In a forest deep within the Land of Rivers, two figures cloaked in black robes patterned with red clouds stepped out of a cave, Biwa Jūzō and Hoshigaki Kisame.
Jūzō glanced at his partner. Kisame gave a faint nod, quickly weaving hand signs before activating his Black Curtain Perception Jutsu.
After a brief silence, he nodded again, signaling the area was clear.
Seeing this, Jūzō knelt, pulled out a blank scroll, brush, and ink, and began writing rapidly. Kisame stood watch, his chakra perception technique active, ensuring no one approached.
When the scroll was done, Jūzō bit his finger, formed another set of seals, and pressed his palm to the earth. Black markings spread across the ground before a puff of white smoke revealed a pale serpent.
The snake coiled briefly, nodded as if understanding, then opened its jaws to swallow the scroll whole. With another puff of smoke, it vanished.
Once their task was complete, Jūzō and Kisame simply turned and walked off, disappearing into the forest like shadows returning to the mist.
Half a day later, in the Uchiha Clan's compound, behind the clan leader's residence, a tranquil garden basked in the sunlight.
Uchiha Gen lay reclined in a lounge chair, eyes closed, soaking in the warmth with a calm expression.
From the grass nearby, a small white snake slithered up the chair leg, nuzzling against his hand.
Gen opened his eyes, smiling faintly as he stroked its smooth scales. The snake gave a contented hiss, then opened its mouth and spat out a scroll.
A sphere of blue chakra lifted the scroll into the air, drying it instantly. Gen took it, unfurled the parchment, and read silently. The snake, having delivered its message, slipped back into the grass.
A cold smile curved his lips.
"So, after lying low for so long, they're finally moving."
He tapped the scroll lightly. "Obito… you've practically delivered yourself to me."
His Sharingan glimmered faintly. "Times have changed. Even if Black Zetsu weren't with you, I'd still come for you. This time, neither of you will escape."
With a flick of his finger, blue chakra enveloped the scroll. The ink lifted from the paper, dissolving into light until the parchment was blank again. Then the chakra pulsed—new characters began to appear, rearranging themselves into a different message.
Gen bit his thumb and pressed his hand into the air. Black symbols flared in the empty space, followed by a puff of white smoke.
"Master, I missed you so much!"
Before the mist cleared, a sweet, lively voice rang out. A blur of bluish-white light darted into Gen's arms.
It was a strange little creature, shaped like a mandarin duck, its feathers shimmered with a soft azure glow. Three slender legs carried its compact, graceful body, and its wings rippled with energy.
This was Fūmi, a high-grade wind-attribute Homie Gen had created two years ago from sea tornado gel. Since his previous three Homies were all male, he had deliberately made Fūmi female, and her brothers doted on her endlessly.
Feeling her excitement, Shizukamaru, the soul-bound blade resting in Gen's core, couldn't resist responding.
"I missed you too," Gen said softly, smiling. "Your brother Shizukamaru did as well."
Fūmi chirped happily. In the next instant, a white streak of light shot out from Gen's lower dantian, Shizukamaru's manifested spirit, grinning broadly.
"Little sister Fūmi! Long time no see. Did you miss your brother?"
"Yes!" she answered cheerfully.
"I missed you too!"
Laughter filled the garden as the two Homies spun and chased each other through the air. Gen let them play; the matter wasn't urgent, and their joy was infectious.
After a few minutes, he clapped once. "Alright, enough playing. We've got business."
Both spirits halted mid-flight and returned to hover before him.
"Fūmi," he said, holding up the rewritten scroll. "Deliver this to Pakura."
The little bird perked up instantly. As she usually operated in the Land of Wind, she was the perfect messenger.
"Understood, Master! Bye-bye, Brother Shizukamaru!"
Clutching the scroll in her beak, she vanished in a swirl of white mist.
Shizukamaru chuckled before fading back into Gen's dantian. Gen reclined again, humming a light tune under the sun.
Half an hour later, in the Kazekage's office in Sunagakure.
A faint whistle echoed as a three-legged blue bird slipped through an open window and landed gracefully on the desk, preening her feathers.
"Fūmi, you're here," Pakura said warmly, setting down her pen. She reached out and petted the little creature's head.
"Madam, this is from Master," Fūmi chirped, spitting the scroll onto the desk.
"Understood. Go play," Pakura said with a small smile.
"Okay! Bye-bye, Madam!"
With a flutter of wings, Fūmi zipped away, vanishing into the sky like a streak of light.
Despite her childish manner, Fūmi's power was formidable, on par with Shuryu and Kyouki despite being newly born.
Pakura's eyes softened as she watched her go, then she unrolled the scroll. Her expression shifted from surprise to calm focus.
"As the Kazekage, it's inconvenient for me to visit Konoha openly," she murmured. "But with this… I have a perfect excuse."
"Chiyo can't travel long distances, and even if she could, she wouldn't stand a chance against those two. I'll handle it myself... quietly."
Her decision made, Pakura sealed the scroll and returned to her paperwork as if nothing had happened.
Half a month passed swiftly.
The Akatsuki's operations bore mixed results. They successfully captured the Four-Tails and Six-Tails, but their mission to seize the Eight-Tails ended in disaster.
