Over an hour later, Izumi realized that when Chizumi-Senpai said "take a walk," he really did just mean strolling aimlessly around Konoha.
She hadn't seen any display of professional investigative skill.
Nor had she seen him actively searching for case evidence or leads.
She felt like she'd already followed him in a full circle around the entire Hidden Leaf Village — they even wandered around the Uchiha Clan compound, and at one point even loitered briefly near the Hokage's office building.
Throughout the whole thing, Izumi was blank, dull, completely at a loss as to what her senior was doing — or what she was supposed to be doing.
Just as Izumi was about to speak up…
She noticed that her senpai had stopped.
Finally!
They were no longer wandering without direction!
Izumi nearly burst into tears of relief.
"Senpai, this place is…" But very quickly, she noticed something wasn't quite right. Looking ahead curiously, she saw — wasn't this the Moonlight Clan's family compound?
There were many ninja clans in Konoha of varying size. The Uchiha Clan was one of the village's top, elite clans.
The Gekko Clan before her eyes, however, was one of Konoha's smaller ninja families.
They only had around a dozen shinobi, but possessed a hereditary kekkei genkai — "透遁" (Transparency Release).
"This is the last publicly known location we haven't checked yet," Uchiha Chizumi said flatly. "If the killer isn't here, then there are only two possibilities left."
"And those two are?" Izumi was curious how her senior had somehow narrowed down suspects just by wandering — and even more curious what those two places were.
"Anbu. Root."
Uchiha Chizumi's concise answer left Izumi dumbstruck.
"Hm? Uchiha Chizumi! You cold-blooded monster who kills without blinking — how dare you show your face here!?"
Just as Uchiha Chizumi was about to step into the Moonlight Clan compound, an angry shout suddenly rang out from one side.
He turned his head.
Two Moonlight clan shinobi, both wearing Konoha forehead protectors and standard chūnin vests, were rushing toward him.
They quickly moved to block his path, glaring at Uchiha Chizumi with pure hatred.
Izumi could feel the tension spike, swords practically drawn in the air: "Senpai, do you and they…"
She hadn't even finished the question before—
One of the Moonlight clan ninja barked: "Uchiha Chizumi! You'd better stay away from here! Our Gekko Clan does not welcome you!"
Uchiha Chizumi's right hand had been resting on the hilt of his blade the entire time.
His calm eyes swept over them and he spoke: "Police force investigating a case. Irrelevant parties, step aside immediately. Otherwise, you're obstructing law enforcement. Anyone who obstructs justice — kill without mercy."
His tone was flat, but that sudden rise of killing intent was so terrifying that Izumi felt her hair stand on end.
She noticed that Senpai's thumb was already pressing against the guard of his blade.
A centimeter of shining steel was already showing.
The two Gekko ninja also felt the immense pressure — the cold sweat on their foreheads and the way their fists clenched involuntarily said it all.
But…
This sight didn't make them retreat even a single step. Instead, the hatred in their eyes burned hotter.
"Two years ago… it was just like this!" One Gekko ninja forced himself to speak through gritted teeth, glaring: "You bastard claimed you were investigating, barged into our compound in broad daylight, killed our clan head — Lord Gekko Yūichirō! And you murdered two of our uncles as well!"
Izumi's bright eyes widened gradually.
So… Senpai and the Gekko Clan had that kind of history!
Hiss… that had to be a blood feud.
"Uchiha Chizumi, you—"
"No recollection," Uchiha Chizumi slowly drew the blade from his waist, walking forward unhurriedly, speaking coldly: "I never bother to remember who I've killed. Those who obstruct justice aren't even worthy of a place in my memory."
His gaze slid past the two Gekko ninja, landing on a figure standing inside the Moonlight compound ahead.
[Gekko Seisui — Last night, unhappy with his mother's favoritism toward his elder brother Gekko Hayate, quarreled with her. In an emotional outburst, bludgeoned her to death with a blunt weapon, then secretly disposed of the body in the early hours.]Sin Value: Red Name!
The crimson frame around the name was glaringly bright in Uchiha Chiquan's eyes.
That was also one of the reasons he had drawn his sword.
"Three seconds. Move, or die." Uchiha Chiquan didn't stop walking: "Three. Two—"
"Bastard! You arrogant— you think our Moonlight Clan will—"
Uchiha Chiquan had already passed between the two Moonlight ninja.
He gave his blade a light flick to shake off the blood.
"One."
Those emotionless eyes were like the eyes of a judge from Hell itself, locking onto the terrified Moonlight Seisui in the distance.
At the same time, behind him came the sound of two bodies hitting the ground in perfect unison.
"Rookie, this is your second lesson." Uchiha Chiquan stepped into the Moonlight Clan compound, coldly speaking to the utterly dumbstruck Izumi behind him: "Anyone who obstructs the execution of justice is a dog of evil — an enemy of justice. After warnings are ignored… kill without mercy."
Izumi stared blankly at the two headless corpses on the ground, blood splattered everywhere.
The spray of crimson had even reached her shoes.
Izumi's pupils trembled slightly.
When she stiffly lifted her head, she saw Senpai already walking forward, bloodied sword in hand, gently flicking off droplets as he approached a young man of the Gekko Clan.
Izumi didn't even know what she was thinking.
As if driven by something beyond her control, her feet moved on their own — stepping onto the wet ground, through a pool of blood, leaving a long trail of crimson footprints — following Uchiha Chizumi into the Gekko compound.
A voice kept screaming in her mind — Once you step inside, there's no turning back. You won't be able to accept Uchiha Chizumi's brand of absolute justice.
But… she still followed in her senior's footsteps.
And she drew a kunai.
Holding it tightly in her hand.
…
"Phew, finally managed to get a half-day off approved by Lord Hokage. It's been half a month since I last saw Mother. Perfect time to visit with Mother and Seisui, and pay respects to Father's grave."
As a member of the Third Hokage's direct Anbu unit, Gekko Hayate—
Was carrying the offerings he had just purchased, heading toward the Gekko Clan compound.
However—
When he arrived at the family compound, Gekko Hayate froze. The offerings slipped from his hands and fell to the ground.
In his line of sight—
Many Konoha villagers were gathered outside the Gekko Clan's gates, craning their necks to peek inside. But they seemed afraid of something, too wary to step closer, watching only from a distance.
At the gates, two headless corpses stood out starkly — next to them lay two severed heads, rolling on the ground.
The faces still bore blank, uncomprehending expressions.
Hayate vaguely caught pieces of conversations among the villagers — words like "Uchiha," "police force"…
And then, he heard a name that made his pupils contract sharply.
—"Uchiha Chizumi"!!!
This was his…
His father's killer!
…
…
(End of this chapter)