Inside the Uchiha Compound
The last elder of the Shimura clan stood tense and surrounded, hemmed in by a ring of hostile Uchiha radicals. Their eyes scanned him with clear suspicion and contempt.
"If I'm not mistaken," said Uchiha Setsuna, leaning on his cane and narrowing his eyes, "most of your clan's shinobi were in Root. But ever since Uchiha Chizumi started tearing through Root operatives, your clan's pretty much dried up. Even your youngest are already in their teens. At this point, you're down to maybe two or three stragglers, aren't you?"
He took a step forward, voice sharp.
"And ever since Chizumi drove Danzo back last time, the Third Hokage stripped him of his title. And now? Danzo's been missing for days."
"Few members left. No leader. And you think the Shimura clan is still worthy of teaming up with me?"
The elder's face turned grim. So typical of the Uchiha—all arrogance, all menace.
"Danzo-sama isn't missing. He was still in the village," the elder replied coldly. "But—"
"Last night, Uchiha Chizumi ambushed him. Danzo-sama died protecting Konoha."
"What—?!" Setsuna froze.
To be honest, the news of Danzo's death had only been whispered among a few. This was the first Setsuna had heard of it.
"Dead, huh? Danzo…" he muttered, lips curling into a cruel smirk. "About time. If I recall, he was the one most obsessed with wiping out the Uchiha."
He straightened, expression hardening.
"Danzo's existence meant the Uchiha and Shimura clans could never coexist. Now that he's gone, you think we're just going to forgive and forget?"
"The Shimura clan without Danzo is already half-dead. And with just a couple of survivors left, you think you can throw your weight around in front of me?"
The elder clenched his fist but held his tongue. He hadn't come here to start a fight.
"But we have a common enemy, don't we?" he said, lowering his voice. "Uchiha Chizumi. That rogue is a thorn in your side too, isn't he?"
"If the Shimura clan is ready to risk everything to take Chizumi down and avenge Danzo-sama, you really think it's smart to dismiss me, Setsuna?"
"Whether the Shimura fall, or Chizumi dies—either way, it benefits you."
Setsuna's old fingers tapped the worn wood of his cane, eyes deep in thought. He had to admit, the old man made a compelling case.
But—
"Hey old man, are you trying to stir up trouble in the Uchiha clan?" a young radical snapped, glaring. "Who the hell do you think we are? You think we're stupid?"
"Danzo was top of our hit list. Chizumi did us a favor by killing him! You seriously want us to kill Chizumi now? What kind of joke is this?"
"If you're gonna try sowing discord in our clan, maybe you should leave your life behind while you're at it. This isn't a place you come and go as you please."
Another young Uchiha scoffed:
"Chizumi might be intense, but he's still one of us. And honestly? I kinda like his whole 'Absolute Justice' vibe. Why would we team up with you to take him down?"
Setsuna's face turned dark. So did the elder's.
The young radicals' loyalty to Chizumi had clearly shifted too far.
Yes, Setsuna had been tempted by the offer. But now he realized—his own people were slipping out of his control.
Damn it… What did that Chizumi brat do? Did he secretly win them over behind my back?
Setsuna gritted his teeth.
"I get it now," the Shimura elder said coolly. "You don't control the hardliners in your own clan anymore. Looks like I came to the wrong person."
He turned to leave.
"Wait."
Setsuna's voice was low and cold. He glared at the elder.
"Did I say you could leave?"
…
Fūgaku sat stunned. He had just heard the news from his eldest son, Itachi.
Shimura Danzo—dead. Killed by Uchiha Chizumi.
It took Fūgaku nearly thirty seconds to pull himself together.
Sure, the Hokage had officially removed Danzo from power, but everyone knew it was just for show. He was bound to return—just not as Root's leader.
Fūgaku had never let his guard down around Danzo.
And now… that threat was gone. Killed in the night by Chizumi.
"Itachi… were you there?" he asked finally.
"No," Itachi replied flatly. "By the time I realized what Chizumi was doing, it was already over. If I'd been there, I wouldn't have let him act. Though, technically, Chizumi gave the order—Uchiha Izumi carried it out."
"Izumi's fully committed to 'Absolute Justice' now. She's the only trainee who's stayed with Chizumi all this time."
Fūgaku sighed.
"You understand what Danzo's death means, right? Especially when the Uchiha are involved?"
"People in the village are going to get ideas," Itachi said. "They'll start thinking the so-called leadership is weak. And that kind of short-sighted arrogance is how disasters start."
"Itachi… give me some time," Fūgaku said. "Maybe there's another way."
Itachi gave his father a long, hard look.
"Father, what you're offering isn't a solution. It's patchwork. There's only one real way to stop what's coming."
Fūgaku opened his mouth… but had nothing to say. He looked at his son—strange and unfamiliar, but quietly reassuring.
"If I fail…" Fūgaku finally said, voice low, "then I won't stop you. I know you hide your pain behind that cold expression. I know threatening Sasuke is just your way of showing love."
"If it really comes down to it… whatever decision you make—I'll be proud of you."
Itachi gave a deep bow.
"Yes, Father."
…
Oddly enough, Danzo's death hadn't caused much of a stir. Hiruzen had gone out of his way to suppress the news—and hadn't even confronted Chizumi.
In truth, Danzo's death made things easier. Hiruzen no longer had to worry about another attempted coup.
With Root now under his full control, and no more paranoid Danzo to keep in check, things were smoother.
But there was still one loose end: Naruto.
How deeply had Chizumi's ideology sunk in?
