Chapter 25: Night Execution of Absolute Justice!

Uchiha Mikoto recognized Uchiha Chizumi—not only because he was "famous" within the clan, but also because three years earlier he had clashed with Itachi.

As she understood it, if Uchiha Shisui hadn't been at Itachi's side that day, something terrible might have happened to her eldest son.

Mikoto snapped out of her brief shock, reached out, and pulled Sasuke to his feet.

Her gaze immediately turned distant and guarded.

"Chizumi, Sasuke was just a little reckless; he hasn't broken any of Konoha's laws."

Mikoto feared this extreme clansman might lay a hand on her young son.

Yet—

She found that Chizumi merely cast her a faint glance, didn't say a single word, and walked away.

It was as if all her vigilance and tension were nothing but misplaced worry.

Hmm…

She couldn't sense the slightest hostility from him.

"Chizumi‑senpai, wait for me!" Izumi hurried after him.

"Mama, who is that guy? He looks so cold."

Seven‑year‑old Sasuke scowled in displeasure.

"He's …"

Mikoto searched for the right words. "A bit of a loner, Sasuke. Remember not to get too close to him."

"Why?" Sasuke asked, puzzled.

Thinking back to Itachi's experience, Mikoto murmured, "I'm not sure of the details—only that he's very dangerous. If you really want to know, ask Itachi when he's home. Itachi… is at least familiar with Uchiha Chizumi."

"Eh?"

What caught Sasuke's attention was something else entirely: "Oniisan's coming back?"

Mikoto smiled and nodded. "Yes. His ninja cat came back yesterday and told me he'll be home the day after tomorrow."

But her smile looked a little forced.

Of course it was good that Itachi could return safely from his mission.

However…

Uchiha Chizumi was still in the village.

If those two happened to run into each other again, who knew what might happen?

Mikoto felt uneasy.

…

Nightfall

Izumi dragged her exhausted body home. At last the taut string inside her loosened; she collapsed onto the sofa, feeling utterly drained.

The day had been far too "eventful." Her brain could barely keep up.

After all, she was only a freshly graduated Konoha genin!

Now that I think about it… how did Senpai end up following the path of [Absolute Justice]?

With a rare moment to breathe, Izumi's thoughts began to wander.

"You're really that curious?"

"Mm …" Izumi answered on reflex—

And then froze. That wasn't her mother's voice.

It was…

Chizumi‑senpai's voice!

"Eh!!!"

Startled, Izumi shot upright. There was Chizumi‑senpai, half‑crouched on the sill of an open window. His calm eyes were unreadable; Izumi never had any idea what he was thinking.

Wait—!

Shouldn't the real question be why Senpai was here at all?

"Jujiro's uncovered a new case," Chizumi said. "I was passing by, so I came to collect you. It should be a rare bit of real combat for you."

A big round orange‑cat face poked in from the corner of the window.

"Meow! Rookie! Move it!"

Just like his master—swift and direct!

Izumi scrambled to her feet. "Yes, Senpai!"

She called toward the kitchen, "Mom, don't make dinner for me—I'll eat out tonight!"

She grabbed her gear and jumped out the window.

Only then did it hit her. "R‑real combat?"

"Keep up," Chizumi said tersely. "We're leaving the village."

Leaving Konoha?!

Questions swirled in Izumi's head, but now wasn't the time.

She could only do her best to follow.

…

"Meow! Rookie, my kittens found a secret base outside the village!" Jujiro explained as they bounded from roof to roof. "Looks like some kind of lab—about a dozen kilometers from Konoha."

Panting, Izumi asked, "Jujiro‑senpai, how can you be sure something criminal is going on there?"

"Pure experience!"

The ninja‑cat's voice had a sharp edge. "Rookie, I've followed Chizumi-sama for five whole years, meow! I've inherited at least one percent of his skills. Mainly, my kittens saw ninjas dressed like Anbu going in and out."

"Any secret base tied to Root or Anbu is almost never a good place, meow."

Jujiro added solemnly, "Chizumi-sama once said there's hardly a single good person in Konoha's Anbu or Root."

"Kill them all and you might wrong a few—let one live for every one you kill and plenty of scum will slip away!"

Izumi swallowed hard.

Now she understood what Senpai meant by "real combat."

Was he really going to storm an ANBU base?

"Rookie, a word of advice."

Chizumi's voice drifted on the night breeze; Izumi strained to hear.

"Don't assume Anbu are righteous just because they serve the Hokage. If you keep that filter, you're in for pain. Root or Anbu—they've always been among the greatest concentrations of 'evil' in the ninja world."

Izumi's heart tightened. "Understood, Senpai!"

She sensed another layer to his words—

Don't idealize the Hokage.

Suddenly she blurted, "Senpai, is tonight's 'case'… really under the Police Force's jurisdiction?"

"Under the jurisdiction of [Justice]," Chizumi replied without turning.

Hiss!

So Senpai truly cared nothing for village rules—or Police Force regulations.

Was tonight his own personal [Justice]‑enforcement night?

"Wrong," came Chizumi's cool voice.

"This is a night of execution under [Absolute Justice]. You chose me as your examiner—get used to it, rookie. Nights like this will be many, and long."

Izumi: "!!!"

Could Senpai read minds?

She felt a chill.

"Meow, you're just easy to read, girl," Jujiro chimed in. "You wear every thought on your face and in your voice."

Izumi: "…"

Even a cat can read my mind?

Devastated, she suddenly realized she'd followed Senpai out of Konoha—

The village was already several hundred meters behind them.

~~~

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