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Chapter 27 - Rumor - The Chunin Killer

Yamashiro Aoki had no time to react.

The figure behind him was too fast.

In an instant his throat was crushed.

CRACK!

The next moment, all four limbs were broken.

Only then did he see the attacker clearly.

"Mizuki!"

Aoki's eyes bulged.

"Why?"

He could not speak, but Mizuki understood the question in his gaze.

Mizuki gave a cold laugh. "Iruka and I entered the Academy at the same time. I clearly did more than he did, yet how did you rate me?"

"'Not bad.'"

"I do not know why I offend your eye, but since you issued a biased judgment, you must pay for it, must you not?"

"As for your wife and child, call it their misfortune, for having you as husband and father."

Mizuki stepped close.

"Now, let me end everything for you."

He thrust out his hand.

SQUELCH!

It punched through Aoki's chest and pierced his heart.

Aoki convulsed, but Mizuki's strength far exceeded his.

Struggle meant nothing.

"As for the teacher's post, to be honest, I have no interest now."

"I am already strong, far stronger than you and Iruka."

"But I will not allow you to treat me so unfairly."

He tore off a bite.

Soft chewing sounded in the dark.

Before long, Mizuki stepped out.

All three bodies were devoured clean, not even a bloodstain left.

He opened the window.

Fresh night air flowed in.

Every trace was gone.

But he did not stop.

One Aoki would not satisfy him.

He looked up at the sky.

"I can feel it. My body is near a limit. If I eat a little more, just a little more, I will break through."

His blood seemed to boil. The craving deep inside surged free.

THUD!

He dragged another figure into the shadows.

The next day.

An ANBU operative reported to Kakashi.

"Lord Kakashi, two more chunin disappeared last night. In addition, one chunin's wife and child."

"Chunin again."

Kakashi frowned.

"At this point, the ones who vanished outside and inside the village were likely taken by the same person. This person is not extremely strong."

"Otherwise they would not target only chunin."

A list was handed to him.

"Yamashiro Aoki, Academy teacher..."

Kakashi hesitated, then brought the list to the Hokage's office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's brows knotted.

"Over a dozen chunin already?"

"Yes."

"Nothing from the investigations?"

"Nothing."

Kakashi shook his head. "The killer cleans the scenes very thoroughly. My judgment is that their strength is not overwhelming, perhaps chunin or special jonin."

"Which feels like a crime by someone familiar. Most likely a shinobi of the Leaf."

Sarutobi set the list aside.

Names meant little to him. The number was what mattered.

"What is the motive?"

"Unknown."

"Increase night patrols. At least pairs. This must be resolved quickly. Otherwise rumors will spread and undermine stability."

"Understood."

But the rumors had already begun.

The loss of a dozen chunin was not a catastrophe for the Leaf, yet one detail tipped the balance. When Iruka learned of Aoki, he started asking questions himself.

He went door to door near Aoki's home.

In the back and forth, what Iruka learned leaked.

Aoki was not the first.

Many had vanished already.

All of them chunin.

The chunin of the village grew wary, and the rumor spread like fire.

The unknown killer behind it was soon given a name.

"The Chunin Killer."

At first only chunin and their families cared, but as time passed, others feared they might be next.

In peacetime, such tales spread fastest.

People cherish life more and have time to talk.

"Itama."

Mikoto called to him. "Have you heard about the Chunin Killer?"

"I have."

His expression was a little odd.

Strictly speaking, that killer had been set in motion by him.

"From today on, go to and from school with Izumi and the others. Do not go alone."

"Right now the killer targets chunin, but we do not know if they will change. Be careful either way."

"I will, Mother. Do not worry."

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