"Kakashi," Hiruzen said after finishing his paperwork. "From today on, you're supervising Naruto. Take an Anbu team. This isn't a solo job."
Kakashi blinked. He hadn't expected this.
"Wasn't Yamanaka Ryoshin already watching him?"
"He's monitoring Naruto's safety. You'll be watching his development."
"Ryoshin tried to quit this morning. Said he wasn't cut out for this. I rejected it—we're short-staffed in Anbu. He watches for threats. You're watching for moral alignment."
"Together, you'll cover both fronts."
Kakashi scratched his head.
"His development?"
"Naruto's started following Chizumi's version of justice. And while justice itself isn't wrong, 'Absolute Justice' is too extreme. It might work for Chizumi—but not for Naruto."
"You of all people understand the danger. If Naruto—holding the Nine-Tails—goes down that same path, we might not be able to stop him."
"He was born to stand with Konoha. His justice must reflect that—not go rogue."
"You're not just protecting Naruto. You're protecting the village."
Kakashi nodded slowly.
"Got it."
Then paused.
"But if Naruto's already too far gone… should I report to you, or step in myself?"
"Both," Hiruzen said. "Correct him first. Report to me later."
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
Kakashi sighed inwardly.
This is going to be a lot harder than it sounds.
…
Perched in a tall tree, hidden among the leaves, Kakashi flipped through his well-worn copy of Make-Out Paradise. His gaze occasionally lifted to the courtyard below as students began pouring out of the Ninja Academy.
That's when his eyes caught two very familiar figures.
"Hmm?" Kakashi's half-lidded eyes sharpened slightly.
One was unmistakable: blond-haired, loud, full of energy—Naruto.
But the boy walking next to him caught Kakashi off guard.
"…Uchiha Sasuke?"
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. Now that's unexpected.
A few meters behind them, a pink-haired girl muttered to herself, her eyes full of confusion and curiosity.
"Why is Sasuke-kun hanging out with Naruto? They've been talking since morning…"
That girl was Haruno Sakura, watching from afar, trying to make sense of something that just didn't compute.
To her, Naruto was the class clown—the underachiever, the prankster, the boy whispered about in hushed tones: "Stay away from him. He's the Nine-Tails."
He wasn't supposed to be close with someone like Sasuke. Sasuke was the genius. The prodigy. The boy everyone admired.
Did Sasuke-kun… give up on himself after learning about his brother's future crimes? Is that why…?
She stared in disbelief.
Sasuke, walking beside Naruto, wore his usual stoic expression—chin slightly raised, steps steady and firm. But inside? He was tense.
He kept his arms crossed and let out a small scoff.
"You think I'd be scared of Uchiha Chizumi?"
The truth? Sasuke wasn't sure. But he couldn't stand the idea that even Naruto—of all people—was chasing something bigger, something meaningful. Something like justice.
If a loser like him can get it, why can't I?
Sasuke had spent the entire day trying to squeeze out of Naruto what this "Absolute Justice" was all about.
The problem? Naruto didn't really know how to explain it.
Which is why, earlier, Naruto had said:
"If you really wanna understand what it means, come meet Chizumi-sensei with me. But heads up—he's super strict, and kind of terrifying. Don't say I didn't warn you."
To Naruto, Uchiha Chizumi wasn't some political figure. He wasn't even a shinobi in the usual sense. He was a mentor—someone who taught not jutsu, but ideals.
A teacher of justice.
As they walked, Naruto glanced at Sasuke and smirked.
"You're totally nervous."
"I am not," Sasuke snapped.
"Then why are you sweating?"
"It's hot."
Naruto laughed. Sasuke gritted his teeth.
But twenty minutes later, when Sasuke finally saw a familiar figure standing ahead—sharp-eyed, radiating pressure just by being there—his legs instinctively slowed.
Damn it… why do I feel like backing down?
He glanced at Naruto, who kept walking with no hesitation.
I'm not weaker than him. I'm not.
Sasuke took a breath, clenched his fists, and pushed forward.
Naruto and Sasuke drew more than a few stares as they walked through the district—Naruto with his iconic blond spikes, and Sasuke with the Uchiha crest stitched proudly onto his shirt.
Izumi spotted them first.
"Chizumi-senpai, look," she said in surprise. "Sasuke-kun actually came."
Chizumi didn't look surprised. His voice was calm, measured.
"It's fate," he said. "When justice grips one, the other can't escape its pull."
Izumi's eyes widened slightly as realization dawned.
"Wait… you scouted Sasuke-kun too? As a candidate for Absolute Justice?"
Chizumi nodded.
"Among the Uchiha, ones like him are rare. Compared to his older brother, he's… refreshingly sane."
That's when Naruto ran ahead, stopping a respectful distance away before bowing deeply.
"Chizumi-sensei! Uzumaki Naruto reporting in!"
Sensei? Izumi blinked in surprise. So this was how Naruto viewed Chizumi? A justice mentor? Strangely enough… it fit.
Chizumi didn't correct him. He simply accepted it.
Izumi's gaze moved to Sasuke, who was stiff, clearly uneasy.
Sasuke noticed her watching him and immediately blurted out:
"Dobe invited me, okay? I didn't come on my own."
Naruto scowled. "Oi! Who are you calling dobe?!"
Izumi smirked.
"So you're only here because you were dragged along? If you're not actually interested in justice, Sasuke-kun, you might as well head back. No point sticking around."
"I—I didn't say I wasn't interested!" Sasuke snapped, voice cracking slightly, his words stilted and uncertain.
~~~
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