Konoha's night was quiet and beautiful. Most people had fallen asleep, but the Security Force's patrol ninja were still busy.
In the Uchiha District, lights blazed inside one courtyard. Fujimoto was sorting the supplies he needed. Leaving Konoha would be easy for him.
But now that the moment had come, he felt a pang of reluctance. He looked around the room once more. Who knew how many years it would be before he returned?
He turned off every light in the room, leaped onto the roof, and lay on his back to watch the stars.
Never before had Fujimoto felt that Konoha's night sky could be so beautiful.
As the first pale light touched the sky, Fujimoto rose and headed for Konoha Gate. Behind him, Fugaku quietly appeared atop a building.
Sensing someone watching him, Fujimoto looked back. A blurred dark figure stood motionless on a distant rooftop.
Fujimoto knew Fugaku had deliberately revealed himself to let him know he had come to see him off.
A faint smile touched his lips. He turned toward Konoha Gate and waved his arm overhead a few times in farewell.
He vanished with the Body Flicker Technique and picked up speed. The two Chunin guarding Konoha Gate met his eyes for only an instant before falling into a Genjutsu.
Fugaku watched Fujimoto disappear from Konoha, then vanished himself. All he had to do now was wait for the ninja who discovered what had happened to report it.
An hour later, the two Chunin finally broke free of the Genjutsu. They were certain of one thing: they had been caught in a Sharingan Genjutsu.
As for who had cast it, the person had moved too fast for either of them to notice.
They did not dare conceal what had happened and reported it at