He took out the small bag.
What's inside?
Uchiha Nanagen'u still maintained the same questioning posture, but he wasn't asking for answers at all; he was searching for answers himself.
He opened the small bag.
Inside, they found a thick stack of blank symbols and some banknotes.
Are you learning talisman making?
Uchiha Nanagen'u's gaze lingered on the banknotes for a moment, without actually turning them over, but he already had a rough idea of the amount. Knowing the approximate sum, his eyes sharpened as he stared at Araki.
"Yes." Araki nodded.
"Where did you get your scroll?" Uchiha Nanagen'u continued his interrogation.
"My good friend Kushina Uzumaki gave it to me. She's from the Uzumaki Clan, so she knows these Sealing Jutsu. If you don't believe me, you can ask her," Araki explained.
"Where did you get the money to buy talismans? This is no small sum. If I remember correctly, the subsidies you received in the village didn't amount to this much!" Uchiha Nanagen'u's voice turned cold. Now he had reason to suspect that Araki had obtained ill-gotten gains, so his voice contained even more Chakra.
" Uchiha Mikoto bought it for me. I don't have money, but she does." Araki had already prepared his explanation and simply pulled Uchiha Mikoto down.
"What?!"
Uchiha Nanagen'u's pupils contracted sharply. He clearly hadn't expected this answer; the investigation had somehow led him to Uchiha Mikoto.
What proof do you have?
"Just go ask her, she lives at my house," Araki said casually.
"She's staying at your house?!" Uchiha Nanagen'u's breathing became rapid. He had indeed noticed that Uchiha Mikoto hadn't returned to the clan's territory these past few days. He had even asked the latter's mother and learned that she had gone to stay at a friend's house. Could that friend be Araki, and actually a male friend?
"Yes." Araki nodded.
"How long has she been gone?" Uchiha Nanagen'u asked.
"She's been at my house since the day my final exams ended, and she's never left." Araki wasn't afraid of Uchiha Nanagen'u misunderstanding at all; in fact, he was hoping she would. As long as she felt she had a connection to the Uchiha Clan, her judgment would inevitably be influenced by some personal factors.
"The day the final exams ended..."
Uchiha Nanagen'u silently calculated the number of days in his mind and was shocked to find that it was the day Uchiha Mikoto did not return to the clan's territory, and also the last time Jonin Dan Katō appeared in Konoha.
Is this a coincidence?
The Ninja Dog also smelled Dan Katō's scent in the area.
But...
Even if it's not a coincidence...
How could this child possibly be a match for Dan Katō?!
"What were you doing on the day of the final exam?" Uchiha Nanagen'u continued to press.
"I'm taking an exam," Araki replied seriously.
"What happens after the exam?" Uchiha Nanagen'u pressed.
"I first went to Tsunade-sensei's house to learn Medical Ninjutsu from Tsunade-sensei, and then after returning home, I trained in the grove," Araki said.
" Tsunade-sensei..." Uchiha Nanagen'u's expression softened slightly. The information in his hand already stated that Araki was Lady Tsunade's disciple, but he hadn't remembered it for a moment. He then asked, "What did you see in the grove?"
"I saw it." Araki nodded.
"Speak!" Uchiha Nanagen'u's eyes suddenly lit up.
"I saw Uchiha Mikoto coming to find me." Araki then steered the conversation back to the Uchiha Clan.
"..."
Uchiha Nanagen'u felt a wave of helplessness. The kid in front of him looked honest and simple, but he didn't answer the questions honestly at all and didn't give the answer he wanted to hear.
Mikoto is his Ueki's very good friend.
He believed that Mikoto was fine.
Since Araki saw Mikoto, it means that Mikoto also saw him; they were together, which means they each have an alibi.
Why...
What are you thinking about!
It is still uncertain whether Dan Katō has been in trouble.
Even if something goes wrong.
What does this have to do with a brat like him?
After confirming that the money in the backpack was legitimate, Uchiha Nanagen'u tossed the backpack back to Araki.
" Araki, it's not safe in the forest right now. I suggest you train in the park in the center."
Uchiha Nanagen'u didn't go to find Uchiha Mikoto to prove this point.
After all, if Araki dared to say something like this, especially in front of so many members of the Uchiha Clan, then it was highly unlikely that he was lying.
Nobody has that kind of guts!
If they find out...
That's practically playing with fire and getting burned!
"Thanks."
After retrieving his backpack, Araki immediately turned and headed towards the park. Now that he was certain the Konoha Military Police Force was investigating Dan Katō, there was no point in staying here any longer; it would only increase suspicion on him.
" Araki, I have a question that I don't quite understand. I hope you can answer it for me." Uchiha Nanagen'u's voice suddenly rang out from Araki.
Harmful!
Just ask!
You're so polite!
Can I still say "no"?
I've never seen you so polite before, even with that interrogation-like tone you used. What are you trying to prove with this big shot act?
Araki coldly muttered a few complaints in his mind, but he wouldn't say them aloud.
"Okay, go ahead."
Araki stopped and turned to look, his face expressionless.
Why is Mikoto living in your house?
Uchiha Nanagen'u was completely baffled by this question. He had been in the Konoha Military Police Force for so long that he could usually come up with a rough answer to most things with a little guessing, but he had absolutely no clue about this unusual situation.
"I don't know either." Araki shook his head and spread his hands, saying, "You'll have to ask her."
"Okay, it's alright now."
Uchiha Nanagen'u waved his hand casually, his old face full of black lines.
How can you ask something like that?
He was just an elder, not even related by blood, just from the same family.
Should I ask a younger girl such a question?
never mind!
He still has a shame!
The reason why Uchiha Nanagen'u was curious about this matter was because he believed that his son, Ueki, liked Mikoto, which was evident from his son's behavior.
certainly...
It's also possible that he's overthinking it.
However, in his mind, if his son lost to Fugaku in Ueki, then he had nothing to say.
But if this is a promising young talent of the Uchiha, it has been plucked by an outsider.
No matter what, he still felt somewhat resentful!
Why?
What's so good about this kid?
He's not even as good as my own little brat!
That doesn't make sense!
Most importantly...
Mikoto has moved in there!
How far has their relationship progressed?
Uchiha Nanagen'u didn't dare to think about it anymore. He watched Araki's departing figure and couldn't help but sigh helplessly.
You little brat.
I never imagined you would lose so decisively.
I thought you just couldn't compete with Fugaku.
Now it seems...
They wouldn't choose you even if they just picked any random person!
Chapter 32 Poison, Purple Blood! (10,000 words, please subscribe and vote!)
After Araki left, the Uchiha Clan members did not follow him; to be precise, they did not suspect him at all.
The nature of this matter has not yet been determined.
From the perspective of the Konoha Military Police Force, Dan Katō is simply missing; there's no way to confirm whether he's dead, and even if he is, there's no way to prove he's really connected to Araki.
It's unacceptable that Araki is Araki simply Ninja Dog smelled Araki's scent in the woods, since Araki trains there every Tenten —a fact that Uchiha Nanagen'u knows.
In the woods.
The Konoha Military Police Force stared at Uchiha Nanagen'u, their minds filled with questions.
"Captain, are we just going to let him go like that?" one of the men asked, leaning closer in.