Just as Nara Shikaku finished talking, a sharp voice rang out from outside.
"Kurenai! This is the Nara compound! You can't just barge in without warning!"
Shikaku frowned and followed the voice. Outside, two kunoichi had walked in like they owned the place.
He didn't know one of them, but the other was instantly familiar.
—Yūhi Kurenai.
He knew her because he'd once served under her father, Yūhi Shinku, an elite jōnin who died during the Nine-Tails' attack. That memory softened his tone.
"Kurenai," he asked patiently, "what brings you here?"
Seeing Shikaku brought Kurenai back to her senses. She quickly bowed. "Uncle Shikaku, is Asuma... is he here?"
Shikaku nodded. "He is."
She hesitated. "Then he..."
"He's dead."
Shikaku paused, then added, "If you want to see him one last time, follow me."
Kurenai followed in a daze. She didn't even know how she ended up walking behind Shikaku, only realizing what was happening when they reached the corpses—most covered in white cloth, one left exposed.
Sarutobi Asuma.
She said nothing.
They'd grown up together. Close friends for years. Just yesterday, he was laughing in front of her, saying weird things. Now he was cold and lifeless.
It didn't feel real.
The other kunoichi beside her gasped when she saw the massive, charred hole in his chest. "How could Uchiha Chizumi do this to his own village's ninja?!"
The words just slipped out.
Yamanaka Inoichi, standing nearby, gave her a cold look.
"Mercy is for people with kind hearts and clear morals," he said. "For those twisted by darkness, there's no such thing as 'too cruel.'"
The kunoichi went quiet.
Kurenai stared blankly. "Asuma... was he really that far gone?"
Inoichi answered, "Has Chizumi ever killed someone who wasn't guilty?"
Kurenai couldn't reply.
She'd heard the rumors sweeping through the village. She'd known, deep down, why Asuma died. But she still came—hoping, somehow, for another explanation.
She took a deep breath. Her eyes were full of doubt.
Like many, she didn't believe Chizumi would kill someone innocent. She was even intrigued by his so-called Absolute Justice. The recent rumors had changed her impression of the infamous "Uchiha Plague."
But now that same justice had taken someone she knew.
Looking at the body, she whispered, "Asuma, why did you do it?"
To her, no one innocent would die by Chizumi's blade.
Maybe Asuma had truly lost his way.
She bit her lip.
Everything felt complicated.
…
"Chizumi-sensei killed the Hokage's son today."
"What...?"
Naruto had heard the rumor and immediately rushed to find Uchiha Izumi.
Panting hard, he finally looked up. "Is it true?"
Izumi nodded. Her tone was firm. "It's true. Asuma led the Twelve Guardian Ninja and formed an assassination squad. They tried to ambush Chizumi-senpai outside the village. If Chizumi wasn't so strong, he'd be dead right now."
She added, "Chizumi-senpai came out alright, but Jujirō-senpai got seriously hurt. He was covered in wounds when I saw him. They weren't holding back at all."
Naruto stood there, shocked.
He'd noticed the ideological tension between the Hokage and Chizumi, but he never imagined it would come to this.
At least in front of him, the Hokage always seemed understanding, even respectful toward Chizumi's unique brand of justice. And Chizumi, while blunt, had never openly defied the Hokage.
Disagreements? Sure. Everyone had them.
Naruto always believed they'd find common ground someday.
But after this... was that even possible?
If this turned into a real fight—if they became enemies—whose side was he supposed to take?
He didn't know.
It was all too much.
…
At the Land of Fire's capital—
The daimyo was pacing restlessly, folding and unfolding a letter sent via a summoning crow from one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
It confirmed the assassination attempt had begun.
"Eleven Guardian Ninja against one Uchiha... that should be enough, right? Asuma seemed so sure when we discussed the plan..."
He tried to calm himself.
He wasn't an expert in ninja combat. He just knew jōnin were stronger than chūnin, and eleven should be more than enough.
Plus, they were supposed to bring back his son's body, too.
He forced himself to believe they wouldn't fail.
And if Asuma couldn't do it... surely his father, the Hokage, would step in.
He told himself the anxiety was just in his head.
…
Night fell.
