Especially Dan Katō's house.
Going there would be tantamount to walking into a trap.
It would be better to let the village confiscate it.
Araki stirred the soil on the ground, gathering the dark patch together, and wrapped it with Dan Katō's Jonin uniform. He then placed the ninja tool bag on top of the uniform and used Fire Release Ninjutsu to set the uniform covered in the dark soil ablaze.
The clothes turned to ashes under the flames, along with the Kurotsuchi they contained, all becoming black ash.
Araki didn't leave the black ash here; instead, he took out an entire unopened bottle of pepper powder from his ninja tool bag.
He opened the pepper box.
Then pour it directly into this black ash.
Stir it again with a twig.
After these steps, the black ash here has turned into peppery black ash, and it is no longer distinguishable from each other.
"That's about it."
Araki calmly stared at the scene. The crime scene had been dealt with, Dan Katō's body and clothes had been disposed of, and pepper had been sprinkled on them. All the problems he could think of were resolved.
Apart from the charred Kunai, there was nothing left on the ground. Under such circumstances, no one could identify Dan Katō. Even the Ninja Dog could only find this spot before being distracted by the pungent smell of pepper.
"Let's bury it!"
Araki thought for a moment and decided to bury these dark things in the soil. With the soil separating them, it would be an extra layer of protection.
"The final problem is that I don't know where Dan Katō has been resting. It's obvious that for a period of time, it wasn't Dan Katō himself who was following me, but that spirit!"
Araki thought for a moment and then shook his head. Things were pretty much done here. Before leaving, he stuck a half-broken ninja Forehead Protector into the soil. However, this ninja Forehead Protector was not Forehead Protector Konoha, but from Kumogakure Forehead Protector.
When Araki dealt with the invaders from Kumogakure, he left behind half of his Forehead Protector, which he kept in his ninja tool pouch for emergencies. Now was the time to use it.
Dan Katō is different from Sora Hyuga.
Sora Hyuga was just a student at the Ninja Academy, not even Genin yet. In the Hyuga Clan, most of those who could go to the Ninja Academy were those whom the clan was unwilling to train. Hinata was in a similar situation, since Hyuga Hiashi was busy training Hanabi Hyuga.
Sora Hyuga was of little use to the Hyuga Clan. As a member of the Branch Family family, he was born to be sacrificed for the Main Family. He had nothing special about him, and his death was nothing to regret. Such Branch Family ninjas were commonplace in the Hyuga Clan.
But Dan Katō is different!
Kato Dan is a genuine Jonin from Konoha!
In any ninja village in the ninja world, Jonin are extremely valuable resources.
The death of Jonin has a huge impact on the village, and they will definitely conduct a thorough investigation.
So now, if Araki does a little more, the situation will become even more suspenseful.
As for the aura emanating from his own body...
Araki cannot completely eliminate his scent, but he can spread his aroma throughout the forests of Konoha, creating a wide coverage area. This ensures that any potential incidents will occur in the areas where he trains, thus reducing the likelihood of him being suspected.
Not only that.
There's another point that's best explained about Araki.
He's still just a child!
He's still attending Ninja Academy!
He hasn't even reached the Genin yet!
How could a child like that possibly be the murderer of Dan Katō?!
It seems impossible just thinking about it!
After dealing with the situation, Araki quickly left. With the feeling of being watched gone, he returned to his training and crafting Explosive Tag.
" Mikoto, wait a minute, are you sure Araki is here? I haven't seen a single person." Kushina stood in the woods, a little tired from running. In addition, she hadn't really wanted to monitor Araki in the first place, so she naturally felt resistant to this kind of thing.
"It should be this way!"
Uchiha Mikoto was completely confused. She knew this was the area where Araki trained, but she had definitely not seen Araki before.
strangeness.
Where are they?
Why aren't you here?
"Let's go back. It's too late, and it's dark in the woods. I'm a little scared," Kushina said.
"Did I hear that right? Are you scared?" Mikoto's eyelids twitched, instantly exposing Kushina's lie.
"Why can't I be afraid?" Kushina raised an eyebrow and said, "It's said that there are wild animals in the forest. Is it wrong for me to be afraid of wild animals?"
"The wild beasts are afraid of you!" Mikoto said.
