"But wouldn't it have been better to prepare this gift sooner?!"
The names Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze gradually vanished into the shadows along with the coffin. Izuna stood there dazedly, as if speaking to himself. "You really are cruel!"
"Cruel? I don't think so."
Mingye glanced at Izuna, a bitter curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. Not everyone could understand bitterness. Perhaps he had never been suited to be a good person, ever since his previous life. Everything he did now was for that illusory ideal—but once that ideal was achieved, how was he supposed to go on living?
Konoha entered a new year. Everyone temporarily forgot their pain, forgot the Nine-Tails' invasion, and rapidly rebuilt their homes as they welcomed the new year. A group bearing Kumogakure's banners appeared at the end of the road and slowly approached. Konoha's guards gradually rose to their feet, frowning slightly.
"Kumogakure?"
"What are they here for?"
Late at night, Hyuga Hiashi sat atop the roof, gazing up at the moonlit sky. He suddenly smiled, then shook his head. A child's cry abruptly rang out. Hiashi clearly heard that it was his daughter, who had only just turned one month old. He flipped down from the roof and came face-to-face with a man dressed in black night clothes.
They passed each other. Hiashi activated his Byakugan and saw that the child in the other man's arms was actually his daughter. Without holding back, he jabbed a finger toward the man's heart. The ninja reacted quickly, but he had no way to resist an attack from the Byakugan. Struck in the chest, he collapsed unconscious. Hiashi snatched the child from the enemy's arms. Seeing that the man was unconscious, he still did not feel appeased, and viciously kicked him in