When Uchiha Izumi returned to Konoha, the familiar streets of the Uchiha Clan felt cold and hostile. The villagers' stares were icy, their whispers sharp as daggers. Izumi's eyes hardened with renewed resolve, a deep chill settling within her soul.As she walked through the clan district, a scene caught her eye — an old man strolling peacefully with a young child. The sight stirred long-buried memories. Though it had been years since her mother's death, Izumi's hatred for her enemies remained as fierce as ever.Uchiha Fugaku's death had been particularly satisfying, a cruel twist where his own son had dealt the fatal blow. But this time, Izumi planned something far more personal for him — she intended to make him taste hope before crushing it mercilessly, prolonging his agony.Her gaze shifted back to the old man, watching him as he walked joyfully with his grandson. Her eyes narrowed into snake-like slits, her long tongue flicking out briefly like a serpent's before retracting. A cold smile curved her lips.Approaching the boy, Izumi asked with a sinister grin, "Little brother, what's your name?"Before the child could answer, his grandfather swiftly pulled him back, shielding him protectively."What are you trying to do, Uchiha Izumi?" the elder spat coldly, glaring with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.Izumi's smile didn't falter. "Ah, Elder Uchiha Daiyi, it's so refreshing to see you again after all this time."Daiyi sneered, "Seeing you reminds me only of that harlot, your mother. Stay away from me. Don't sully the air I breathe."Izumi's smile grew wider, unsettling the elder. He tightened his grip on his grandson's hand and stalked away, warning, "If you come near my grandson again, I won't be so polite.""Hmph!" Izumi said, watching them leave. Her eyes sharpened as she observed the grandson glance back nervously, clutching his grandfather's leg. "Grandpa, her tongue was so long!" the boy whispered in fear.Daiyi turned and assured him, "Don't be afraid. Grandpa is here."But the child's unease lingered like a shadow.As night fell, Izumi activated her Kamui and silently moved through the village streets. The patrolling ninja passed by without sensing a thing.She arrived at a Uchiha compound and paused to observe it with a sneer.Inside, an elder man stirred in his sleep, suddenly aware of an unnatural silence. Alert, he rose cautiously from bed.The peaceful nighttime sounds returned — the chirping of insects, the soft whimpering from nearby — but the eerie quiet had vanished. Sensing danger, he rushed outside to investigate.His family was tied up in the courtyard, their mouths gagged and bodies restrained. They tried to cry out, muffled pleas reaching only his ears."Who's there? Show yourself!" he shouted, scanning the shadows.From behind a rockery, Izumi stepped forward, her foot resting coldly on his wife's prone form. A cruel sneer played on her lips.Fury burned in Daiyi's eyes, but fear restrained his actions. He steadied his breath and demanded, "Uchiha Izumi, what is the meaning of this?"Izumi licked her lips with her unnaturally long tongue. "Can't you see, Elder-sama? I've taken your family hostage."Daiyi's voice rose in anger. "How dare you kidnap an elder's family! Don't do anything foolish!"Izumi laughed softly. "No matter how loud you scream, no one will come to save you."Frowning, Daiyi eyed his captive family and questioned, "Impossible... If there were a barrier, the patrolling ninja would have detected it. And with our Sharingan, we would have noticed an ambush."Izumi revealed her Mangekyō Sharingan and smiled coldly. "As long as my ocular ninjutsu surpasses the Sharingan, it's no problem.""Impossible," Daiyi said, incredulous. "You awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan? How old are you?"Izumi's smile deepened. "It's all because of what you did."Daiyi's expression darkened. "What is it that you want?"Izumi's tone was indifferent. "What do you think?"Daiyi's arrogance faded. "Your mother's fate was her own fault. Secretly possessing forbidden ninjutsu and allowing an outsider access violated clan rules."Izumi laughed bitterly. "And yet, Konoha has laws against coups, but you all clamor for one anyway."Daiyi's voice sharpened. "That's different.""Why different?" Izumi shouted. "Because my mother was weak and couldn't use ninjutsu, you dared not seek justice from Konoha's higher-ups. Instead, you punished her harshly. My mother and I were victims. You gained nothing but petty benefits, and me — you killed her and shared the spoils without so much as an apology!"Daiyi sighed and scoffed. "Apologize? You want me to apologize to you? Your mother broke clan rules; it's lucky she wasn't punished more severely. Do you think this girl is sane? But since you have hostages, I must tread carefully."Feigning regret, he said, "If I apologize, will you forgive them?""No," Izumi said flatly.Daiyi shrugged. "Then it's settled. Don't trouble the higher-ups, but come to me instead. Why?"Izumi's laugh echoed, cruel and wild."Opportunity!" Daiyi suddenly lunged, pulling a kunai and using Body Flicker to appear before her, thrusting the blade at her throat."You're just a brat," he sneered. "You talk too much, revealing your weakness. You're as annoying as that harlot mother of yours. I objected when she married out, but she did it anyway, shamelessly returning. Now she's dead, and she got what she deserved!"Izumi's laughter filled the courtyard, chilling Daiyi to the bone.Suddenly, her figure melted into a pool of black ink on the ground."Impossible! The Sharingan should have detected your clone!" Daiyi searched frantically.Izumi's voice echoed through the night. "Weakness is the original sin. You are not strong enough to control your destiny — but I am.""Now, let's see if you can awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, Elder-sama.""No! Stop! Please, stop!"---
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