Root Headquarters
"Danzo-sama, the direction where Uchiha Chizumi is located is very likely the secret research facility outside the village!"
A Root shinobi knelt, head lowered, and reported to Danzō.
He added, "It's the off‑site base the Third Hokage ordered built a few years ago. Many of Orochimaru's surviving researchers are kept there."
Reminded of this, Danzō remembered at once.
The "old monkey" really had set up such a base outside Konoha.
Danzō had tried to get a hand in it back then; after all, at least a third of the credit for preserving Orochimaru's data and personnel belonged to him.
In the end, that old monkey rejected him without mercy.
Hiruzen even teamed up with Koharu and Homura to pressure him until he abandoned the idea.
All these years—
Danzō had thought about planting Root operatives inside, but Hiruzen guarded the facility so tightly that not a single chance presented itself.
"Heh."
Danzō suddenly sneered, a trace of gloating curling his lips.
Staring at the molten rock falling in the distance, he muttered mockingly:
"That innately evil little Uchiha… has finally turned his wicked thoughts on the 'Hokage.'
Monkey, I warned you long ago—if you didn't eliminate him, you'd regret it."
The kneeling Root ninja hesitated:
"Danzo-sama, should Root intervene?"
Danzō's eyes narrowed—murderous intent flaring.
He had long wished to tear Uchiha Chizumi to pieces.
"No."
His gaze was cold.
"Let him make trouble. The bigger the mess, the deeper the rift with the monkey.
If I recall, Sarutobi Shinnosuke is in charge of that base.
Heh… the evil little Uchiha is now clashing with the monkey's own son!"
"What we must do is stop anyone else who tries to step in and break up the fight."
"Pass along my orders!
"—All Root units mobilize! Guard every exit out of Konoha.
Apart from the Anbu directly around the monkey, no one is to leave the village!"
"Yes, sir!"
Figures blurred away as the Root shinobi sprang from headquarters.
…
Nara Compound Rooftop
"Dad, that must have been someone's ninjutsu, right?"
Only seven years old, Nara Shikamaru already wore a world‑weary face; the dead‑fish eyes unlike any child's made one doubt his age.
"Mm."
Hands half‑jammed in his pockets, Nara Shikaku looked into the distance.
"Lava Release."
"…Lava Release?" Shikamaru blinked.
"You've heard of Uchiha Chizumi, haven't you?"
Shikamaru nodded. "Yes. People say he's troublesome—many in the village fear him, though some respect him."
"So—"
"This was his jutsu?" Shikamaru asked.
"Most likely," Shikaku confirmed. "And from that direction… the Hokage will have one awful night."
He did not rush to investigate—he could see it was filthy water best left unstirred.
The Nara clan had no need to invite trouble.
…
Homura's House, Late Night
"I hear Hiruzen has left personally with the Anbu."
Koharu Utatane had come to Mitokado Homura's home by night.
"I always knew that Uchiha Chizumi was a plague. With his so‑called Absolute Justice, everyone in that research base will be a thorn in his side.
"It's a pity Hiruzen indulged him over and over. I cannot fathom what value such an uncontrollable Uchiha has that makes Hiruzen hold him so dear."
Homura folded his hands behind his back.
"He is a plague—but also a double‑edged sword. Hiruzen lets him run free because Chizumi's Absolute Justice is extreme enough.
"At least we can't deny he's forced certain ill‑intentioned people to restrain themselves."
"But this time he's gone too far—attacking a secret research base!"
"Then persuade Hiruzen to be ruthless," Homura said. "When Chizumi was weaker, still within the village's control, we could wield that sword. Now…"
A flash of dread crossed his eyes. "His wings have grown."
The last Uchiha who slipped beyond control was Uchiha Shisui—feared for those eyes.
What they feared in Chizumi was his utter disregard for politics in pursuit of Absolute Justice.
…
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A rain of lava rocked the secret research base; flames roared, chunks of magma even punching through the ceiling.
Inside, Sarutobi Shinnosuke realized the facility was riddled with holes—practically scrap. Crucial equipment was surely melting.
"Uchiha Chizumi! Are you insane!!"
He ripped off his Anbu mask. Scalding steam had reddened his skin; a face that resembled Hiruzen's now burned with fury.
"This is Konoha's base! I don't know how you learned any of this, but everything my men and I have done is for Konoha!
"We're true to the Will of Fire, to our fallen, to every citizen of this village!
"And those who died because of our work weren't even from Konoha—weren't even from the Land of Fire! What business of yours is it, Uchiha Chizumi!?
"Where's your 'Absolute Justice' toward Konoha? Are you turning rogue!?"
Shinnosuke roared.
Chizumi rose; the surrounding lava could not harm him. He stared ahead calmly, molten drops sliding from his body.
"Shinnosuke‑sensei, my Absolute Justice has never been rooted in loyalty to Konoha. Whether I'm a rogue isn't for you to declare."
He kept walking forward.
"Because you were once my jōnin instructor, I'm giving you these words—so you can die understanding."
In a flash he appeared before a downed Anbu; with horror widening the man's pupils, Chizumi sliced half his head off—this was the shinobi whose legs the lava had already burned away.
"I uphold Absolute Justice because the shinobi world is grotesquely diseased, spawning endless evil—pain and tragedy everywhere…"
Suddenly his body turned transparent—vanished.
—His first use of the Gekko clan's Transparent Release.
The remaining Anbu darted their eyes in panic, seeking him.
Then his voice sounded behind one:
"That evil includes—but isn't limited to—tax‑gouging daimyō, power‑drunk elites, genocidal beasts, brain‑dead sycophants… and what you've done, Shinnosuke‑sensei."
"Aggh!"
An Anbu gasped, staring at the gaping hole that had opened in his chest.
"When Justice is absolute…"
A lava projectile blasted from afar, swallowing another Anbu mid‑hand‑seal.
"…only then can evil in the shinobi world be purged."
Rivers of lava surged from Chizumi's arms like tidal waves, engulfing three more Anbu who could see nothing—only feel the roaring heat.
At last only Sarutobi Shinnosuke remained, clutching half a broken blade, face frozen in shock.
Chizumi released Transparent Release
"I… did I fall into your Sharingan illusion?"
Shinnosuke's eyes were wide—unwilling to believe anyone could wield three bloodline limits, he instinctively thought he must be trapped in genjutsu.
~~~
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