Neji and Hanabi were walking home from the theatre.
The performance hadn’t ended yet, but the final act was rather dull.
The plot about the protagonist’s beloved brother defecting from the clan and turning against him was full of dramatic twists and deep themes. Still, ultimately, it felt too far-fetched and disconnected from reality.
And even though the clan in the play had indeed made mistakes, the reason the protagonist’s brother killed and defected to gain power was simply unconvincing, sacrificing basic logic just to set up a dramatic brotherly showdown.
It was like wrapping a dumpling specifically for this dip.
“And the usually gentle brother hiding a twisted heart capable of slaughtering his own kin for power—how could the protagonist, who lived with him every day, not notice that?” Neji grumbled, still complaining about the ridiculousness of the play like a cat whose flaw had been exposed.
At some point, Neji noticed that Hanabi had suddenly stopped.
“What is it? Do you also think the play didn’t make sense?”
Hanabi pointed to a spot not far away, her face lighting up with joy:
“Brother Neiki!”
Neji followed her gaze and saw Neiki standing on a nearby rooftop, his hair ruffling in the summer breeze.
The two hurriedly climbed up to him, but as Neji approached, he noticed something that made him slow down and his expression change.
On the other hand, Hanabi ran straight to Neiki’s side, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes.
“Brother, are you here enjoying the view?” The scenes from the play still influence Neji, making him feel uneasy. He tried to make casual conversation, “It’s indeed a beautiful evening.”
The sunset was casting a blood-red glow over everything.
Neiki didn’t respond, still gazing into the distance, seemingly waiting for something.
The silence stretched for a few seconds before Neji spoke again, his voice strained:
“Brother, your mission these past few days wasn’t far from Konoha, was it?”
The smell of fresh blood… too fresh…
Neiki glanced at his brother, a faint smile curling his lips. He gently shook his head:
“The sky, in fact, has no color. It doesn’t deceive people; it’s their eyes that deceive them. Their ignorance is inevitable.”
“And you, Neji, possess eyes that can see through it all. You are so close to the truth, yet you choose to be misled by your heart.”
He patted Neji’s shoulder and pointed in a certain direction:
“This brutal world’s true nature can no longer be concealed by beautifying reality.”
“Along with the ignorant masses, Neji, open your eyes and see what the truth is.”
Neji looked towards where his brother was pointing, the sunset over the Uchiha district.
What was the truth?
He only saw a peaceful and serene scene.
Figures were moving stealthily in that direction.
The next second.
A water dragon surrounded by lightning suddenly rose into the sky.
Then.
It dived down.
“Boom—”
Half of the Uchiha district was instantly leveled to the ground!
Dust flew into the sky.
Neji’s expression froze.
“Why?”
He turned to Neiki, but his brother’s gaze had turned utterly indifferent, an expression Neji had never seen from him before.
Lofty and god-like.
He heard Neiki say:
“I will break all the chains.”
“As for you, once free, try to survive…”
“Live until the day we meet again and then ask me.”
Neiki turned and left.
Heading towards the Hyuga clan’s main house.
“Is Brother Neiki going to the clan meeting?” Hanabi remained innocent and cheerful.
Neji turned rigidly as if all the jokes from before had come true.
Konoha was under attack.
And Neiki was heading to the Hyuga clan’s main house.
Memories of many realities he refused to acknowledge and clues he had noted but chose not to recall suddenly amplified in his mind.
…
“Do you know Tokuma?”
…
“And what about Tsuki?”
…
“I am Takizawa Sanmei, assigned by the Hokage to investigate the disappearance of Hyuga Tokuma and others.”
…
“To not show weakness to the enemy, we must endure our grief.”
Neji arranged his sad expression, looking around the room where only he and his brother were, feeling puzzled.
Where is the enemy?
…
“Brother, you’ve been quite preachy lately.”
“I know you won’t listen now, but I’m not talking to the current you.”
…
“Is this chicken?”
“Pigeon.”
…
“Is there… an indirect way to counteract the Caged Bird?”
“There is, kill all the Hyuga main family members who control the Caged Bird seal.”
“Then try it.” Neji pouted.
“What do you mean try? I’ve already done it.”
…
“Where are you going, Brother?”
“To plant a tree.”
…
“I… I don’t want to go back…”
“Why don’t you want to go back?”
“Dad is sick, so is sister… Mom… Mom has been asleep for days… Sister Natsu, Sister Morima, many others are sick too… They planted many trees in the yard at night… I… I’m afraid they’ll plant me as a tree too.”
…
“Brother, you’re preaching again.”
“Still complaining? Hmph, in a few days, you’ll miss it.”
…
“Do you want to come with me?”
…
You are so close to reality, yet you choose to be misled by your heart.
Fear.
Dread.
A strange world.
The battle at the Uchiha district in the distance continued, intensifying.
But Neji didn’t care. He looked at the Hyuga clan’s main house, his body trembling.
As Neiki left.
He realized clearly.
That was the next place where the truth would unfold.
That was where Neiki would break all chains.
That was where the bloody and ugly reality lay.
“I want to find Brother Neiki…” Hanabi cautiously suggested, seeing Neji’s abnormal behavior.
Neji suddenly snapped back to reality, staring blankly at Hanabi.
Really… go?
Shatter the illusions?
Could he accept the truth, accept reality?
…Of course, he had to go!
A surge of anger from a sense of betrayal by a loved one shot through him, his expression fierce as he grabbed Hanabi and leaped from the rooftop!
“Go!”
Go stop him.
Question him.
Go… bring him back.
…
To solidify the case against the Uchiha for rebellion, Konoha had been waiting for the Uchiha to strike first.
The Hokage and Danzo publicly appeared in various places, but the Uchiha never took the bait.
Until Anbu reported Naruto’s kidnapping, Konoha finally realized what was happening.
Though attacking a clan of their own might have severe repercussions later, the painful memories of the last Nine-Tails attack far outweighed these minor concerns.
When he got the news, an enraged Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, led his team to the Uchiha district’s entrance and unleashed a powerful Lightning-Water Dragon Bullet that claimed many Uchiha lives.
The incident that had taken the Fourth Hokage, Kushina Uzumaki, and half the village could not happen again!!
The Uchiha’s actions had far exceeded what Hiruzen could tolerate.
“Fugaku!”
“Get out here!”
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