Traitor

The after-dinner chat was always so brief. It finally ended when Sasuke Uchiha grew tired and wanted to go to sleep.

Mikoto Uchiha was taking care of the housework while Fugaku Uchiha stared at Uchiha Izuna. Izuna looked back at Fugaku, and neither of them said a word.

In the end, Fugaku had no choice but to speak. "Izuna, let's talk in the study."

Izuna nodded, then stood and headed for the study.

Fugaku took out his key and unlocked the study door. The two of them went inside, and Fugaku locked the door behind them.

Finally, he took the seat of honor and looked at Izuna, who was standing before him. "Sit down."

Izuna didn't stand on ceremony. He pulled over a stool and sat across from Fugaku.

"What do you think about the coup d'état?" Fugaku got straight to the point.

"We just do it," Izuna said with a grin.

Fugaku's face darkened. "Do it? How? What's the plan? Who's going to do it?"

"Without a detailed plan, staging a coup is just wishful thinking."

"After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen may be timid toward outsiders, but he's ruthless with his own people. His political skills are far beyond ours!"

Thinking Izuna didn't understand, Fugaku began explaining the measures Third Sarutobi Hiruzen had taken during his time in office.

This time, Izuna sat up straight. Knowing yourself and your enemy ensured victory in every battle. He could dismiss what Fugaku had said earlier, but now he had to listen carefully.

Some time later

Izuna spoke up. "You're saying the Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado families are growing more powerful, and the Sarutobi Clan even has a force of three thousand shinobi?"

Fugaku nodded. "Everyone knows about it. The Hyuga have no objections; instead, they've shut themselves away."

"Hiashi Hyuga himself hasn't attended a Hokage meeting in person for a year. Every time, he either claims to be ill or goes into seclusion, sending an elder in his place."

"It must be because of Hizashi Hyuga," Izuna said calmly.

Fugaku looked at Izuna in surprise. Back then, only the heads and elders of the various clans knew about that matter. No one else had any idea.

It was only because Sarutobi Hiruzen had ordered the matter suppressed that things had turned out that way. The heads and elders of the various clans all had to consider the Hokage's prestige, to some extent.

So no one should have been talking about it. The fact that Izuna knew was rather interesting.

"That's right. Though Sarutobi Hiruzen did his utmost to keep what happened back then under wraps, his actions earned the contempt of most clans. They just didn't dare say anything," Fugaku said with a shake of his head.

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

"Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi haven't shown their faces in a long time. Like the Hyuga, they've taken up a quiet, reclusive life."

"Nowadays, the only clan that remains active in the eyes of the other clans is ours, the Uchiha Clan," Fugaku answered honestly.

Izuna nodded. "That explains it. I was wondering why the village was so hostile toward us! It turns out Konoha's rotten to the core!"

"The other clans have completely lost faith in Sarutobi Hiruzen, but they've shut themselves away to avoid suspicion, giving up the initiative. Meanwhile, our Uchiha Clan Head keeps attending the meetings."

"Doesn't that make it look like you're trying to become Hokage?"

"Given Sarutobi Hiruzen's obsession with power and Shimura Danzō's hunger for the Hokage Position, do you think they wouldn't join forces to take you down?"

"I'm curious. When all the clans withdrew back then, did no one come to warn you? Are you really that clueless, or are you pretending?" Izuna looked exasperated.

Fugaku suddenly remembered that a year ago, Hiashi Hyuga had invited him to visit the Hyuga Clan Compound.

But because of the Uchiha Clan's pride, and his belief that two clans with eye-based kekkei genkai couldn't coexist, he had politely declined.

He scratched his head. "I think someone did. The clan that invited me was the Hyuga."

Izuna stood up. "What the hell? Why didn't you tell me about something this important?"

Fugaku replied, "I wanted to avoid suspicion and keep the Hokage from thinking the Uchiha had ulterior motives!"

"Damn it, even the Hyuga weren't worried, so what were you worried about? What, are you that afraid of the Third?"

"Besides, the Third's been in decline. He's not the spirited Shinobi Hero he was during the Second Shinobi World War! You're in your prime, and you—" Izuna pointed at Fugaku, looking utterly disappointed in him.

"Did someone advise you not to go?" Izuna suddenly wondered.

Fugaku nodded. "I think there was someone. Uchiha Katsumi, I think his name was."

"Uchiha Katsumi? Did he come to the clan meeting today?" Izuna's expression turned grave.

"No. I think he was assigned to guard the gate." Fugaku's expression grew serious.

Izuna went pale. "You old geezer, don't do anything rash for now. I have something to take care of." With that, he appeared by the study door and kicked it open.

The study door exploded into splinters.

Hearing the noise, Mikoto put down her housework and hurried over to ask what had happened. But she saw a dark figure rush out, too quickly for her to make out who it was.

Fugaku came to his senses too. He had wanted to go after Izuna, but remembered Izuna's warning not to act rashly, so he sat back down. His expression remained grave.

"System, can you find Uchiha Katsumi?" Izuna was in a hurry. He was ninety percent sure that the man was a Konoha spy.

"Ding. Yes. He's heading to Naka Shrine, where a Root contact is waiting." The System replied without hesitation.

Izuna nodded and picked up speed. At the same time, he reflected that he couldn't underestimate anyone. The most dangerous place was the safest place.

They had chosen the Uchiha Clan's Naka Shrine as their meeting place. The Uchiha only sent people to clean and make offerings there during important festivals.

No one stayed there on ordinary days. Since it was a symbol of the Uchiha Clan, surely no one would be foolish enough to cause trouble there.

Outside Naka Shrine

Uchiha Katsumi entered the woods with a Python Mask covering his face. He then pulled out a flute and began to play.

Soon, a dog barked. But if you listened closely, you could tell it was someone imitating a dog.

Uchiha Katsumi breathed a sigh of relief and slowly emerged from the woods.

Two men stood at the entrance to Naka Shrine. Their expressions were blank, like masks. One of them spoke. "Viper, the meeting records." He held out his hand to Uchiha Katsumi.

Uchiha Katsumi reached for his waist and took out a scroll. Just as he was about to hand it over, he began, "The Uchiha Clan..."