Seeing the Bingkui's fearless demeanor, Uchiha Izumi's fingers tightened suddenly, and the three Tomoe spun wildly in her scarlet eyes.
"You..."
She felt a chill creep up her spine, more biting than the frost the other person had created.
How could an outsider know about a coup?
Uchiha's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest, and countless possibilities flashed through his mind.
Is there a traitor within the clan? Has the plan been leaked? Or... is this simply a test by the Konoha High Command?
No, that's impossible.
If they were from the Anbu, they wouldn't use this method...
Bingkui silently observed the changes in Uchiha Izumi's expression, the smile on his lips gradually fading.
"Looks like I was right! Don't worry, I'm not here to threaten you."
Uchiha Izumi's breathing was rapid and unsteady, and her hand holding the Explosive Tag trembled slightly.
She suddenly realized that every word uttered by this strange woman could bring annihilation to the entire Uchiha Clan.
If I kill her now...
The thought had barely crossed my mind when I rejected it.
Since the other party dared to come alone, they must have a backup plan, not to mention...
"What exactly do you want?" Uchiha Izumi stared intently into the Bingkui's eyes and questioned it.
Bingkui took a small step forward and said in a deep voice, "Cooperation! I know why the Uchiha Clan rebelled, and I know why you are destined to fail."
Uchiha Izumi took a half step back, shaking his head repeatedly, saying, "Failure? Impossible! The Uchiha Clan absolutely cannot fail, and must not fail!"
The Uchiha now has no other way to go.
There are two options: either a coup d'état, where he becomes Hokage through sheer power, or annihilation, the extermination of his entire clan. There is no third option.
Because Konoha would absolutely not allow the Uchiha Clan to leave the village and join other ninja villages.
Other ninja villages also dared not accept the Uchiha Clan.
Even the same applies to Sunagakure and Iwagakure, which are also among the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Kumogakure is a possibility, but only a possibility.
The Uchiha Clan wouldn't gamble on that possibility.
Seeing Uchiha Izumi's excited reaction, Bingkui conjured an ice mirror, in which a panoramic view of the area near the Uchiha Clan Compound appeared.
The above is a deployment map recorded by Guiya over the past few days.
"Look! You don't think the Uchiha coup was well-hidden, do you? Konoha already knew, they were just waiting for you to rebel!"
"This... this is impossible... you must be lying to me!"
Uchiha Izumi stared intently at the image reflected in the ice mirror, her face filled with disbelief.
If what they say is true, then the chances of the Uchiha coup succeeding are less than 10%.
But who exactly leaked the information?
"It was Uchiha Itachi leaked it! He had already defected to Konoha and even agreed to the Uchiha Clan Massacre plan!" Bingkui seemed to have seen through her thoughts and spoke directly.
Uchiha Izumi's pupils suddenly contracted, and she staggered backward as if struck by lightning.
"You... you're talking nonsense! Itachi... how could he..."
That Itachi who always gently taught me... that Itachi who said he would change the status quo of the Uchiha... that...
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Bingkui didn't immediately refute, but slowly said, "Whether it's true or not, you can judge for yourself. However, I advise you not to go to Uchiha Itachi to verify it; you'll die."
He then naturally went inside and sat down on a chair in the living room.
Uchiha Izumi had no intention of stopping them, but the Explosive Tag in her hand remained in active mode.
"Alright!" Bingkui laughed, "I've told you something so important, now can you do me a favor?"
"What kind of help do you need? Tell me first!" Uchiha Izumi didn't refuse outright, clearly still hesitating.
"Your radical faction, the elders are led by Uchiha Yashiro, and the young ninjas are led by Uchiha Inabi," Bingkui said.
"Could you please find the Yashiro Elder for me? I have a collaboration to discuss with him."
Uchiha Izumi frowned upon hearing this. They'd even investigated the faction composition?
How long exactly did this spy remain hidden in the village?
Uchiha Izumi suddenly said, "I will never..."
Before she could finish speaking, some noises suddenly came from outside.
From small to large, from far to near.
The Bingkui smiled, stood up, and said, "It seems our conversation will have to end early!"
"You can tell Elder Yashiro about tonight's conversation! If he agrees, have the Police Force open a breach on the east side of the Uchiha Clan Compound tomorrow night. I'll be there."
"Before I leave, I'll send you one last message: there are still two days until the night Uchiha Itachi and the Konoha High Command agree on the massacre of the clan!"
"Think it over carefully, bye!"
After speaking, the Bingkui's figure transformed into a wisp of icy mist and vanished into the air.
Only Uchiha Izumi remained standing there, stunned.
The footsteps outside grew closer until Uchiha Itachi's voice came from outside.
"Izumi, are you there?"
Uchiha Izumi took a deep breath and quickly wiped away the remaining traces of frost on the ground with her sleeve.
After confirming that there was nothing else amiss in the room, he steadied his voice and replied, "Yes, Itachi-kun."
The door was gently pulled open.
"It's so late, why aren't you resting yet?"
Uchiha Itachi's voice was as gentle as ever, yet it sent a chill down Uchiha Izumi.
"I was just... wiping down my ninja tools."
Uchiha Izumi forced a smile and asked, "Why did Itachi-kun suddenly come over?"
Uchiha Itachi stood at the door and chuckled, "There are spies from another village tonight. Be careful, and don't go out unless it's absolutely necessary."
Get some rest! I'll come back to train with you tomorrow.
After Uchiha Itachi's figure disappeared into the night, Uchiha Izumi collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
The Bingkui's warning kept echoing in his mind.
Don't go to Uchiha Itachi to verify this, you'll die...
The three Tomoe in her Sharingan spun wildly as if out of control, as if being pulled by an invisible force, trying to piece together some new pattern.
But just as the pattern was about to take shape, a piercing pain suddenly erupted from the back of his eyes.
"Ah!"
Uchiha Izumi let out a shrill scream and curled up into a ball.
When she opened her eyes again, the Mitsudomoe in her eyes had returned to normal, only now they were even more vividly red.
"Itachi... would you really do this? I don't believe it. If you have truly betrayed the Uchiha... I must see it with my own eyes!"
The Hokage's office.
The room was filled with a strong smell of tobacco.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō the table, seemingly engaged in some kind of standoff.
" Danzo, is it really true that you have nothing to do with that Ice Release ninja?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, frowning.
"I really don't know anything about Ice Release ninjas."
Shimura Danzō getting impatient. Why was he being made to take the blame for everything?
If I had actually done it, that would be one thing, but this has nothing to do with me, so why do you have to suspect me?
So this is how you see me?
However, the Ice Release ninja... combined with the Sunagakure's reconnaissance puppets, really reminded him of something.
" Hiruzen, this is definitely Sunagakure's doing, no doubt about it, I'm absolutely certain!" Shimura Danzō with certainty.
Hiruzen Sarutobi an eyebrow, instantly understanding the meaning behind his old friend's words.
We've been best buddies for so many years, we know each other perfectly!
" Danzo, you've been hiding something from me all along. Explain yourself, or you're not leaving tonight."