56-60

Chapter 56: Sasuke: There's No Way Brother Would Do Such a Thing 

A look of visible astonishment spread across Sasuke's small face. Then, a sudden, unprovoked surge of indignation washed over him. He immediately stood up, making an effort to put on the standard cold, poker face of the Uchiha clan, his gaze firmly locked on the other kids. 

Sasuke frowned, demanding, "What nonsense are you spouting? Are you guys slandering the Uchiha clan?!" 

Sasuke wouldn't allow anyone to badmouth his older brother! As the top genius of the Ninja Academy's first year, and the second son of the Uchiha clan leader, when Sasuke adopted this serious demeanor, the few kids across from him still felt a bit intimidated. 

One of them weakly replied, "That's what everyone outside is saying! Someone said—Uchiha Itachi killed everyone in the Uchiha clan, sparing neither old nor young." 

Sasuke: "...???" 

Just as he was about to say something, a startled cry suddenly came from the classroom door. Haruno Sakura rushed back into the classroom. She ran to Sasuke's side, urgently saying, "Sasuke, a lot of people are saying something happened to your Uchiha clan!" 

Another person ran over, Yamanaka Ino, who directly pushed Sakura aside and quickly said, "Sasuke-kun, someone said your parents died... died at the hands of your older brother, Uchiha Itachi." 

Sasuke suddenly tensed up. The expression on his small face shifted slightly. The consecutive "ridiculous rumors" entering his ears made Sasuke gradually realize that something might truly have happened at home! But this was too absurd! Killing all his clansmen, killing his own parents... how could his brother do something so deranged as the rumors suggested? He was the gentlest Uchiha in his heart! It was absolutely impossible! 

Although disbelief filled his mind, Sasuke couldn't control his legs. Ignoring the stares of the surrounding Ninja Academy students, he ran straight out of the classroom and out of the academy. Instinctive panic and a sense of unease urged Sasuke to hurry back to the Uchiha clan compound. 

"It can't be..." "Brother, he..." "Absolutely impossible!" 

Sasuke ran until he was breathless. Along the way, he heard many people outside spreading rumors that something had happened to the Uchiha clan, and the rumors grew increasingly bizarre. He even vaguely heard someone spreading that Uchiha Sasuke himself had also been killed by Uchiha Itachi. 

Wait... if Uchiha Sasuke was killed, then who was he? 

"Darn rumors..." 

He no longer had the presence of mind to refute those who spoke ill of his brother. All he wanted now was to rush back to the Uuchiha clan compound. And whether it was a coincidence or not, he hadn't encountered a single Uchiha Police Force ninja along the way! This made Sasuke's heart grow even more uneasy. 

Just then, the corner of his eye suddenly caught sight of two ninjas dressed in Uchiha Police Force attire at the street corner ahead. Sasuke's eyes instantly lit up. A wave of relief washed over him. At least, this proved that some of the ridiculous rumors weren't true; at least some Uchiha clan ninjas were still alive. 

"No!" Sasuke quickly shook his head. What was he thinking? It's not just some rumors that aren't true; all of them should be false! 

"Hey! Please... please wait a moment!!!" 

Seeing the two Uchiha Police Force ninjas about to turn and leave, Sasuke hurriedly shouted towards them. They seemed to have heard him. Both stopped. Sasuke took the opportunity to run over. As soon as he stopped, he leaned his hands on his knees, gasping for breath, his fair forehead covered in sweat; he was clearly exhausted. 

After finally catching his breath, he raised his small head and quickly asked, "I heard many people in the village spreading rumors about our Uchiha clan. Please, what on ea—" 

Sasuke's voice abruptly cut off. He recognized one of the Police Force ninjas in front of him—it was Uchiha Akainu, whom his mother had once warned him to avoid too much contact with! Sasuke suddenly tensed up again. 

Because after Uchiha Itachi returned to the village, Sasuke had curiously asked him why his mother didn't want him to interact with Uchiha Akainu. Uchiha Itachi then recounted the past conflict between him and Uchiha Akainu, which greatly shocked the young Sasuke. It also instinctively made Sasuke see Uchiha Akainu as an "enemy." 

