More than an hour later, Izumi realized that when Chizumi-senpai had said "let's take a look around," he quite literally ant just wandering idly through Konoha.
She never saw him demonstrate any professional cri‑solving skills.
Nor did he look for evidence or leads.
She felt she had already followed him on a full circuit of the village—he even looped around the entire Uchiha compound and loitered for a while inside the Hokage Tower.
For the whole ti, Izumi moved about in a dazed fog, totally unable to understand what he was doing or what she herself should be doing.
Just as she was about to speak up—
She noticed her senpai had stopped.
At last!
No more aimless rambling!
Izumi almost burst into relieved tears.
"Senpai, this place is…?" But she soon sensed sothing was off. Peering ahead, she realized they were standing before the Gekko clan compound.
Konoha hosts many ninja families of varying size; the Uchiha are one of its top great clans.
By contrast, the Gekko clan is a small family—
Barely a dozen shinobi, inheriting the Transparent Release bloodline limit.
"This is the last obvious spot we haven't checked," Uchiha Chizumi said flatly. "If the killer isn't here, there are only two other possibilities."
"Which two?" Izumi wondered how re wandering could identify the culprit, and what those "two places" might be.
"Anbu. Root."
Chizumi's terse answer left her speechless.
"Huh? Uchiha Chizumi! You cold‑blooded murderer—how dare you show your face here?!" Just as Chizumi stepped toward the Gekko grounds, an angry bellow echoed from the side.
They turned.
Two Gekko shinobi—foreheads bound with Konoha protectors, clad in chūnin vests—were hurrying over.
They planted themselves in front of Chizumi, eyes blazing with hatred.
Sensing the tension, Izumi asked, "Senpai, do you and they—"
She never finished.
One of the Gekko ninja snapped, "Uchiha Chizumi! Stay away. The Gekko clan does not welco you!"
Chizumi's right hand had rested on his sword hilt from the start.
His indifferent gaze swept across them. "Konoha Police investigating. Non‑essentials: step aside imdiately. Anyone obstructing justice will be eliminated."
His voice was calm, yet the killing intent that suddenly welled up made Izumi's hair stand on end.
She saw his thumb already pressing against the guard; a sliver of bright silver blade—one centitre—was exposed.
The two Gekko ninja felt crushing pressure; sweat beaded on their foreheads, fists clenched involuntarily.
But—
Instead of backing off, the hatred in their eyes only deepened.
"Two years ago… the sa thing happened!" one of them forced out, teeth gritted. "You claid you were 'investigating,' barged straight into our compound, killed our clan head Gekko Yūichirō-sama—and two of our uncles!"
Izumi's clear eyes opened wide.
So that's their history… A blood feud, no doubt.
"Uchiha Chizumi, you—"
"I don't rember." Chizumi began drawing the sword as he strolled forward, voice icy. "I never bother rembering the people I kill. Those who block Justice aren't worth a place in my mory."
His gaze slipped between the two Gekko ninja to a figure inside the compound.
[Gekko Seisui — Last night, enraged that his mother favored his elder brother Gekko Hayate, quarreled with her, lost control, bludgeoned her to death, and secretly dumped the body before dawn.]
[Guilt Level: RED NA!]
The crimson fra around the man blazed in Chizumi's vision—
One reason he had unsheathed his blade.
"Three seconds. Move or die." Chizumi did not slow. "Three… two—"
"Bastard! You arrogant—do you think the Gekko clan will—"
Chizumi was already past them.
With a flick, he shook blood from his sword.
"One."
His placid eyes, like a judge from hell, locked on the terrified Gekko Seisui ahead.
Behind him, two bodies fell in unison.
"Rookie, this is your second lesson," Chizumi said as he stepped into the compound, addressing the now‑stunned Izumi. "Anyone who obstructs the execution of Justice is a lackey of Evil, an enemy of Justice. After a warning goes unheeded… kill without rcy."
Izumi stared blankly at the two headless corpses, blood still spurting.
Crimson drops had even splashed onto her shoes.
Her pupils trembled.
When she lifted her stiff head, she saw Chizumi‑senpai holding the blood‑stained sword, casually flicking off droplets as he advanced toward a young Gekko clansman.
Izumi never knew what she was thinking.
As if compelled, she stepped forward, treading the wet ground—across a pool of blood—leaving a trail of dark red footprints, following Uchiha Chizumi into the Gekko compound.
A voice in her mind kept warning her: Once you go in, there's no turning back. You can't accept Chizumi's absolute justice.
Yet… she still kept pace with him—
And drew a kunai,
Gripping it tightly.
…
…Elsewhere
"Whew—finally got a half‑day off approved by Hokage-sama. Haven't seen Mother in half a month; perfect ti for her, Seisui, and to pay respects to Father."
Gekko Hayate, an Anbu directly under the Third Hokage, carried freshly bought offerings toward the clan grounds.
But—
On arriving at the gate, he froze; the offerings slipped from his hands.
In his sight—
Many Konoha villagers clustered around the entrance, craning to glimpse inside yet afraid to approach.
At the gate lay two headless corpses,
Next to them, two severed heads,
Expressions still frozen in bewildernt.
Hayate vaguely heard the villagers muttering words like "Uchiha" and "Police Force" …
And then he caught a na that made his pupils contract.
—"Uchiha Chizumi."
The man…
who killed his father.
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