Moonlight Hayate clearly remembered two years ago... a genius from the Uchiha clan named "Uchiha Kaede" had stormed into the Gekko Clan compound, dressed in police uniform.
He declared, "The police are investigating a case. All outsiders, please retreat. Otherwise, we will kill you without mercy."
Moonlight Hayate had no idea what had sparked the conflict. He only knew he had witnessed his father's murder.
Two of his uncles' family elders were also killed.
That night...
the Moonlight Clan compound was filled with a pungent odor of sulfur. The ground flowed with boiling lava, and the walls of the buildings were covered in knife marks, kunai, and shurikens.
Afterward, the entire Moonlight Clan reported the Uchiha Clan to the Third Hokage, demanding that "Uchiha Kaede" be arrested and imprisoned.
But the matter was left unresolved.
Some of the elders returned dejectedly from their meeting with the Hokage and never mentioned it again. No explanation was given. The younger generation was told only one thing:
Bear the grudge. And now, Uchiha Kaede had struck again.
"Oh no!!!"
Moonlight Hayate snapped back to his senses, drawing his sword and sprinting toward the clan compound.
As he reached the gate, a thunderous boom echoed.
He saw his younger brother, Moonlight Seishi, face contorted with rage, unleashing an Earth-Style ninjutsu against a pair of Uchiha police.
Then—
Seishi's body shimmered.
He vanished.
Transparent escape technique?
Hayate couldn't tell if his brother was attacking—or running.
"Seishi! Don't!" he shouted.
Either action could get him killed.
The only hope was surrender.
...
Inside, Kaede flung Izumi aside and stepped lightly past a flying boulder. His eyes glowed—a deep, blood-red hue as the three tomoe of the Sharingan swirled into place.
He paused.
To his left—nothing visible. But the soil shifted unnaturally.
"Transparent escape technique... huh."
Kaede hurled a spread of shuriken.
They whistled through the air—then struck something invisible.
"Gah!"
A groan. Blood sprayed midair.
"Seishi! Don't run!!!" Hayate's voice rang out, closer now.
Seishi, wounded and panicked, dodged past Hayate and fled.
But before he reached the gate—a blade pierced through his back. His body arched.
He gasped, blood bubbling from his mouth. Kaede stepped forward and twisted the blade before pulling it free.
Seishi collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest. His invisibility broke.
His battered form became visible. "Seishi—!!!" Hayate shouted. Kaede's voice cut through the chaos.
"Moonlight Seishi. Your mother's body has been found. Your crime is confirmed." Seishi's lips quivered. "Where's the evidence..."
"You erased the signs," Kaede said. "But the mind of the dead remains. The Yamanaka clan will extract it. You know their techniques."
"Perhaps your clan will destroy the evidence after you die. But only if they can forgive the crime of matricide."
Seishi's strength faded. He dropped. Hayate caught him. Pressed against his wound. "Seishi! Hold on! I'll take you to a medic—"
Slap!
Hayate's hand was knocked away.
"Stop... being so hypocritical..."
Seishi's voice was weak. Bitter. "If she hadn't always favored you... I wouldn't have... killed her. So ironic… our father died to Uchiha Kaede. Our mother, by my hand... hehe..."
He coughed. His final breath shuddered out.
"I was so jealous of you..."
[Ding! You have successfully executed a Red level criminal. Chakra slightly increased. Jutsu acquired: Transparent escape technique.]
Two years ago, Kaede had killed three Gekkō Clan members. They passed on only normal jutsu.
But today, with the death of Seishi, the Transparent escape technique had been claimed.
From behind, Izumi's voice trembled. "Senpai... that body… was his mother?"
She had heard everything. Kaede nodded. "Yeah."
Izumi's eyes were wide. "He killed her... out of jealousy. That's..." "That is the evil of this world."
Kaede turned to face Seishi's corpse, and Hayate, who knelt frozen beside it. "Twisted minds. Warped emotions. Power without limits. These are the seeds of corruption."
"This ninja world is sick." His voice hardened. "And it must be cleansed."