Someone who wanted to kill his brother. What else could he be but an enemy? 

"Oh? Is that Sasuke-kun?" A somewhat familiar voice came from the other side, and Sasuke mechanically turned his head. He found himself seeing a familiar face—Uchiha Izumi! Because his brother had few friends, he remembered each of his brother's friends very clearly. 

"Sasuke-kun, it's Thursday today, and it's not time for the Ninja Academy to let out yet. Are you skipping class?" Izumi squinted, placing a hand on Sasuke's head and rubbing it. "Skipping class is a very bad habit, you know, it's a bad influence. Sasuke-kun shouldn't pick up bad habits." 

Sasuke quickly stepped back, smoothing his ruffled hair, and hastily explained, "I... I heard those rumors, so I wanted to hurry home and check. They said my brother... killed everyone in the Uchiha clan." 

Izumi suddenly understood. She turned to Uchiha Akainu beside her and said, "Senior, even the Ninja Academy students have heard about the evil deeds Uchiha Itachi will commit in the future. It's just that as real news spreads, people add their own embellishments, and then many rumors emerge, contradicting the actual facts." 

Sasuke froze, then quickly asked, "What facts? What real news? Is it about my brother?" 

However, Sasuke found that they didn't acknowledge him. The man named "Uchiha Akainu" merely glanced at him before shifting his gaze. Sasuke noticed that he was now looking at a seemingly "ordinary" Konoha civilian not far ahead. He heard the man say in a detached tone, "Because someone in the shadows deliberately 'fanned the flames' of negative public opinion against Uchiha Itachi; someone is exploiting this surge of public discourse." 

Izumi was instantly startled, and she weakly ventured, "Exploiting? Senior Akainu, have you discovered something new?" She also looked at the person Uchiha Akainu's gaze was fixed on. 

Hmm... was there anything unusual about that person? 

Izumi noticed that Senior Akainu didn't say much more, simply walking unhurriedly in that direction. Izumi immediately followed. Leaving Sasuke standing there, his small face bewildered. He looked left and right, caught in a dilemma. He wanted to rush back to the Uchiha clan compound, but that would take more than ten minutes. If he just asked someone, he might get an answer in a few minutes. 

"Although Mother told me not to interact with Uchiha Akainu, I'm interacting with Uchiha Izumi... that should be fine, right?" 

Sasuke gritted his teeth. He followed them too. 

Chapter 57: Sasuke, This is Absolute Justice 

In the Root base, a kneeling Root ninja was reporting the day's situation to Danzo Shimura. "Lord Danzo, as per your instructions, Root and the Shimura clan have been fanning the flames of public opinion in Konoha regarding this matter." 

"Currently, the negative sentiment about the Uchiha clan has run rampant and reached an uncontrollable point." 

"Even the Hokage's intervention likely won't be able to contain these rumors." 

"Lord Danzo, your objective has been achieved." 

Listening to the Root ninja's report, Danzo's perpetually grim face finally showed a hint of a sneering, triumphant smile. Danzo equally hated every inherently evil Uchiha brat. That included Uchiha Akainu. That included Uchiha Fugaku. That included Uchiha Itachi... For Danzo, if there was anything that could disadvantage the Uchiha clan, he would personally step in to "help." Of course, his "help" wasn't to support the Uchiha, but rather to secretly worsen their situation, stir up trouble, and gloat. 

"The Uchiha Itachi who will eventually kill his entire clan..." Danzo's eyes narrowed slightly. "He is indeed a rather special Uchiha. And precisely because of that, I need to make sure you're completely alienated from the Uchiha clan, completely isolated by them." Danzo wished Itachi's "future evil" would happen sooner. Ideally, tonight would be the Uchiha clan's extermination night. He'd definitely celebrate. 

However... 

"Uchiha Akainu... his eyes..." Danzo clenched his fist, his triumphant sneer vanishing. His expression turned grim and fluctuating. "Did he truly awaken the legendary eyes, identical to Shisui's? But his abilities aren't the same as Shisui's?" Danzo found Uchiha Akainu's Sharingan ability to see "past and future evil" truly chilling. It was as if no one had any secrets in front of Uchiha Akainu; he alone would possess the most complete intelligence in the entire ninja world! 

