Naruto: Uchiha's Absolute Justice

Chapter 31: Are You Becoming a Rogue Ninja, Uchiha Ikeizumi?!

Root Base.

"Lord Danzo, the location of Uchiha Ikeizumi is highly likely the secret research base outside the village!" A Root ninja reported, kneeling before Danzo.

He added, "It's the secret base outside the village that the Third Hokage ordered built a few years ago, where many of Orochimaru's research personnel are 'kept'."

Upon the Root ninja's reminder, Danzo also recalled it.

The Monkey (Hiruzen Sarutobi) had indeed established such a base outside the village back then.

At that time, he (Danzo) had wanted to intervene, as he deserved at least a third of the credit for the numerous research materials and personnel Orochimaru had left behind.

However, that old bastard the Monkey had ruthlessly rejected him.

The Monkey had even allied with Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado to pressure Danzo, forcing him to abandon that idea.

These past few years.

Danzo had not stopped trying to infiltrate Root personnel into the base, but the Monkey kept a very tight watch on that secret research base, leaving him no opportunity to succeed.

"Heh."

Danzo suddenly gloated, a sneer gracing his lips.

Looking at the falling lava in the distance, he sneered to himself, "That inherently evil Uchiha brat… has finally conceived evil thoughts against the 'Hokage.' Monkey, I warned you long ago, you'll regret not eliminating him."

The Root ninja, kneeling, hesitantly asked, "Lord Danzo, do we in Root need to intervene?"

Danzo narrowed his eyes.

A killing intent suddenly arose.

He had long wished to tear Uchiha Ikeizumi limb from limb.

"No."

Danzo said with a sinister glint in his eyes, "Let Uchiha Ikeizumi cause trouble. The more trouble he causes, the deeper his conflict with the Monkey becomes. If I recall correctly, that base is managed by Shinnosuke Sarutobi. Hehe… The inherently evil Uchiha brat is now clashing with the Monkey's eldest son!"

"What we need to do… is to first stop anyone who tries to intervene and resolve the conflict."

"Pass my orders!"

"—All Root personnel, move out! Guard all exits from Konoha! Apart from the ANBU ninja around the Monkey, no one is to be allowed to leave the village!"

"Yes!"

The Root ninja quickly vanished into afterimages, leaving the Root base.

...

Nara Clan Compound.

"Dad, that must be someone's ninjutsu, right?"

On a rooftop within the Nara clan compound.

Shikamaru Nara, at just seven years old, already possessed a rather precocious, world-weary expression, coupled with a pair of deadpan eyes unlike those of his peers, making one doubt his true age.

"Hmm."

Shikaku Nara, standing on the rooftop with his son, his hands half-inserted into his pockets, said with a profound gaze, "That's Lava style."

"…Lava style?" Shikamaru was startled.

Shikaku Nara slowly said, "Have you heard the name Uchiha Ikeizumi?"

Shikamaru nodded: "I've heard of him. He seems to be a very troublesome person; many in the village fear him. However, some also seem to hold him in great respect."

"So…"

Shikamaru asked, "Is that Uchiha Ikeizumi's ninjutsu?"

Shikaku Nara nodded: "Most likely. And that location… Hokage-sama is probably going to have a headache tonight."

He chose not to go and investigate the situation.

He had already seen it. That was a troublesome mess best left untouched.

The Nara clan preferred not to stir up unnecessary trouble.

...

Konoha Village.

"I hear Hiruzen has already personally departed with the ANBU."

Koharu Utatane sought out Homura Mitokado at his home late at night.

She said to Homura Mitokado, "I knew that Uchiha Ikeizumi was a menace. With his so-called [Absolute Justice]… I fear everyone in that research base is a thorn in his side."

"Alas, Hiruzen has repeatedly indulged him. I can't understand what value such an uncontrollable Uchiha holds that makes Hiruzen regard him so highly."

Homura Mitokado stood with his hands behind his back, saying gravely, "He is indeed a menace, but also a double-edged sword. Hiruzen indulges him because Uchiha Ikeizumi's [Absolute Justice] is extreme enough."

"At least… one thing we cannot deny is that Uchiha Ikeizumi has indeed made some ill-intentioned individuals restrain themselves considerably."

Koharu Utatane said, "But this time he's gone too far, even daring to attack a secret research base!"

