The Play Begins

Neji took Hanabi home from the theater.

The performance had not yet ended; it was just that the final act was rather boring.

The protagonist's beloved older brother betrayed the clan and became his sworn enemy. Though the plot had its twists and turns and even touched on deeper themes, it ultimately felt too intangible, too confined to the page.

Moreover, while the clan in the play had indeed done wrong, the specific reason the protagonist's brother had resorted to murder and defection in pursuit of power simply did not stand up to scrutiny. It was practically ignoring basic logic just to force a brotherly showdown at the climax.

They had made the dumplings just for the vinegar.

"And the protagonist's brother had always been so gentle, yet he secretly harbored such a twisted heart that he could slaughter his own clansmen for power. How could the protagonist, who lived with him day and night, possibly not notice?"

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

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

"What is it? Do you think the play didn't make sense either?"

Hanabi pointed somewhere, her face full of delight.

"Brother Ning Qi!"

Following the direction of her finger, Neji saw Ning Qi standing on a rooftop not far away, the summer wind whipping around him.

The two eagerly climbed up, but as Neji approached, he seemed to notice something. His expression shifted slightly, and his steps slowed.

Hanabi paid no mind to that. She went straight to Ning Qi's side and looked up at him expectantly.

"Are you here to enjoy the scenery, Brother?" 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 dying light, and the evening clouds were blood-red.

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

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

"Your mission these past few days was not far from Konoha, was it?"

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

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

"The sky is actually colorless. It has never deceived anyone. It is people's eyes that deceive them. Their ignorance is unavoidable."

"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's 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 the truth is."

Lost and bewildered, Neji looked toward where his brother was pointing. It was the Uchiha District beneath the setting sun.

What was the truth?

He saw only peace and tranquility.

Figures darted toward that place from all directions.

The next second.

A water dragon wreathed in lightning suddenly soared into the sky.

Then.

It plunged downward.

"Boom—"

Half of the Uchiha District was instantly razed to the ground!

Dust shot into the sky.

Neji's expression froze.

"Why?"

He turned to look at Ning Qi, only to find that Ning Qi's gaze had become utterly indifferent. It was a look Neji had never once seen on his brother since childhood.

Lofty and untouchable.

Like a god.

He heard Ning Qi say:

"I will sever every shackle."

"As for you, after you are free, try to stay alive..."

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

Ning Qi turned and left.

His destination was.

The clan head's residence.

"Is Brother Ning Qi going to attend the clan meeting?" Hanabi was still innocent and carefree.

Neji turned his head stiffly, as if all his usual jokes had become real in this moment.

Konoha was under attack.

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

Countless realities he had refused to acknowledge, countless clues he had deliberately buried in his heart and avoided recalling, suddenly magnified in that instant.

→

"Do you know Hyuga Tokuma?"

"Then what about Hyuga Tsuki?"

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

"To avoid showing weakness to the enemy, we must endure our grief."

Neji arranged his sorrowful expression and looked around the room where only he and his brother remained, 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 meat."

"Then is there... an indirect way to 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 already did."

"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 is too... Mom... Mom fell asleep. She's been asleep for many days... Sister Xia, Sister Senma, lots of them are sick too. They planted so many trees in the yard at night... I-I'm scared they'll plant me in the ground like a tree too."

"Brother, you're lecturing again."

"You're still complaining? Hmph. In a few more days, you won't even have the chance to hear it."

"Will you come with me?"

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

Fear.

Dread.

An unfamiliar world.

The battle in the Uchiha District continued in the distance, and it showed every sign of growing fiercer.

But Neji did not care at all. He stared at the Hyuga clan head's residence in the distance, trembling all over.

As Ning Qi left.

He realized with absolute clarity.

That was where the next truth would be revealed.

That was where Ning Qi would sever every shackle.

That was where the bloody, unbearable reality was hidden.

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

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

Was he really... going?

Was he really going to shatter the illusion?

Could he accept the truth? Could he accept reality?

...Of course he was going!

His blood suddenly surged. Fury at being betrayed by someone closest to him rushed to his head, and he scooped up Hanabi with a fierce expression before leaping down from the rooftop!

"Go!"

Go stop him.

Go question him.

Go... bring him back.

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

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

It was not until ANBU reported that Naruto had been kidnapped that even Konoha finally caught on, no matter how slow its response had been.

Though Konoha taking the initiative to attack one of its own ninja clans might cause many undesirable consequences afterward, the agonizing memories of the last Nine-Tails Rebellion had clearly far outweighed such minor concerns.

The enraged Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, led a team to the entrance of the Uchiha District the moment he received the news. With a single composite ninjutsu, Lightning Water Dragon Bullet, he sent many Uchiha clan members to their deaths.

The Nine-Tails Rebellion, which had cost Konoha its Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, its Jinchuriki Kushina, and more than half its home, must never happen again!!

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

"Fugaku!"

"Get out here!"