Chapter 261: Extreme Biwa Jūzō!
"It is simply that this old man is of advanced age and truly lacks the strength to continue accompanying you..." Genji revealed a weary expression and smiled bitterly. No matter how powerful a shinobi is, the day of aging eventually arrives; Genji, who was active during the Warring States period, was now in the twilight of his life.
Having suffered one shock after another...witnessing the death of the Mizukage in battle while constantly agonizing over how to deal with Uchiha Ikeizumi, all while being caught in a downpour...he would likely be unable to avoid a serious illness in the following days.
The aged Genji had long been accustomed to life and death, but the currently devastated Hidden Mist still could not do without him. A village that had lost its Mizukage and the Three-Tails still had to execute Uchiha Ikeizumi's [Absolute Justice]; life in the Land of Water would only become more difficult in the future. Genji was truly a bit worried that Mei Terumī wouldn't be able to hold things together.
"The evils of the Hidden Mist and the Land of Water do not involve you; feel free to do as you please," Uchiha Ikeizumi spoke very calmly. Just as Genji took his leave, Uchiha Izumi, holding Kujiro, and Biwa Jūzō, with a complex expression, approached one after another.
"Senior Ikeizumi, Lady Katsuyu." Uchiha Izumi looked at Genji's departing back with some curiosity. It was quite rare to see an old senior who could retreat unscathed before Senior Ikeizumi. "Is it really alright to leave the matters of the Land of Water to the Mist shinobi?"
"Tsk..." Biwa Jūzō felt an inexplicable surge of annoyance. Although he was no longer a Mist shinobi, Izumi's words were a bit too hurtful. What did she mean by "leaving the matters of the Land of Water to the Mist shinobi"? Were the Hidden Mist and the Land of Water not one and the same?!
However, he did not have the courage to say those words in front of Uchiha Ikeizumi. In the shinobi world, there was no lack of powerful shinobi who captured a nation single-handedly; in the past, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had also achieved similar glorious feats.
But those so-called nations were nothing more than small countries like the Land of Tea or the Land of Rice Fields, which were not comparable to the Five Great Nations like the Land of Water. The last person who tried to single-handedly oppose one of the Five Great Nations was the Third Raikage, who died after being besieged by Iwagakure shinobi!
Yet, the Third Raikage only died while providing cover for his comrades; how could that compare to Uchiha Ikeizumi? He had practically broken into the Hidden Mist Village alone, killed the Fourth Mizukage...a perfect Jinchūriki...and forced the village nicknamed the "Bloody Mist" to bow its head in submission.
If it weren't for the fact that Uchiha Ikeizumi only wanted to practice [Absolute Justice] in the Land of Water, he could have easily ordered the Hidden Mist to surrender on behalf of Konoha. For the sake of the Mist's survival, Jūzō even suspected that Genji and Mei Terumī would have knelt at Uchiha Ikeizumi's feet without hesitation.
"Is there something you wish to say, Biwa Jūzō?" Glancing at him, Uchiha Ikeizumi took the initiative to ask. "Regarding the future of this country."
Uchiha Ikeizumi had his own plans for the future of the shinobi world, but the Land of Water was, after all, the first great nation outside the Land of Fire to execute [Absolute Justice]. It wasn't a bad idea to properly consider the thoughts of "people of high ideals" locally.
Though the title of "person of high ideals" felt strange when applied to Biwa Jūzō, in a Land of Water filled with "human-like orangutans," someone like Jūzō was considered decent. Ikeizumi couldn't expect everyone to be as unwavering as himself.
"The Land of Water's... future?!" Izumi couldn't help but widen her eyes. She had long since decided that Senior Ikeizumi would change the shinobi world in the future, but for him to start deciding the future of a nation...especially a great one like the Land of Water...this quickly was still hard for her to believe.
Unfortunately, Ikeizumi was asking Biwa Jūzō. While Izumi felt it was a pity, she was also exceptionally eager to hear what kind of answer Jūzō would give!
"...The future...I haven't thought about it. Such things shouldn't be decided by a rogue ninja like me," Jūzō remained silent for a long time before finally speaking in a dry tone. "But I think... killing all those damn bastards should be enough, right?"
"Too naive! Even if you kill...idiot, you're choking me!" Kujiro, held in Izumi's arms, suddenly spoke up. It struggled out of her embrace and scrambled onto her shoulder, its fat body nearly knocking Izumi over. "If you don't eradicate the evil soil that breeds those sinners, new sinners will eventually continue to be born. I'm right, aren't I, Lord Ikeizumi!"
Standing on Izumi's shoulder, Kujiro tilted its head up proudly. In truth, it wanted to stand on Lord Ikeizumi's shoulder more, but jumping over now would be a bit undignified.
It was the first ninja cat to follow Lord Ikeizumi; it couldn't let a junior like Izumi look down on it!
"Do you understand now?" Uchiha Ikeizumi nodded slightly in affirmation and then looked back at Biwa Jūzō. Mei Terumī's volunteering had given him some inspiration; if he could convince the "locals" to cooperate with him, the path of practicing [Absolute Justice] might be much easier.
It wasn't that Ikeizumi was becoming lax, but rather that the evils of the shinobi world had almost reached a point of being irremediable. Ikeizumi didn't mind trying any action that could contribute to the cause of justice.
"...I understand!" Jūzō subconsciously gripped the hilt of the Kubikiribōchō. When it came to "eradicating the soil of evil," the only thing he could think of was pulling it out by the roots to prevent future trouble. "I will kill everyone who has the potential to do evil!"
Unconcealed killing intent surged from Jūzō, startling Izumi into subconsciously taking half a step back.
In terms of strength, the current Izumi was no longer what she used to be. But compared to a Mist Jōnin like Biwa Jūzō, who had emerged from piles of corpses, she was clearly still too green.
"...There is no need to be that extreme." Even Uchiha Ikeizumi couldn't help but pause. With Jūzō's current killing intent, if he were allowed to act, he would likely become a "Red Name" who slaughters innocents within minutes. "You only need to sever the chains of evil...Izumi will identify who deserves to die, you will be responsible for the execution, and Kujiro will assist you. First, find a town as a trial site..."
"Yes! Senior! Please leave it to me!" Izumi was very excited. It was rare for Senior Ikeizumi not to call her "rookie." No matter what, she had to handle this well for him!
"That's what I should be saying!" Kujiro, quite annoyed, patted Izumi's head with its paw, though its chubby paw felt more like it was acting spoiled. "Please leave it to me! Lord Ikeizumi!"
"It's all the same!" Izumi giggled and rubbed the cat's head. Although it was a respectable ninja cat senior, Kujiro's personality made it hard to stay serious.
"...I understand." Biwa Jūzō nodded. He also wanted to see what the future Land of Water would become.