoto understand what was going on.
Facing his wife's gaze, Fugaku sighed.
He no longer remained silent. Looking at his unconsciously clenched fists, he replied in a low voice, "I knew this morning… because I went to see Ikeizumi with Itachi, and I heard it directly from Ikeizumi himself. You should also know that while Ikeizumi holds a prejudice against Itachi, at least what he says contains no lies or deception."
Uchiha Mikoto froze in place, her entire being feeling as if the strength had been drained from her, swaying uncontrollably.
Fugaku quickly got up to support Uchiha Mikoto.
"Ike… Ikeizumi… Hah! Did Ikeizumi say anything more detailed about the 'future'?" On Uchiha Mikoto's beautiful face, her delicate lips were subtly pale. She asked tremblingly, "In the future, Itachi… will he kill Sasuke too?"
Fugaku shook his head: "Only Sasuke is spared."
This morning, Fugaku had not heard the name "Uchiha Sasuke" mentioned as a victim of the clan massacre by Uchiha Ikeizumi.
At this point, he suddenly paused, as if something had occurred to him.
Fugaku added, "Nor Ikeizumi."
Just then.
The couple heard a slight gasp from outside the door. Turning to look, they saw Sasuke leaning on the doorframe with one hand, his small face pale, his eyes tear-filled, and breathing heavily.
"I…"
Sasuke bit his lip hard, breaking the skin, the faint metallic taste of blood making it difficult for him to speak: "I know too."
Fugaku was stunned.
Silent for several seconds.
He sighed deeply.
....
Whoosh—The sharp ninja blade instantly severed both arms of a Root ninja disguised as a Konoha civilian.
Izumi, closely following Uchiha Ikeizumi, threw two kunai.
The kunai precisely pinned the Root ninja's feet to the ground.
Intense pain caused the Root ninja's entire body to tremble slightly.
"Phew, that's the third one today…" Izumi wiped away the glistening sweat from her forehead. After she and Senior Ikeizumi parted ways with Sasuke.
She had followed Senior Ikeizumi, "hunting" Root ninja released by Danzō to spread rumors throughout Konoha.
While the Root ninja's crime of "spreading rumors" was not punishable by death.
The crimes they had previously committed were sufficient for capital punishment.
In Senior Ikeizumi's words: the entire Root, except for the war orphans just recruited and brainwashed, not one is innocent; killing them all would not result in a single wrongful death.
Therefore, Izumi had no psychological burden whatsoever.
After all, she unconditionally trusted Senior Ikeizumi's judgment!
Looking at the Root ninja who had collapsed from excessive blood loss.
Izumi felt that this guy probably wouldn't last another minute.
There was no need for rescue.
"You do it." When Senior Ikeizumi's cold voice sounded, Izumi decisively drew her ninja blade and walked forward, unhesitatingly slitting the Root ninja's throat.
—I am executing [Absolute Justice].
Izumi kept reminding herself.
But at this moment, she suddenly felt strange, sensing that the power within her body had inexplicably grown stronger. This bizarre illusion made her somewhat afraid.
Afraid that "bloodlust" was her true nature.
Afraid that she would be controlled by killing.
"Senior, my body…" Izumi decided to tell Senior Ikeizumi about the abnormality she felt in her body.
Before she could finish, she was interrupted by Senior Ikeizumi, as usual.
"This is the [Absolute Justice]'s gift."
Uchiha Ikeizumi slowly said, "Without absolutely powerful strength, how else would you execute absolute justice in the ninja world?"
.....
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