In the name of [absolute justice]!

Gekko Hayate still remembered it clearly. Two years ago... a genius of the Uchiha Clan named "Uchiha Chisen" had stormed the Gekko Clan compound alone, dressed in the uniform of the Konoha Military Police Force.

He had declared, "The Military Police Force is investigating a case. All uninvolved personnel, stand aside. Anyone who refuses will be killed without mercy."

Gekko Hayate did not know how the conflict had started.

He only knew that he had watched his father die.

Two clan elders of his uncles' generation had been killed as well.

That night...

A pungent stench of sulfur had filled the Gekko Clan compound. Scalding magma had flowed across the ground, while the walls of the buildings were covered in sword marks and studded with kunai and shuriken.

Gekko Hayate also remembered how, afterward, the entire Gekko Clan had reported the Uchiha Clan to the Third Hokage.

Above all, they had demanded that the Hokage arrest "Uchiha Chisen" and throw him in prison!

They had wanted that demon of the Uchiha Clan sent to the execution block!

And yet...

For some unknown reason...

The matter had come to nothing.

Some of the Gekko Clan's elders had returned from the Hokage in disgrace, never mentioning the incident again.

They had not even considered demanding an explanation from the Uchiha Clan.

They had merely told the younger generation to remember that hatred.

Beyond that, they had asked nothing of them.

And now.

That "Uchiha Chisen"...

Had come again!

"No!!!"

Gekko Hayate snapped out of his thoughts. He swiftly drew his ninja sword and rushed toward home, his movements frantic.

But just as he reached the gates of the Gekko Clan compound, a thunderous boom rang in his ears.

Before his eyes, his younger brother, "Gekko Seisui," unleashed an Earth Release jutsu with a savage expression, trying to kill a boy and girl dressed in the uniforms of the Uchiha Clan's Military Police Force.

He also saw his brother's kunai-wielding figure turn transparent in an instant.

Gekko Hayate could not tell whether his brother was using Transparent Release to attack the Military Police Force or seizing the chance to flee...

"Seisui! Don't!!!"

He shouted urgently.

Because either choice would get him killed!

The only chance of surviving that demon Uchiha Chisen was to drop his weapon immediately and surrender!

Inside the compound, Uchiha Chisen grabbed Izumi by the collar and flung her away, then lightly leaped aside to dodge an incoming boulder.

An eerie, chilling scarlet had crept into his eyes, and the pattern of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly appeared in his pupils.

His eyes suddenly flicked to the left. No one was visible there, but something was amiss with the dirt on the ground.

"Transparent Release... heh."

Uchiha Chisen took out several shuriken and hurled them in that direction.

The shuriken tore through the air with piercing whistles, seeming to sink into something invisible.

"Urgh!!!"

A muffled groan rang out, and blood seeped into the air from nowhere.

"Seisui! Don't run!!!" Gekko Hayate shouted urgently as he raced toward the blood hanging in the air.

But Gekko Seisui, who had concealed himself with "Transparent Release" only to be struck by the shuriken anyway, grew even more panicked when he saw his older brother appear.

He avoided Gekko Hayate.

Enduring the intense pain in his back, he hurriedly fled in another direction.

But before he could escape the Gekko Clan compound...

A sharp ninja sword... had already pierced him through the back!

Gekko Seisui's bloodshot eyes went wide.

His mouth opened, but the blade protruding from his chest twisted, then was slowly withdrawn from his body.

Gekko Seisui staggered, unable to stay steady.

He hastily clutched his chest, and blood instantly soaked his palm.

He could no longer maintain his "Transparent Release" Kekkei Genkai.

His battered figure became visible.

"Seisui!!!" His older brother's anguished cry drew closer and closer.

But Gekko Seisui's consciousness grew fainter and fainter.

"Gekko Seisui. Your mother's body has been found. Your evil deed has been exposed."

Uchiha Chisen's icy tone brought a look of despair to Gekko Seisui's face in the final moments of his life. "Today, in the name of [absolute justice], I pass judgment upon you."

Clutching his chest, he staggered a few steps forward and struggled to turn around, his vision growing darker. "The... evidence...?"

"You did remove the traces on the body, but you couldn't remove its memories." Uchiha Chisen flicked the blood off his blade. "The Military Police Force will hand the body over to the Yamanaka Clan. You should know something about their secret techniques."

"The evidence you want might be burned as an offering to you by your clansmen after you die. Assuming they forgive your crime of 'matricide.'"

Gekko Seisui seemed to lose every last ounce of strength.

His entire body crumpled helplessly.

Just as he was about to hit the ground, Gekko Hayate finally reached him. He hurriedly caught his younger brother, pressing one hand firmly over the gaping hole in his chest in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

"Seisui! Hang on! I'll take you to a medical ninja!"

Smack-

Gekko Hayate froze.

Because Gekko Seisui, lying in his arms, had slapped his hand away.

"Cough... stop... pretending you care..."

Gekko Seisui's lips were frighteningly pale, his voice weak and mocking. "If she hadn't favored you so much, I wouldn't have... killed her. How ironic... the father who valued you most died at Uchiha Chisen's hands, and the mother who favored you most died at mine... heh heh..."

Under Gekko Hayate's disbelieving gaze, Gekko Seisui uttered his final words. "I'm so jealous of you..."

The light faded from Gekko Seisui's eyes.

His eyes went blank.

His breathing stopped!

[Ding! You have successfully killed a "red name" evildoer! Your chakra has increased slightly! Congratulations, you have obtained the drop: "Transparent Release" Kekkei Genkai!]

Uchiha Chisen had killed three members of the Gekko Clan two years ago, but they had dropped three ninjutsu for him, not the "Transparent Release" Kekkei Genkai unique to the Gekko Clan.

Today.

After executing the red-named villain "Gekko Seisui," Uchiha Chisen had added another Kekkei Genkai to his "Sharingan" and "Lava Release"-"Transparent Release"!

"Senior Chisen..."

Izumi's incredulous voice came from behind Uchiha Chisen. "That body... was his mother?"

Clearly.

Izumi, who had followed close behind, had heard everything Uchiha Chisen and Gekko Seisui had just said.

It dealt a tremendous blow to her worldview, leaving her dazed.

"Yes."

Uchiha Chisen answered.

Utter bewilderment filled Izumi's young face as she murmured, "Killing his own mother out of jealousy alone. That's..."

"That is the 'evil' of the Shinobi World."

Uchiha Chisen gazed at the corpse, then at Gekko Hayate, who stood frozen in place as though his mind had shut down.

He said slowly, "Twisted thoughts, brutal wars... all of it magnifies the 'evil' within everyone without limit. The power shinobi possess makes them naively believe they can escape the judgment of justice."

"This Shinobi World is sick."

"It needs a purge!"