Chapter 151: If They Don't Cooperate, Just Kill Them!
"Phew!"
On the other side, the physically and mentally exhausted Hiruzen Sarutobi had arrived at the Hokage Office. He let out a heavy sigh and rubbed his temples. "Calming down a ten-year-old child is more tiring than handling dozens of official documents!"
Thinking about the child's experience, a hint of gloom flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.
Fortunately.
Under Ikeizumi's Sharingan genjutsu, she had temporarily forgotten about it.
Perhaps one day in the future, she would remember it by some coincidence, but by then she would be an adult and would have a stronger psychological capacity, so she wouldn't do anything foolish.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi adjusted his mood and said, "Come in," an ANBU ninja skillfully pushed the door open and reported with his head bowed, "Lord Hokage, the envoys from the Village Hidden in the Rain have arrived."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned.
He frowned and thought carefully. He realized that this was indeed a thing.
It was a contact exchange requested by the Daimyō of the Land of Rain, with the purpose of easing and deepening the relationship between the two ninja villages. This matter was approved by Homura Mitokado, and Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't think it was a big deal, so he didn't question it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly said, "If they were just ordinary Rain Village envoys, the ANBU wouldn't need to report to me, would they?"
The ANBU ninja nodded. "We found that the leading Rain Village envoy, although he wore a gas mask and concealed his appearance, his special ninja tool gave away his identity."
"He's carrying the Executioner's Blade from the Hidden Mist Village! Judging by his height and build, there's a ninety percent chance that he is one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
"—Jūzō Biwa!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyebrows shot up. "Jūzō Biwa, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist… If I'm not mistaken, he has already betrayed the Hidden Mist Village and is a rogue ninja."
"The fact that he appeared among the Rain Village envoys, and is even the leader, means he has joined the Rain Village?"
The ANBU ninja asked, "Lord Hokage, should we inform the Hidden Mist Village about this?"
"No need."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "Konoha doesn't need the friendship of the Bloody Mist right now, and it would also offend the Rain Village."
The ANBU ninja said no more.
…
At the same time.
At the Konoha Village gate.
"Looks like I've found some interesting intelligence," a bizarre White Zetsu emerged from a tree trunk covered in leaves. One of its eyes peered through the gaps in the leaves, falling on the group of Rain Village ninjas not far away.
Especially on Jūzō Biwa, who was wearing a gas mask.
The White Zetsu's arm began to droop and slowly extend like a branch until it touched the soil below, then it seeped into the soil and connected with the tree's root system.
Using the interconnectedness of underground plant roots and groundwater, the intelligence was quickly transmitted to a more distant area.
In less than ten seconds, Zetsu, who was countless miles away, narrowed his eyes. He had been rushing toward Konoha Village but now he slowed down.
Tobi, who was beside him, also frowned and stopped, asking with dissatisfaction, "Why did you stop?"
"Tobi."
Zetsu said, "I guessed correctly. Konan is indeed suspicious. She sent a new member of the Akatsuki to Konoha to try and gather information about Uchiha Ikeizumi's secrets. Or rather, she wants to gather information about your secrets and mine."
Tobi was stunned. "How did she know that Uchiha Ikeizumi has secrets about you and me?"
Zetsu was silent for a moment. "She probably guessed it when you tried to use the Akatsuki's power to investigate Uchiha Ikeizumi."
"And," Zetsu sighed helplessly, "I already answered a similar question for you last time."
"Currently, we need to do three things."
Zetsu continued, "First, the original plan remains unchanged. We still need to make a move on that kid named 'Izumi Uchiha.' Second, if the new Akatsuki member finds anything, we can try to recruit him to our side. If we can't, we'll kill him. Third, we must find a way to kill Uchiha Ikeizumi."
"We'll be in the Land of Fire after another twenty kilometers," Zetsu warned. "Don't use the Akatsuki to investigate Uchiha Ikeizumi anymore. It will only expose more intelligence that shouldn't be exposed."
"…Hmph!" Tobi snorted coldly. "That woman just made a lucky guess."
Zetsu sighed again.
If it were Madara Uchiha, even if he made a mistake, he wouldn't be so stubborn.
He's still not as good as Madara Uchiha.
…
"A strange gaze…" Jūzō Biwa couldn't help but narrow his eyes, his gaze falling on the treetop of a tree not far ahead.
"Tch… Is it a Konoha ANBU ninja?"
He was a little wary. After all, he was on Konoha's territory. If something were to happen, even if he was a former elite Jōnin of the Hidden Mist Village, he wouldn't necessarily be able to escape.
After all, this was the Konoha Village that could produce a man like that!
Recalling the Konoha Genin who almost wiped out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist during the Third Great Ninja War, a sense of horror he would never forget flashed in Jūzō Biwa's eyes.
He took a deep breath, shaking off the stray thoughts in his mind.
What was more important right now was the mission that woman had given him.