But compared to Uchiha Shisui's "Kotoamatsukami," Uchiha Akainu's Sharingan ability seemed less powerful? Though Danzo was somewhat wary, he wasn't exactly afraid. Of course, peculiar thoughts naturally began to sprout. 

Enshrouded in darkness, Danzo muttered to himself, "It's always unsettling to let an inherently evil Uchiha brat possess a power they shouldn't wield..." 

In a certain Konoha street. 

"I'm telling you, the Uchiha clan is probably already drenched in blood right now! That Itachi Uchiha must have mental problems, all Uchiha have mental problems, he's gone crazy with killing!" A "Konoha civilian" was vividly embellishing and adding to the rumors circulating today. His serious demeanor had the people listening to him utterly captivated. 

Just then, someone suddenly interjected, "Uh... didn't you say the Uchiha clan had already been wiped out by Itachi Uchiha? Then who's behind you?" 

This question made the "Konoha civilian" freeze. The moment he hastily looked back, cold sweat beaded on his back, and his pupils slightly constricted. 

Uchiha Akainu!!!—The name suddenly popped into his mind. 

"Aburame Keiya,"—the name slowly emerged from Akainu's lips. 

Keiya Aburame, one of Root's elites, almost choked on his breath. Before he could react further, Akainu's voice continued: "Six months ago, he transported and sold large quantities of prohibited addictive drugs for Root, an extremely heinous act." 

"Two years ago, he secretly murdered a Konoha ninja who was impeaching Danzo Shimura, and also murdered his wife and daughter, then destroyed the bodies to hide the evidence." 

"Five years ago..." 

As Akainu's words echoed, one after another, an indescribable shock flashed through Keiya Aburame's eyes. The rumors... were true! Uchiha Akainu's special eyes could really see a person's past evils! Even his own identity had been exposed! 

"This person is a Root ninja?!" Izumi, who followed closely, looked at Keiya Aburame in shock. She wondered if it was just her stereotype, but it seemed Root ninja weren't good people in Senior Akainu's eyes. 

Keiya Aburame realized things were going south. With his identity revealed by Akainu, tiny, densely packed insects began to crawl out from his fingertips. The few genuine Konoha civilians around them sensed the uneasy atmosphere. They hastily retreated, wanting to distance themselves from this trouble spot, mainly to avoid Uchiha Akainu, the "plague" of the Police Force. 

Sasuke, who had followed at the very back, also felt the atmosphere was off. He looked at the tense Keiya Aburame, and couldn't help but ask Izumi beside him, "Is he the culprit?" 

Izumi cautiously watched Keiya Aburame while subtly shielding Sasuke behind her, whispering, "If Senior Akainu says he's the culprit, then he is, and a very wicked one at that." 

Sasuke was surprised and confused, not quite understanding why Izumi trusted this "Uchiha Akainu" so much. But he could tell that a "criminal apprehension" drama was about to unfold right before him. Sasuke looked at Akainu's back, wanting to see what kind of power this person, whom he disliked for wanting to kill his brother, possessed that made both his mother and brother warn him to stay away. 

"Aburame Keiya, your 'evil' has become nauseatingly potent." With every step Akainu took forward, Keiya Aburame instinctively retreated a step. 

"Today, in the name of Absolute Justice, I shall execute you." 

The moment Akainu's last words fell, Keiya Aburame, realizing there would be no peaceful resolution, decisively attacked first! He knew Uchiha Akainu was powerful. Even Lord Danzo hadn't been able to take him down quickly before. To escape his line of sight... he had to strike first! 

"Secret Technique: Destructive Insect Swarm!!!" 

Countless densely packed insects instantly surged from Keiya Aburame's hands. Hundreds, even thousands, of black insects rushed towards Akainu like a black curtain, covering him in an instant. 

However... Though his speed was fast, Akainu's speed was even faster. After all, upon seeing the red box hovering above Keiya Aburame's head, Keiya was already a dead man in Akainu's eyes. 

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu." Just as the dense swarm of black insects was about to engulf him, Akainu spewed a massive fireball from his mouth. 

