An Ordinary Day

June 15, Year 58 of Konoha.

An ordinary day.

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The weather was clear.

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

"Don't go anywhere today. You'll attend the Hyuga Clan Council with me 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, 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 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, when you went to play at the clan head's residence with Ling and Ka, did you notice anything unusual?"

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

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

Hyuga Ka was the two-year-old granddaughter of another elder of the Hyuga Family, and she too was a member of the main family.

The three of them could not exactly be called close. They only played together reluctantly for the sake of the three elders.

"Is that so..." Kyusaku narrowed his eyes. When he had returned to Konoha the day before yesterday to visit the clan head, everything had seemed normal, yet he had always felt that the elders beside him had something they wanted to say. He had thought those unspoken hints might be confirmed through the children, but that did not seem to be the case either.

Was it just his imagination?

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

Aside from the additional trees making it seem somewhat gloomy, the clan head's residence was undoubtedly still the most aristocratic-looking type of building in all of Konoha. The black-eyed servants he passed smiled and nodded to him in greeting.

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

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

"Leave quickly... Kyusaku... all of you, leave quickly..."

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

"Only you three are left... You three must escape from here..."

Their 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 held sooner. We cannot delay it this long. The main family cannot let the branch family become too disheartened."

"Kyusaku, you idiot..."

"Yes, Tokuma's death really was such a pity."

"Kyusaku, are you blind..."

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

The newly relocated elders were still struggling.

Hiashi remained silent. He casually shook the chains on his body, scratching an itch on his back by rubbing the chains against it.

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

Like sheep walking into a wolf's den.

The plan was proceeding methodically.

9:00 a.m.

The performer took the stage at Konoha Theater, and the streets were emptied.

9:06 a.m.

Lord Hokage was inspecting the expansion project in western Konoha. This had long been a publicly scheduled event.

9:24 a.m.

Lord Danzo was overseeing ANBU member training outside Konoha.

11:00 a.m.

Lord Hokage completed his inspection and returned to Hokage Tower to handle his daily work.

12:30 p.m.

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

2:00 p.m.

Lord Danzo led the ANBU training division back to Konoha, passing through the Uchiha District.

It was utterly silent.

3:00 p.m.

Lord Hokage went to Ninja Academy to conduct an educational 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 false?

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

What exactly were they waiting for?

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

There were few people on Konoha Main Street. The road held only 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 to watch the performance, or were holed up in their clan districts plotting who knew what. In any case, there were very few pedestrians.

The world was peaceful.

Until a blond-haired boy walked home alone from the theater, rubbing his stomach as he went.

"I'm so hungry..."

He had watched the show until his stomach was growling. The performer onstage was practically hoarse, yet for some reason she still would not stop.

The more he watched, the less interesting it became. He was going home to eat instant noodles!

Naruto hummed a song he had heard at the theater, skipping down the deserted street.

To be honest, Konoha had not completely neglected him. But even if the Uchiha had eight times the courage, they were unlikely to abduct Naruto in full view of everyone at the theater.

The Uchiha were planning a coup, not trying to destroy Konoha. This arrangement was mainly intended to prevent the aftermath of a battle between Konoha and the Uchiha from accidentally affecting Naruto. That was why Iruka had been assigned to bring him to the theater. But as for how seriously they took his protection, that was about the extent of it.

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

As they watched the brat skipping along the street, some people in the darkness looked as though they had spotted an unparalleled beauty. Their eyes went wide.

"We finally found him... Naruto Uzumaki."

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

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

At the command, Naruto suddenly saw three burly men leap out before him. Before he could understand what was happening, pain shot through his neck, and he blacked out.

"Withdraw!"

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

If a Jinchuriki died, the Tailed Beast would die as well. However, the Tailed Beast would eventually revive somewhere in the world, while the Jinchuriki would not.

Extracting a Tailed Beast was no easy task.

At the very least, it was not something a few ordinary Uchiha clansmen lying in wait somewhere in Konoha could accomplish.

Even during Obito's planned Nine-Tails Rebellion, he had only been able to quickly extract the Nine-Tails by exploiting the damaged seal during Kushina's childbirth.

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

While Konoha was still waiting for the Uchiha to launch their attack, Uchiha Fugaku looked at Naruto Uzumaki, who had been delivered before him. A trace of complexity flashed through his eyes before vanishing.

"Guard the entrance. Kill anyone who comes!"

"Yes." The clansmen answered in low unison.

Fugaku looked at his own palm.

As it happened, the Tailed-Beast Release Seal used to extract a Tailed Beast 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 everyone in Konoha for the misfortune about to befall them.

Tailed-Beast Release Seal!

The next second.

"Ah—" Naruto's eyes flew open. He struggled desperately, but he was held down tightly.

In an instant.

Fugaku found himself standing before an enormous water-prison cage.

He turned around.

An incomparably violent roar exploded beside his ears.

"Uchi—"

"ha—"

"—!!"