CHAPTER 28

The next day, as dawn broke, Uchiha Tunan struggled to get up.

The high-intensity genjutsu he had cast the previous night had drained an excessive amount of chakra, and just a few hours of sleep had barely restored any of his strength. His body still felt weak.

The first thing he did after waking up was open his diary.

Lately, there hadn't been any significant events to document, so most of his entries had been mundane—filled with repeated affirmations of the Will of Fire. He had rewritten them so many times that even he was starting to feel nauseated by the repetition.

"October 6th.

Something important happened today, and I've been struggling to put it into words.

Chiretsu Hyuga asked me to meet her by the waterfall in the forest last night, saying she had something to tell me.

I didn't expect her to be waiting for me—completely undressed.

She wanted to be my woman.

I ran away.

I've always seen her as a younger sister, and my heart has long belonged to Mina.

I thought that would be the end of it.

But on my way back to the village, I ran into Mina.

Her expression was strange, but at the time, I didn't pay much attention to it.

I gathered the courage to confess my feelings to her and even kissed her.

She didn't resist.

At that moment, I felt like the happiest person in the world.

But then… she told me she had killed Chiretsu with her own hands.

I don't know what to do. According to the village's laws, Mina should be executed for murder.

But I can't bear it.

Right now, this secret is known only to Mina and me.

The village or my love—how am I supposed to choose?"

The handwriting in the diary became increasingly messy, and the entry ended abruptly.

Uchiha Tunan deliberately left a few ink smudges on the remaining blank space. Then, he tossed the pen onto the open diary, donned a lonely expression, and left his house.

Two Hours Later, Outside the Hokage's Office

Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, taking slow drags from his pipe, the room filled with thick clouds of smoke.

Then, as if sensing something, the Third Hokage suddenly sat up straight.

Right at that moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Enter," Sarutobi commanded.

Uchiha Tunan stepped inside, his face pale. He hesitated for a moment before lowering his head, falling into complete silence.

"Tunan, what happened?"

Tunan clenched his fists, then suddenly dropped to his knees. Tears welled in his eyes as he cried out:

"Hokage-sama, I killed someone! Please execute me!"

Sarutobi's eyes narrowed in surprise. He stepped forward, looking down at the kneeling boy.

"Tunan, look me in the eyes," Sarutobi said firmly.

Tunan slowly raised his head, but his gaze darted away almost instantly. His eyes shifted restlessly, his face full of guilt.

Sarutobi frowned, studying him carefully. Something didn't feel right.

But first, he needed to contain the situation.

Turning to the ANBU stationed outside, Sarutobi commanded, "Take Tunan to the Torture and Interrogation Department. No one is to question him without my direct order."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

An ANBU operative swiftly restrained Uchiha Tunan and disappeared with him in a flicker of movement.

Hokage's Office

Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.

Tunan had demonstrated potential far beyond his peers. He was intelligent, capable, and fiercely loyal. Letting him be executed would be a waste.

But the law was the law. Murder was a capital offense, no matter who the victim was.

"If worst comes to worst, I'll have Danzo take him into Root," Sarutobi muttered to himself. "At least that way, he can survive under a new identity."

But something still didn't sit right.

If Tunan had truly intended to confess, why was he acting so nervous?

Guilt like that… meant deception.

"ANBU," Sarutobi called out.

A masked figure appeared instantly.

"Retrieve Tunan's diary from his residence."

"Understood."

Konoha Torture and Interrogation Department

Ten minutes later, the ANBU returned, presenting the diary to Sarutobi.

As he flipped through the latest entries, his suspicions were confirmed.

This wasn't the confession of a cold-blooded killer.

It was a love-struck teenager trying to take the fall for someone else.

Sarutobi exhaled deeply and closed the diary. Handing it back to the ANBU, he ordered:

"Return the diary. And bring Uchiha Mina to the interrogation unit as well."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

As the ANBU departed, Sarutobi Hiruzen folded his hands behind his back and made his way toward the Torture and Interrogation Department.

Interrogation Room

The facility was built underground, with elite shinobi guards stationed at every corner.

Sarutobi was greeted at the entrance by Yamanaka Takuya, one of the lead interrogators.

"Hokage-sama," Takuya saluted.

"Has Tunan been interrogated yet?"

"Not yet. Would you like to question him personally?"

"No need. I'll observe."

The interrogation room was separated from an adjacent chamber by a one-way mirror. Sarutobi settled into a chair, watching as Yamanaka Takuya entered the room.

Inside, Uchiha Tunan sat slumped in a chair, staring at the ground, a defeated expression on his face.

Takuya cleared his throat and began the interrogation.

"Tunan, I understand your situation, but I have a few questions."

Tunan let out a deep sigh. "Ask whatever you want. I'll confess."

Takuya narrowed his eyes. Something about Tunan's tone was off.

Still, he continued.

"What was your relationship with the deceased?"

"We were classmates."

"When was the last time you saw her?"

"At the waterfall east of the Hokage Monument."

"What was she doing at the time?"

"She was… bathing."

"What was your motive for killing her?"

"Motive?"

Tunan blinked, seemingly caught off guard. His gaze shifted downward as he hesitated.

"B-because… she liked me."

Takuya exhaled sharply and slammed his pen onto the table.

"That's your reason?"

"I… I didn't like her back," Tunan stammered, sweat forming on his brow. "She—she tried to embrace me while unclothed. I got angry, and I just… I just…"

Takuya crossed his arms, completely unimpressed.

"Do you even realize what it means to take the fall for someone else?"

Tunan's breath hitched. "I'm not covering for anyone! I really did it! Please believe me!"

Takuya scoffed.

"Fine. One last question—how did you kill her?"

Tunan suddenly froze.

Silence stretched for several seconds. His breathing grew heavier.

Then, finally, he looked up and murmured uncertainly:

"I… I think I stabbed her… with a kunai…"

"Where exactly?" Takuya pressed. "Two centimeters left of the heart?"

"Y-yes!" Tunan said quickly, nodding. "That's where I stabbed her!"

Takuya rolled his eyes and slammed his notebook shut.

"Enough. We've already examined the crime scene."

"The victim was decapitated, and her head was incinerated by a Fireball Jutsu."

Tunan's eyes widened in horror.

"Uchiha Tunan," Takuya said coldly, "Interfering with an investigation is a crime."

"And trying to deceive the Torture and Interrogation Unit?"

"That's just stupidity."