At the same time, Akainu formed a hand sign with a single hand. "Lava Release: Chakra Armor." 

Akainu, with molten rock slowly flowing over his skin, walked directly into the swarm of insects and flames. The Great Fireball Jutsu couldn't harm his body, and the flying black insects were vaporized by the terrifying heat before they could even touch him. 

Keiya Aburame's pupils constricted. But before he could make any further moves, his vision was consumed by a crimson hellhound made of lava. 

—BOOM!!! 

Half of his head vanished. 

Sasuke, standing at the very back, watched it all unfold with wide eyes. Sasuke had thought at most Akainu would simply arrest the criminal. But who would have thought... that the confrontation would turn deadly in an instant? And... someone had died! 

"Sasuke-kun, this is the Absolute Justice that Senior Akainu believes in," Izumi explained in a low voice. "Any evil in the ninja world must be thoroughly purged with the most decisive means." 

Chapter 58: Lord Akainu is the Only Trustworthy Light 

When Sasuke personally witnessed a body, with half its head missing, slump to the ground, his small face went pale with fright. He even saw the corpse's single remaining eye staring wide and "looking" in his direction, sending shivers down his spine. 

"M-murder..." Nearby, some Konoha villagers were also quite alarmed and repeatedly whispered, "Q-quickly, go inform the Uchiha Military Police..." 

"We are the Uchiha Military Police!" Izumi took a deep breath, then stepped forward and declared loudly, silencing the surrounding Konoha civilians. 

Ah, right... The one who did the killing was an Uchiha Military Police ninja. Even if they called other Military Police members, would it make any difference? 

Izumi noticed many people looking timid. She spoke even louder, "The executed individual is named Yūhi Ken'ya, a ninja who forgot the Will of Fire's original intent and harmed innocent lives! His crimes include, but are not limited to, trafficking illegal drugs, murder, and desecrating a corpse..." 

"Furthermore, he actively tried to use force to resist the Military Police's enforcement! My senior, Uchiha Akainu, could only execute the resisting criminal on the spot in the name of 'Absolute Justice'!" 

Perhaps the young girl's shouts truly sounded righteous and awe-inspiring. Perhaps the deterrence of the Military Police and the legitimacy of their enforcement made it difficult for anyone to raise objections. Of course, it was more likely that the name "Uchiha Akainu" was enough to have a "stop a crying child" effect. Izumi noticed that some of the nearby civilians no longer looked as panicked. This also made her sigh with relief from the bottom of her heart. 

"Senior, what now...?" Izumi could speak with defiant confidence when facing the Konoha civilians' doubts and fear about her senior's actions, but she lost that courage when facing Akainu himself. 

"Ninja cats will run back to the Military Police to call for someone to handle the body," Uchiha Akainu said calmly. 

Izumi saw a ninja cat squatting in the alley corner quickly depart. These ninja cats must be Senior Akainu's most trusted companions and capable assistants, right? 

Oh! No, no! I'm Senior Akainu's capable assistant! Izumi quickly adjusted her mindset. 

After Uchiha Akainu left the street, the Konoha civilians, who hadn't dared to make a sound, finally mustered their courage after exchanging glances and approached the headless corpse. 

"Ugh, what a horrible death... Is this the third person Uchiha Akainu has killed in the village this month?" 

Someone's skin crawled. "Is he a Military Police enforcer, or a serial killer?" 

"Didn't they say that Uchiha Akainu has eyes that can see 'past and future evil'? The Uchiha clan's Sharingan are already weird; maybe he really did see the 'evil' in others, plus he's always hated evil." 

"That girl just said this guy was a murderer, so if Uchiha Akainu of the Military Police killed him, he probably deserved it, right?" 

"But this is too extreme, isn't it? Shouldn't they at least take him back for interrogation first? What if he was mistaken? What if he hadn't committed a crime?" 

"...That man doesn't kill innocent people indiscriminately. He's not as scary as you think. He only wields his blade against the guilty. You don't need to be so afraid of him." 

Amidst the murmurs of various opinions, a rather discordant voice suddenly rang out, instantly drawing many eyes to the speaker. It was a rather dejected-looking man. 

