No Regrets

As Den Uchiha revealed what he had just done in the shop, Shin Uchiha could no longer twist the facts under the watchful eyes of the crowd. It would only further damage the Uchiha's reputation.

Protecting a subordinate or preserving the Uchiha's reputation.

Shin Uchiha naturally knew which mattered more. Under the strange looks of the surrounding villagers, he said darkly, "Take this disgraceful fool back."

With that, he immediately vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

He had thoroughly lost face over today's incident. Not only had he offended Chizuru, but he had also earned the stain of being unable to control his subordinates.

He did not care about the former, because Chizuru was only a six-year-old brat whose strength was far beneath his. Given the Clan Head's personality, he certainly would not do anything to a Jonin like him. But he could not ignore the latter. Once this stain appeared, it would surely severely affect his status and promotion prospects within the Police Force.

"Damn it, Den deserves to die for what he did. And that little brat isn't any better—he deserves to die too. But Chizuru is the worst of them all. What an ungrateful wretch, actually helping outsiders. It's utterly absurd that someone like her would receive the clan's full support."

Shin Uchiha and his subordinates arrived in an empty alley, where he punched the wall. Staring at Den Uchiha, who was now cowering and too afraid to meet his eyes, he seethed with hatred.

Elsewhere, after the Police Force squad led by Shin Uchiha left, the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed. They chatted and laughed as they discussed what had happened, quickly spreading the gossip. Seeing the Uchiha embarrassed was exactly the kind of thing the villagers loved to see.

"Chizuru, thank you for stepping in. I was only saved thanks to you."

Kirito thanked Chizuru, then smiled and expressed his thanks to Kari Uchiha as well.

Though he was confident that Mito's connections would get him out of the Police Force's hands, he would definitely have suffered some physical pain before then.

Therefore, he had to thank Chizuru for coming to his aid so righteously this time.

"Thank you, Miss Chizuru."

As the shop owner, Yakushi Nonō also stepped forward and bowed to Chizuru in thanks.

"You don't need to thank me. I simply didn't want scum like that to tarnish the Uchiha's reputation. Let's go, Kari."

Chizuru shook her head coldly.

"Yes, Miss."

Kari Uchiha promptly replied. From beginning to end, he did not say a single word to Kirito or the others, merely standing silently behind Chizuru.

Just as the two were about to leave, a child hurried over to Chizuru. It was the little boy whom Den Uchiha had nearly attacked earlier.

The little boy was named Kazuya Konoe. He had just turned five a week ago. Like Yakushi Nonō, he was an exceptionally sensible, intelligent, and proactive child, though unfortunately, he lacked talent as a ninja.

"Step back. What do you want?"

Kari Uchiha instantly moved in front of Chizuru and coldly addressed Kazuya Konoe, who had suddenly approached.

Kazuya had personally witnessed Kari Uchiha using Genjutsu to control Den Uchiha. He understood that Kari was a terrifying ninja, and being stared at so coldly by him, he could not help taking several frightened steps back.

"Stand down, Kari. He isn't an enemy."

Chizuru reprimanded him.

"Yes~"

Kari Uchiha returned to Chizuru's side.

Seeing this, Kazuya gave Chizuru a happy smile. He quickly stepped forward, took out the item hidden behind his back, and said with a smile, "Thank you for saving me just now, Big Sister Chizuru. This is for you."

Kazuya's gift of thanks was an exquisite fox mask. There were faint scratches on it, but the entire mask had been wiped spotless. One could tell at a glance that its owner usually took great care of it.

This fox mask was Kazuya's treasure. It had been a birthday present Kirito bought for him.

As Chizuru looked at the fox mask Kazuya was offering her, memories surfaced in her mind of her parents taking her shopping during festivals. Back then, she seemed to have owned a similar fox mask too.

This must be something precious, right?

Could she really accept it?

"Take it. It's Kazuya's way of thanking you. If you don't accept it, this kid might go hide in a corner and cry later."

Seeing Chizuru's hesitant expression, Kirito spoke up.

"I-I wouldn't cry! You idiot, Big Brother Kirito! I remember that two months ago, Big Brother Kirito wet the bed! And a week ago, you went to the bathhouse, mmph mmph mmph!"

