Sharpening the Blade

Ning Qi learned from the compiled surveillance reports on the Uchiha Clan that they had finally decided to launch a rebellion.

"At 19:20, Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Tetsu equipped themselves with ninja tools and headed together to the Konoha Public Training Ground."

That seemed like a perfectly ordinary piece of information, didn't it?

What could two Uchiha ninja going to a public training ground possibly prove?

Yes, it was very ordinary. But compared against previous records and subjected to cross-analysis, it revealed quite a lot:

1. Two drunks who had spent every day buying themselves into a stupor in previous reports were preparing to pick up their martial skills again. What pressure had they felt?

2. The Konoha Public Training Ground had always been far inferior to the training grounds inside ninja clans in both facilities and environment. The only reason they would go to a public training ground was that the Uchiha's internal training grounds were already packed to capacity.

They were sharpening their blades, all for one desperate gamble.

There was plenty of corroborating evidence as well. For instance, the Konoha Military Police Force had suddenly changed shifts early tonight. Konoha Hospital had suddenly received several more Uchiha patients. Before Ning Qi, who had already anticipated that the Uchiha Clan would inevitably decide to rebel soon, every additional "suddenly" in these reports allowed him to work backward from the known outcome and deduce when the rebellion would begin.

The Uchiha clansmen were by no means stupid. Of course they knew that plotting something so significant could not reveal anything unusual. But likewise, if the emotionally intense Uchiha Clan could truly restrain their fervent emotions, they would never have reached this point in the first place.

These tiny clues leaked through their everyday lives clearly were not regarded by them as abnormalities. Or rather, they had never realized that Konoha's surveillance of them had reached such a deranged extent.

Firefly was still mechanically transporting reports recorded by team members from various locations. When she saw Ning Qi suddenly stop moving at his desk, she glanced at the clock.

"It's not time to change shifts yet."

"It's already over."

"What?"

"Oh... it won't be long anyway. I have something to do today, so I'm getting off early." With that, Ning Qi left without another word.

"Captain, if they catch you leaving early, they'll dock your pay?!" Firefly shouted. Ning Qi merely raised a hand high behind his back in response.

"Don't treat money like it means nothing..." Firefly sighed. She looked around, and seeing no one else there, immediately used the Clone Technique. She then had her clone use the Transformation Technique to become Ning Qi, sit in his former spot, pick up a report, and pretend to work.

Ning Qi had no intention of telling Danzo the conclusion he had compiled. With that Uchiha traitor Itachi among them, whatever the Uchiha Clan wanted to do was practically an open book to Konoha's upper ranks. There was no need for him to show off.

At the entrance to the Hyuga Branch Family Compound.

"Have any Uchiha Clan members come by recently?" Ning Qi asked the genin inside the guard booth. These guards had been installed after branch family members began getting killed frequently, serving mainly to make the Hyuga compound appear more imposing and solemn.

"Yes. They asked when our Hyuga Clan's clan assembly would be held."

As expected, there was no way the Uchiha Clan would refuse such an obvious piece of bait.

The clan assembly would be held four days later, and the Uchiha Clan's rebellion would also take place four days later. According to the original story, Itachi would launch the night of the clan massacre on the eve of the rebellion—three days from now.

At this point, all the information formed a complete loop.

After returning home, Ning Qi cooked for the two children.

"What a feast," Neji remarked as he looked at the table full of delicious dishes. "Is today some kind of holiday?"

He could tell that Ning Qi seemed rather excited tonight, which did not quite match his brother's usual composed image. Had something good happened?

Neji secretly observed him.

That made sense.

His brother was already this old, handsome, and strong. He was about to be nominated for jonin, had limitless prospects, and was orphaned. More importantly, he had such an outstanding younger brother. What girl wouldn't be moved?

Smack!

Ning Qi struck Neji on the head with a chopstick.

"What was that for?!" Neji protested indignantly.

"That look in your eyes was wrong." Ning Qi did not need a proper reason to hit his younger brother.

After setting down the last dish, Ning Qi explained, "This is enough for three days."

So that was it. Neji suddenly understood. "So you're going on another mission, right?"

Hanabi was not drawn in by the lavish meal before her. She was only saddened that Ning Qi would be leaving for a long time again, and she gazed at him pitifully.

"I'll take you with me next time," Ning Qi said casually.

Neji snickered, taking it as his brother placating a child with a "next time" that would never come.

"You can only follow him once you've become stronger, understand?" Neji advised Hanabi. He had taken leave from the Ninja Academy these past few days and stayed home to teach Hanabi the Gentle Fist, and he had gradually been astonished by the talent she displayed.

This second young lady of the main family really was just a tiny bit more talented than he was.

"Got it!" Hanabi declared loudly.

At the Hokage Tower, the Third Hokage looked at the message Itachi had delivered, his expression somewhat complicated.

He recalled the argument he had had with Danzo and the others earlier that day.

How long had it even been?

Looking back, his insistence seemed like a joke. Ambition and hatred had ultimately consumed the entire Uchiha Clan. The restraint he had hoped for had never come to pass. This clan had still betrayed his trust and taken that final step.

His pipe flared with fire as the Third Hokage stood by the window and looked into the distance, toward the Uchiha Clan's compound. Lights gleamed brightly in the darkness, like sparks set upon dry grass, about to spread through the entire Konoha ninja village.

At Root Headquarters, Danzo stared at Uchiha Itachi before him, his smile fierce and grim.

"Is everything you said true?"

"The intelligence is accurate. The Uchiha will launch their rebellion four days from now, while the Hyuga Clan is holding its clan assembly," Itachi said calmly.

"They chose their timing rather well," Danzo commented simply. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan was indeed a major threat to any surprise attack.

He glanced at Itachi. "It's just a pity that Fugaku ultimately has no brains at all."

If his own son could leak the information, then no matter how well he chose the timing, it was merely a futile effort to lead his clansmen to their deaths. What intelligence could this Uchiha Clan head possibly have?

Itachi said nothing, merely lowering his head slightly. The light cast by the wall lamp fell over his face, revealing only half of his cold expression.

Danzo narrowed his eyes. The Itachi before him reminded him of Ning Qi, the other one hailed alongside Itachi as one of Konoha's twin prodigies. That fellow was clearly under his command and responsible for monitoring the Uchiha, yet the Uchiha had already decided to rebel and not a single piece of information had come from him. His response was truly far too slow; he was not even as useful as this Uchiha traitor.

What useless trash.

"So, this transaction has only one condition." Danzo turned around, his cane tapping against the floor. "As long as you can eliminate the Uchiha and remove this hidden danger for Konoha, I promise to spare your younger brother, Sasuke."

"All right." Itachi lowered his entire head into the darkness.