"No! I don't care! I don't want to go on like this! If you don't go back, I'll go back myself!" Kushina found this behavior pointless, and her tone carried a hint of threat.
"Back! Back! Back!"
Uchiha Mikoto sensed that Kushina was on the verge of dissatisfaction, so she didn't dare to say anything more and immediately nodded repeatedly.
She came to gather information about Araki.
Araki wasn't there in the first place, which wasn't a problem in itself. But if things continued like this and upset Kushina, things would get complicated. She wanted to maintain their friendship and continue living at Kushina's house.
That's all.
The two returned together.
Just after Kushina and Mikoto left together.
A figure leaped down from the tree branch and stood on the ground where the two had just left, his face expressionless; it was Araki.
Araki watched Uchiha Mikoto's departing figure from afar, lost in thought, remaining silent.
The next day.
early morning.
Araki returned to the house early.
He maintained his usual training schedule and did not continue endless training just because he had free time in the morning. Even if his body could handle it, his mind would be exhausted. Repeating the same thing over and over again would tire even the most hardcore player and would be unbearable.
"You're back!"
As soon as Araki entered, he heard a woman's voice. The owner of the voice was Uchiha Mikoto.
At this very moment.
Uchiha Mikoto was sitting in a chair with her legs crossed, her long, fair legs moving up and down rhythmically. She was barefoot, and her glistening toes were pointing directly at Araki.
"Um."
Araki nodded slightly. He didn't deliberately show any special treatment towards Uchiha Mikoto; this was the best way to handle it.
"How was last night?" Mikoto asked curiously, blinking her big eyes. She hadn't seen Araki all night and had a vague feeling that there was something wrong with Araki, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Upon hearing this, Araki glanced casually at Uchiha Mikoto without offering any response.
"Didn't you practice last night?" Mikoto asked again.
"What's it to you?" Araki asked a crucial question in a very ordinary tone. His tone didn't sound like he was mocking Mikoto, but it was full of sarcasm.
"I was just asking casually." Mikoto was taken aback; she hadn't expected Araki to talk to her like that, which was somewhat unexpected.
"It was fine, except for being interrupted halfway through, but nothing happened afterward." Araki said meaningfully. He wasn't lying, but while he thought the interruption was due to Dan Katō, he expressed it as being caused by Uchiha Mikoto.
"Ah?"
Uchiha Mikoto was clearly surprised by Araki's words. Her bright red lips parted slightly, forming an "O" shape, and her beautiful eyes sparkled with disbelief.
"What do you mean?"
Uchiha Mikoto didn't admit it directly because she wasn't sure Araki was bluffing her or if he really knew something. The best approach now was to pretend she didn't understand and use this as a strategic retreat.
But.
Araki didn't say anything.
He suddenly looked at Uchiha Mikoto.
His eyes flashed with indifference.
He was like a machine devoid of any emotion.
Araki walked step by step to Uchiha Mikoto, without exuding any aura, but just staring at Uchiha Mikoto made the latter feel guilty.
Uchiha Mikoto didn't know what Araki was planning, but she knew that she couldn't afford to lose face right now. So she straightened her back, raised her head, and presented her delicate oval face to Araki.
Look at me!
Then I'll look at you too!
Do you think I'm afraid of you?!
Uchiha Mikoto was also feeling conflicted. She felt that there were many problems with Araki, but she was like a headless fly, wanting to investigate but having no clue where to start.
Currently...
She just wanted to know where Araki had gone last night.
After all, when she went there...
Araki is gone!
"Miss Mikoto, aren't you afraid Fugaku will find out that you're so curious about me?"
Mikoto's face shape is completely different from Kushina's; the former has an oval face, while the latter has a heart-shaped face. They each have their own unique charm, and their personalities are also quite different.
"What?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Uchiha Mikoto's face, then a smile suddenly appeared on her lips as she said, "Are you feeling guilty?"
"It seems Fugaku knows you were looking for me," Araki said calmly, withdrawing his hand.
"How do you know about Fugaku?" Uchiha Mikoto felt she had grasped a very crucial point.
"Nonsense!" Araki said irritably, "You guys are having a meeting right under my feet, how come I didn't know? One of you three is named Ueki."