Kazuya blushed as he snapped in embarrassment and anger.

"Idiot! I already told you, I got up to drink water that night and accidentally spilled it!"

With his dark history being dug up, Kirito was both shocked and furious. He quickly covered Kazuya's mouth with his hand to stop him from revealing any more.

"Then I'll gladly accept it."

Seeing the two bickering, Chizuru's mood inexplicably improved. The corners of her lips curved slightly as she decided to accept Kazuya's mask.

At her words, Kazuya was overjoyed and immediately offered the mask with both hands.

.

Seeing Chizuru carefully place the mask in her clothes, Kari Uchiha lowered his eyelids slightly, a trace of sadness flashing through his eyes.

After accepting the mask, Chizuru quickly left with Kari Uchiha.

"Let's head back."

After Chizuru left, Kirito spoke to the people beside him.

Then, he said to Nawaki, who was preparing to sneak away, "Future Hokage, remember to pay the bill before you leave."

"Shut up. Of course I'll pay."

Nawaki said through gritted teeth.

That night, in the Uchiha Clan Grounds, Naka Shrine, within an underground space reinforced with Sealing Jutsu.

A bare-chested man was bound to a wooden stake. He was already covered in wounds, his body crisscrossed with bloody, mangled whip marks.

That man was Den Uchiha.

The one carrying out the punishment was an Uchiha wearing an Evil Ghost Mask.

He was clearly highly skilled with a whip. Every lash struck the patches of Den Uchiha's skin that remained uninjured.

With a prisoner and an executioner, there were naturally spectators as well—and quite a few of them. They were all Uchiha, and without exception, all had awakened the Sharingan.

Homura Uchiha sat among them. Like most of the Uchiha present, he watched Den Uchiha's punishment with cold eyes.

Chizuru sat to his left, wearing an exquisite fox mask.

"Clan Head, I was wrong. Please forgive me."

Den Uchiha no longer had the arrogant swagger he displayed before ordinary villagers. Faced with ever-worsening punishment, he could no longer endure it and began admitting fault and begging for mercy.

Homura Uchiha asked expressionlessly, "What did you do wrong?"

"I shouldn't have attacked Lady Chizuru. Please spare me. I'll never dare do it again."

Den Uchiha answered at once.

"Ahhh!!!"

The moment those words left his mouth, the executioner struck even harder, directing the whip at the worst wound on his body. Den Uchiha let out a heart-wrenching scream and promptly fainted from the pain.

Splash—

A bucket of water was thrown over Den Uchiha's face, waking him again.

Then, he saw a child in a fox mask appear before him.

Though the person before him wore a mask, Den Uchiha recognized who it was at once from her build.

Chizuru Uchiha. Among the Uchiha who were young enough to attend gatherings at Naka Shrine, she was the only one.

At the same time, he noticed that aside from himself and Chizuru, all the other clan members had vanished.

This little brat is still naive. If I just play pitiful and beg for mercy now, she'll definitely forgive me.

Den Uchiha thought so.

Thus, with a mournful expression, he said to Chizuru, "I was wrong, Lady Chizuru. Please forgive me. I was blinded by rage at the time and committed such an act of disrespect. Please spare me just this once. From now on, I'll obey your every word."

"Tell me, if no one had stopped you back then, what would you have done to that child?"

Chizuru interrupted Den Uchiha. Her Sharingan fixed on his eyes as she asked.

What?

What kind of question was that?

For a moment, Den Uchiha could not understand why Chizuru would ask such a foolish question. It was just some brat from outside the clan. So what if he had hit him?

Wasn't she taking revenge because he had committed such a disrespectful act against her?

"I see. So that was your answer."

The next moment, before Den Uchiha could answer, he heard Chizuru say those words.

Then pain exploded in his chest. He coughed up blood and stared in disbelief at Chizuru, who had driven a Kunai through his chest.

As his consciousness faded, he vaguely saw a new tomoe appear in the sorrow-filled Sharingan staring at him.

"Even when trash that sullied the clan's honor dies, it still hurts."

Chizuru murmured as she looked at Den Uchiha, who had died with his eyes open.

Though it hurt, she did not regret it.

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