By the time they returned to Uchiha Izumi's home, it was already late at night.
Sleepy-eyed, Uchiha Izumi helped Chiya out of his Anbu uniform and warmed up a meal for him.
"Izumi, how are the soldier pills I asked you to prepare coming along?" Chiya picked up his bowl and chopsticks and shoveled in a mouthful of rice.
"They're ready. There's enough for several months." Uchiha Izumi stood and took the soldier pills she had prepared from the cabinet.
Chiya casually put the soldier pills into the System Inventory, closed his eyes, and released his sensory abilities. After confirming there were no Anbu watching nearby, he said solemnly, "Izumi, I'm sure you've noticed that something's been off within the Uchiha Clan these past few days."
Uchiha Izumi nodded. Though she hadn't taken part in the Uchiha Clan's coup, the strange atmosphere within the clan was impossible to miss.
Chiya continued, "The day after tomorrow, during the festival, the Uchiha Clan will launch a coup. The Konoha High Command has already caught wind of it. Danzo gave me a mission: to kill every Uchiha tomorrow night. The Third Hokage has approved it, too."
"How could this happen?" Uchiha Izumi's eyes went blank. She covered her lips in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to do that." Chiya gently stroked Uchiha Izumi's forehead. "I'll take you out of Konoha tomorrow."
"But then you'll become a rogue ninja. And if you take me with you..." Uchiha Izumi's eyes reddened, and tears began streaming down her cheeks.
"Relax. I'm strong, remember? Get some sleep early tonight. When you wake up, everything will be settled." Chiya comforted her.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Chiya put the still-sleeping Uchiha Izumi into a state of unconsciousness with a pressure-point strike and stored her in the System Inventory.
[ Ding! A special bloodline and Sharingan have been detected in the System Inventory. Would the host like to extract them? ]
"Extract your sister."
Chiya cursed under his breath, set up Kyoka Suigetsu, and summoned a crow. He transformed it into Izumi's likeness and sent it out of the courtyard.
He didn't hurry to find Obito.
Instead, he walked to the main street.
After buying a few daily necessities, he secretly went to watch Yuhi Kurenai instruct Aili, Pang Ci, and the others in their training. He also checked on little Hinata, who was diligently practicing Gentle Fist, and Naruto, who was chasing Sasuke around and competing for his attention.
Finally, on a rooftop near the Ninja Academy, he came across Uchiha Itachi, who was also watching Sasuke.
"Why not say goodbye to Sasuke? After tonight, you two brothers will be enemies." Chiya appeared on the highest point of the rooftop behind Itachi.
Itachi glanced at Chiya, his expression unreadable.
Then he recalled that Chiya and Uchiha Izumi were also targets of his mission, and that Chiya knew Sasuke was his weakness. Chiya would be joining him in slaughtering the Uchiha that night. His expression immediately turned cold.
He looked at Chiya as if he were already dead.
"Meet me at the entrance to the Uchiha Clan Compound at seven tonight. Don't be late." After leaving him with those words, Uchiha Itachi disappeared from Chiya's sight.
He knew this was Danzo's scheme.
Either Danzo meant to use him to get rid of Chiya, or he meant to use Chiya to get rid of him.
But if he didn't kill Chiya, and Chiya found out that Uchiha Izumi had died at his hands, he would surely find a way to target Sasuke.
He would never leave Sasuke with a threat hanging over him.
So Chiya had to die.
Chiya's lips curled into a faint smile. He released Kyoka Suigetsu, then followed after him.
He knew that after leaving Danzo's residence the previous night, Itachi had gone to meet Obito.
Now he was going to meet Obito and finalize the details of the clan's destruction that night.
Chiya tracked Uchiha Itachi's chakra, tailing him all the way to the wooded area behind the Uchiha Clan Compound.
"Tonight, I'll work with Fujiwara Chiya to wipe out everyone in the Uchiha residential district. I'm counting on you to handle the Konoha Military Police Force," Uchiha Itachi said to Obito.
"All right. As agreed, I'll help you." Obito folded his arms and spoke calmly. "But that kid, Fujiwara Chiya, is no simple opponent. Like you, he's noticed my presence, but he hasn't reported me to the Konoha High Command. You'd better be careful."
"I understand. Then we'll do it as planned." Uchiha Itachi paused, his brows furrowing, and replied abruptly. He turned to leave, but then Uchiha Obito said, "I'm helping you destroy the Uchiha Clan not only for revenge, but for another purpose as well. Just pretend you didn't see anything."
"You're telling me not to use my Sharingan to record what you do?" Uchiha Itachi turned back.
"Exactly. It's proof that I'm letting your younger brother live. I have no use for a child without a Sharingan," Obito said flatly.
"You don't need to worry about that." Uchiha Itachi turned away, his back to Obito. "At this point, I have no choice but to trust you."
"If you're left with nowhere else to turn, you can join my organization." Uchiha Obito extended an invitation to Itachi.
"Your organization?" A trace of surprise crossed Uchiha Itachi's eyes.
"It's called Akatsuki," Obito replied.
"I understand." Uchiha Itachi gave a slight nod and disappeared into the woods.
As he watched Itachi vanish into the distance, Chiya, concealed in the shadows, deliberately gave himself away by snapping a branch.
Obito heard the sound and suddenly stiffened. He turned toward a tree several dozen meters away. "Which rat is hiding over there? Get out here!"
Chiya slowly emerged from behind the tree, speaking in an exaggerated tone. "Well, well. You found me? I should've expected no less from the legendary Uchiha Madara."
"You found me, evaded the Mangekyo Sharingan's detection, and followed us all the way here without Itachi noticing. I have to admit, you've got some skill." Obito folded his arms, adopting the lofty air of a man in power. He didn't seem in any hurry to attack. "Tell me, what do you want?"
"It's simple. I'm interested in that organization you mentioned—the one called Akatsuki." Chiya spoke calmly.
"Why should I let you in?" Obito narrowed his eyes, his voice full of disdain.
He hadn't even activated his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Everyone eligible to join Akatsuki was a notorious S-rank rogue ninja. They either had a Kekkei Genkai, some special ability, or years of fame in the Shinobi World.
They were powerful—nearly every one of them was the equal of a Kage.
Even Uchiha Itachi had been allowed to join only because Obito valued his Mangekyo Sharingan.
What did Chiya have?
Those second-rate genjutsu Yuhi Kurenai had taught him?
"Why not find out?" Chiya still wore a smile as he drew the sword at his waist, Kyoka Suigetsu. In a voice only he could hear, he whispered, "Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu."
"If you're asking to die, I'll grant your wish. You were going to die sooner or later anyway, and killing you now won't affect my plans. Boy, today I'll show you the true power of the Uchiha Clan's eyes."
Obito's right eye narrowed beneath his mask. When it opened again, it had turned bloodred, revealing a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
A powerful surge of chakra erupted and swept toward Chiya.
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