"Mizuki grew stronger, and so did I."
"My gain is roughly one tenth of his."
"That sounds small."
"But there is only one Mizuki."
"I can draw out darkness from more than one."
Uchiha Itama glanced at Hyuga Hikaru.
A fresh cut marred Hikaru's forearm, likely new, and the black haze around him was far thicker than yesterday.
"It will not be long before his darkness reaches the threshold I can siphon."
Itama's gaze slid back to Mizuki.
The rumor of the Chunin Killer pleased him. With eyes fixed on Mizuki, the elders had to divert their focus, leaving more time for the Uchiha.
"Mizuki's rise should buy us at least a month."
"More time for me to grow."
"Enough to defeat Uchiha Itachi."
"And more time for Father to prepare."
He did not know what Fugaku was arranging. Fugaku still treated him as a child and kept him out.
Before, Itama might have tried to force his way in. Now, having discovered his own unique power, he could solve things another way.
Kakashi brought in the Aburame. Ninken were good with ordinary scents, but here their noses came up short. Specially bred insects would do better.
"Well?"
Aburame Muta shook his head. "No trail leaving Aoki's home. It is as if they never left."
"Never left?"
Kakashi frowned.
"How is that possible?"
"I already had the Hyuga look. No hidden corpses. What, did three people vanish into thin air?"
Muta said, "Two possibilities."
"First, reverse summoning to spirit them away."
"The other is..."
He did not finish, but Kakashi had it.
"Disposed on the spot."
"How?"
Kakashi's eyes flicked to the kikaichu.
Muta said, "Our insects can do that. But no one has reason to, and no Aburame has acted abnormally."
Kakashi's gaze hardened.
He bit down. "Muta, I need your whole clan tonight. Spread your insects through every corner of the Leaf, not a single open space untouched."
Muta's face changed.
"The entire village?"
"Even with everyone, we could barely manage, and only for half a night. Then we would need a long rest."
"And we cannot just watch whoever we please."
No one liked being watched, least of all clan shinobi.
"I will request the Hokage's order. We cannot keep dragging this out."
Soon, Kakashi stood in the Hokage's office.
"Lord Hokage, the Hyuga and Aburame found nothing. The killer leaves no trace. I have a desperate plan."
"Have the Aburame release their kikaichu across the village to watch all of it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, hesitating.
Blanketing the Leaf touched many nerves, especially with clans. There were also things he preferred the Aburame not to see.
"The whole village?"
"Yes. The rumor is worsening. If we do not act, civilians will panic and the economy will suffer."
"I asked Aburame Muta. With all of them, they can last half a night."
Hiruzen lowered his head, thought a while, and pulled a map.
He circled several zones in red.
"Not the whole village. These areas are off limits, and all clan compounds as well. With the rest, the Aburame should last a full night."
"They should."
"Do it. Tonight."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Kakashi went straight to the Aburame compound and delivered the order to the clan head, Aburame Shibi.
"Tonight, I must trouble you."
"Rest easy. We will do our utmost."
Shibi paused. "Primary targets are chunin, correct?"
"Yes."
Night fell.
Aburame shinobi fanned out.
A lone figure stepped from the dark.