Kakuzu and Hidan were brutally beaten by Killer Bee. Kakuzu lost four of his hearts, and Hidan was nearly obliterated by a Tailed Beast Ball, both barely escaping with their lives.
Despite his supposed immortality, Hidan's "Evil God" wasn't truly divine. It was merely an ancient cursed shikigami, powerful but not omnipotent. A direct hit from a Tailed Beast Ball would still destroy him completely.
Even his regeneration depended on Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear to stitch his body back together. It was far from true immortality, the kind where even a drop of blood could resurrect you.
Their failure dealt a blow to the Akatsuki, though at least their identities remained hidden... for now.
But concealment wouldn't last. Kumogakure would investigate, and while Hidan's name wasn't widely known, Kakuzu's infamy made discovery inevitable.
After this fiasco, Akatsuki redirected its focus to the One-Tail and Nine-Tails, planning with far greater caution.
Meanwhile, Konoha was abuzz with preparations. The village had sent invitations to every notable shinobi village for a joint Chunin Exam—the first of its kind.
Sunagakure replied first, confirming participation. Kusagakure, Takigakure, and Amegakure soon followed.
Otogakure, which existed in the original history, never formed in this world, Orochimaru had other priorities. Instead, he wandered freely, gathering talented individuals wherever he went. Those who followed him in this life lived far better than their counterparts in another timeline.
The responses were within Konoha's expectations. These villages had close relations with Konoha in recent years, it would've been strange if they refused.
But then came the surprise.
Hidden Mist, still under Obito's shadowy influence, also accepted the invitation.
The announcement sent ripples through Konoha's upper ranks. Given the village's isolation and brutal internal policies, this gesture seemed suspicious.
Still, they couldn't reject the acceptance outright. They tightened security instead, wary of potential schemes.
After all, Konoha was home to several top-tier powerhouses; no outside interference could easily shake it.
Over the years, Uchiha Gen had gradually withdrawn from politics, much to the relief of the older advisors. His restraint, ironically, gave them peace of mind.
As the news spread, Iwagakure and Kumogakure, unwilling to be left behind, also confirmed participation.
When the announcement went public, the entire Ninja World erupted in excitement.
For the first time since the founding of the Five Great Nations, all five major villages would unite to host a joint Chunin Exam.
Smaller villages, Hoshigakure and Takumigakure, soon followed suit, eager to bask in the global attention.
Ten villages in total. An unprecedented gathering.
Daimyo, nobles, and merchants alike scrambled to secure passage to Konoha. It wasn't just a tournament, it was a world summit of power and prestige.
For Konoha, it was both an opportunity and a burden.
The elders rejoiced at the prestige and economic boost, yet dreaded the potential for chaos or scandal. To ensure flawless execution, Hiruzen Sarutobi spent his days buried in meetings with advisors, department chiefs, and clan heads.
Weeks of long nights left him and his old comrades, Homura and Koharu, utterly exhausted. Even younger department heads began to buckle under the strain.
Through it all, Uchiha Gen, Chief of Police and unofficial successor to the Hokage, remained leisurely unbothered, watching the frenzy from the sidelines.
More than once, Hiruzen caught himself wondering if it was time to finally step down and let Gen take the mantle. But old pride dies hard, and the thought remained just that—a thought.
Fortunately, Jiraiya returned and, with Tsunade's reluctant help, took on part of the burden. Without them, Hiruzen might have collapsed entirely.
Even Orochimaru came back, not to help, of course, but to watch. After greeting Gen and Anko, he disappeared into a hidden laboratory behind the village, content to work until the event began.
Within Konoha, excitement buzzed in the air. Streets were alive with conversation about the upcoming exam.
Among the Genin, tension ran high.
Some brimmed with anticipation, dreaming of glory under the world's gaze. Others dreaded humiliation on such a stage.
The wiser ones, however, quietly withdrew from participation, unwilling to become casualties of ambition. Better to skip glory than to leave on a stretcher.
In the days before the event, Uchiha Gen summoned all senior officers of the Police Force to his home for dinner.
After several rounds of food and sake, he set down his chopsticks and cleared his throat lightly.
Instantly, the room fell silent. Veterans and captains alike straightened their backs, waiting.
Gen's calm authority filled the room without effort. As Clan Head, Chief of Police, and Konoha's strongest guardian, his words carried absolute weight.
He spoke plainly:
"As the joint Chunin Exams approach, people of all kinds will flood into Konoha. The village's order will face an unprecedented test."
"I have only one rule."
"No matter who they are, civilian, shinobi, or noble, if they break Konoha's laws, they will be punished. No exceptions."
"Don't talk to me about outsiders or titles. Before the Uchiha Police Force, everyone is equal."
"If anyone has privileges in this village, they belong to our villagers and no one else."
"Anyone who tarnishes the honor of the Uchiha or the Police Force… I'll skin them alive."
"Do your duty boldly. If trouble arises, I'll take full responsibility. Understood?"
The captains rose as one, chairs scraping loudly against the floor. Even the oldest among them felt a spark of pride ignite in their chests.
"Understood!" they shouted in unison.
Gen smiled faintly and waved his hand. "Good. Sit down and eat."
The tension melted instantly, replaced by laughter and renewed energy. For the first time in years, the Uchiha Police Force felt alive—ready for the storm about to descend on Konoha.