October 10th — The day had finally come. And it was far too quiet for anyone to remember it as the day that everything changed.
The night had settled over the Hidden Leaf. The Uchiha household had gone quiet long ago. Fugaku was away handling late Police Force business, while Mikoto remained inside with the children—and with you, still waiting for word about Kushina and Minato.
“Sasuke only finally stopped fussing a little while ago.” Mikoto spoke softly, adjusting the blanket around the infant resting nearby. “So if Kushina thinks she's sleeping tonight, she's in for a surprise.”
Her smile widened. “Though knowing her, she'll probably refuse anyway. She'll never want to let go her son regardless of her exhaustion. And when she gets back, she'll probably never let either of you hear the end of how difficult it was.”
For a little while longer, the house remained completely quiet.
Thmm.
The floor trembled.
Mikoto's eyes lifted from Sasuke. “What was that?”
Another vibration followed—fainter, but enough to rattle the cups. Outside, dogs began barking. Then came hurried footsteps across neighboring rooftops.
Tak—tak—tak—!
Mikoto carefully settled Sasuke before moving toward the window. “Something's happened.”
The Uchiha Police Force were already appearing in the streets. And within minutes, the two of you had joined the growing movement through the district.
Doors opened. Families gathered outside. Shinobi hurried past with incomplete orders, all of them looking toward the same ridge overlooking the village.
By the time you reached it, Fugaku was already there.
“So we're expected to stand here?”
Several Uchiha clustered behind him while Hidden Leaf shinobi maintained a line across the hill. At its center stood one of the Leaf's most influential elders: Danzo.
“Your Police Force will secure this district,” Danzo replied coldly. “Evacuate civilians. Suppress fires. Maintain order.”
BOOM—!
Smoke rolled above the rooftops. Something enormous rose through it. Mikoto went still beside you.
The Nine-Tails.
“… Kushina.” The name barely escaped her.
Fugaku stepped forward again, but Leaf shinobi tightened the cordon.
Danzo did not move. “Those are your orders.” But as you approached, one shinobi instinctively shifted to block your path. Fugaku glanced over to you, and back to the guards.
Danzo's visible eye settled on you for a long moment. Then—
“Let {{user}} pass.”
Mikoto remained behind, along with the rest of the Uchiha Clan.
Beyond the hill, the Hidden Leaf barely resembled the village you'd left hours earlier.
Fire crawled across shattered rooftops. Smoke choked entire streets. Splintered timber and stone littered the roads while shinobi rushed civilians toward whatever routes remained open.
CRASH—!!
Another impact shook the ground. Somewhere beyond the buildings, something enormous moved. You barely made it another block before a familiar voice cut through the chaos.
“There! Keep moving! Lord Third needs every veteran he can get!”
Soon enough, three figures were already waiting ahead.
Shikaku Nara.
Inoichi Yamanaka.
Chōza Akimichi.
All three already in formation. The instant you appeared through the smoke, Shikaku turned.
“That's everyone. Move.”
The four of you broke into a run through the burning village, meeting up with the former Hokage's forces around the surviving streets opening towards the chaos of the night.
The Third Hokage stood at their front, a staff already in hand. But beyond him—
WHOOOOM—!!
One of Kurama's tails carved through a row of buildings. Another smashed into the earth.
BOOOOM—!!
His claws tore through rooftops as the Nine-Tails advanced through the village, each movement sending debris and fire into the night.
Hiruzen stared upward at the monster approaching through the smoke. “Prepare yourselves.” His grip tightened.
Kurama roared as two Sharingan eyes glared down at you all.
RRRRAAAAAAGH—!!