Uchiha Setsuna's face darkened as he ground out each word through clenched teeth: "Uchiha Ikeizumi… has already been brainwashed by the Senju's Will of Fire, just like Uchiha Itachi!"
"He is not loyal to the Uchiha clan; his loyalty lies with Konoha, with the Senju! He is a traitor to the Uchiha!"
To an extremist hawk like Setsuna, any clan member who does not support the coup plan is a coward.
Those openly siding with the Hokage are seen as hopelessly brainwashed by the Will of Fire.
As for Ikeizumi…
Setsuna maliciously speculated that Ikeizumi was a fusion of these two types of traitors, and even worse.
Because the murderous intent Ikeizumi had just shown was no act.
He truly wanted to kill Setsuna.
"Elder Setsuna," another hawkish Uchiha said, "Ikeizumi may very well become the greatest obstacle to our plan, just like Itachi."
"That guy has never truly stood with us. His allegiance has never been with the Uchiha."
Setsuna snorted coldly, lost in his own schemes.
…
Meanwhile, after leaving the Root base, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not return to the Hokage building but instead went to Konoha Prison and waited silently.
Before long, a member of the Uchiha Military Police arrived, escorting the troubled Uzumaki Naruto—this was on Fugaku's orders.
"Hokage…sama?"
The Military Police member grew nervous upon seeing Hiruzen and the Anbu around him.
After all, he was an Uchiha ninja, and the boy he held was rumored to be the incarnation of the Nine-Tails.
"It's alright," Hiruzen gestured calmly, smiling gently. "I have always trusted the Uchiha clan and believed you would not act recklessly. From what I see, Fugaku made the right decision. You stand with Fugaku, yes?"
The officer bowed his head. "Indeed, it was Lord Fugaku who ordered me to transfer Naruto to Konoha Prison promptly, to keep certain clan members from contacting him."
Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction.
"I will take responsibility for Naruto from here."
The officer hesitated. "If I hand him over to the Hokage-sama, what about Ikeizumi? Even Lord Fugaku can't control him."
He still feared Ikeizumi somewhat.
Hiruzen said, "That's no conflict. Ikeizumi's goal is to teach Naruto a lesson by sending him to prison. You've done just that."
"As Hokage, I have the authority to pardon Naruto and take him out of prison. If Ikeizumi is dissatisfied, he will come to me, not you."
"…Yes, Hokage-sama." The officer considered this and released Naruto.
"Hokage-sama!!!"
"Waaah…"
Naruto, who had been anxious all day, nearly sobbed as he rushed toward Hiruzen.
Hiruzen gently patted Naruto's head, his tone turning serious as he instructed the Anbu behind him, "Keep a close watch on Root. I suspect Danzo will not give up easily. He is not a man to swallow his pride, especially when the one who wronged him is an Uchiha prodigy."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
…
As evening settled over Konoha, Uchiha Ikeizumi strolled casually through the village, accompanied by Izumi, who seemed to share his calm demeanor. It was as if the turbulent political storm swirling around them had nothing to do with either of them.
Ikeizumi's composed attitude helped soothe Izumi's own anxious thoughts.
"Rookie, report the numbers," Ikeizumi commanded.
"Yes, Ikeizumi-senpai!" Izumi perked up and began, "Including Uzumaki Naruto, today we identified nine 'evildoers.' Among them, three disturbed Konoha's order, two were involved in theft, two in fights, and…"
Her voice grew cautious. "Two obstructed law enforcement. Of the nine, seven were arrested and imprisoned, while two were killed on the spot."
The two killed on the spot for obstructing justice were the Root ninjas who had fallen to Ikeizumi's hand.
Ikeizumi glanced at her sharply. "You missed a lot."
"Huh?"
Izumi was confused. She was sure she hadn't missed anything! She had even recorded everything in her little notebook.
But under Ikeizumi's piercing gaze, her confidence faltered. She couldn't bring herself to say, "I didn't miss anything."
"Missed… did I miss something?" she asked weakly.
Ikeizumi's tone turned cold as he calmly listed names like a grim roll call: "Shimura Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Setsuna, and…"
"These people stood opposed to justice today, yet because our justice is not strong enough, they continue to roam free."
"These evils that need purging…"
"You missed them all."
Izumi's heart pounded. Ikeizumi had named nearly every major figure in the village's power structure, including several Uchiha elders.
If Ikeizumi truly intended to purge everyone on his list…
Wouldn't that be tantamount to…
Rebellion?!
"Add these names to your list," Ikeizumi said coldly.
"O-okay, senpai," Izumi replied, pulling out her notebook to jot down the names.
But as she wrote, her fingers trembled, especially when she penned the name of the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. At that moment, she felt there was no turning back.
If the Anbu discovered this notebook…
She shuddered at the thought—her future might very well be spent in Konoha Prison.
As Izumi followed Ikeizumi, recording notes, a small figure suddenly appeared around a street corner ahead.
Her clear eyes widened.
She watched as the little figure collided with Ikeizumi.
Thud!
Unsurprisingly, the child fell hard, dropping whatever was in their hands.
"Oof—"
Izumi heard the child's muffled cry of pain.
"Sasuke, watch where you're going," a gentle voice apologized from ahead. "Sorry, this child is careless. I hope we didn't cause you trouble."
"Huh? You are…"
"Ikeizumi?"