Konoha's skies had cleared, a rare stretch of fine weather. The sun hung overhead, warm and gentle, and even the wind was soft. The snow atop Konoha's roofs had begun to melt, droplets falling from the eaves onto the stone-paved streets with crisp little splashes.
Genkawa Uchiha went fishing as unfailingly as ever. This time, he chose a new spot: the lower reaches of the Naka River.
Starting from the Old Clan Grounds, he followed the riverbank downstream after leaving the village. It took nearly half an hour to get there.
This place was already some distance from Konoha. Another ten or so kilometers downstream lay one of Konoha's most famous sightseeing spots—the Valley of the End.
He had never been there before. Supposedly, there were two enormous statues there: one of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and one of Madara Uchiha. The two faced each other across a waterfall, as if locked in a fight that would never end.
But he had no plans to go there today.
He picked a spot where the river was wide and the current mild, set down his folding chair, propped up his fishing rod, baited the hook, and cast his line.
The hook landed in the water, sending out a small ring of ripples. Then everything returned to stillness.
The river was crystal clear, sunlight glimmering across its surface.
He sat in his chair with his hands behind his head, eyes closed as he basked in the sun. Beside him were the sounds of flowing water, wind rustling through treetops, and the occasional birdcall.
It was quite pleasant.
But that pleasantness did not last long.
He sat from morning until noon, and the fishing rod did not move an inch.
He took out the lunch he had brought in his lunchbox, ate