Fortunately, everything would eventually reach the point where bitterness turned to sweetness. As long as [Absolute Justice] was carried out thoroughly across the land of the Land of Water, the country could be reborn. And when that time came, it would also be the moment for her, a blood-stained executioner, to step down after accomplishing her task.
Keizumi stared into Mei's eyes for quite a while. Even under the gaze of his blood-red pupils, Mei's eyes did not dodge in the slightest. She was in pain, but she had already prepared herself to sacrifice everything.
Summoning Technique!
After a long time, Keizumi once again summoned the Slug Sage, and in a single call he summoned a super-giant slug several times larger than a Tailed Beast. Standing upon the land of Kirigakure, it resembled a true small mountain.
"Keizumi-sama, what instructions do you have?"
The super-giant slug extended its tentacles and 'looked' around to both sides. It had been a very long time since a contractor had summoned such a massive portion of it, and the Slug Sage felt a little unaccustomed to it.
In truth, every slug in Shikkotsu Forest was essentially a part of the Slug Sage. However, because of differences in size, different 'slugs' also possessed slightly different personalities, and their manner of speaking with contractors naturally varied as well.
"Slug Sage, she has volunteered to take my place in carrying out [Absolute Justice] in the Land of Water. I hope you can help supervise the enforcement of justice."
Keizumi would not adopt a laissez-faire attitude simply because he trusted Mei. That was not how justice should operate.
"Is that so? What would you like me to do?"
The slug's tentacles moved slightly as it curiously 'looked' toward Mei.
Although it very much agreed with Keizumi's ideals, the experience accumulated over the past thousand years told her that people who could truly accept [Absolute Justice] were exceedingly rare. Even those willing to keep themselves clean were few, let alone those who would both recognize the concept of [Absolute Justice] and resolve to follow it.
Someone like Uchiha Izumi, who chose to follow of her own accord, was already rare enough. Unexpectedly, there was also a human in the Land of Water who both acknowledged and was willing to follow Keizumi-sama.
"I want you to split into enough small slugs to replace my eyes. Let the shinobi of Kirigakure carry them and sweep away the evil entrenched across this land!"
Keizumi gazed toward Kirigakure Village beneath the curtain of rain. Indeed, the infamous "Village of the Bloody Mist" owed a considerable part of its notoriety to Obito.
However, even before Obito arrived, the ninja of the Land of Water were already infamous for their bloodiness and cruel methods. It had even produced lunatics like the first generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, who took pleasure in killing.
That alone showed that evil had likely already taken deep root in this land. Therefore, no matter how resolute Mei appeared, Keizumi would not easily hand all of this over to her.
"Understood. I will cooperate properly."
The slug's enormous body slowly wriggled, splitting into several hundred small slugs about the size of pillows. Three of them separately climbed onto the shoulders of Genji, Mei, and Ao.
Both Mei and Ao had abnormally stiff bodies, yet neither of them dared voice the slightest objection. They could only watch helplessly as the small slugs climbed onto their shoulders.
On the battlefield, no matter what powerful enemy she faced, Mei would not feel the slightest fear. But now, this slug represented the will of Keizumi. Even though, as a woman, her instincts recoiled from this kind of soft-bodied creature, Mei did not dare reveal any expression of disgust.
"Please bear with it a little. I will try my best not to touch you," the small slug lying on Mei's shoulder said softly, as if it had sensed something unusual about her.
"You can talk?!" Mei glanced at the small slug on her shoulder with lingering fear. Originally, she had only thought the small slugs were the offspring of that giant slug, at most serving as Keizumi's eyes and ears. What she had not expected was that the small slugs also possessed the ability to think and communicate.
Fortunately, she had discovered this now. Otherwise, if someone later tried to pull any tricks and they saw it with their own eyes, the opportunity she had finally fought for—for the shinobi of Kirigakure to carry out [Absolute Justice]—would also go to waste.
"It has been a long time, Slug-sama."
Before the slug could answer, Genji, whose expression was complicated, had already taken the initiative to greet it. Then, in a tone that was both introducing it and reminding them of something, he said, "Slug-sama is the summoning beast of Konoha's Tsunade-hime. Every small slug is essentially one of Slug-sama's clones."
Compared with younger-generation ninja like Mei and Ao, Genji, who had lived through the Warring States era, clearly knew far more intelligence about Konoha.
"That's right. All slugs are me, though the personalities of different slugs can also vary~"
The small slug lying on Genji's shoulder was obviously much livelier, its two tiny tentacles trembling nonstop.
Mei forced a somewhat strained smile. The meaning inside and outside Genji's words was a reminder to her and Ao. This old man might not possess the decisiveness of the successive Mizukage or Mei, but he was still one of the pillars supporting Kirigakure.
"Go. Gather here all the Kirigakure shinobi whom you believe are capable of carrying out justice!"
Only after the slug had finished greeting them did Keizumi look toward Mei. Under the gaze of those blood-red eyes, Mei felt as if she had been pricked by needles, and her entire body trembled slightly.
"The Slug Sage will serve as my eyes and watch as [Absolute Justice] descends upon this country!"
"…Yes, Keizumi-sama!"
After a moment of silence, Mei took a deep breath and answered decisively.
At this point, there was no room for regret. Compared to allowing Keizumi to unleash a massacre across the land of the Land of Water and completely shatter Kirigakure's future, Mei would rather bear even more infamy herself. That way, the Land of Water and Kirigakure would still have a chance to continue.
Watching Mei and Ao gradually disappear into the curtain of rain, Genji secretly sighed. Then he bent slightly and spoke to Keizumi in a somewhat humble tone.
"This is not a suitable place to talk. Perhaps you would honor my humble residence with a visit and continue the conversation there. What do you think, sir?"
"There is no need for that. Everything I do is justice. As long as Kirigakure can practice justice within the Land of Water, there is nothing to worry about."
Keizumi glanced at the white box above Genji's head. Over the course of his long life, this elder of the Land of Water could not be said to be completely spotless. However, he was still marked with a white name, and his level of guilt was even slightly lower than Mei's, who had once accidentally injured civilians.
—Considering the environment of Kirigakure and Genji's status, that could practically be called a miracle!
Although [Absolute Justice] allowed no compromise whatsoever, behind every crime Genji had committed there were records of restitution, and in most cases he had obtained the victims' forgiveness. Being able to reach that point was already quite commendable.
Since entering the Land of Water, Keizumi had seen far too many human-shaped beasts. As a result, he could not help but look at Genji in a different light. Even his usually indifferent tone softened slightly.
"Thank you for your understanding."
Genji looked at Keizumi with a trace of surprise. Having seen too many arrogant and domineering members of the Uchiha clan, he had originally assumed this Keizumi would be a second Uchiha Madara. Unexpectedly, the reality seemed to be otherwise.