The man didn't care about being stared at strangely by others; he cared that Lord Akainu was being misunderstood. He lowered his head, openly revealing his scars in public, and insisted, gritting his teeth, "If it weren't for Lord Akainu executing justice for my fiancée, who was raped and murdered, I wouldn't have known how to make those three animals pay." 

The man clenched his fists, tears of pain instantly streaming down his face. He choked out, trembling, "You only have so many prejudices against Lord Akainu because you think his enforcement methods are harsh." 

"But how could you possibly know... in the eyes of someone like me, whose life has fallen into painful darkness, a person like Lord Akainu is the only light that makes me believe justice exists!" 

"So! Please don't misunderstand that man! He has never been an enemy to ordinary people like us who have never done wrong!" 

Sasuke, feeling dazed and walking unsteadily behind Izumi, faintly heard the shouts from the distance behind them. Even Sasuke himself didn't know why he was inexplicably following Izumi; he'd been terrified by that Uchiha Akainu! Now his little heart was pounding wildly. 

"Sasuke-kun. I'm sorry, that unexpected incident happened, which kept me from answering your earlier question about the 'rumors' concerning your brother, Itachi Uchiha." 

Just then, Izumi's voice finally snapped Sasuke out of his trance. He eagerly looked at Izumi. Sasuke also suddenly noticed keenly that Izumi's way of addressing his brother had changed. He vaguely remembered that Izumi used to call his brother "Itachi-kun," which was a term for a close friend. Now, she called him "Uchiha Itachi," sounding much more distant. 

Izumi's mood visibly darkened, and her tone carried a hint of disappointment. She gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her temple and slowly said, "Sasuke-kun, only half of the rumors you heard in the village today are truly rumors. The other half is real." 

Sasuke: "???" 

Sasuke almost stopped breathing. His small face looked panicked as he stammered, "Wh-which part... is real?" 

Izumi initially thought it would be heartless to tell Sasuke the truth, but as one of the individuals involved in the future evil, Sasuke perhaps shouldn't be kept in the dark; perhaps he should know his brother's true nature. 

Izumi said, "Senior Akainu possesses the power to see future evil. He saw your brother Itachi Uchiha's future. In one year, the Uchiha clan will be annihilated by Itachi Uchiha." 

As Sasuke's small face registered horror and panic... 

Izumi continued her shocking revelation: "Your father, your mother, your friends, your relatives. They will all die by Itachi Uchiha's hand; they will all be personally killed by him!" 

"This matter... your father, Clan Head Fugaku, knows about it; your brother, Itachi Uchiha, also knows about it. They both chose to trust Senior Akainu's ability." 

"Your father believes his eldest son will annihilate the Uchiha clan in the future, but he chose to protect Itachi Uchiha." 

"Your brother believes he will commit such an evil act in the future. He once stated directly that he will have no regrets." 

Izumi stopped walking. She turned around, bending her knees slightly. Her clear, watery eyes met Sasuke's tearful, bewildered gaze. 

"Sasuke-kun... this is Uchiha Itachi's 'future evil.' He will kill almost everyone in the Uchiha clan." 

"This may not be the answer you want most." 

"I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun..." 

"This is the truth." 

Chapter 59: Uchiha Itachi Becomes a Pariah 

"Have you found out who's spreading those harmful rumors about Itachi in Konoha?!" 

Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Uchiha Itachi, and an Anbu ninja stood. 

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with his hands behind his back by the office window, his face grim as he questioned the Anbu ninja with his back turned. 

The Anbu ninja bowed his head, replying truthfully, "We haven't found out yet, but it seems to have originated from the Uchiha clan." 

Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a heavy sigh. 

He turned and walked to Uchiha Itachi, saying with a touch of shame, "Itachi, I apologize. It was my oversight for not noticing the spread of negative rumors about you in time, for not suppressing them immediately." 

Earlier this morning, Hiruzen Sarutobi had even told Uchiha Itachi to forget what he had said to Uchiha Akainu and not to go around telling others about it. 

The goal was to help Uchiha Itachi conceal his so-called future evil. 

But who would have thought... 

