Chapter 177: Chapter 176 – The Thief’s Identity

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Despite his excitement, Daichi noticed his sensei's somewhat tense posture. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Kakashi looked at his student and let out a deep breath. "What we have isn't solid proof. And our mission was to find the location of our client's heirloom. Instead we might have solved one of the biggest cases of the decade. But more than that, if we're right about who's behind this, then this mission could have great implications."

Daichi's eyes narrowed as he heard that.

"The value of everything the Phantom Thief stole over the years is over half a billion. And that's a low estimate. Since none of the items that were stolen were found anywhere, it's assumed that it's all kept in one location. The 5 Kages put certain conditions in place when they shared the information in the first place. If we're right and we unearth this treasure…" The Jonin just sighed and fell silent.

Daichi understood what his sensei was getting at. "Let's just confirm our theory before anything else. Right now that's all we have. A theory…"

Kakashi nodded and both of them sealed all the documents back into the scroll. To continue their investigation they had to leave the Fire Capital and the two ninjas informed their departure to their client.

Within a couple hours Kakashi and Daichi were on the move with the Jonin leading the way. A few hours later they were in front of a modest looking mansion.

"This is the place." Kakashi said to Daichi. He spoke to the guards outside and a few minutes later Kakashi and his student were let in.

Daichi looked at everyone working in the mansion and used 'observe'. None of them was the Phantom Thief.

A few moments later a man in his mid thirties approached them with a smile. Daichi looked at him and immediately knew he was the Lord of this land. 'This guy is too young. There's no way he could be the thief.' Just to make sure, he used Observe on him but didn't see anything useful.

"Welcome Leaf ninja to my home. I'm Hirohito Inagi. What can I do for you two?" The young lord spoke.

The silver haired Jonin stepped forward and introduced himself. "My name is Kakashi Hatake. I don't know if you remember but 7 years ago your father hired me for an escort mission."

In a few moments Hirohito recalled the incident and smiled. He quickly recognized the man in front of him. "Ahh yes. I remember. My father was very impressed with your work. What can I do for you?"

"Can I speak to your father? It's important." Kakashi came to the same conclusion as Daichi. He knew the man in front of him was too young to be the culprit.

The smile on the Lord's face dimmed. "My father passed away from a stroke 5 months ago."

At that Kakashi turned a bit more serious and looked at the Lord. "I see. Can we speak in private? There is a matter of grave importance that we need to discuss with you?"

Seeing the serious demeanor of the Jonin, the smile on Hirohito's face vanished. He looked at the two ninjas and a second later dismissed his guards and took them to his personal office. He locked the door and looked at the two. "No one will disturb us. Speak."

"The Eternal Crane. That's your house sigil isn't it?"

Hirohito raised an eyebrow at that question. He was silent for a couple seconds but then answered. "It was. But that seal was replaced during my grandfather's time. But my father still had an attachment to it. What's this about?"

"I assume you've heard of The Phantom Thief?"

The young lord slightly laughed at that name. "Ahh yes. The ghost who can appear anywhere and disappear with your riches… Last anyone has heard of him was over a decade ago I believe… What does an infamous thief have to do with my old Family Seal?"

At that Kakashi took the world map out of scroll with the marked the locations where the Phantom Thief struck. "These are all the locations the Thief has struck during his time." The Jonin then took Daichi's drawing and showed it to the man. "If we connect all the dots on the map the Kanji Eternal appears. But it has a unique design. The same design as the Kanji on your previous house emblem. And the fact that the thief leaves a Red Crane as his calling card. Can you explain that?"

Hirohito was stunned as he heard the accusations. He looked at the map and then to the drawing.

Daichi was paying close attention to the man's body language and chakra. 'Heartbeat elevated. Body temperature has risen and increased breathing. He's not faking it. This guy is definitely shocked. Either we have the wrong person and this is all just a coincidence or even he didn't know about his father's double life.'

After a few moments of silence the man's face turned from shocked to anger. He looked at the two ninjas furious, and spoke. "I can't explain it because this is some random coincidence. You don't have any proof that my father is this Phantom do you? I won't have you slander my father's name. Please leave my house."

[Reputation decreased with Hirohito Inagi]

Kakashi knew that since the man was a somewhat wealthy Lord and with connections to the capital it could be troublesome if he employed his more aggressive interrogation tactics. But neither the Leaf Jonin nor his student was going to leave without answers.

"Mr. Hirohito. I'm asking you to cooperate with us. If you don't, things will become much more problematic for you." Kakashi said with a dangerous edge in his tone.

The Lord narrowed his eyes and looked at the ninja in front of him. "Is that a threat?"

Kakashi shook his head. "No. I'm just stating facts. We came across this information when we were looking into the thief. I haven't reported this to the Hokage yet but the moment I do he will inform the Fire Daimyo. And the Fire Daimyo will definitely look into you and he'll be obligated to inform the other Feudal lords."

Daichi was impressed with his sensei. 'Wow. Blackmail and a thinly veiled threat. His dark Anbu side is showing.'

