"If Fugaku wants an investigation, then let's investigate. This sort of thing is exactly what the Police Force is good at."
Ichiro flashed Fugaku a calm smile, completely unbothered.
"I'll be participating in the investigation as well."
Fugaku couldn't possibly trust Ichiro's Police Force to conduct the investigation alone. Not only would they fail to uncover the truth, but they'd likely erase it entirely.
"So... you don't trust the Police Force, huh?"
That one sentence stirred discontent among the Police Force officers. Their expressions soured as they turned their displeased gazes toward Fugaku.
"No problem. Let's investigate together. Just don't hold back when we actually catch the killer."
Ichiro's composed and confident demeanor made Fugaku frown. Was he truly that confident that he had left no trace behind?
"Why don't we start the investigation at Captain Ichiro's residence?"
"Fugaku! What are you implying? Are you accusing Lord Ichiro of killing the two elders?" Goro shouted angrily.
"I never said that. Is Captain Ichiro unwilling? Or is he hiding something?"
Fugaku stared at Ichiro, trying to read his face.
Unfortunately, Ichiro remained perfectly calm.
"Fugaku, since you suspect that I'm behind the deaths of the two elders, I'll humor you. You can start the investigation at my house. But if you find nothing, you'll publicly apologize to me in front of the entire Uchiha clan."
"Fine. I agree."
Fugaku accepted without hesitation.
"Fugaku, you're being reckless. Even if Ichiro did kill the elders, do you think he'd be careless enough to leave evidence behind?" Uchiha Rin leaned in and whispered in Fugaku's ear.
"I'll find the proof."
Rin gave up trying to persuade him. He felt Fugaku's judgment was clouded by anger and hatred.
Fugaku soon led his men and the Police Force to Ichiro's residence and began a full-scale search.
At the same time, he also sent people to examine the bodies of the two elders, hoping to extract any remaining clues.
But Ichiro had long since anticipated all this. How could he possibly have left any evidence behind?
"I can't believe Fugaku suspects Lord Ichiro. That's just going too far."
"Lord Ichiro couldn't possibly be behind the elders' deaths. Maybe Fugaku is just pointing fingers to cover for himself."
"That's not necessarily true. What if Ichiro really did do it? Fugaku wouldn't have accused him without a reason."
The clan began to split into two factions. One side backed Ichiro, firmly believing he was innocent. The other supported Fugaku, already convinced that Ichiro was the killer.
Before long, the search was over, and Fugaku stepped out with a grim expression—he hadn't found a single shred of evidence.
Rin had expected this outcome from the start. Fugaku's actions today had been a massive disappointment.
Even if he suspected Ichiro, he shouldn't have made it public. He should have investigated in secret and only made accusations once he had undeniable proof.
Now, by making everything open, he had only alerted the enemy.
"Fugaku, since you found nothing, that means I'm innocent. Shouldn't you apologize to me in front of everyone?"
"Apologize!"
"Apologize to Lord Ichiro!"
"That's right! You dared to falsely accuse our captain. You must apologize!"
Ichiro's supporters shouted in unison, their anger directed at Fugaku. His already darkened face turned green with frustration.
"Don't play dumb, Ichiro. Even if you didn't do it yourself, it was definitely one of your people!"
Fugaku lost control of his temper completely. His pride was in tatters, and he tore off the last pretense of civility.
"So you still doubt me. Fine. Then go ahead and investigate everyone close to me. But if you still find nothing—don't expect me to let this go."
Ichiro's eyes turned cold and sharp, like a predator's.
"Keep searching!"
Fugaku couldn't back down now. He was already in too deep. The only way out was to find solid evidence.
He started with the homes of Goro and Ken, but even after searching the residences of everyone associated with Ichiro, they found nothing.
"Fugaku, you actually think we'd kill our own clansmen? That's heartless. I demand that you kneel before all of us and apologize."
Goro wasn't about to pass up this chance to rub salt in the wound.
"You've gone too far."
Though Rin was disappointed in Fugaku, he still couldn't condone Goro's demand for a public kneeling. He stepped forward to stop things from escalating further.
Ichiro glanced at Rin, then turned to Goro with a command.
"Goro, continue searching. We must uncover the killer."
"Understood. Police Force, follow me!"
Now that Ichiro's people had all been cleared, it was time to turn the spotlight on Fugaku's side.
The search began at Fugaku's home. The Police Force showed no mercy—the current captain was Ichiro, and most of the force was loyal to him.
As for Fugaku's former loyalists, they had already withdrawn from the Police Force once Ichiro became its captain.
"Captain! We found the murder weapon! It matches the wounds on the elders' bodies perfectly!"
A chūnin from the Police Force ran out of Uchiha Daita's house, holding a weapon in hand.
Goro shot a knowing glance at Ichiro. Just yesterday, Ichiro had told them to leave the weapon behind. Now that it had appeared in Daita's home, the meaning was clear—it was all Ichiro's doing.
Framing Uchiha Daita—what a brilliant move.
Daita and Rin had both been trusted aides of the former clan head, Uchiha Gen. Now, with this opportunity, Ichiro could eliminate one of them.
But Goro couldn't help wondering—why didn't Ichiro just frame Fugaku directly?
Unable to figure it out, he dropped the thought. He didn't need reminders from Ichiro to know what came next.
"Uchiha Daita! You dare assassinate two of our clan elders? Arrest him!"
"It wasn't me! I swear I didn't kill them! Someone's framing me!"
Daita was stunned. When the murder weapon was found in his house, he was completely dumbfounded.
Damn it—it had to be Ichiro's doing. They had set him up!
———