Hands up!

This interrogation was not merely physical torment, but mental torture as well. The monster's regenerative gift, once a source of pride, had instead become a source of endless agony.

By the third round of questioning, the Six-Armed Monster's psychological defenses finally broke, and it began answering every question.

According to it, there were no humans with supernatural powers in this world. Even monsters had not existed since ancient times; they had only suddenly appeared in this country after the start of the twenty-first century.

When Uchiha Naruto had asked what race of monster it belonged to earlier, it had realized something was wrong.

Monsters had no races. Every monster looked different from all the others.

Moreover, their appearances bore no resemblance to the Japanese monsters of folklore. Legendary great monsters like the nine-tailed Tamamo-no-Mae or Yamata no Orochi did not exist either.

These things were practically common knowledge. Anyone working for the authorities would have known them.

"It sounds like this world used to be a world without magic, with nothing mystical or supernatural. Then some change happened in the twenty-first century, giving rise to monsters and evil spirits, but no humans with supernatural powers. Naturally, humans don't rely on Onmyoji to deal with monsters, but on modern technology, guns and ammunition. So that's how it is. No wonder the public doesn't know monsters exist."

This was crucial intelligence!

Ever since arriving in this world, his successive encounters with monsters and evil spirits had led him to assume that all sorts of powerful legendary monsters and supernatural humans existed here. That conclusion had now been completely overturned.

And if there really were no other humans with supernatural powers, wouldn't that make Uchiha Naruto the sole wielder of such abilities?

Still, he could not believe it entirely. He was no devil, after all, and was not skilled at interrogation. The Six-Armed Monster might have mixed one lie into nine truths, concealing something crucial.

Even if it had not, its strength and standing might have been too low for it to obtain accurate information.

"...It hurts...just put me out of my misery..."

The Six-Armed Monster gave a low cry of pain. Its presence grew fainter and fainter, and its voice was feeble.

"Hey, don't die on me now. We're almost done."

Uchiha Naruto remained unmoved, showing no awareness whatsoever that he was responsible. "What are your monster circles like? How powerful is the strongest monster you know? What's its name?"

Uchiha Naruto was especially concerned about this question. Monsters had not existed for long-not even twenty years. Did that mean their side was weak?

If every monster was only as strong as the Six-Armed Monster, there would be nothing to fear. He could freely hunt them as prey to obtain Ninja Jewels.

"I don't know about other places. There's only one monster organization in Tokyo. The monsters hiding in Tokyo can only evade human pursuit under its protection..."

"I liked torturing humans to death, and I took things too far, so they kicked me out. The organization even sent its disciplinary squad after me. I was planning to rest here for a bit, then flee north out of Tokyo Metropolis and leave Kanto."

"The strongest monster is 'Teacher,' of course. It's the king of Tokyo's monsters, and one of the first great monsters to appear. A little monster less than ten years old like me can't compare. It's right...right...right..."

A look of reverence mingled with fear involuntarily surfaced in the Six-Armed Monster's eyes. Its tongue seemed to tie itself in knots, and it began stammering haltingly.

Naturally, Uchiha Naruto was deeply displeased to hear it falter at such a crucial point. He flicked his sleeve, and a Kunai appeared in his hand.

"Why are you still hemming and hawing at this point? Do you want to start doing math problems again?" Uchiha Naruto's voice was thick with menace.

"Abilities, appearance, hideout-tell me everything about this monster called Teacher!"

The Six-Armed Monster grew anxious and frightened at his words. It opened its mouth wide and moved its tongue a few times, but still said nothing.

At this point, Uchiha Naruto felt a little admiration. Even after being expelled from the organization, the Six-Armed Monster was still so loyal!

But his threat was no empty talk. He began moving the Kunai over the monster's remaining fingers.

"Ah, ah..." Terror filled the Six-Armed Monster's eyes. It strained to open its mouth as wide as possible, showing Uchiha Naruto its tongue.

"What's this?!"

Strange, jet-black, snake-shaped markings spread from the root of its tongue across its entire length.

Seeing those eerie black serpentine marks on the Six-Armed Monster's tongue, Uchiha Naruto could not help looking somewhat surprised.

Had the leader of that monster organization done something to it to prevent information from leaking?

He had not expected monsters to possess such methods!

"This technique looks like the Cursed Seal technique placed on Anbu members' tongues to prevent intelligence leaks!"

Uchiha Naruto suddenly grew wary of the king of Tokyo's monsters, whom he had never met and knew only by title.

For now, he shelved his plan to take the initiative and farm monsters for experience. If this monster king was stronger than him, wouldn't he just be walking into a trap?

He would keep a low profile a little longer, gathering intelligence while building his strength, and wait until he awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan or even advanced to Jonin.

Seeing that he could extract nothing more, Uchiha Naruto readily put the Six-Armed Monster out of its misery. He plunged the red-glowing Chakra Blade straight into its skull. Flames erupted, burning it to ashes.

[Kill complete. Calculating rewards]

[Puppet Technique LV1]

[Ninja Jewel ×50]

"Just as I thought."

As expected, he had unlocked another new ninjutsu from the monster. A thoughtful look appeared in Uchiha Naruto's eyes.

After tidying up the battlefield and collecting the Kunai from the floor, Uchiha Naruto picked a window at random, leaped out, and landed on the ground.

As for Amami Katori and the young cameraman still inside the abandoned mall, he would leave them to their own devices. He was not here to babysit.

The monster had been destroyed, anyway. Staying in the abandoned mall no longer posed any mortal danger.

Presumably, the livestream viewers had already called the police, and the officers should arrive shortly. He would leave this mess to them. Japanese police were especially good at cleaning up afterward.

Unlike the carefully trimmed and tended vegetation in landscaped areas, weeds and shrubs grew wild wherever they pleased along the streets surrounding the abandoned mall. Strolling through such an empty, deserted place beneath the moonlight had a rustic charm all its own.

In this atmosphere, Uchiha Naruto, dressed in the Akatsuki's distinctive black-and-red outfit, naturally took on an air of mystery.

Once he passed through this stone arch covered in creeping vines, the fence outside the abandoned mall would come into view. Just as Uchiha Naruto prepared to turn into crows and fly back to Nakano, he suddenly heard a sharp shout:

"Don't move! Hands up!"