Neji received the news that the Uchiha clan had finally decided to initiate their rebellion from the compiled surveillance data.
"At 19:20, Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Tetsu ard themselves and went together to the Konoha Public Training Ground."
A very ordinary piece of information, right?
What could two Uchiha ninjas going to a public training ground prove?
Yes, it seed ordinary, but if compared with previous data and cross-analyzed, it was pretty telling:
Two previously known drunkards were preparing to retrain, indicating they felt so pressure.The Konoha Public Training Ground was significantly worse than the Uchiha's internal training grounds, aning their internal facilities were overcrowded.
They were sharpening their blades for a single strike.
There were many other corroborating pieces of data, such as the Konoha Police Force suddenly changing shifts early or the sudden increase of Uchiha patients in Konoha Hospital. For Neji, who had already anticipated the Uchiha clan's imminent rebellion, these sudden changes allowed him to deduce the exact start ti.
The Uchiha clan mbers were far from foolish. They knew not to reveal their plans openly, but the emotionally rich Uchiha couldn't wholly control their sincere emotions, bringing them to this point.
These small, seemingly insignificant daily life clues were not considered abnormal by them. They hadn't realized Konoha's surveillance had reached such a frenzied level.
Hinata continued chanically transporting recorded data from various team mbers. Noticing Neji suddenly stop working, she checked the clock:
"Isn't it ti for a shift change yet?"
"It's already over."
"What?"
"Oh… well, I have sothing to do today, so I'm leaving early." With that, Neji left straight away.
"Captain, if you're caught leaving early, you'll have your pay docked!" Hinata shouted, but Neji's only response was to raise his hand as he walked away.
"Don't take money lightly…" Hinata sighed. She looked around to ensure no one else was there, then used a Shadow Clone Jutsu. Her clone transford into Neji, sat at his desk, and began pretending to work.
Neji didn't plan to inform Danzo of his findings. With Itachi as a double agent within the Uchiha clan, their plans were already an open book to Konoha's high command. There was no need to show off.
At the entrance of the Hyuga branch compound:
"Have any Uchiha clan mbers been here recently?" Neji asked the Chunin guarding the entrance, which had been established after the frequent murders of branch mbers, to enhance the compound's imposing presence.
"Yes, they asked when our clan eting was scheduled."
As expected, such a blatant bait couldn't go unnoticed by the Uchiha clan.
The clan eting was scheduled for four days later, aning the Uchiha clan's rebellion would be in four days. According to the original storyline, Itachi would launch the massacre the night before the uprising in three days.
With all the information, the loop was complete.
Back ho, Neji cooked for the two kids.
"Such a feast," Neji said, looking at the table full of delicious food, "Is today a holiday or sothing?"
He noticed Neji seed unusually excited, unlike his usual calm deanor. Did sothing good happen?
Neji observed quietly.
Well, his brother was of age, handso, strong, about to be promoted to Jonin, had a bright future despite being an orphan, and had an excellent brother like himself. Which girl wouldn't be moved?
Wham!
Neji knocked on Neji's head with chopsticks.
"What was that for?" He protested.
"Your eyes look strange," Neji said, hitting his brother without needing a valid reason.
After serving the last dish, Neji explained: "This is enough for three days."
That made sense. Neji realized: "So, you're going on a mission again?"
Hanabi wasn't interested in the feast but was sad that Neji would be gone for a long ti. She looked at Neji with longing eyes.
"I'll take you next ti." Neji said casually.
Neji chuckled, interpreting it as one of his brother's "next ti" promises to appease children.
"You need to get stronger to follow him, understand?" Neji advised Hanabi. He had been teaching her Gentle Fist at ho recently and was astonished by her talent.
The younger Hyuga girl was indeed a bit more talented than himself.
"Understood!" Hanabi shouted.
…
In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage looked at the information Itachi had delivered, his expression complicated.
He recalled the argunt with Danzo and the others that day.
How long had it been since then?
In hindsight, his persistence seed like a joke. Ambition and hatred had ultimately consud the entire Uchiha clan. The restraint he had hoped for never materialized. The clan had betrayed his trust and taken that final step.
Lighting his pipe, the Third Hokage stood by the window, looking in the distance towards the Uchiha clan's territory. Their lights shone brightly in the darkness, like sparks on dry grass, ready to spread across Konoha.
…
At Root's headquarters, Danzo looked at Uchiha Itachi with a cruel smile.
"Is what you say true?"
"The information is accurate. The Uchiha will launch their rebellion in four days, during the Hyuga clan's eting." Itachi said calmly.
"An excellent choice of timing." Danzo comnted. The Hyuga clan's Byakugan was a significant threat to any surprise attack.
He glanced at Itachi: "It's a pity. Fugaku ultimately lacks the brains."
To have his son leak the plan ant that no matter how well-tid, it was a futile effort leading the clan to their deaths. What kind of intelligence did this Uchiha clan leader possess?
Itachi said nothing; he just lowered his head slightly. The light from the wall lamps cast half his face into a cold, indifferent expression.
Danzo squinted. The sight of Itachi reminded him of Neji, who was supposed to oversee Uchiha surveillance for him. Yet, with the Uchiha planning a rebellion, there had been no word from Neji. His response was disappointingly slow and not as effective as this Uchiha renegade.
Useless.
"So, this ti, the deal is simple," Danzo turned, his cane tapping the floor. "If you eliminate the Uchiha and remove the threat to Konoha, I will spare your brother, Sasuke."
"Agreed." Itachi said, sinking his entire head into the darkness.
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