Kakashi stood beside Aburame Shibi.
"Once anything is spotted elsewhere, it gets relayed to you, right?"
"Correct."
"Good."
He glanced out into the night. The rumors had weighed on Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Hiruzen's pressure had rolled downhill to him. There was no point blaming Iruka now. Only one way would kill the rumor: catch the culprit.
"Whoever you are, tonight you slip."
Mizuki flickered into view at a door.
Not a chunin.
A special jonin.
Chunin no longer satisfied him.
A tiny beetle raised its head and saw Mizuki, then dipped away again after noting his target. The killer hunted chunin. This house belonged to a special jonin.
"Oh, Mizuki."
Nagayama Tadao blinked when he saw him. They were not close.
"Something kept me late at the Academy," Mizuki said. "I have to stay in the village tonight. My place is off by itself, and I live alone."
"With this Chunin Killer rumor, I got spooked. I was hoping to trouble you, Nagayama Tadao-senpai."
Nagayama Tadao nodded.
"Come in. I heard about Aoki. You and Iruka must be taking on more."
"This Chunin Killer, whoever he is, Lord Hokage will find him soon. Then we can all stop jumping at shadows."
Mizuki shook his head.
"You flatter me, senpai. The killer only goes after us chunin. You are a special jonin. He would not dare."
The praise pleased Nagayama Tadao; his eyes creased with a smile.
"No, I am worried too."
"Come, rest here tonight," he said, leading Mizuki to the sitting room. "If you do not mind the spare futon, I will fetch a blanket."
"Thank you, senpai."
The moment Nagayama Tadao turned, Mizuki's face went cold, then smoothed over again.
"Senpai, I still remember our classes together," he said lightly. "You outshone the rest of us back then."
"The teachers rated you far above us."
"Looks like they were right."
"Iruka and I might be chunin forever."
"You became a special jonin years ago."
Mizuki, Iruka, and Nagayama Tadao had all been in the same year. Mizuki still used senpai because Nagayama Tadao was older, and because special outranked chunin.
Nagayama Tadao waved it off.
"Luck, that is all."
"You and Iruka are doing well. Academy instructors have it good. I am envious. Steady work, no danger."
He paused, then shifted tone.
"But that is for me. I prefer a challenge. Put me in a classroom and I would not last. Missions suit me better."
Annoyance flashed in Mizuki's eyes. The words felt like flaunting.
"Of course, a special jonin would look down on a lowly Academy teacher."
Nagayama Tadao frowned at the bite in his tone and began to turn.
SPLUTCH!
A spike of pain tore his back. His pupils shrank. He tried to shout.
Mizuki's other hand clamped his mouth shut, and with the blade he had lodged in Nagayama Tadao's back, he drew across the man's throat.
"Hrrk... hrrk..."
No human sound came out.
"Heh. Special jonin. How impressive."
"What gives you the right to look down on me?"
"Was I weak?"
"That was then."
"Now I am stronger than all of you."
Blood-scent filled Mizuki's nose. His eyes reddened, and the urge inside broke its leash.
CRUNCH!
He bit down.
Nagayama Tadao's eyes flew wide.
You are the Chunin Killer.
And he understood why the corpses were never found.
Mizuki ate them.
Nagayama Tadao's body spasmed, powerless to stop him. Wet chewing sounds threaded the dark.
By midnight, Kakashi glanced at Shibi, frowning.
"Nothing yet?"
Doubt slid in. Had the plan leaked? Few knew. He could not help wondering about the Aburame.
Suddenly, a scream ripped the night.
Kakashi snapped toward it.