Chapter 40: A Fat Cat and Two Prodigies

"That's the second person I've killed today."

Izumi was soaking in the bathtub, her entire body submerged, with strands of hair floating on the steamy surface.

Only the upper half of her head poked out, and her muttered words emerged in a series of muffled glub-glub-glub sounds.

She remembered her first kill vividly—that entire night, she had been a bundle of nerves.

Even after returning home, she'd been terrified that the ANBU would come to arrest her.

But now, everything felt… smoother.

She realized she no longer felt the slightest trace of anxiety. In fact, even the discomfort she used to associate with killing had completely vanished.

"And yet…"

She gently pressed a hand to her chest, lifted her head slightly out of the water, and murmured with a hint of confusion: "Why do I feel… a strange sort of joy? I'm not some deranged killer or anything, right? There's no way this feeling comes from having killed someone…"

Izumi stood up, stepping out of the bathtub. As she rinsed the last of the soap from her skin, a sudden flash of insight sparked in her mind.

She understood.

"—It's recognition!"

She realized the reason she felt that flicker of joy was because, within the Uchiha clan, there were now others—aside from herself—who had begun to acknowledge Keizumi-senpai's [Absolute Justice].

And not just a few!

After all, on her way home after parting with Keizumi-senpai today, she'd overheard many people discussing him.

And not in a negative light!

Even if some of that admiration stemmed from the sheer extremity of his methods—an awe-struck reverence for power—

Still…

It was a good start.

…

"Father, I want to meet with Uchiha Keizumi."

At the dinner table, Uchiha Itachi spoke solemnly to Fugaku.

Uchiha Itachi's sudden remark plunged the dining table into a strange and oppressive silence, lingering in the air until the unknowing Uchiha Sasuke reached out with his chopsticks to pick up a piece of tempura.

He abruptly sensed something was off, and his hand froze mid-air.

He looked to his left, then to his right.

He realized that neither his father nor his mother, nor even his beloved older brother, was moving a muscle. All three sat frozen in their chairs.

Sasuke also noticed that his brother was staring at their father—while both their father and mother were watching Itachi.

"What's going on with you guys?"

Sasuke swallowed nervously. Unable to bear the silence, he finally spoke.

But his father ignored him, and instead turned directly to his elder son.

"Itachi, I already told you earlier today—at such a critical moment, I will not allow you to raise a hand against one of our own clansmen without proper cause."

"And more than that…"

Fugaku's voice deepened.

"You and Keizumi are both exceptional talents—potential pillars of the Uchiha clan's future. If the two of you were to come into conflict, how do you think the rest of the village would view us?"

"We're already under heavy scrutiny. If word spreads that there's serious discord within our own ranks, the Uchiha will find themselves in an even more precarious position."

"Itachi, you're only twelve, but I know you understand what I'm saying. You've always been mature beyond your years."

Uchiha Itachi slowly shook his head.

"Father, I'm not going to fight him." His voice was flat and calm. "I just want to talk to Uchiha Keizumi."

A moment later, he added, "I promise."

…

The next day, before dawn—

Uchiha Itachi stood outside a modest two-story house.

Faint shadows under his eyes revealed slight dark circles—it was clear he hadn't slept well the night before.

He raised his head and looked at the doorbell in front of him.

"Go on. Ring it."

A low, steady voice spoke from behind him.

"Didn't you say you wanted to talk to Keizumi?"

The voice belonged to Fugaku.

Fugaku trusted that, since Itachi had made a promise, he would never resort to violence against Keizumi. He prided himself on how well he understood his eldest son, a source of great pride for him.

However…

He also believed he had a fair understanding of Uchiha Keizumi. And he wasn't entirely confident Keizumi wouldn't strike first.

After all, several years ago, Keizumi had already done just that.

Even though, in the time since, Keizumi seemed to have 'calmed down'—even when they crossed paths by chance one day, they had done nothing more than briefly exchange glances.

But Fugaku still didn't want to take that risk.

