Chapter 271: Justice Sanction!
If Uchiha Izumi was the Blade of Justice, then Ameyuri would only become Uchiha Ikeizumi's personal sharp blade.
The former was a fellow traveler on Ikeizumi's path; the latter was merely a weapon in his hand. No matter how refined a blade is, if it lacks its own thought, it remains a dull tool—and [Absolute Justice] has no need for dull tools!
"Please do not refuse! My late father taught me that every kindness must be repaid! My mother—" Mentioning her mother, Ameyuri felt a heartache so sharp she could barely breathe. To think she had called that animal "brother" for so many years; how much pain would her mother feel watching this from the Pure Land? "In short, please do not refuse! No matter the requirement, I will risk my life to achieve it!"
Uchiha Ikeizumi frowned slightly. Ameyuri might truly be able to assist him in executing justice, but could a blade that placed Ikeizumi's will above [Absolute Justice] itself truly become a Blade of Justice?
If Izumi was a believer in [Absolute Justice], then Ameyuri was more likely to become a believer in Uchiha Ikeizumi.
"Please accept her pursuit!" Mei Terumī suddenly interjected to advise him. Initially, when she saw Ameyuri asking to follow Ikeizumi, she lamented that Kirigakure was losing a Lightning Style genius. But when Ikeizumi declined, Mei thought of another possibility. "You cannot stay in the Land of Water forever. When the time comes, you can let Ameyuri act as your eyes, supervising the execution of [Absolute Justice] within the Land of Water."
Mei didn't care if Ameyuri became Ikeizumi's loyal hound. No matter how loyal she was, her strength had limits. Compared to Ikeizumi, who could suppress the entire Mist Village single-handedly, Ameyuri would at most become an elite Jōnin.
There were many things Ikeizumi could do easily that Ameyuri would be forced to compromise on. Once Ikeizumi left, there would be plenty of room for Kirigakure to maneuver.
"I will give you a temporary chance." Ikeizumi pondered for a moment. His gaze swept across the Mist shinobi present, finally landing on a fellow whose head-box was so red it had turned purple. "Ōhashi Jirō. Twelve years ago, you attacked a merchant ship to seize cargo, resulting in the deaths of all fourteen people on board. Eleven years ago... three months ago... If you wish to follow me, go kill him."
As soon as the words fell, lightning erupted from Ameyuri's body as she remained prostrate. Ōhashi Jirō, sensing Ikeizumi's gaze, tried to flee, but was nailed in place by the Sharingan's genjutsu.
"Lightning Flash!" With a flicker, Ameyuri severed Ōhashi Jirō's head. Simultaneously, Ikeizumi received a notification from his system.
[Ding! A follower of Absolute Justice, that you have cultivated has jointly executed Absolute Justice!
Your chakra has received a minor increase!
Congratulations, you have successfully dropped: Mist Sword Technique Experience Book x2]
[Simultaneously, Ringo Ameyuri has received a minor chakra increase!]
"So a sufficiently loyal follower is also regarded as a believer of [Absolute Justice]..." Ikeizumi was surprised, but it felt logical. As long as he did not deviate from the path of [Absolute Justice], his die-hard followers would naturally become die-hard believers in that justice.
"Lord Uchiha Ikeizumi?" Ameyuri didn't think finishing such a small task granted her the right to follow him, but as long as he was willing to give her a chance, she would pass any test. "Eh?"
However, at that moment, Ameyuri felt a change in her body. Her chakra reserves seemed to have increased slightly?
"Bastards! They just lured us here to kill us! Fight them!" With three Mist shinobi dead in succession, the rest of the crowd erupted. Especially the conservatives; some of their crimes were even more severe than those of Fuwa Kuro-ō, Kukurīn, or Ōhashi Jirō. Ikeizumi clearly had no intention of granting amnesty to the masses—waiting any longer meant certain death.
Dozens of Mist shinobi roared and charged toward Ikeizumi. Seeing this, Ameyuri was enraged, gripping her short blades to charge in and fight to the death.
However, the moment the lightning on Ameyuri's body flared again, Uchiha Ikeizumi's Mangekyō Sharingan began to spin and transform, forming a more complex, demonic, and profound pattern!
Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!
"The Third Power: Susanoo!"
RUMBLE—!!!
Accompanied by the complete liberation of his ocular power, the earth let out a violent roar. A massive, crimson skeletal frame, like a demon god crawling out from the deepest pits of hell, stood tall upon the land!
Crimson chakra surged like a galloping torrent of molten lava, rapidly constructing a robust, muscular physique over the skeleton.
Next, layers of heavy, ancient, and terrifyingly fierce crimson armor covered the demon god's majestic body like a living thing. The extreme heat emitted by the crimson chakra flames caused the very earth beneath the Susanoo's feet to melt and boil, forming an expanding lake of bubbling lava.
A pair of enormous chakra wings unfurled violently from the Susanoo's back, their crimson interiors appearing to flow with countless streams of glowing magma.
Perfect Susanoo!
The crimson light illuminated the night sky of Kirigakure. As the wings flapped, gusts of scorching wind evaporated the dense fog that usually shrouded the village!
Under Ikeizumi's control, the massive Susanoo reached out and made a sudden grasping motion in the air!
VREEE—!!!
Endless Lava Style chakra converged into a gargantuan lava blade that radiated an aura of total annihilation. It slashed down toward the dozens of charging Mist shinobi.
With just one strike!
The dozens of shinobi were incinerated into nothingness. The elite Jōnin leading them tried to defend with Water Style, but against the might of the Lava Style Susanoo, his technique was as laughable as a water pistol.
"So strong!" Ameyuri's eyes widened in shock. The Susanoo standing against the firmament appeared to her, in this moment, like a god!
The remaining Mist shinobi were scared out of their wits by the power Ikeizumi displayed. Some turned and fled without hesitation. The stronger Ikeizumi appeared, the more determined they were to run!
"Great Eruption!"
However, Ikeizumi merely glanced at the fleeing shinobi. The Susanoo's left hand transformed into a massive glob of lava. Cloaked in whistling incendiary winds, the molten mass struck the earth thousands of meters away, blasting a deep lava lake into the ground.
In one fell swoop, the idiots who didn't even know enough to scatter while fleeing were turned to ash, their crimes completely liquidated!