An Ordinary Day

June 15, Year 58 of Konoha.

An ordinary day.

The weather was clear.

As a young master of the main house, Hyuga Gen got up early. After practicing Gentle Fist in the training yard downstairs for half an hour until he was drenched in sweat, he took a bath, changed clothes, then checked the time and went to his grandfather's room to properly pay his respects.

"Don't go anywhere today. Come with me to attend the Hyuga Clan Council later." His grandfather, Hyuga Kyusaku, was a highly respected elder of the Hyuga clan. He had been visiting friends outside the village three days ago, but upon receiving the clan head's notice of the meeting, he had immediately returned to Konoha.

"Yes." Hyuga Gen sighed inwardly. He knew that a famous performer from the Land of Fire would be singing live at the Konoha Theater today. Now that he had to attend the clan council, he naturally could not go join the excitement.

Only the grandfather and grandson sat at the dining table when Kyusaku suddenly spoke.

"Yesterday, you went to the clan head's residence to play with Ling and Ka. Did anything seem unusual to you?"

"N-No. There were just more trees inside, fewer people, and Ka kept crying."

Ling was Hyuga Ling, a member of the main house.

Hyuga Ka was the granddaughter of another Hyuga clan elder. She was only two years old this year and was also a member of the main house.

The three of them could not exactly be said to get along well. They had merely been forced to play together out of consideration for the three elders.

"Is that so..." Kyusaku narrowed his eyes. He recalled visiting the clan head when he had returned to Konoha the day before yesterday. Everything had seemed normal, yet he had always felt that the elders around him had something they wanted to say. He had thought those unspoken hints might be reflected in the children, but that did not seem to be the case now.

Was it just my imagination?

After breakfast, the grandfather and grandson arrived at the clan head's residence. Little Gen went to play with Hinata, while Kyusaku headed for the main hall alone.

Aside from the extra trees that made it seem somewhat gloomy, the clan head's residence was undoubtedly still the most aristocratic type of building in all of Konoha. Black-eyed servants passing by smiled and nodded to greet him.

All the Hyuga higher-ups had already gathered in the main hall. Several elders seemed to have been sitting there since yesterday, quietly discussing something.

Kyusaku found a seat, but their discussion suddenly turned toward him.

"Leave... Kyusaku... You have to leave now..."

"Kyusaku... use the Byakugan... Kyusaku!!"

"Only you three are left... You must escape this place..."

The voices were hysterical.

Kyusaku froze for a moment, then cupped his hands and replied with the same pleasant expression.

"Yes, I also think this clan council should have been convened earlier. It should not have been delayed this long. We of the main house cannot disappoint the branch house too deeply."

"Kyusaku, you idiot..."

"Yes, I truly think Tokuma's death was such a pity."

"Kyusaku, are you blind..."

"Yes, the other branch house members should be arriving soon."

The newly relocated elders were still struggling.

Hiashi said nothing. He casually shook the shackles on his body, scratching the itch on his back by rubbing them against it.

As time slowly passed, the branch house members gradually gathered at the clan head's residence.

Like sheep entering a wolf's den.

The plan was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

9:00 a.m.

The performing star took the stage at the Konoha Theater, and the streets were deserted.

9:06 a.m.

The Hokage was inspecting the expansion project in western Konoha. This was a public event that had been arranged long ago.

9:24 a.m.

Lord Danzo was overseeing the training of ANBU members on the outskirts of Konoha.

11:00 a.m.

The Hokage completed the inspection and returned to the Hokage Tower to handle routine work.

12:30 p.m.

The theater event was at intermission, but many people still remained by the stage, unwilling to leave.

2:00 p.m.

Lord Danzo led the ANBU training division members back to Konoha, passing through the Uchiha Clan compound.

It was deathly quiet.

3:00 p.m.

The Hokage went to the Ninja Academy to conduct a lesson on loving the village.

The ANBU members disguised as elementary school students at their desks were all somewhat distracted.

What was going on?

Was the news that the Uchiha Clan planned to stage a coup fake?

Why had the Uchiha Clan... still not come to attack the Hokage?

What were they waiting for?

The sun hung low over the western hills, casting long shadows.

There were few people on Konoha's streets. The only things on the road were empty green mailboxes and white plastic bags tangled around utility poles.

The villagers had either gone to attend the Hyuga Clan Council, gone to the theater, or were in their clan compounds cooking up some unknown scheme. In any case, there were very few pedestrians.

The world was peaceful.

Until a blond-haired boy walked alone on the way home from the theater, rubbing his stomach.

"I'm so hungry..."

Watching the show had made him hungry. The performer's voice onstage was practically hoarse, yet she still would not stop for some reason.

The longer he watched, the less interesting it became. I'm going home to eat instant noodles!

Naruto hummed a song he had heard at the theater, hopping along the deserted street.

To be honest, Konoha had not failed to consider him. But even if the Uchiha had eight times the courage, they would hardly dare abduct Naruto in full view of the theater crowd.

The Uchiha were planning a coup, not trying to destroy Konoha. This arrangement was more to prevent the aftermath of a battle between Konoha and the Uchiha from accidentally affecting Naruto. Thus, although Iruka had been assigned to take him to the theater, that was the extent of their concern.

This was Konoha's oversight, but it was also the key to breaking the deadlock for the Uchiha.

As they watched the little brat hopping along the street, certain people in the darkness seemed to be looking upon a peerless beauty. Their eyes went wide.

"At last... we've found Uzumaki Naruto."

"Let him come a little closer—there are ANBU patrols over there."

"We can't wait any longer! If we do, he'll get too far away. Now!!"

At the command, Naruto suddenly saw three burly men leap out in front of him. Before he even understood what was happening, pain shot through his neck, and he lost consciousness.

"Retreat!"

One of them hoisted Naruto over his shoulder and vanished from the spot.

If a jinchuriki died, the tailed beast would die as well. However, the tailed beast would be reborn somewhere in the world in the future, while the jinchuriki would not.

Extracting a tailed beast was not an easy matter.

At least, it was not something ordinary Uchiha clan members lying in wait somewhere in Konoha could accomplish.

Even during the Nine-Tails incident Obito had planned, he had only been able to swiftly extract the Nine-Tails by taking advantage of Kushina's damaged seal while she was giving birth.

The Nine-Tails' seal was still perfectly intact now, so it would require much more time.

While Konoha was still waiting for the Uchiha to launch an attack, Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uzumaki Naruto, who had been brought before him. The complexity in his eyes vanished in an instant.

"Guard the entrance. Kill anyone who comes. Show no mercy!"

"Yes!" the clansmen answered in low unison.

Fugaku looked at his palm.

As it happened, the Tailed-Beast Release Seal used to extract tailed beasts was one of the Uchiha Clan's secret inherited techniques.

"I'm sorry."

Fugaku pressed his hand against Naruto's abdomen. It was unclear whether he was apologizing to Naruto before him or to all those in Konoha who were about to suffer misfortune.

Tailed-Beast Release Seal!

The next second—

"Ah—" Naruto abruptly opened his eyes and struggled desperately, but he was held down tightly.

In an instant.

Fugaku found himself standing before an enormous prison of water.

He turned around.

An incomparably violent roar exploded beside his ears.

"Uchi—"

"—ha—"

"—!!"