The Play Begins

Neji took Hanabi home from the theater.

The performance had not yet ended; it was just that the final act was unbearably dull.

The beloved older brother of the protagonist betrayed the clan and became enemies with the protagonist—though such a plot had its twists and depth of thought, it was ultimately too detached from reality, too confined to the page.

Besides, although the clan in the play had indeed done some wrong, the specific reason the protagonist's brother had chosen to murder and defect simply to gain power did not stand up to scrutiny. It was clearly disregarding basic logic just to create a climactic brotherly showdown.

They had made the dumplings just for the vinegar.

"And that protagonist's brother was usually so gentle, yet he somehow hid a twisted heart capable of slaughtering his own clan for power. How could the protagonist, who lived with him day and night, possibly not have noticed?"

Neji was rather angry. Even now, he kept rambling about how absurd the play was, like a cat whose weak spot had been poked and whose fur had instantly bristled.

At some point, Neji noticed that Hanabi had suddenly stopped.

"What is it? Do you also think the play made no sense?"

Hanabi pointed somewhere, her face lighting up with delight.

"Brother Ning Qi!"

Neji looked in the direction of her finger and, sure enough, saw Ning Qi standing on a rooftop not far away, the summer wind whipping around him.

The two of them eagerly climbed up, but as Neji approached, he seemed to sense something. His expression changed slightly, and his steps slowed.

Hanabi did not think much of it. She went straight to Ning Qi's side and looked up at him expectantly.

"Is Brother watching the scenery here?" The scene from the play was somehow still affecting Neji. Feeling irritated, he casually searched for a topic. "It really is a beautiful evening view."

The setting sun cast its lingering light, and the clouds were red as blood.

Ning Qi said nothing. He continued gazing into the distance, waiting for something.

The air was silent for several seconds. Neji pressed his lips together before finally speaking.

"Brother's missions these past few days haven't been far from Konoha, right?"

The scent of blood on him... was far too fresh...

Glancing at his younger brother, Ning Qi's lips curved into a faint smile. He gently shook his head.

"The sky is actually colorless. It has never deceived anyone. It is merely people's eyes that deceive themselves; their ignorance is inevitable."

"And Neji, you possess the Byakugan that can see through all of this. Reality is within arm's reach, yet you are still willing to be misled by your own heart."

He patted Neji on the shoulder and pointed in a certain direction.

"The essence of this cruel world can no longer be concealed by beautifying reality."

"Together with the ignorant masses, Neji, open your eyes and see what truth really is."

Neji stared blankly toward where his brother pointed. It was the Uchiha District beneath the setting sun.

What was the truth?

All he saw was peace and tranquility.

Figures darted toward that place from all directions.

The next second.

A water dragon crackling with lightning suddenly shot into the sky.

Then.

It plunged down.

BOOM—

Half of the Uchiha District was instantly leveled!

Dust exploded into the sky.

Neji's expression froze.

"Why?"

He turned to Ning Qi, only to see that Ning Qi's gaze had become incomparably indifferent. It was an expression Neji had never once seen on his brother's face throughout all the years of his life.

Lofty and remote.

As if he were a god.

He heard Ning Qi say:

"I will sever every shackle."

"As for you, after you gain freedom, try to survive..."

"Live until we meet again, then come ask me."

Ning Qi turned and left.

His destination was—

The clan head's residence.

"Is Brother Ning Qi going to attend a clan meeting?" Hanabi remained innocent and carefree.

Neji turned his head stiffly, as though all the usual jokes had become real at this very moment.

Konoha was under attack.

Yet Ning Qi was heading for the clan head's residence at a time like this.

Many realities he had been unable to acknowledge, many clues he had stored away in his heart and deliberately refused to revisit, suddenly magnified at this moment.

→

"Do you know Hyuga Tokuma?"

"Then what about Hyuga Tsuki?"

"I am Takizawa Yamaaki, assigned by Lord Hokage to investigate the disappearance of Hyuga Tokuma and the others."

"To avoid showing weakness to the enemy, you must endure your grief even more."

Neji arranged his sorrowful expression as he looked at the room shared only by himself and his brother, feeling confused.

Where was the enemy?

"Brother, you've really been fond of lecturing lately."

"I know you can't take it in, but I'm not saying it for the you of today."

"Is this chicken?"

"Pigeon."

"Then is there... a way to indirectly resist the Caged Bird?"

"There is. Just kill every member of the Hyuga Main Family who knows the Caged Bird's secret command."

"Then go try it." Neji curled his lip.

"Try what? I've already done it."

"Brother, where are you going?"

"To plant a tree."

"I... I don't want to go back..."

"Why don't you want to go back?"

"Dad is sick, and Sister too... Mom... Mom is asleep. She's been asleep for so many days... Sister Xia, Sister Senma, so many of them are sick too. At night, they planted so many trees in the yard... I-I'm afraid they'll plant me in the ground as a tree too."

"Brother, you're lecturing again."

"You still dare complain? Hmph. In a few days, you won't even get the chance to listen."

"Will you come with me?"

Reality is within arm's reach, yet you are still willing to be misled by your own heart.

Terror.

Fear.

An unfamiliar world.

The battle in the distant Uchiha District continued, and it seemed to be growing increasingly fierce.

But Neji did not care about it at all. He stared at the Hyuga clan head's residence in the distance, his entire body trembling.

As Ning Qi left.

He clearly realized.

That was where the next truth would be uncovered.

That was where Ning Qi would sever every shackle.

That was where bloody, unbearable reality was hidden.

"I want to find Brother Ning Qi..." Hanabi secretly glanced at the obviously disturbed Neji and cautiously voiced her thoughts.

Neji suddenly came back to himself, then stared blankly at Hanabi.

Should they really... go?

Did he really want to shatter the illusion?

Could he accept the truth, accept reality?

...Of course he had to go!

His blood suddenly surged. The rage of being betrayed by someone close to him shot straight to his head, and with a fierce expression, he scooped Hanabi up and leaped down from the roof!

"Go!"

Go stop him.

Go question him.

Go... bring him back.

To establish Uchiha's guilt of rebellion, Konoha had been waiting for Uchiha to launch the first attack.

The Hokage and Danzo had appeared publicly on numerous occasions, yet Uchiha never took the bait.

It was not until ANBU reported that Naruto had been abducted that even Konoha finally understood what was happening.

Although Konoha taking the initiative to attack one of its own ninja clans might have caused many negative repercussions afterward, the painful memory of the previous Nine-Tails Rebellion had clearly long surpassed any concern for such minor details.

Consumed by fury, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, led a team to the entrance of the Uchiha District, which Uchiha had stubbornly refused to leave. A single combined ninjutsu—Lightning Water Dragon Bullet—claimed the lives of many Uchiha clansmen.

The Nine-Tails Rebellion, which had cost Konoha its Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, its jinchuriki Kushina, and half of its homeland, could never be allowed to happen again!!

Uchiha's actions had already far exceeded the limits of what Sarutobi could tolerate.

"Fugaku!"

"Get out here!"