The young Lord's eyes widened as he now began to understand the repercussions. But he was still defiant. "It's still not going to be enough. What you have is just a wild conjuncture. No actual evidence. You can make any kind of symbol with locations marked. If you put baseless accusations forward there will be consequences…"

Kakashi continued to put pressure on the man. "True, there might be. But this kanji is still a unique design. And the thief chose the locations and robbed them in the exact order you would write the Kanji Eternal. You have to admit, that's one hell of a coincidence. Now whether the information we came across is a coincidence or not, your life won't be the same. The Phantom Thief stole from very powerful and dangerous people. If… No, when they find out about this new piece of information, they will no doubt come for you. And I'm sure you know just how cruel some people can be…"

"Stop… Please…" Hirohito was breathing hard. He closed his eyes and the image of his father appeared in his mind. He still couldn't believe what he was hearing but the man slowly started to recall several suspicious and secret outings his father had. 'It can't be… There's no way… But… If it is true. Even if this information is false or just a coincidence, if this gets out my family will be destroyed.'

A few moments later the man composed himself and looked at Kakashi. The Jonin understood what Hirohito was going through. "We need your cooperation on this matter. If you help us then we might be able to keep your family's name out of this."

The Lord just sighed and resigned himself. "What do you need?"

"I know your father kept a journal regarding his travels. I need to take a look at the journal. And I want you to tell us if your father had any properties that he used for any personal business. Right now we need to confirm that your father was indeed the Phantom thief."

Hirohito was puzzled. "But won't that bring more trouble for me and my family?"

"Not necessarily. It's believed that the Phantom kept all his loot in one location. If we can recover the loot and return it and confirm that the Phantom is dead, then there wouldn't be much reason for people to come after you." The silver haired Jonin reasoned.

"And the only way to find the location of the stolen items is if you confirm the identity of the thief!?"

Kakashi nodded in agreement.

"If I help you, will you give me your word that me and my family won't face any wrath from the Daimyo."

Kakashi sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. He then looked at the man and gave the honest answer. "I can't promise you that. I'm sure that you had no idea of the truth about your father. So what I can promise you is this. I will tell Lord Hokage and plead for leniency. If your father is indeed the thief and since the culprit is dead I doubt he would come after you. And I will make sure he will make the case to the Daimyo as well…"

Hirohito just sighed hearing that. 'I suppose given the situation that's the best I'm going to get.' He went to his desk and after looking over a few items, took a brown leather bound book and handed it to the Jonin. "This contains all the trips my father made in and out of Fire country."

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Kakashi and Daichi looked through the dates and about a dozen coincided with the time the thief was present in the area. It was looking more and more like Hirohito's father was the thief.

'But that could also be a coincidence. There were some important functions taking place at these locations during the time of the theft.'

At that moment Hirohito took a small key and showed it to them. "I would sometimes catch my father coming in at odd hours after being gone for a few days. He always had a believable excuse…Now I'm not so sure… This key. It's to one of his private properties a few miles from here. I only found it after he passed away."

"Have you visited the place?" Daichi asked.

"Just once. But I haven't seen anything valuable there…"

"We'll need to take a look at that property."

The young Lord nodded and soon the trio made their way to the location. It was a small home located in a private compound. The young lord opened the gates and soon unlocked the front door.

Kakashi, Daichi and Hirohito stepped inside the dusty home. It was evident that none had been living here for a long time.

"What exactly do you expect to find?" Hirohito asked.

"Something that will help us with our search." Kakashi said as he looked around the place. He then looked at his student.

"Daichi, you remember all the items that were stolen, correct?"

"Yeah!?"

"Good. Search the place and see if you find anything."

Daichi and Kakashi looked around and moved to the living room. As Daichi looked around, something on top of a nearby table caught his eyes. "Um sensei… you might wanna see this."

Kakashi turned to look at his student who was pointing at a music box. A very familiar looking music box. His visible eye slightly widened at the implication. But he needed to be sure.

Kakashi stepped near the table and took the music box. He opened the lid and a lady figurine in a gorgeous kimono rose on a silver circular platform, dancing to a soothing melody.

"What is it?" Hirohito asked.

"During one of the heists a music box was stolen from a merchant's home. One that looks a lot like this." Kakashi replied.

"How can you be sure that this is the same one?"

At the lord's question Kakashi recalled the memory of the man showing his old team the secret of the box.

"The music box that was stolen was specifically designed as a gift for his daughter. The merchant showed my team what was special about it."

With those words Kakashi closed the box and looked underneath it. The bottom of the box was divided into 9 equal parts. He gently pressed them in a certain order and then placed the box back on the table.

A couple seconds later the lid of the box slowly opened on its own and a new song started playing. The melody had a calming effect on anyone who listened and even during this tense situation brought a smile to the three who were present. It played for about 60 seconds and once the song ended a small click was heard. A small hidden compartment at the bottom jutted out of the box. Kakashi pulled the compartment open and took what was inside.

Daichi and Hirohito looked at the object in Kakashi's hand. It was a photo of a happy family. A father, mother and daughter smiling as they looked at the camera. On its back were the words,

'To my dear Moonlight, Happy Birthday. Love papa.'

Kakashi saw the photo and remembered the joy on the man's face as he showed them the special gift. He also remembered the devastated expression the man had when he learned of its theft. To him the music box was more valuable than the Painting that was stolen.

For Daichi the moment he finished reading the words, notifications popped up. 'Its him. We did it. We solved one of the biggest unsolved cases in the world.'

[Quest 'Identify the Legendary Thief' completed.]

[Rewards:]

[3000 Exp.]

[450 Exp.]

[+2 Level for Stealth skill.]

[+2 Wisdom Stat]

[+1 Intelligence.]

[Reputation increases with the client.]

[Reputation massively increases with Kakashi Hatake and Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shigeru and some people in Fire Capital and around the world.]

Just as the boy finished reading the words on the blue boxes a new one popped up.

[3rd Quest]

Daichi's next quest has come.

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