In just half a day, rumors about Itachi's "future evil" had spread throughout the entire village. 

And with many people adding their own embellishments, it had turned into a full-blown sensation! 

Uchiha Itachi, however, shook his head calmly. He said, "Hokage-sama, I don't mind. My own reputation is far less important to me than a peaceful and stable Konoha." 

He looked down at his clasped hands and continued, "It's not entirely a bad thing. It's an opportunity for me to get used to being scorned and reviled by countless people ahead of time." 

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, taken aback. 

This child, Itachi... he probably truly and firmly believed that he would indeed destroy the Uchiha clan in the future. 

When Uchiha Sasuke returned to the Uchiha clan compound alone, he was completely dazed, his small face streaked with two faint, un-wiped tear marks. 

His eyes had a slight redness and bloodshot veins, his expression had lost its usual brilliance, and his gaze seemed to have lost its sparkle. 

The moment he stepped into the Uchiha compound, Sasuke clearly felt many eyes focused on him. 

This made him feel extremely uncomfortable, as if thorns were digging into his back. 

"This kid... he's Uchiha Itachi, that bastard's brother, isn't he? What was his name, Uchiha Sasuke?" 

"He's Uchiha Itachi's blood relative. Hey, hey, he's not going to try and kill us too, is he? Keeping this kid in the Uchiha clan would only be a disaster, wouldn't it?" 

"I heard those two brothers are really close. Maybe we should grab this kid and use him to threaten Uchiha Itachi..." 

"Will this kid die by Uchiha Itachi's hand in the future? I clearly remember that beast even killing his own parents." 

Subtle whispers reached Sasuke's ears. 

Cold sweat beaded on Sasuke. 

He no longer dared to argue whether his brother was good or bad, nor did he dare to linger on the street. Even though this street was within the Uchiha clan's compound, he didn't dare to stay long. 

Sasuke quickly picked up his pace, hurrying home with his head down. 

"...Fugaku, you already knew, didn't you?" Uchiha Mikoto looked at her silent husband with a complicated expression. 

Today, many clan members had come to their home. 

Some came in a rage to question them, others came with confused expressions to ask... In the end, these people were either sent away by Fugaku or placated with vague answers. 

Mikoto had lived with Fugaku for so many years; she knew her husband had been lying when he spoke to these clan members! 

Even just hearing snippets from their mouths, Uchiha Mikoto understood what was going on. 

Facing his wife's gaze, Fugaku sighed. 

He no longer remained silent, looking at his unconsciously clenched fists, and quietly replied, "I knew this morning... because Itachi and I went to see Akainu together, and I heard it directly from Akainu's mouth. You should know, even if Akainu has a bias against Itachi, at least his words are never lies or deceptions." 

Uchiha Mikoto froze, as if all strength had drained from her, and she stumbled uncontrollably. 

Fugaku quickly got up and supported Uchiha Mikoto. 

"Ike... Akainu... pant! Did Akainu say anything more detailed about the 'future'?" Uchiha Mikoto's beautiful face, her delicate lips, were subtly pale. She asked tremblingly, "In the future, Itachi... does he kill Sasuke too?" 

Fugaku shook his head: "No one but Sasuke." 

This morning, Fugaku had not heard the name "Uchiha Sasuke" mentioned among the victims of the clan massacre from Uchiha Akainu. 

Just then, he suddenly paused, as if something had just occurred to him. 

Fugaku added, "Nor Akainu." 

Just then. 

The couple heard a slight panting sound from outside the door. Turning their heads, they saw Sasuke, his face pale, eyes welling with tears, clutching the doorframe and gasping for breath. 

"I..." 

Sasuke bit his lip hard, so hard it broke, the metallic taste of blood allowing him to speak with difficulty: "I know too." 

Fugaku was stunned. 

Silent for a few seconds. 

Then, a deep sigh. 

Thwack!—A sharp ninja blade instantly dismembered the two arms of a Root ninja disguised as a Konoha civilian. 

Izumi, close behind Uchiha Akainu, threw two kunai. 

The kunai precisely pinned the Root ninja's feet to the ground. 

The intense pain caused the Root ninja to tremble all over. 

