An Uneasy Night

Night. Stars dotted the sky.

Perhaps because the starlight was too brilliant, no bright moon hung overhead. Dim starlight shrouded Konoha beneath the dark curtain of night.

Shin sat in his own courtyard, gazing up at the stars. He held a small flask of Uchiha-brewed sake in his hand, gently swirling it.

"Whenever I look up at this vast starry sky, I can't help but marvel at how small I am. At moments like this, everything we do seems utterly insignificant. Compared to this immensity, we're not much stronger than ants."

Whether he was sighing with emotion or simply recounting his thoughts, Shin let out a soft sigh. He raised the flask to his lips and took a deep swig.

Not far in front of him, Uchiha Madara sat cross-legged, holding a flask as well. The difference was that Shin's flask held sake, while Madara's contained strong liquor.

"The stars may be awe-inspiring, but we still need to keep our feet on the ground. Tomorrow is the time we agreed to negotiate with the Senju. What exactly are you planning to do?" Uchiha Madara asked in a low voice.

Shin chuckled. "You've always known what I intend. We'll proceed according to the original plan. Tonight, we'll settle everything once and for all."

"Konoha's starry sky... it's beautiful. I'm afraid I won't get another chance to see it."

Crack!

The flask was tossed high into the air, then smashed onto the ground, shattering into pieces. Clear liquor spilled across the earth. Two figures turned into black shadows and departed.

Shin headed toward the Uchiha settlement. The Uchiha clansmen preparing to leave had already gathered there, awaiting his command.

Madara's target, meanwhile, was Hokage Cliff. The nine Tailed Beasts were sealed there, guarded by the elites of the major clans. His objective