Most towns in the Land of Fire were still recovering from the Third Ninja War. But one town had bounced back long ago—
Tanzaku Town.
Casinos, bars, clubs, glowing signs and flashing lights—it was a playground of greed and temptation. A city that never slept.
Bandaged Jujirō looked up at a bright sign. "We just needed a rest stop and ended up here. Chizumi-sama, how long's it been since we came to Tanzaku?"
"Nine years," Chizumi said. "During the height of the Third Great Ninja War."
"Right!" Jujirō nodded. "For a cat like me, nine years is forever. Oh—and I just remembered. You killed those two people here, didn't you? And had that fallout with Shinnosuke?"
Chizumi nodded. "They gave up their path. Death was the only redemption."
"They were Shinnosuke's students. Of course your relationship broke down after that."
Chizumi showed no emotion. He'd ended too many fallen comrades to feel anything anymore.
He stepped into the buzzing heart of the city.
Jujirō quickly followed.
"I remember now," the cat said. "You didn't just kill those two. You almost wiped out the whole town. Dozens died that night."
"Not enough," Chizumi said quietly.
Jujirō blinked.
"A place like this is full of scum. Too bad Shinnosuke showed up so soon. I barely broke in one blade before he stopped me."
"Back then, Absolute Justice wasn't ready. But now? Now it's the evil in this world that needs to hide."
"Tonight, no one's stopping justice."
The cold certainty in his voice didn't scare Jujirō. It fired him up.
Even his injuries didn't feel so bad anymore.
…
Back in Konoha—
"The Hokage is awake!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly opened his eyes. A nurse quickly rushed out of the room to call the others.
Within moments, Homura, Koharu, Kakashi, and several others entered. Each of them looked concerned as they stared at the aged and frail figure lying in the hospital bed.
"Kakashi," Hiruzen croaked, "I was hoping... when I woke up... you'd tell me all that I heard earlier... was just a nightmare."
Kakashi lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry, Hokage-sama. Everything you heard was real."
"Ah... how cruel, Kakashi," Hiruzen muttered, shifting his gaze to the ceiling. "You couldn't even offer this old man a comforting lie..."
Kakashi said nothing. The emotional blow to the Hokage was obvious. His voice had lost all strength.
Koharu stepped forward, her tone dark. "Hiruzen, Asuma's body is with the Nara clan. Inoichi is checking his memories. If it turns out Asuma did nothing wrong and Chizumi still killed him in cold blood... Konoha can't accept a butcher who slaughters his own comrades. You understand what I'm saying, don't you?"
Hiruzen was silent for a while, then slowly turned his head to look at her.
"I believe Asuma wouldn't do anything to betray Konoha," he said weakly. "He was rebellious—he never called me 'father,' only 'old man'... but his rebellion was against politics, not the village itself."
"If anything, he was willing to do anything to eliminate threats to Konoha. He was a good shinobi."
He took a shaky breath.
"But maybe it was that exact mindset—that drive to protect the village at any cost—that led him to cross a line."
"A line... called justice."
Hiruzen closed his eyes for a moment. He could see it all clearly now—Asuma must've believed Chizumi was dangerous. He had lied to his own father, used him to get Chizumi out of the village, and then tried to kill him.
But he had overestimated himself... and underestimated Chizumi.
"Hiruzen!" Koharu suddenly barked. "This so-called justice is just Chizumi's twisted ideology! Are you really letting yourself be manipulated by that boy?"
"His justice is his alone. It's not Konoha's justice! It's not your justice!"
"You let Shinnosuke's death slide. And now Asuma? Are you going to just let this one go too? How can you be this soft?"
"Both your sons were killed by him!"
Her words hit hard. Hiruzen's vacant eyes started to regain focus.
"Shinnosuke..."
"Asuma..."
His hands trembled as he clenched the sheets.
At that moment, more people entered.
Inoichi. Shikaku. Chōza.
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio.
Individually, they weren't the strongest clans. But together, they held serious weight in Konoha.
"Hokage-sama," Inoichi began directly, "Of the eleven Guardian Ninja, only five had intact heads. We've retrieved their memories. We confirmed that they were ordered by the Fire Daimyō... and by Sarutobi Asuma... to assassinate Uchiha Chizumi."