"Phew, that's the third one today..." Izumi wiped the glistening sweat from her forehead. After she and Akainu-senpai parted ways with Sasuke, she had been following Akainu-senpai, "hunting" Root ninja sent out by Danzo to spread rumors in Konoha. 

While the Root ninjas' crime of "spreading rumors" wasn't punishable by death, the other crimes they had committed were certainly enough for execution. 

In Akainu-senpai's words, "The entire Root, except for the war orphans who were just recruited and brainwashed, not a single one is innocent. Killing them all would not be an injustice to anyone." 

So, Izumi had no moral qualms. 

After all, she unconditionally trusted Akainu-senpai's judgment! 

Looking at the Root ninja, who was too weak to stand due to blood loss, Izumi figured he wouldn't last another minute. 

There was no need for any first aid. 

"You do it." When Akainu-senpai's cold voice rang out, Izumi decisively drew her ninja blade and stepped forward, unhesitatingly slashing the Root ninja's throat. 

—I am executing Absolute Justice. 

Izumi constantly reminded herself. 

But then, she suddenly felt strange again, a peculiar sensation that the power within her body had inexplicably grown stronger. This eerie feeling made her a little scared. 

Afraid that her true nature was "bloodlust." 

Afraid that she would be controlled by the killing. 

"Senpai, my body..." Izumi decided to tell Akainu-senpai about the abnormality she felt in her body. 

Before she could finish, Akainu-senpai interrupted her as usual. 

"This is a gift from Absolute Justice." 

Uchiha Akainu slowly said, "Without absolute power, how else could you execute absolute justice in the ninja world?" 

Chapter 60: My Foolish Little Brother, Just Survive This Last Year 

Evening. 

Leaving the Hokage's office, Uchiha Itachi was on his way home, his mind replaying the Hokage's advice: "Itachi, don't go back openly today. It's best if no one sees you, especially no one from the Uchiha clan." Uchiha Itachi understood the Hokage's concerns, and he felt a slight pang in his heart. He could feel an endless malice enveloping him. But at least, the Hokage trusted him. 

Uchiha Itachi followed Hiruzen Sarutobi's advice, waiting until night had fully fallen before returning to the Uchiha clan compound. He quietly arrived at his doorstep. However, just as he was about to enter, he hesitated. 

"Sasuke..." Uchiha Itachi murmured. If the entire village was spreading rumors about his "future evil," then Sasuke must have heard them too, right? How would Sasuke look at him now? Would he still cling to him as always? Or would he question him angrily? Or would their relationship become distant? 

Unable to figure it out, Itachi simply gave up pondering. He entered his home, and the first person he saw was his mother. 

"...Itachi." Uchiha Mikoto forced a gentle smile, her eyes filled with mixed emotions as she looked at her eldest son. She whispered, "Dinner is ready." 

Uchiha Itachi silently walked into the house until he saw Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Sasuke sitting at the dining table. He keenly noticed that Sasuke's eyes were a little red. Uchiha Itachi's heart immediately ached. 

"Let's eat." Fugaku broke the silence dully, with no enthusiasm to say "I'll start eating." He didn't even look at Itachi when he walked in. 

Sasuke, however, couldn't eat a bite. He stared blankly at Itachi, his voice tinged with hope and pleading: "Brother, that's all fake... right? That kind of thing can't happen... right?" 

Uchiha Itachi sighed inwardly. Seeing Sasuke on the verge of tears, Uchiha Itachi's gaze shifted from initial hesitation and heartache to firm determination. 

"It's true." He spoke expressionlessly: "If someone tries to destroy Konoha's peace, that kind of thing is bound to happen." 

Uchiha Mikoto's movements paused. Fugaku's chopsticks stopped. Sasuke froze on the spot. 

"Why... we... we're family! Father, Mother... they're not bad people, they're family..." Sasuke clutched his clothes, his voice trembling with choked questions, breaking the new silence. 

Uchiha Itachi gazed at his younger brother. He gradually realized that with Sasuke's overly dependent and weak mentality, he wouldn't be able to grow into an excellent ninja in the future. Since his future self chose to spare only Sasuke during the Uchiha clan massacre, it meant that his future self intended for Sasuke to inherit his will to protect Konoha. 