"Uchiha Ikeizumi…"
Jūzō Biwa was thinking about how to get in touch with the infamous "Lava Release Beast" when a sudden voice caught his attention.
—"Izumi, should we have Ikeizumi come handle this case?"
Ikeizumi?!
Jūzō Biwa turned his head without a change in expression and saw two Konoha kunoichi talking not far to his left.
He heard the one with the Uchiha clan crest on her back say, "We can handle this case. If we have to bother Ikeizumi-senpai with every case, our own sense of justice will never grow."
"Of course, we still need to send a ninja cat to report to Ikeizumi-senpai. And we also need Ikeizumi-senpai's guidance on justice, since this case involves a whole clan."
Jūzō Biwa looked thoughtful.
He said expressionlessly to a Rain ninja next to him, "You guys go see the Konoha Hokage first. I'll be there a little later."
The Rain ninja was stunned. "But…"
Before he could ask, Jūzō Biwa said on his own, "If the Konoha Hokage asks about me, just say that I'm quite interested in Konoha Village and want to look around first. Tell him that if he doesn't trust me and is afraid that I'll do something in Konoha, he can send a few ANBU ninjas to follow me."
Faced with Jūzō Biwa's increasingly sharp gaze, the Rain ninja was immediately drenched in sweat and no longer dared to ask anything he shouldn't.
"Yes!"
…
Before long.
Uchiha Ikeizumi, who had just left the Sarutobi clan compound, received news of the new case they had found this morning from a ninja cat sent by Izumi Uchiha.
"Lord Ikeizumi! Lord Torajirō! The two rookies, Izumi Uchiha and Anko Mitarashi, found that there are ninjas in the Aburame clan who are using non-Aburame clan members to cultivate very special insects. And, the Aburame clan ninjas have even caused deaths because of this."
A tortoiseshell-colored ninja cat said in a rapid human voice.
"Meow? The Aburame clan?" Torajirō mused. "This clan is known for being cautious and meticulous. If any of them were to do something evil, they wouldn't leave us any evidence."
Torajirō clicked his tongue. "The reason why the rookie sent a ninja cat to report is probably to ask Lord Ikeizumi how to handle this case, besides just informing him."
"Sigh, without her 'Lord Torajirō' to guide her, she's still too green, meow."
Uchiha Ikeizumi ignored the inexplicably smug Torajirō.
He said to the tortoiseshell ninja cat, "Tell her that if the evildoers cooperate with the investigation, they'll follow the process. If they don't, just kill them and take them to the Yamanaka clan to have their memories retrieved."
"Meow! Yes, Lord Ikeizumi!"
The tortoiseshell ninja cat came and went quickly. It soon ran back and found Anko and Izumi.
It then repeated Uchiha Ikeizumi's "instructions" word for word, which made Anko a little speechless.
Izumi, on the other hand, found it completely normal. "Let's go to the Aburame clan compound and arrest the murderous evildoers!"
Anko was still a little uncomfortable with these hardcore methods.
However.
Perhaps only such methods can curb the evil in the ninja world.
After all, it is already clear what overly lenient methods and laws will bring to evil—they will only condone it and make it grow stronger.
With this thought.
The slight discomfort in Anko's heart vanished.
…
At the same time, inside the Aburame clan compound.
Most of the Aburame clan ninjas were gathered in one place. Shibi Aburame, the current head of the clan, was sitting at the head of the table. His face, hidden behind sunglasses, made it impossible to see his emotions.
To his left and right were several Aburame clan elders.
And not far in front of Shibi Aburame, an elite Chūnin of the Aburame clan was kneeling, his emotions very low, his entire being exuding a negative aura.
The atmosphere was very oppressive.
"Kazuhiko."
Beside him, an Aburame clan elder said hoarsely, "After you committed such a grave mistake, you were afraid that Uchiha Ikeizumi would come after you, so you wanted the clan head and us to cover for you. But did you ever think that you didn't have to do those wrong things in the first place?"
"You concealed your actions from the clan when you used other people's bodies to cultivate special insects. Then, when the people you used died, you revealed this secret to us. Kazuhiko, do you see the Aburame clan as your shield for doing evil?"
The elite Chūnin named "Kazuhiko Aburame" quickly looked up.
"I know I was wrong!" He immediately begged, "I won't implicate the Aburame clan. I just want to ask the clan head to quietly arrange for me to leave the village. As long as I'm out of the village, the clan head can expel me from the Aburame clan!"
"Also, my parents died honorably during the Third Great Ninja War. They were Konoha's heroes. Can you please help me for my parents' sake?"
Anyone could hear that Kazuhiko Aburame's tone was filled with a deep fear of Absolute Justice.
An elder sighed helplessly and said to Shibi Aburame, "Shibi, you are the clan head. You decide."
Another elder added, "Shibi, think carefully. This is a matter of going against Uchiha Ikeizumi."
Shibi Aburame, who had been silent, was about to speak.
Just then.
