The Banquet Hall in the Hokage Residence blazed with light.
To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Village's Founding, every registered clan head and department chief in Konoha had gathered, along with an envoy who had traveled from the Daimyo Residence in the Land of Fire.
White tablecloths covered the long tables, and silver cutlery gleamed softly beneath crystal chandeliers. The rich scent of fine sake mingled with the aroma of food. Musicians played court music in a corner, completing the scene of peace and prosperity.
"To Konoha's prosperity, to the passing down of the Will of Fire, and above all, to our wise Lord Fifth Hokage."
Ito, the Daimyo's Envoy, rose and lifted a white porcelain cup in both hands, his face flushed.
"Cheers!"
Baishi stood with a smile and raised his cup.
"To the village's future."
Glasses clinked all around. Everyone wore a carefully measured smile as they drank.
Baishi sat down and handed his empty cup to the attendant behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted an ANBU guard standing in the shadows of the Banquet Hall's southeast corner.
The guard stood as still as a statue. Then, as if by chance, he lightly touched the lower edge of his Mask with his gloved left index finger.
A movement almost too small to notice.
It was the agreed signal: the fish was in the net.
Baishi's smile did not change. He turned to Fugaku Uchiha and began speaking quietly, as though they were merely discussing next quarter's public security report from the Konoha Military Police Force.
At the same time, on the ninth basement level of Konoha Hospital, in the Special Care Unit.
The air was cold and damp, heavy with the smell of disinfectant. Only a few emergency lights burned along