But Sasuke's current capacity seemed too weak, too cowardly in Uchiha Itachi's eyes. Uchiha Itachi suppressed his soft-heartedness, his voice cold and deliberate: "Sasuke, you don't understand the real me." 

Sasuke's eyes widened, full of confusion. 

"In my heart, there's no concept of family. I have things I must do, and no matter who tries to stop me, I will eventually kill them." Uchiha Itachi, who had just sat down, stood up again. He turned and left without looking back, adding his final words: "When that time comes, you won't be an exception, Sasuke. Because the future will change according to my will. I won't 'leave you alone' as Uchiha Akainu said." 

"Sasuke, you are too weak. You are just a tag-along who always follows me, clinging to me all day. Your pitifully weak capacity has no chance of stopping me." 

"My foolish little brother, just live out this last year of your life in fear and unease, clinging to what little life you have." 

"In one year, I will take you along with everyone else..." 

—Slap!!! 

Uchiha Itachi didn't finish his last two words, because Uchiha Mikoto had decisively slapped him across the face. The force of this slap was light, much lighter than Izumi's. 

"Itachi, take back everything you said... and apologize to Sasuke." Uchiha Mikoto spoke through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with tears. Her vision blurred, and her own flesh and blood suddenly felt exceptionally unfamiliar in her eyes. 

Uchiha Itachi took a deep breath. He didn't apologize, but slowly said, "Father knows why I would make that choice. Mother, you may not understand me now, but when that time comes... you will definitely understand me." 

Sasuke stared blankly as all this unfolded. Until he saw his older brother's back disappear into the darkness outside, under the impact of countless negative emotional fluctuations, Sasuke's small head suddenly felt dizzy. Before his consciousness faded, he vaguely heard his mother's somewhat panicked call of his name. Then he lost consciousness and fainted. 

Meanwhile, at the Root base. 

Danzō received bad news from a Root ninja—none of the subordinates he sent out today to guide negative public opinion against Uchiha Itachi had returned! He had sent out eight Anbu ninjas, with the lowest rank being elite Chunin, and many were Special Jonin. Moreover, the mission he gave them wasn't dangerous. Yet, they all disappeared without a trace? 

Danzō's face darkened, his brows tightly furrowed. The smug feeling of secretly slandering the Uchiha clan had completely vanished. He gritted his teeth and ordered his subordinate, "What are you waiting for? Go investigate immediately! Bring them all back to me!" 

"Yes, Lord Danzō!" 

"Wait!" Just then, Danzō stopped his subordinate, as a possibility occurred to him. This made his expression even more grim. Danzō's forehead veins throbbed slightly, and he squeezed out each word through gritted teeth: "Go directly to the Yamanaka clan to investigate!" 

The Root ninja was stunned: "The Yamanaka clan..." 

Danzō snarled fiercely, "I suspect this matter is inseparable from that naturally evil Uchiha brat! Since that brat has the power to see through past and future evil, my subordinates probably can't hide from his eyes. No matter how elaborate the disguise, he can see through it instantly." 

Danzō strongly suspected that the eight missing Root ninjas had already become eight corpses! According to that evil Uchiha brat's killing habits, anyone he killed would surely be handed over to the Yamanaka clan. Because Uchiha Akainu usually doesn't bother with interrogation procedures; he just executes the evildoers in his eyes directly. And the Police Force would have to rely on the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques to find evidence of the deceased's crimes. 

Danzō guessed correctly. 

Within the Yamanaka clan compound, Yamanaka Inoichi looked at the eight white-shrouded corpses lying on the ground, a headache throbbing. 

"Sigh..." He let out a heavy sigh, feeling that tonight he would again be forced to learn many secrets he didn't want to know. Yamanaka Inoichi didn't know why, but ever since Uchiha Akainu began enforcing his "Absolute Justice" in Konoha, the Yamanaka clan had ironically become the ninja clan with the best relationship with the Uchiha clan. Even if it was mostly just business dealings, usually just nodding acquaintances, it was still far better than the relationships other ninja clans had with the Uchiha.