"The daimyo wanted revenge for his son. Asuma had two goals—he believed Chizumi's Absolute Justice was too extreme, a danger to Konoha. And... he wanted revenge for Shinnosuke's death."
He set a scroll down on a nearby table.
"Everything is recorded here. This was a carefully planned, premeditated murder."
Inoichi looked directly into Hiruzen's eyes.
"This was a criminal act. And Chizumi... was the target."
RIP—
The edge of Hiruzen's blanket tore in his grip.
Koharu spun around, eyes blazing. "Inoichi! Are you serious?! You're calling Asuma a criminal? And the daimyo too?! You're saying Chizumi was the victim? Are you really willing to stand by that?!"
"Yes," Inoichi replied without hesitation.
"Hokage-sama, Advisors," he continued, "The Yamanaka clan stands by what's right. And based on what we've seen, Chizumi was in the right."
Homura realized it—Inoichi and the Yamanaka were siding with Chizumi.
And it looked like they intended to carry the banner of justice for him while he was away.
But why? Chizumi never asked for loyalty, never promised.
What could they possibly gain by siding with someone like him?
Had they lost their minds?
"Inoichi..." Koharu growled, but before she could continue—
Shikaku stepped forward, hands in his pockets.
"Let's be real," he said. "Asuma conspired with outsiders to assassinate a fellow Konoha ninja. By our laws, that's a capital offense."
Inoichi nodded. "And Chizumi, ambushed by eleven jōnin, had every right to defend himself."
"Hokage-sama, Chizumi acted lawfully. He followed the Will of Fire. That's all I've got to say."
Everyone in the room turned to Chōza.
The big man sighed.
"Ino-Shika-Chō always moves together. Their opinion is mine too."
Koharu looked like she was about to explode.
Homura opened his mouth, then closed it.
Hiruzen just stared at the ceiling.
Even some of the Anbu in the room hung their heads.
Kakashi glanced left and right. Yeah... he probably should've left earlier.
This room was a political minefield now.
"So that's how it is..." Hiruzen muttered. "Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi... and likely Uchiha too."
Would the rest of the village think the same?
Probably.
After all, who would defend a Hokage's son who tried to assassinate a fellow Konoha ninja?
Even if Asuma thought he was doing it for Konoha... he'd gone too far.
Only a few might side with him—and those were probably people who hated Chizumi.
Hiruzen let out a long sigh.
"I'm tired. Let me rest."
"Hiruzen..." Koharu said, almost pleading.
"I said I'm tired."
Koharu didn't argue further. But she was clearly seething.
If Danzo were here, he'd already have half the village hunting Chizumi down.
As the others filed out, Koharu lingered by the door.
"Hiruzen. He was your son. Chizumi's not in the village right now. His Lava Release won't be a threat. Isn't this your best chance?"
"Are you really letting Shikaku, Inoichi, and Chōza sway your judgment? Are you really letting go of the deaths of both your sons? Is this what being the Hokage means to you now?"
"You're going to regret this."
Hiruzen turned to her, voice quiet.
"The role of the Hokage... the balance we have to maintain... it's not as simple as you think. If the village no longer supports me... then I'm no longer worthy of the title."
He exhaled heavily.
"Go. I'm still the Hokage. I'll make the decisions."
"Shinnosuke understood me... he always did. Asuma... maybe he will too."
Koharu stared at him for a long moment.
Then she stepped out and slammed the door behind her.
Hard.
…
In a dark alley nearby, a man screamed as a ninja wearing his forehead protector backward ground his foot into the victim's face.
The thug counted thick stacks of 10,000 ryō bills, grinning.
"Half a million. Not bad. Almost couldn't hold it all in one hand. You're not gonna report this, right? You've got family, don't you? You know how easily a ninja can make you all disappear."
"P-please... don't hurt them. Take the money. I won't tell anyone," the man begged.
"Take? This was mine the moment I saw you," the ninja sneered.
He lifted his foot to stomp—
WHAM!
His leg slammed into the wall. Pain exploded through him.
He looked down. A kunai had pierced through his calf.
"What the—"
Then came a flash of steel.
