July 23, Year 51 of Leaf Village, Uchiha Clan compound.
The morning sunlight passed over the compound walls, dyeing the blue-gray roof tiles a warm gold.
The old cherry tree in the courtyard had long passed its blooming season. Its branches and leaves were lush, rustling softly in the breeze.
Several sparrows landed on the branches, chirping noisily as if discussing something.
In the corridor outside the clan leader's bedroom, Uchiha Fugaku paced back and forth in front of the courtyard. His footsteps were hurried and erratic, making the wooden floorboards creak beneath him, while a fine layer of sweat beaded across his forehead.
His hands alternated between clasping behind his back, folding across his chest, clenching into fists, and loosening again. He was like a trapped beast locked inside a cage.
"Useless fool!"
An aged yet forceful rebuke came from beneath the eaves. Fugaku's father sat cross-legged there, leaning on a dark purple cane, his single eye gleaming sternly.
He viciously struck Fugaku's calf with his cane, producing a sharp smack.
"Stop pacing around in front of me. You're making me dizzy!"
Fugaku smiled sheepishly and finally stopped. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his gaze unconsciously drifting once more toward the tightly shut door.
Inside, Mikoto was giving birth. Medical ninja came and went, and occasionally, subdued whispers could be heard, along with Mikoto's restrained panting.
He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself, but less than half a minute later, his feet began moving again of their own accord.
The cane rose once more. Catching sight of it from the corner of his eye, Fugaku hurriedly pulled back his foot and gave an embarrassed laugh. He turned and quickly walked over to Tianyi, who was seated on the other side of the courtyard, asking