Homura Mitokado said, "This time, we should persuade Hiruzen to harden his heart. In the past, Uchiha Ikeizumi's power was relatively weak, still within the village's control, and we could grasp this double-edged sword and make good use of it. But now…"

His eyes flashed with apprehension: "He has gradually grown to full strength."

The last Uchiha who made them feel uncontrollable was named Uchiha Shisui.

Uchiha Shisui made them wary because of his eyes.

Uchiha Ikeizumi's main reason for making them wary…

Was that absolute justice that utterly disregarded village politics.

...

Secret Research Base.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The continuous falling lava made the entire secret research base tremble wildly. Raging flames had ignited, and some of the falling lava had even penetrated the ceiling above the secret base.

Shinnosuke Sarutobi, inside the base, realized that the base was probably riddled with holes.

The entire base was practically ruined, and many important scientific research equipment were probably melted by the lava.

"Uchiha Ikeizumi! Are you insane!"

Shinnosuke Sarutobi ripped off his obstructive ANBU mask.

At this moment, one could clearly see his facial skin scalded by the steam in the air, showing an unnatural reddish hue.

One could also see his face, somewhat resembling Hiruzen Sarutobi's, filled with rage.

"This is Konoha's base! Although I don't know why you know those things, I can tell you that everything I and my subordinates have done is for Konoha!"

"We are worthy of the Will of Fire, we are worthy of our departed predecessors, and we are even more worthy of everyone in Konoha!"

"The people who died because of everything we've done weren't Konoha people, or even people from the Land of Fire. Uchiha Ikeizumi, what are you meddling in?!"

"Where is your [Absolute Justice]'s loyalty to Konoha? Are you becoming a rogue ninja, Uchiha Ikeizumi?!"

Shinnosuke Sarutobi roared, his fury overwhelming him.

Uchiha Ikeizumi stood up, the surrounding lava unable to harm him. He gazed calmly forward.

Drip after drip of molten lava fell from his body.

"Shinnosuke-sensei, the [Absolute Justice] I believe in has never been out of loyalty to Konoha. Whether I am a rogue ninja or not is not something you can define with a single sentence."

Uchiha Ikeizumi continued to move forward.

"It's only because you were once my Jonin instructor that I'm telling you so much, so you can die with understanding before your end."

Uchiha Ikeizumi suddenly performed a Body Flicker Technique, instantly appearing before an ANBU ninja. Under the opponent's pupils, which constricted in horror, one of his hands had already sliced off half of the ANBU ninja's head.

—This was the ANBU ninja whose feet were burned off by the lava; he no longer had the ability to dodge.

"I believe in [Absolute Justice] because I feel the ninja world has become pathologically distorted, a pathological ninja world that breeds countless 'evils,' filling the ninja world with pain, tragedy…"

Uchiha Ikeizumi's body suddenly became transparent, as if he had vanished into thin air.

—This was the first time he had used the Gekko Clan's "Transparent style"!

This also made the remaining ANBU ninja frantically look around.

Attempting to find Uchiha Ikeizumi's suddenly vanished trace.

Until his voice sounded behind an ANBU ninja.

"And this evil includes, but is not limited to, Daimyo who impose harsh taxes and levies, high-ranking officials corrupted by power, beasts who slaughter entire clans, and mindless sycophants… including what you, Shinnosuke-sensei, have done."

"Ugh!"

The ANBU ninja suddenly grunted, looking down in horror at the inexplicably large hole that had appeared in his chest.

"When [Justice] is absolute enough…"

Uchiha Ikeizumi launched a lava projectile through the air, instantly engulfing an ANBU ninja who was attempting to form hand seals.

"The 'evil' of the ninja world will be purged."

Uchiha Ikeizumi's arms surged with molten lava, which poured out like a flood and tsunami, engulfing the other three ANBU ninja who saw nothing but felt only the heat wave rushing towards them.

When only Shinnosuke Sarutobi remained, gripping half a ninja blade, his face filled with shock and horror…

Only then did Uchiha Ikeizumi style his Transparent style.

"I… was I caught in your Sharingan genjutsu?"

Shinnosuke Sarutobi's eyes widened. He couldn't believe anyone could possess three Kekkei Genkai. He instinctively felt he might have fallen under a genjutsu.