SHNK.
A voice echoed:
"Kawajima Keiichi. Two years ago, murdered a gambler. A year and a half ago, crippled another. One year ago..."
Uchiha Chizumi walked past. The man's head rolled off his shoulders.
A system message blinked in the air: [Red Name]
Jujirō followed. He flipped the headband. No scratch.
"Still a Konoha ninja. Not even a missing-nin. Tanzaku's filth is out in full force tonight, meow. Looks like we've got a long night ahead, Chizumi-sama."
The wounded man stared, wide-eyed.
That name... Chizumi?
"Uchiha... Chizumi...?!"
…
Elsewhere, a blonde-haired girl who looked around twelve stomped down the street, clutching her head and groaning.
"Damn it! There's no way I lost a million ryō in thirty minutes unless they cheated! They had to be working together!"
"And those loan sharks? It's not like I said I wouldn't pay—I just extended the deadline! Ugh, so petty."
Behind her, a black-haired woman carrying a pink pig sighed. "Tsunade-sama, you've lost too much already. If we lose any more, we won't even have money for lodging."
"Nag, nag, nag. You'd think you were—"
Tsunade suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Her steps slowed.
"Tsunade-sama? What's wrong? Another debt collector following us?"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Blood. Thick smell of it. Like someone bled out halfway."
Shizune's face went pale.
Under a streetlight ahead, a figure appeared.
"An Uchiha police officer?!" Shizune gasped. But this wasn't Konoha. This was Tanzaku. Why would a Uchiha patrol be here?
They walked closer. The figure headed their way.
Shizune's eyes darted to the blade in the ninja's hand—it was already drawn, the tip slick with blood.
She stepped in front of Tsunade, trying to block her view. Tsunade couldn't handle blood.
As they passed, the ninja glanced at them. Tsunade and Shizune looked back.
Then both sides kept walking.
"Shizune," Tsunade murmured, "didn't he look... familiar?"
Shizune blinked. "Familiar?"
…
"Chizumi-sama, did you recognize them?" Jujirō asked.
"Tsunade of the Sannin. And Katō Shizune," Chizumi said. "We met here nine years ago. Looks like the Princess of Konoha still hasn't left Tanzaku behind."
"Meow! That's Tsunade and Shizune?!" Jujirō's eyes widened. "Back then, didn't they follow you around and pick up money off every criminal you killed? Tsunade even pointed out her own loan sharks so you'd take them out, meow!"
…
The memory hit like a flash. Clear as ever.
Tsunade suddenly spun around. "Shizune!!! That kid—it was Uchiha Chizumi!"
"Wait, what?!"
"Nine years ago—the kid who nearly turned Tanzaku to ash! Remember how all my debt disappeared that night? He's back! That means he's going to—"
She coughed. "He's going to bring justice again! What did he call it...? Absolute Justice?"
Shizune's eyes went wide.
Yes, Uchiha Chizumi.
The one who had turned Tanzaku into a nightmare at age nine. Dozens dead. Every one a criminal.
Tsunade's face lit up. "Shizune, hurry! If he's targeting bad guys again, maybe some of them are my creditors!"
In a flash, she ran after him.
"Wait—Tsunade-sama! Wait for me!"
…
Minutes later, the doors of a luxury club burst open. A fat, well-dressed man bolted out, surrounded by samurai.
"Run! That killer from nine years ago—he's back! Uchiha Chizumi is back!!!"
His scream echoed through the street.
Most didn't know the name.
But locals? Their faces went white.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed from inside.
Chizumi emerged, blade in hand, blood dripping.
He raised his eyes. Crimson text filled his view:
"The twisted world of ninja breeds endless evil. I killed many nine years ago. A new crop has grown."
His voice was calm.
"Clearly, I didn't kill enough. Not thoroughly enough. Tonight... Absolute Justice will bathe Tanzaku in blood."
He turned away, heading in another direction.
The guards blinked, confused.
Then—
The fat man clutched his neck, blood shooting out.
A shuriken had slashed his artery clean. No one had even seen it coming.
Blood sprayed across the faces of the stunned guards.
The crowd gasped.
"M-murder—"
"MURDER!!!"
~~~
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