That's why he had followed.

At that moment, both Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Fugaku shifted their gaze upward.

They saw an orange-yellow ninja cat perched on the second-floor balcony railing, staring down at the two of them.

—What a fat cat.

That was the father and son's first thought.

"That's Keizumi's ninja cat," Fugaku told Itachi. "It's a formidable one. It's been by Keizumi's side since the Third Great Ninja War, following him across countless battlefields. They say even elite jōnin have trouble catching it."

"I recognize it," Uchiha Itachi said coolly. "The day I clashed with Uchiha Keizumi, that cat left three deep gashes on my ankle. The scars are still there to this day."

Fugaku fell silent.

It seemed even Keizumi's ninja cats weren't to be trifled with.

"Fugaku-dono."

Jirō, the Tabby, gave Fugaku some respect.

But as for Uchiha Itachi, it showed no such courtesy—not even a greeting.

Jirō licked its paw, then said, "Keizumi-sama is already waiting in the living room downstairs. Tea's ready, meow. No need to ring the bell—the door's unlocked. Just come in."

Fugaku blinked.

Then he realized—his eldest son had been standing at the door for over three full minutes without ringing the bell.

Clearly, Keizumi had known they were here from the very moment they arrived.

Uchiha Itachi stepped forward and pushed the door open.

It was his first time entering this house—and his first time in years standing face to face with Uchiha Keizumi. The man before him was several years his senior, a peer of Shisui's—perhaps even slightly older. At one point, his renown within the Uchiha clan had rivaled Shisui's.

Fugaku followed close behind.

And quickly realized that, among the three in the room, he was the most tense.

He feared the two young men in front of him might start fighting at any moment.

He was fully prepared to intervene. Even if it meant revealing his Mangekyō Sharingan, he couldn't stand by and watch two of the Uchiha clan's brightest talents destroy each other in a pointless conflict.

…

Uchiha Itachi didn't sit.

He stood before a couch, facing Uchiha Keizumi, who sat there in casual home clothes.

"I thought that the moment I walked in, I'd be greeted by a surge of molten lava," he said. "I came fully prepared to fight to the death."

Uchiha Itachi glanced once more at the cups of strong tea on the coffee table, still steaming faintly.

The tension in his chest loosened just a little.

What he had said earlier wasn't just polite formality—it was his genuine thought.

In front of a man once held equal to Shisui in reputation, Itachi didn't dare lower his guard for even a moment.

Even with the legendary eyes he now possessed, he showed no arrogance—because he couldn't be sure whether this man before him, whose presence was just as formidable, might also possess those same eyes—like himself and Shisui.

Itachi unfastened the ninja blade at his waist and set it aside. His tone was calm and even as he spoke: "That incident back then… left me with a lingering question. As far as I can recall, I've never done anything to offend you."

"So, why did you try to kill me?"

…

At the same time—

Not far from the house.

"Ah, finally here…" Having once been reprimanded for being late, Izumi had quietly vowed never to be late again. She had woken before dawn and made her way to Keizumi-senpai's residence.

But just as she arrived, she noticed something strange—

The door to Keizumi-senpai's home was open!

The girl froze in surprise.

Was he robbed?—that absurd thought flashed through her mind before she quickly dismissed it.

Izumi figured there probably wasn't anyone in all of Konoha reckless enough to try stealing from Keizumi-senpai's house.

Still a little sleepy, she lightly patted her drowsy cheeks to perk herself up, curiosity tugging at her.

She picked up her pace—

And stepped forward.

"Senpai! Police Force Trainee Uchiha Izumi, reporting in!" the girl called out cheerfully, raising one hand high as she stood at the entrance, her voice full of spirit.

All three pairs of eyes inside the house turned to her at once.

"Eh?"

"Eh!"

Izumi was stunned to find both Clan Head Fugaku and Itachi-kun inside Keizumi-senpai's home!

Yikes!

Had she just walked in at the worst possible time…?

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