Chapter 9: Guilt Level: Red Name!
An hour or so later, Izumi realized that what Senior Ikeizumi called "strolling around" truly was just aimless "strolling" through Konoha.
She hadn't seen her senior exhibit any kind of professional investigative skills.
Nor had she seen him search for any evidence or clues related to the case.
She felt like she had already followed him around the entire Konoha Village, even circling through the Uchiha clan's compound, and lingering a bit inside the Hokage building.
Izumi remained utterly bewildered the entire time, completely lost as to what her senior was doing, and what she herself was supposed to do.
Just as Izumi was about to speak, but hesitated…
She noticed her senior had stopped.
Finally!
No more aimless wandering!
Tears welled up in Izumi's eyes.
"Senior, this is…" However, she quickly realized something was off. Izumi peered forward curiously. Wasn't this the Konoha Gekkou Clan's compound?
Konoha had many ninja clans of varying sizes. The Uchiha clan was one of Konoha's top-tier major clans.
The Gekkou clan, on the other hand, was a smaller Konoha clan.
They consisted of a dozen or so ninja and possessed the "Transparent Release" (Tōton) kekkei genkai.
"This is the last exposed location we haven't 'strolled' through," Uchiha Ikeizumi said flatly. "If the culprit isn't here, then it can only be those two places."
"Those two places you mean?" Izumi was curious how Senior Ikeizumi could determine the culprit just by aimless wandering, and even more curious about the "two places" he mentioned.
"Anbu, Root."
Uchiha Ikeizumi's concise answer left Izumi dumbfounded.
"Huh? Uchiha Ikeizumi! You cold-blooded monster who kills without batting an eye, how dare you show your face here!?" Just as Uchiha Ikeizumi was about to step into the Gekkou clan's compound, a sudden roar echoed from the side, traveling from afar.
Turning to look.
They saw two Gekkou clan ninja, wearing Konoha headbands and Chunin vests, hurrying over.
They quickly positioned themselves in front of Uchiha Ikeizumi, glaring at him with eyes full of hatred.
Izumi noticed the atmosphere becoming tense: "Senior, are they…?"
Before she could finish her question.
One of the Gekkou ninja snarled, "Uchiha Ikeizumi! You'd better stay away from here! The Gekkou clan doesn't welcome you!"
Uchiha Ikeizumi's right hand remained on the hilt of his ninja blade the entire time.
His calm eyes swept over the two, and he stated, "The Police Force is investigating a case. Uninvolved individuals, step aside immediately. Otherwise, you will be obstructing official duties. Those who obstruct will be killed without question."
Uchiha Ikeizumi's tone was incredibly flat, yet the terrifying surge of killing intent that suddenly erupted sent shivers down Izumi's spine.
She noticed Senior Ikeizumi's thumb was already pressed against the tsuba of his ninja blade!
A centimeter of the gleaming silver blade was already exposed!
The two Gekkou clan ninja also felt immense pressure. The cold sweat beading on their foreheads and their unconsciously clenched fists clearly showed just how tense they were.
But…
This situation didn't make them retreat an inch. Instead, it fueled the hatred in their eyes even more intensely.
"Two years ago… it was just like this!" one Gekkou clan ninja forced out, gritting his teeth and glaring furiously despite the immense pressure. "You bastard, you also said you were investigating a case. You brazenly slaughtered your way into the Gekkou clan compound… you killed our then-clan head, Gekkou Yuuichirou-sama! And you also killed two of our elder uncles!"
Izumi's clear, sparkling eyes gradually widened.
This…
So, Senior Ikeizumi and the Gekkou clan had this history!
Hiss!
That must be a blood feud, right?
"Uchiha Ikeizumi, you—"
"No recollection." Uchiha Ikeizumi slowly drew the ninja blade from his waist. As he unhurriedly stepped forward, he said coldly, "I never intentionally remember who I've killed. Those who obstruct [Justice] aren't even worthy of remaining in my memory."
His gaze passed through the gap between the two Gekkou clan ninja, settling on a figure within the Gekkou clan compound ahead.
[Gekkou Seisui—Last night, due to dissatisfaction with his mother's excessive favoritism towards his elder brother, Gekkou Hayate, he had an argument with his mother. In a fit of uncontrolled emotion, he killed his mother with a blunt object and secretly disposed of the body in the early morning. Guilt Level: Red Name!]
The crimson box was extremely conspicuous in Uchiha Ikeizumi's eyes.
This was one of the reasons he drew his blade.
"Three seconds. Don't move, and you die." Uchiha Ikeizumi didn't stop. "Three, two…"
"Bastard! You arrogant jerk! Do you really think our Gekkou clan will—"
Uchiha Ikeizumi had already moved past the two Gekkou clan ninja.
He casually flicked the blood off his ninja blade.
"One."
A pair of calm, unruffled eyes, like a judge from hell, fixed on the terrified Gekkou Seisui not far ahead.
At the same time, the sound of bodies hitting the ground in unison came from behind him.
"Newbie, this is your second lesson," Uchiha Ikeizumi stepped into the Gekkou clan compound, speaking coldly to Izumi, who was utterly stunned behind him. "Anyone who obstructs the [Execution of Justice] is a minion of 'evil,' an enemy of justice. After a warning proves futile… kill them without question."
Izumi stared blankly at the two headless corpses on the ground, blood splattering everywhere.
The crimson blood that sprayed out even splattered onto her feet.
Izumi's pupils trembled slightly.
When she stiffly looked up, she saw Senior Ikeizumi, holding his blood-stained ninja blade, casually flicking the blood from the blade as he walked towards a young Gekkou clan member.
Izumi didn't know what she was thinking.
As if possessed, she stepped forward, her feet treading on the wet ground, stepping through a puddle of blood, leaving a long trail of crimson footprints as she followed Uchiha Ikeizumi into the Gekkou clan compound.
In Izumi's mind, a voice kept warning her—Once you go in, there's no turning back. You can't accept Uchiha Ikeizumi's absolute justice.
But… she still followed in Senior Ikeizumi's footsteps.
And drew a kunai.
Clutching it tightly in her hand.
...
"Phew, finally got half a day off from the Hokage-sama. It's been half a month since I last saw Mother, so it's a good chance to pay respects to Father with Mother and Seisui."
Gekkou Hayate, a direct member of the Third Hokage's ANBU.
He was carrying the offerings he had just bought, heading towards the Gekkou clan compound.
However.
When he arrived in front of the clan compound, Gekkou Hayate froze completely, the offerings slipping from his hands and falling to the ground.
In his line of sight—
Many Konoha villagers were gathered around the Gekkou clan compound's main gate, trying to peer inside. But they seemed to be wary of something, not daring to get too close, only watching from a distance.
In front of the compound gate, two headless corpses stood out starkly, with two severed heads lying beside them.
The faces on the heads still wore bewildered expressions.
Gekkou Hayate vaguely heard some villagers discussing "Uchiha" and "Police Force"…
And then, he heard a name that made his pupils shrink.
—"Uchiha Ikeizumi"!!!
This was his…
Father's killer!
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