June 15, Year 58 of Konoha.
An ordinary day.
The weather was clear.
As a young master of the main branch, Gen woke up early. After spending half an hour practicing Gentle Fist in the training grounds downstairs, getting sweaty, he took a shower, changed clothes, and then went to his grandfather’s room to greet him respectfully.
“Don't go anywhere today. Later, join for the Hyuga clan eting.” Grandfather Hyuga Hisaku, a highly respected elder of the Hyuga clan, had returned to Konoha three days after receiving the clan leader's eting notification.
“Yes.” Gen sighed inwardly. He knew a star from the Land of Fire would perform at the Konoha Theater today, but attending the clan eting ant he couldn't enjoy the show.
At the breakfast table, it was just the grandfather and grandson. Suddenly, Hisaku spoke:
“Yesterday, when you went to the clan leader's residence with little Rin and little Jia, did you notice anything unusual?”
“No… nothing unusual, just more trees and fewer people. Little Jia kept crying, though.”
Little Rin, a main branch mber, and little Jia, the granddaughter of another clan elder, were both young main branch mbers. The three didn’t play particularly well together, only doing so due to their elders' influence.
“Is that so…” Hisaku squinted, recalling his visit to the clan leader two days ago. Although everything seed normal, he felt that the elders present had sothing they wanted to tell him. He thought he might get so clues from the children, but he seed wrong.
Was it just an illusion?
After breakfast, the grandfather and grandson visited the clan leader's residence. Gen went to find Hinata to play while Hisaku headed to the main hall alone.
Apart from a few more trees making the place seem a bit gloomier, the clan leader's residence still exuded the grandeur of the most prestigious building in Konoha. The black-eyed servants smiled and nodded at him as he passed.
In the main hall, all the Hyuga high-ranking mbers were already present, along with a few elders who seed to have been there since the previous day, discussing sothing in low voices.
Hisaku found a seat, but the discussion suddenly centered on him:
“Get out quickly… Hisaku… you must escape…”
“Hisaku… use Byakugan… Hisaku!!”
“You’re the last ones left… you must escape…”
The voices were hysterical.
Hisaku was puzzled, but he smiled and replied calmly:
“Yes, I also think the clan eting should have been held earlier. We shouldn’t keep the branch families waiting…”
“Hisaku, you fool…”
“Yes, Tokuma's death was truly regrettable.”
“Hisaku, are you blind…”
“Yes, the other branch family mbers should arrive soon.”
The newly arrived elders continued their struggle.
Hiashi remained silent, absentmindedly scratching his back with the chain.
As ti passed, branch family mbers began to gather at the clan leader's residence.
Like sheep entering a wolf's den.
The plan was being implented thodically.
…
9:00 AM.
The star took the stage at the Konoha Theater, drawing everyone’s attention.
…
9:06 AM.
The Hokage inspected the expansion project in Konoha's west, a pre-arranged public event.
…
9:24 AM.
Danzo was overseeing ANBU training on the outskirts of Konoha.
…
11:00 AM.
The Hokage returned to the Hokage office to handle daily work.
…
12:30 PM.
Intermission at the theater, but many people stayed near the stage, unwilling to leave.
…
2:00 PM.
Danzo led the ANBU trainees back to Konoha, passing by the Uchiha compound.
It was eerily quiet.
…
3:00 PM.
The Hokage attended the ninja academy to conduct a love-for-village-thed education session.
The disguised ANBU mbers at their desks were distracted.
What's going on?
Was the information about the Uchiha coup fake?
Why haven't the Uchiha attacked the Hokage yet?
What are they waiting for?
…
The sunset in the west casting long shadows.
Konoha's streets were sparse, with only empty green mailboxes and white plastic bags entangled on utility poles.
The villagers were either at the Hyuga clan eting, watching the show at the theater, or busy with who knows what in their compounds. There were very few people on the streets.
The world was peaceful.
A blond boy, holding his stomach, walked alone on his way ho from the theater.
“So hungry…”
Watching the show had made him hungry. The star on stage was almost hoarse but kept going.
It was getting boring. Ti to go ho and eat so ran!
Naruto humd a tune from the theater, skipping down the empty street.
…
The possibility of capturing Naruto was considered, but even if given eight chances, the Uchiha wouldn't dare kidnap Naruto in broad daylight at the theater.
The Uchiha aid to stage a coup, not destroy Konoha. This arrangent was more about protecting Naruto from the potential collateral damage of the battle between Konoha and the Uchiha. Hence, Iruka was tasked with taking him to the theater, but the attention paid was minimal.
This was Konoha's oversight and the Uchiha's key to breaking through.
Watching the skipping boy on the street, so hidden figures' eyes lit up as if seeing a rare treasure.
“Finally found… Uzumaki Naruto.”
“Let him co a bit closer—there are ANBU patrols nearby.”
“Can't wait! He’ll get away if we wait. Now!”
With an order, Naruto suddenly saw three big n appear before him. Before he knew what was happening, he felt a sharp pain in his neck and passed out.
“Retreat!”
One of the n hoisted Naruto and vanished.
…
If a jinchuriki dies, the tailed beast dies, too, but the tailed beast will eventually be reborn sowhere in the world, whereas the jinchuriki won't.
Extracting a tailed beast is not easy.
At least, this is not sothing a few ordinary Uchiha clan mbers could do while hidden in Konoha.
Even Obito’s plan for the Nine-Tails' attack relied on Kushina’s seal weakening during childbirth for a quick extraction.
Now, the Nine-Tails' seal was intact, requiring more ti for extraction.
While Konoha waited for the Uchiha's attack in a secret chamber, Uchiha Fugaku looked at the unconscious Naruto before him, his eyes fleetingly complex.
“Guard the entrance. Kill anyone who approaches!”
“Yes,” the clan mbers replied in unison.
Fugaku looked at his palm.
Coincidentally, the technique for extracting tailed beasts, the Bijuu Extraction Seal, was a Uchiha family secret.
“Forgive .”
Fugaku pressed his hand on Naruto’s abdon, unsure if his apology was ant for Naruto or all of Konoha, about to face misfortune.
Bijuu Extraction Seal!
The next mont.
“Ah—” Naruto's eyes snapped open, struggling fiercely, but he was held down firmly.
In an instant.
Fugaku found himself standing before a massive water prison.
Turning around.
A furious roar exploded in his ears.
“U—”
“Chi—”
“—Ha!!”
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