So, Tonight

Konoha Year 48, October 10.

The morning sunlight pierced the thin mist and spilled over Hokage Rock, gilding the stone statues of the four Hokage with a rim of gold.

The streets bustled with people as the villagers prepared for the coming autumn harvest festival. Colorful flags fluttered, children played, and the air was filled with the fragrance of grilled meat and red bean soup.

No one knew that this would be the beginning of the longest, bloodiest day in Konoha's history.

At the edge of the village, in a hidden villa.

"Don't be afraid, Kushina."

Minato Namikaze gripped his wife's hand tightly, his palm slick with sweat. The "Yellow Flash," whose name struck terror into enemies on the battlefield, was now as nervous as a genin going to war for the first time.

"I'll stay by your side the whole time, until Naruto is born."

Though Kushina's face was a little pale, she still showed that signature bright smile of hers. She touched her high, swollen belly, her eyes filled with maternal radiance.

"I'm not scared, ya know! Naruto will do his best too!"

Escorted by several elite Anbu and Biwako Sarutobi, wife of the Third Hokage, Kushina was secretly moved toward the Barrier Cave outside the village.

Above Hokage Rock.

Uchiha Obito stood atop the Fourth Hokage's head, his black robe snapping loudly in the high-altitude wind.

He looked down at the prosperous, peaceful village below, not a trace of warmth in his single eye.

"Hypocritical peace."

Obito muttered under his breath.

"Enjoy your last sunlight. When night falls, this world will feel true pain."

Root Base.

Danzo Shimura sat in the darkness, a map of Konoha's defenses spread out before him.

"Lord Danzo, tonight's Police Force arrangements..." a Root ninja asked for instructions.

"Withdraw all Root members."

Danzo's voice was cold and absolute.

"No matter what happens tonight, even if the Nine-Tails truly runs wild, Root is not to move. Preserve our strength, and let the Uchiha and the Hokage fight for their lives."

"Only when both sides are badly wounded will it be the best time for this old man to act."

Third Hokage's Residence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before the window, watching the setting sun sink bit by bit beneath the horizon.

For some reason, his eyelid had been twitching nonstop, and the unease in his heart was growing stronger and stronger.

"I hope this old man is just overthinking it..."

He sighed, turned to the wardrobe, took out the long-sealed black combat outfit, and tucked the summoning scroll for Enma into his chest.

Uchiha Clan Compound.

Unlike the noise outside, the Uchiha Clan Compound was frighteningly quiet today.

Every shop had hung up a sign reading "Inventory Today." The streets were empty, and even the ninja cats that usually loved wandering around were nowhere to be seen.

Naka River Shrine, Underground Training Ground.

Three hundred Uchiha clansmen stood in neat formation.

They had taken off their Police Force uniforms and had not worn clan clothes bearing the fan family crest either. Instead, they had all changed into unmarked black, skintight combat suits.

Every one of them wore a mask. Some were painted with fierce ghosts, some with asuras, some with foxes.

This was a ghost army.

Xuan Shi stood on the high platform, likewise dressed all in black, wearing a mask painted with an "asura" pattern that revealed only a pair of deep eyes.

He swept his gaze over the clansmen below.

"I know what you're thinking."

Xuan Shi's voice, amplified by chakra, carried clearly throughout the entire space.

"You're thinking, why protect this village that rejects us? Why risk our lives for those ungrateful wolves?"

"But I'm telling you."

Xuan Shi suddenly drew the ninja blade from his back, its edge flashing with a cold gleam in the firelight.

"Tonight, we are not fighting to protect Konoha."

"We are fighting to—rewrite destiny."

"If we do not fight, what awaits us will be suspicion, isolation, and ultimately the extermination of our clan. Only by stepping over the Nine-Tails' corpse, over the heads of our enemies, can we take back the dignity and power that belong to us!"

Below the platform, the clansmen tightened their grips on their weapons, the confusion in their eyes replaced by fanatical fighting spirit.

"Clear division of duties!"

Xuan Shi began issuing the final orders.

"First Squad, led by Shisui! You're responsible for outer perimeter security. If Root makes any move, or if any White Zetsu tries to interfere, kill without mercy!"

"Yes!" Shisui appeared on the left side of the formation in a Body Flicker.

"Second Squad, led by Clan Leader Fugaku! You are the main force. Remember the previous drills. Build the Susanoo defensive line and take the Nine-Tails head-on! You absolutely cannot let it charge one step into the clan compound!"

"Leave it to me," Fugaku answered in a deep voice.

"Third Squad, Itachi!"

Xuan Shi looked at the boy who was only twelve years old.

"You're with me. We have only one target—the Masked Man controlling the Nine-Tails."

"Understood." Itachi touched the short blade on his back, his gaze cold.

Time flowed by, second by second.

At last, the final ray of sunlight vanished at the end of the horizon.

Night fell.

A full moon hung in the night sky. Whether it was an illusion or not, tonight's moonlight seemed tinged with a strange, blood-red hue.

Suddenly.

The Flying Thunder God kunai Xuan Shi kept close to his body warmed slightly.

At the same time, from the direction of the forest outside the distant village, there came an extremely faint yet heart-stopping spatial fluctuation.

It felt as if a barrier had been forcibly torn apart.

"It's here."

Xuan Shi raised his head and looked in that direction through the eyeholes of his mask.

The air seemed to freeze.

The next second.

A terrifyingly evil chakra shot into the sky. Even from several kilometers away, that sickening hatred and brutality could be felt.

Roar—!!!

A deafening beast's roar rang through the clouds, shattering the tranquility of Konoha's night.

The Nine-Tails had descended.

Xuan Shi took a deep breath, his Mangekyo Sharingan spinning wildly beneath the mask.

He raised the ninja blade in his hand, the tip pointing straight toward the direction where that chakra had erupted.

"Operation codename—[Daybreak]."

Xuan Shi's voice was low and filled with killing intent, like a judgment handed down from hell.

"All units, move out!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!!!

Three hundred black figures shot out like arrows loosed from the string, vanishing from where they stood in an instant as they lunged toward the stretch of night about to be dyed red with blood.