The Staged Accident

Both Tailed Beasts were still at Command Headquarters, but this time, several guards stood outside the entrance.

Inside, a figure sat quietly in a chair. Judging by the shadow cast on the Tent, it was probably Orochimaru.

After the Five-Tails had gone missing, they had clearly grown more vigilant. Someone now stayed on duty at Command Headquarters every day, guarding the Sealing Vessels that held the two Tailed Beasts.

Fugaku found an empty Tent, closed his eyes, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

No one would have imagined that the Ninja who had stolen a Tailed Beast just days earlier was sleeping openly in a Tent at the Camp.

As rain pattered against the Tent roof, the familiar sound brought back memories of his days fighting in the Land of Rain.

The night passed quietly. Nothing happened.

Black Mist concealed his body once more. He slipped out of Konoha Camp and raced through the rain.

By the following evening, he had returned to Outside Konoha.

Even at dusk, the village entrance was bustling. Some Traveling Merchants were hurrying to reach Konoha in time to spend the night there.

Others were returning home after a full day's work outside the village.

Hidden within Black Mist, Fugaku entered the village and headed straight for the Uchiha District.

At home, Uchiha Jin's Shadow Clone was still dutifully maintaining Fugaku's appearance. Seeing it, Fugaku felt relieved too. Jin was still keeping up the act, which meant nothing had gone wrong over the past few days.

The Third Hokage had not summoned him either, though the man was probably just as conflicted.

Konoha was desperately short of Ninja, yet it had no choice but to leave Fugaku Uchiha idle. Sometimes things worked out strangely.

Fugaku released Black Mist Invisibility in the courtyard, revealing himself. Uchiha