CHAPTER 30

Sarutobi Hiruzen led Uchiha Tunan out of the interrogation room and turned to Yamanaka Takuya.

"Let Tunan observe during the memory search. I have other matters to attend to—you handle the rest."

"Understood, Hokage-sama."

Tunan lowered his head slightly. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Sarutobi placed a reassuring hand on Tunan's shoulder, sighing. "It must be difficult for you."

After watching the Hokage leave, Yamanaka Takuya glanced at Uchiha Tunan.

"Let's go."

Tunan nodded and followed Takuya deeper into the Torture and Interrogation Department.

They arrived at the designated room, where two masked ANBU guards bowed slightly.

"Takuya-sama."

Takuya gestured to Tunan. "Let him inside. If anything happens, notify me immediately."

"Understood."

Uchiha Tunan stepped into the dimly lit interrogation chamber. Various medical instruments and unidentified drugs lined the shelves. A single iron table stood in the center beneath a bright incandescent lamp.

On the table, Uchiha Mina lay motionless, her wrists, ankles, and neck secured by thick metal restraints. A black blindfold covered her eyes. Her breathing was slow and steady—she was sedated.

Two Yamanaka clan interrogators were making final preparations. Shunkawa Yamanaka sat nearby, organizing a stack of documents, while Ryotomo Yamanaka was filling a syringe with a light blue liquid.

Shunkawa barely glanced at Tunan as he pointed to a chair. "Sit there. Don't speak, don't move."

Tunan complied silently.

"Are the sedatives properly adjusted? She's young—don't overdo it."****"

Shunkawa's voice was clinical, devoid of emotion.

Ryotomo nodded and walked over to Mina, inserting the syringe into a vein in her arm. The liquid disappeared into her bloodstream.

"We're ready."

Ryotomo placed both hands on Mina's forehead and activated the Yamanaka Clan's Mind-Reading Jutsu.

Mina's body jerked violently, her muscles spasming as if struck by lightning. A strained whimper escaped her lips.

Ryotomo's voice was monotone, detached.

"I see it. October 6th."

Shunkawa scribbled in his notes.

"She woke up… fed the cat… made breakfast…"

"She hesitated… stood in the yard… lost in thought."

Tunan's face showed distress, but internally, his mind raced.

(Damn. Prolonged Genjutsu still leaves inconsistencies.)

"How long was she in a daze?"

"Past noon."

"In the afternoon, she packed her belongings and left the house."

Tunan maintained his sorrowful expression but kept analyzing.

(Judging by their chakra signatures, both are mid-level Jōnin at best. If I cast Genjutsu on them both… No, too risky. I need to wait.)

"She arrived at the training grounds… encountered Uchiha Tunan."

Tunan interrupted. "We were sparring that evening."

Shunkawa's gaze snapped to him. "Do not speak."

Tunan lowered his head. "Apologies." But his eyes flashed coldly.

"During the spar, her mind was elsewhere. She seemed distracted… left after about an hour."

"Upon returning home, she discovered her cat—dead. A note lay beside the body. It read…"

Shunkawa nodded while writing, verifying the consistency between the memory and physical evidence.

"She traveled to the waterfall… hid in the bushes… watched Uchiha Tunan with another girl."

"The girl is Hyūga Chirei. She confessed her love to Uchiha Tunan."

"Tunan rejected her and left."

"Mina stepped out. She severed the girl's head. Then she used Fire Release to burn it."

On the iron table, Mina's convulsions intensified. White foam trickled from her mouth.

Tunan's voice rang out. "Enough! She can't take it—stop!"

The Yamanaka duo remained unmoved.

Shunkawa shot Tunan a cold glare. "Interfere again, and you will be removed. Continue, Ryotomo."

Ryotomo placed his hands on Mina's forehead again.

Mina, her voice weak but desperate, sobbed: "Kill me. Just kill me."

Her plea fell on deaf ears.

As Ryotomo resumed his technique, Tunan's expression darkened.

(Damn it. If they go further back, they might see the real events… I can't allow that.)

In an instant, Tunan's Sharingan activated.

A flicker of motion—Kunai in hand—he lunged.

"You brat—!"

The Yamanaka interrogators were quick. Anticipating an outburst, they retaliated immediately.

BAM!

Ryotomo struck Tunan's stomach.

THUD!

Shunkawa slammed a fist into his back.

Blood splattered from Tunan's lips as he collapsed.

"Mina—!"

His outstretched hand trembled as he reached for the iron table.

Ryotomo frowned. "He may have special status, but this is obstruction of duty."

Shunkawa scoffed. "Hmph. Let Hokage-sama deal with him."

He grabbed Tunan's hair and dragged him toward the door.

As he reached the entrance, the ANBU guards outside looked at him in confusion.

"Shunkawa… what are you doing?"

Shunkawa narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

The guards gestured downward. "That's not Uchiha Tunan."

Shunkawa's stomach dropped. He looked down.

Ryotomo Yamanaka.

Unconscious.

Expression still frozen in thought.

(What…? When…?!)

A creeping horror filled the room.

They turned.

Inside, the incandescent light cast deep shadows over the iron table.

Tunan stood there, pale, his Sharingan spinning.

One hand gently stroked Mina's hair.

The other—holding a kunai—hovered over her heart.

Mina's eyes widened as fragmented memories surged back.

Flashes of Genjutsu. Tunan's illusions weaving into her mind.

Her lips trembled.

(It was him… it was always him…)

Tunan leaned in, voice soft, like a whisper from the depths of hell.

"It's alright now. It won't hurt anymore."

Mina's horror-stricken scream shattered the silence.

"HELP ME!"