Sharpening Blades

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

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

A perfectly ordinary piece of information, right?

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

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

1. Two drunks who had spent every day drinking themselves senseless in earlier reports were preparing to pick up their martial training again. What pressure had they felt?

2. The Konoha Public Training Ground had always been far inferior to the training grounds within the ninja clans in terms of facilities and environment. Their going there could only mean the Uchiha Clan's internal training grounds were already packed to capacity.

They sharpened their blades, all for one desperate gamble.

There was actually plenty more corroborating information. For example, the Konoha Military Police Force had suddenly changed shifts early tonight. For example, Konoha Hospital had suddenly admitted several more Uchiha patients. Before Ning Qi, who had already anticipated that the Uchiha Clan would certainly decide to rebel soon, every extra "suddenly" in those reports allowed him to work backward from the outcome and deduce when the rebellion would begin.

The Uchiha clansmen were hardly fools. Of course they knew that plotting a major undertaking could not reveal anything unusual. But likewise, if the emotional Uchiha Clan had truly been able to restrain their surging feelings, they would never have reached this point.

These tiny clues leaking out through their daily lives were clearly not considered anomalies by them. Or rather, they had not realized that Konoha's surveillance of them had reached such a frenzied extent.

Firefly was still mechanically transporting the 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 isn't 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 walked straight out.

"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 act like money doesn't matter..." Firefly sighed. She looked around, and seeing no one else there, used the Clone Technique. She then had the clone use the Transformation Technique to turn into Ning Qi, sit in his former seat, pick up a report, and pretend to work.

Ning Qi had no intention of telling Danzo the conclusions he had compiled. With that Uchiha traitor Itachi among them, whatever the Uchiha Clan planned was practically laid bare before 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. This guard post had been established after branch family members began getting killed frequently, serving mainly the psychological purpose of making the Hyuga compound appear more imposing and solemn.

"Yes. He asked when our Hyuga clan meeting would be held."

Just as expected, the Uchiha Clan could not possibly refuse such an obvious piece of bait.

The clan meeting 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 exclaimed as he looked at the delicious dishes covering the table. "Is today some kind of holiday?"

He could tell that Ning Qi seemed somewhat excited tonight, which did not fit his brother's normally composed image. Had something good happened?

Neji watched him secretly.

That made sense.

His brother was already at that age, handsome, and strong. He was about to be nominated as a Jonin, with a boundless future ahead of him. His parents were both dead, and more importantly, he had such an outstanding younger brother. What girl wouldn't be interested in him?

Smack!

Ning Qi struck Neji on the head with his chopsticks.

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

"There's something wrong with your eyes." Ning Qi did not need a legitimate 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 feast before her. She was only saddened that Ning Qi would be leaving for a long time again, and she looked at him wistfully.

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

Neji snickered, taking it as his brother placating a child with an endlessly distant "next time."

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

The second young lady of the main family really was just a tiny bit more gifted than him.

"Got it!" Hanabi shouted.

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

He recalled his dispute 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 devoured 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 district. Lights shone brightly in the darkness, like sparks igniting dry grass, about to spread across all of Konohagakure.

At Root Headquarters, Danzo looked at Itachi Uchiha before him with a fierce smile.

"Everything you said is true?"

"The information is accurate. The Uchiha will launch their rebellion four days from now, at the same time the Hyuga clan holds its clan meeting," Itachi said calmly.

"They chose their timing rather well." Danzo gave a simple assessment. The Hyuga clan's Byakugan truly posed a major threat to any surprise attack.

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

For his own son to leak the news, no matter how well he chose the timing, it was merely a futile effort to lead his clansmen to their deaths. What brains could such a Uchiha Clan head possibly have?

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

Danzo narrowed his eyes. The Itachi before him reminded him of Ning Qi, the other of Konoha's Twin Prodigies. That fellow had clearly been assigned the important responsibility of monitoring the Uchiha under Danzo's command, yet now that the Uchiha had already decided to rebel, not a single word of intelligence had come from him. His reactions were truly far too slow. He was not even as useful as this Uchiha traitor.

What trash.

"So, this transaction has only one condition." Danzo turned around, his cane striking 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."

"Fine." Itachi lowered his entire head into the darkness.