A young Aburame clan ninja ran in quickly. He was slightly out of breath as he reported, "Lord Shibi! Outside the compound, there's a ninja from the Uchiha Police Force! She's a subordinate of Uchiha Ikeizumi, and her name seems to be Izumi Uchiha!"
"…"
All the Aburame clan ninjas present fell silent.
The elite Chūnin named Kazuhiko Aburame's face instantly went pale.
"Kazuhiko, turn yourself in,"
Shibi Aburame said slowly. "The Aburame clan will not sacrifice the future of the entire clan for one person."
Kazuhiko Aburame was dumbfounded. He mumbled in confusion, "Just one Uchiha Ikeizumi can destroy the Aburame clan…?"
Shibi Aburame closed his eyes and recalled the horrifying lava flow. Every time he recalled those images, he felt a little suffocated, as if he could smell sulfur in his nostrils.
Uchiha Ikeizumi…
Is absolutely the most untouchable ninja in all of Konoha.
Without a doubt!
"Yes,"
Shibi Aburame said with certainty.
…
Outside the Aburame clan compound.
The girl's hand was already on her ninja blade's hilt. If no one came out in the next three minutes, she would grit her teeth and boldly force her way into the Aburame clan compound.
After all, Senpai Ikeizumi had already given her instructions. If she didn't handle this case properly.
Then, in Senpai Ikeizumi's eyes…
She would definitely get a failing grade!
Just as Izumi's young face became serious and she was ready for anything, she suddenly heard some commotion from inside the Aburame clan compound. Then she saw a large group of people walking out.
"So many people!" Anko, who was beside her, had sweat on her forehead. "They've almost all come out, the entire clan! Are they trying to go against justice?"
As Anko murmured nervously, Shibi Aburame, who was leading the group, stood in front of her and Izumi.
Shibi Aburame said, "The Aburame clan will not condone its members committing evil. The criminal you seek has been brought out."
Anko was stunned.
Then, she watched as several Aburame clan ninjas escorted a dejected Kazuhiko Aburame to the front.
Shibi Aburame continued, "He is no longer a member of the Aburame clan after doing such a thing. The Aburame clan will have no opinion on how Absolute Justice decides to deal with him."
This statement finally made Anko realize what was going on.
Because Shibi Aburame had said Absolute Justice, not the Uchiha Police Force.
In other words…
He chose to hand over his clan member without hesitation because of Uchiha Ikeizumi's intimidation. The Aburame clan was not afraid of the Uchiha clan, but of Ikeizumi's Absolute Justice!
Fortunately, Izumi reacted and said, "The choice the Aburame clan has made is correct. As for the compensation for the victims, someone from the Police Force will be in contact."
Shibi Aburame said, "No matter what the compensation amount is, we, the Aburame clan, will pay double."
Anko was speechless.
It seems that Ikeizumi's intimidation is enough to handle a lot of cases.
…
On the other side.
The Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was meeting with the Rain Village envoys. When he learned that Jūzō Biwa was still "wandering" in Konoha.
His old face was smiling and polite on the surface. In reality, he had already quietly hinted to the ANBU ninjas to immediately go and follow Jūzō Biwa.
After all, such a dangerous former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen…
Who knows what he wants to do in Konoha?
But at that moment.
A sudden, urgent knock on the door made Hiruzen Sarutobi frown, but he quickly wiped the displeasure from his face. He apologized to a Rain ninja envoy and said that he would be back soon. Hiruzen Sarutobi then walked out of the Hokage Office.
But what Hiruzen Sarutobi saw was a member of the Sarutobi clan.
When he saw the clan member's anxious expression, as if he wanted to say something but was hesitant.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart sank.
A sense of foreboding washed over him.
"What happened?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked in a low voice. "Could it be that Ikeizumi went after the Sarutobi clan again?"
The clansman shook his head, but before Hiruzen Sarutobi could breathe a sigh of relief, he swallowed hard and said something shocking. "Lord Hokage, Sakura Sarutobi… she killed herself! She… slit her own throat with a kunai! By the time someone found her, it was too late…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "!!!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned for a few seconds.
His old face was filled with disbelief.
"Didn't I… comfort her this morning before dawn? I even personally took her to the Ninja Academy. And didn't Ikeizumi handle the child's memories? That was a Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu… It's absolutely impossible for that child to have remembered that psychological trauma in such a short time."
"How could this happen…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly came back to his senses. He tried to take a deep breath, and a hint of gloom unconsciously appeared in his eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately questioned, "What exactly happened? That child should be at the Ninja Academy, right?"
The clansman quickly replied, "She committed suicide at the Ninja Academy! A teacher from the Academy came to inform us, the Sarutobi clan. Their intention was to inform Sakura's parents, but…"
He fell silent.
After all, the child's parents had killed each other.
"Phew!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately summoned an ANBU ninja and said with a dark expression, "Have the Uchiha Police Force start an investigation immediately!"
"Wait!"
Just as the ANBU ninja was about to leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stopped him.
"Let… Ikeizumi go,"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
…
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