Chapter 268: Execution!
If one were to overlook the sheer cruelty of the "Bloody Mist" policy and look solely at the ratio of Jōnin, it wasn't hard to see that the success rate of producing high-level shinobi in the Mist was significantly higher than in Konoha.
It was no wonder so many Mist shinobi chose to support the policy; ultimately, the people of the Mist weren't fools. If the "Bloody Mist" were truly 100% detrimental with zero benefits, they wouldn't have kept torturing themselves for so long.
However, looking at the big picture, the policy was purely a case of the costs far outweighing the gains. The Mist had struggled through generations, forcefully dragging itself down from a position equal to Konoha among the Five Great Nations to its current weakened state.
Even more fatal was that due to the policy, Mist shinobi could never truly trust comrades who might betray them at any moment, further exacerbating the village's internal division.
"Only thirty percent..." Uchiha Ikeizumi raised an eyebrow...a rare expression of slight surprise for him. "It hasn't reached the point of being utterly beyond redemption."
"Lord Ikeizumi, what are you saying?" The giant Katsuyu closest to him lowered her body, swaying her tentacles with curiosity.
"I am calculating how many more sinners need to be eliminated." Ikeizumi regained his composure, his right hand gently stroking the hilt of his blade. "The situation is much better than I expected. Among the remaining Mist shinobi, only about thirty percent require immediate justice; the rest still have a chance for atonement."
In Ikeizumi's eyes, the Mist shinobi walking toward him were like a massive swarm of constantly flickering red and white boxes. Fortunately, this time, the proportion of white boxes was significantly higher than red.
Furthermore, most of the red boxes were self-aware enough to cluster together, which made screening them much easier for Ikeizumi.
"But aren't they here to cooperate with your execution of [Absolute Justice]?" Katsuyu asked hesitantly. If they were pure sinners, they should indeed be executed immediately, but if they were sinners assisting in the promotion of [Absolute Justice], she felt a bit conflicted. Perhaps those who genuinely repented should be given a chance to atone?
At the very least, they could help push the development of [Absolute Justice] first, and then their execution could be decided based on their contributions.
"Justice brooks no compromise! The participation of sinners only defiles [Absolute Justice]!" Ikeizumi spoke with ironclad certainty. "Rather than counting on these sinners to help promote justice, it is more beneficial to [Absolute Justice] to send them directly to meet their victims!"
"I see! I understand now!" Katsuyu had a sudden realization and shook her tentacles happily. The three other large Katsuyu nearby, who hadn't heard the conversation clearly, hurried over to ask their other self what had happened.
The Katsuyu talking to Ikeizumi naturally kept no secrets from herself, swaying her tentacles to relay the dialogue to the others. Soon, all four giant Katsuyu were swaying their bodies in unison.
For the Katsuyu-Sennin, who had lived for over a thousand years, the greatest joy was never gaining more strength, but understanding more principles and gaining a deeper insight into the human collective.
This was why she held Uchiha Ikeizumi in such high regard and sincerely hoped his [Absolute Justice] would spread throughout the shinobi world.
The movement of the four giant Katsuyu immediately startled the Mist shinobi. Seeing these four behemoths, they couldn't help but widen their eyes in shock.
"The Six-Tails?! No! It's just four exceptionally large slugs..." Kukurīn nearly wet his pants at the sight of "four Six-Tails." Fortunately, the physical differences between Katsuyu and Saiken were quite distinct; it was only their shared nature as mollusks and similar size/color that led Mist shinobi who had never seen the Six-Tails in person to mistake them.
Kukurīn finally managed to calm his racing heart. His attention then fell upon the "tiny" figure of Uchiha Ikeizumi, whose presence was no less overwhelming than the giant slugs.
Perhaps it was because he had killed so many people tonight, or perhaps it was the weight of his reputation; even from a hundred meters away, Kukurīn could feel a pressure as heavy as a mountain crashing down on him.
"...The Lava Style Calamity..." As the pressure grew heavier, Kukurīn's expression became increasingly grim. On the way here, they had exchanged intel on Uchiha Ikeizumi countless times, but the Ikeizumi of the Great War had no comparison to the Ikeizumi of today. "Calling this monster a 'Calamity' is an understatement!"
By the time he finally stood before Ikeizumi behind Mei Terumī, Kukurīn's heart rate was more than double its normal speed. This was the body's signal when facing extreme danger. Luckily, many of his colleagues were losing their composure to the point of gasping for air; by comparison, Kukurīn's performance was considered good.
"Lord Ikeizumi, the surviving...the only remaining shinobi of the village are here. I have persuaded them, and everyone present is willing to fight to the end for [Absolute Justice]!" Mei Terumī held onto a final sliver of hope, emphasizing "everyone" and "willing," hoping Ikeizumi would see their potential utility and grant these sinners a chance to atone.
In any case, only Uchiha Ikeizumi and that Uchiha girl could see the crimes. As long as they didn't speak, no one would know these people were sinners who deserved to die.
Of course, Mei didn't expect Ikeizumi to turn a blind eye to evil, but she hoped for some buffer time. Even if these people were executed later, the pressure could be spread out over a longer period.
"I see..." Ikeizumi nodded to Mei. Compared to the boxes so red they were nearly black, Mei's white box was much easier on the eyes. However, he then looked at a middle-aged shinobi standing beside her.
"Fuwa Kuro-ō (Black Wolf). Eighteen years ago, you poisoned and killed a comrade over a trivial matter. Fifteen years ago, for the sake of a famous blade, you murdered the seventeen members of the Shirayama family at Sakura Ferry. Fourteen years ago...half a month ago, you tested your blade on an innocent child passing by. Five days ago, you raped and murdered sisters who owned a flower shop."
It took Ikeizumi a full four minutes to read out this shinobi's crimes. This was with him only selecting the capital offenses; otherwise, it might have taken ten minutes to finish.
From the moment Ikeizumi called his name, Fuwa Kuro-ō instinctively wanted to flee, but he was firmly locked in place by Ikeizumi's Sharingan Genjutsu. He could only listen to the judgment of Uchiha Ikeizumi in absolute horror!
Every major crime he had committed from over a decade ago until just a few days ago was stated with terrifying clarity.
It was as if a God of Justice were handing down a verdict. At the very least, the true cause of the Shirayama family's death was something only Fuwa Kuro-ō himself knew.