Traitor

The post-meal small talk was always fleeting, ending only when Sasuke Uchiha grew tired and wanted to sleep.

Mikoto Uchiha busied herself with chores, while Uchiha Fugaku stared at Uchiha Izuna, who returned the gaze; neither spoke a word.

Finally, out of options, Uchiha Fugaku broke the silence: "Zhan, let's go to the study and talk."

Uchiha Izuna nodded, stood up immediately, and headed toward the study.

Uchiha Fugaku pulled out a key, unlocked the study door, and after they both stepped inside, he locked it behind them.

He sat in the main chair and looked at Uchiha Izuna, who was standing on the floor. "Sit."

Uchiha Izuna didn't stand on ceremony; he pulled up a stool and sat opposite Uchiha Fugaku.

"What are your thoughts on the coup?" Fugaku skipped the pleasantries and chose to lay his cards on the table.

"Just do it," Uchiha Izuna said with a smile.

Uchiha Fugaku's forehead creased with dark lines. "Do it? How? In what way? Who is going to do it?"

"To attempt a coup without a detailed plan is nothing but a pipe dream."

"After all, that guy Sarutobi Hiruzen is submissive to outsiders but strikes with an iron fist internally. His political maneuvering is far above ours!"

Thinking Uchiha Izuna was uninformed, Uchiha Fugaku began to recount the actions of the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen during his tenure.

Uchiha Izuna sat up straight this time; after all, knowing oneself and the enemy is the key to victory. He could have dismissed Uchiha Fugaku's previous words as hot air, but now he had to listen carefully.

A long while later.

Uchiha Izuna spoke up: "Are you saying the influence of the Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado clans is growing, and that the Sarutobi clan even possesses a three-thousand-strong ninja legion?"

Uchiha Fugaku nodded: "This is common knowledge. The Hyuga have no objections to this; instead, they've closed their doors and stopped coming out."

"Hyuga Hiashi himself didn't even attend the Hokage meeting a year ago. Every time, he either claims illness or seclusion, sending his elders to attend instead."

"That must be because of Hizashi Hyuga," Uchiha Izuna said indifferently.

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Izuna in surprise. Back then, aside from the heads and elders of each clan, no one else knew about that incident.

It was the result of Sarutobi Hiruzen ordering the matter to be suppressed, and every clan head and elder had to consider the prestige of the Hokage to some extent.

Therefore, no one should have been talking about it. The fact that Uchiha Izuna knew was quite interesting.

"That's right. Although Sarutobi Hiruzen suppressed it with all his might, his actions were despised by most clans, though they dared to be angry but dared not speak," Uchiha Fugaku shook his head.

"What about the Ino-Shika-Cho? I recall those three were the first to support Sarutobi Hiruzen," Uchiha Izuna asked.

"Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi haven't shown their faces for a long time. Like the Hyuga, they have begun a life of reclusive leisure."

"Nowadays, the only ones active in the eyes of the various clans are our Uchiha clan," Uchiha Fugaku answered truthfully.

Uchiha Izuna nodded: "That makes sense. I was wondering why the village had such hostility toward us! It turns out Konoha is rotten to the core!"

"The various clans are deeply disappointed in Sarutobi Hiruzen, but to avoid suspicion, they've closed their doors. They've ceded the initiative, while our Uchiha clan head has kept attending meetings."

"Doesn't that give people the impression that you're trying to vie for the Hokage position?"

"Given Sarutobi Hiruzen's obsession with power and Shimura Danzō's desire for the seat, do you think those two won't join forces to target you?"

"I'm curious, did no one come to notify you when the other clans retreated? Are you truly dense, or just pretending?" Uchiha Izuna felt a bit speechless.

Uchiha Fugaku suddenly recalled that a year ago, Hyuga Hiashi had invited him to the Hyuga compound for a talk.

But due to the pride of the Uchiha clan and the excuse that two bloodline-limit clans specializing in ocular techniques could not coexist, he had politely declined.

He scratched his head: "It seems there was an invitation, and the clan that invited me was the Hyuga."

Uchiha Izuna stood up: "Damn it, such a huge matter, why didn't you say anything?"

Uchiha Fugaku: "I was trying to avoid suspicion at the time, to prevent the Hokage from suspecting that we Uchiha had ill intentions!"

"Damn it, the Hyuga aren't worried, what are you worried about? What, are you that afraid of the old Third?"

"Besides, the Third Hokage is on the decline. He is no longer the spirited 'Shinobi Hero' of the Second War! You are in your prime, you..." Uchiha Izuna pointed at Uchiha Fugaku, looking at him with a sense of frustration that he wouldn't live up to his potential.

"Was there someone who advised you not to go?" Uchiha Izuna suddenly thought of something.

Uchiha Fugaku nodded: "It seems there was one, a man named Uchiha Katsumi."

"Uchiha Katsumi? Did he come to the clan meeting today?" Uchiha Izuna looked grave.

"No, he seems to be on gate-guard duty," Uchiha Fugaku's expression turned solemn.

Uchiha Izuna's face went pale: "Old man, don't make any rash moves. I have some things to handle." Having said that, he arrived at the study door in a flash and kicked it open.

The study door shattered instantly.

Upon hearing the noise, Mikoto Uchiha put down her chores and immediately stepped forward to ask what happened, only to see a black shadow rush out; she couldn't even make out the figure.

Uchiha Fugaku also snapped back to reality. He had intended to follow, but remembering Uchiha Izuna's warning not to act rashly, he sat back down, though his expression remained heavy.

"System, can you track Uchiha Katsumi's location?" Uchiha Izuna was anxious. He was 90% sure this guy was a mole for Konoha.

"Ding. Affirmative. This person is heading toward Naka Shrine; there is a Root contact there," the system responded crisply.

Uchiha Izuna nodded and picked up his pace, sighing inwardly that one truly cannot underestimate anyone—the most dangerous place is often the safest.

They had chosen the Uchiha clan's Naka Shrine as their meeting point; the Uchiha only sent people to clean and hold rituals there during major festivals.

Usually, no one lingers here, as this place bears the mark of the Uchiha clan, and surely no fool would come here to stir up trouble.

Outside Naka Shrine

Uchiha Katsumi arrived in the woods, wearing a Python Mask on his face, and immediately pulled out a flute to begin playing.

Soon, the sound of barking dogs drifted over, though a careful listen revealed it to be a human imitation.

Uchiha Katsumi let out a sigh of relief and slowly stepped out from the woods.

Two men stood at the entrance of Naka Shrine, their expressions indifferent, like stone faces. One of them spoke, "Viper, the meeting minutes for today." He reached out a hand toward Uchiha Katsumi.

Uchiha Katsumi reached toward his waist, pulled out a scroll, and just as he prepared to hand it over, he began, "The Uchiha clan..."