On New Year's Eve.
The night was pitch-black, yet every household was brightly decorated with lanterns.
Tomorrow—the second day, after midnight tonight—would mark the arrival of the New Year.
On this night.
Uchiha Itachi was buying some gifts.
He wanted to give them to his younger brother, Sasuke, as New Year's presents.
His younger brother had changed quite a bit recently.
The younger brother who had once been cheerful and shy had, at some point, become rather taciturn.
This change.
Worried Itachi somewhat.
And...
He could see a flash of hatred in his younger brother's eyes.
According to his mother.
His younger brother had already awakened the Sharingan.
And Itachi, who had never been good with words, did not know how to talk to his younger brother.
So...
He had bought some gifts, intending to use them as a breakthrough.
Just as Itachi was thinking this and walking home...
A black shadow...
Flashed past.
At the same time, it was accompanied by a fleeting Killing Intent.
"Hmm?!"
For Itachi, who possessed keen instincts.
There were almost no people capable of escaping his eyes.
"Who?"
Itachi thought for a moment, then leaped onto the rooftop and temporarily set down the gifts.
Then he chased after the black shadow.
As the pursuit continued along the road.
Itachi discovered... that his opponent was incredibly fast.
For Itachi, whose speed value was "10," this was simply inconceivable.
Throughout Konoha.
Itachi could not think of anyone besides Hyuga Sho who could be faster than him.
Even Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin could not do it.
Thus.
Sensing the danger, Itachi increased his speed and ran with all his strength.
He crossed from the outskirts of Konoha through the bustling streets.
Finally...
He arrived at Konoha's Back Mountain.
He had traversed several kilometers from one end