One quiet evening, half a month later, at the Uchiha Clan compound, the family gathered for dinner in the mansion of the clan head.
Tsunade and Kushina weren't present. Tsunade had decided not to live with them for now, while Kushina's relationship with Uchiha Gen remained a closely guarded secret, they had hidden it too well for anyone to notice.
Tonight was a family dinner. Itachi, now sixteen, had already moved back to the old family home.
Uchiha Gen sat at the head of the table, with Mikoto on his left and Kurenai on his right. Beside them sat Anko, Yūgao, Itachi, and Sasuke.
Despite the years passing, Uchiha Gen still had no children, which made the elders of the clan increasingly anxious. But Gen's calm authority and clever words had kept their worries in check.
When Mikoto noticed that Gen's rice bowl was empty, she stood up to refill it without hesitation. She hardly looked any different than she had five years ago.
Not only Mikoto, but Kushina too had maintained her youthful appearance. The medicine Yakushi Kabuto had developed was no joke.
That anti-aging, beauty-preserving medicine had become one of the Uchiha Clan's major industries. It provided Orochimaru and Kabuto with abundant research funds and became a vital source of income for the orphanage.
The medicine's fame spread worldwide. The rich and powerful, especially women, were obsessed with it.
Such immense profit naturally attracted greedy eyes. Even knowing who stood behind it, many still dared to test their luck.
The result was predictable; Orochimaru slaughtered them without mercy, leaving countless clans destroyed and spreading fear throughout the world until no one dared covet it again.
Orochimaru's current strength was terrifying. He already possessed the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave, and with the support of Edo Tensei's undead army, few forces in the world could hope to defeat him.
Even the Akatsuki had once tried to interfere with this trade and suffered for it when Orochimaru and Uchiha Gen joined hands.
Gen hadn't needed to act directly; he had simply provided intelligence support, while Orochimaru handled the rest.
After that, Orochimaru's name became a nightmare for the entire world, surpassing even Jiraiya and Tsunade in notoriety.
The noble houses feared him like a plague. Orochimaru cared nothing for status, if corruption hid under an umbrella, he tore down both the umbrella and the hand that held it.
At one point, the Land of Fire's nobles even pressured Konoha to arrest him.
But thanks to Gen's backing and Orochimaru's overwhelming power, that attempt quietly died out.
"Sasuke," Gen said, smiling as he accepted the refilled bowl from Mikoto, "you're graduating soon, aren't you?"
"Yes," Sasuke replied with a grin. "The graduation exam's in five days."
Though this Sasuke had never experienced the clan massacre or the tragedies of the old timeline, he still maintained a cool, distant demeanor at school.
Of course, that act didn't hold up at home.
"Confident?" Gen asked casually, taking a bite of rice.
"Clan Head, are you underestimating me?" Sasuke smirked. "It's just a graduation exam. I could probably handle the Chunin Exams too. I'm going to catch up to my brother and surpass him!"
Itachi smiled faintly. Though he hadn't awakened the Mangekyo like in the original timeline, his Sharingan had evolved to three tomoe, and he was already a formidable Jonin.
What truly stood out was his team's record. Alongside Torune Aburame and Fu Yamanaka, Itachi had never failed a single mission, their squad had become legendary within Konoha.
"Sasuke," Itachi said lightly, "I think what he means is... are you confident you'll take first place?"
"Ah?" Sasuke blinked, then grinned. "First place, huh? That's not easy. Naruto's strong… but I'd say I've got a sixty percent chance."
Mikoto's voice softened. "Do your best. If you take first, I'll give you a reward."
Although Naruto was her best friend's son, Mikoto still hoped her own child would shine brighter.
"I'll give you a reward too," Kurenai said playfully.
"Me too," Yūgao added with a smile.
"Count me in," Anko chimed in, laughing.
Mikoto had started it, and the others quickly followed. After years of living together, the three women had come to see Sasuke almost like their own child.
Sasuke's eyes lit up. "What about Big Brother and the clan head?"
Gen and Itachi exchanged a glance, amused, before both nodded. "Of course."
Overjoyed, Sasuke cheered, wolfed down the rest of his food, and darted off to his room to cram.
The Ninja Academy graduation required both theoretical and practical exams.
For Sasuke and Naruto, the Ninjutsu part was a breeze, the real challenge was the written test.
Here, Sasuke had a slight edge. Naruto wasn't stupid, but like his mother, he was energetic and careless, often overlooking small details that cost him points.
Three days later, Gen met Kushina, who had heard about the "reward" talk from somewhere and insisted that he prepare something for Naruto as well.
Naturally, she was confident in her son. Naruto had been raised well under her care, she truly believed he would outshine her best friend's child.
Gen didn't show favoritism. After all, by any logic… they were both his sons.
Two more days passed.
The exam concluded exactly as Gen had expected; Naruto and Sasuke were evenly matched in the Ninjutsu test, but Sasuke scored two points higher in the theory portion.
Sasuke: 100. Naruto: 98.
Not because Naruto didn't know the answers, he simply fell for a trick question at the end.
Sasuke, of course, bragged immediately, which left Naruto fuming. The adults could only laugh.
Afterward came the team assignments. Gen only adjusted one thing, he made sure Naruto and Sasuke ended up together.
Everything else, he left untouched.
As in the original, Team 7 consisted of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, with Kakashi as their Jonin instructor.
No one really knew what the Third Hokage had been thinking, putting the top three students together, but so it was.
Of course, in terms of true strength, Sakura though bright still ranked far below her teammates.
The other teams and instructors remained the same. Even without Gen's interference, events seemed guided by some unseen inertia.
Karin didn't join a team. After discussing it with her mother, they decided she'd work at Konoha Hospital right after graduation.
To celebrate, Gen invited Kushina's family, Anna's family, Neji's, and Hinata's over for a grand dinner.
The next day, Konoha's new generation began their Genin lives under the guidance of their sensei.
Two months passed quickly.
The Chunin Exams loomed, and across the Ninja World, unseen forces began to stir once more.
In a dim, hidden cave somewhere in the world, eleven shadowy figures flickered into view.
Tendo Pain -Yahiko-, Konan, Mei Terumī, Juzo Biwa, Kisame Hoshigaki, Sasori of the Red Sand, Deidara, Kakuzu, Hidan, Zetsu, and Obito.
Deidara had joined the Akatsuki in Konoha Year 60. Orochimaru and Itachi's old positions were now filled by Mei and Kisame.
Since Obito's identity had already been partially exposed, he no longer bothered hiding.
When all had gathered, Tendo Pain's deep, emotionless voice echoed through the chamber.
"After years of preparation, our accumulation is sufficient. The plan to capture the Tailed Beasts begins now."
With Obito secretly controlling the Hidden Mist, the Akatsuki's growth had been far faster than in the original timeline.
"Haha, finally!" Deidara laughed. "I was getting bored!"
"Indeed," Hidan grinned. "Lord Jashin will rejoice in the blood of the Five Great Nations."
The rest remained silent.
Pain ignored the two and turned toward Obito. "Your opinion?"
"I agree," Obito said simply.
Satisfied, Pain turned to Zetsu. "Then report on the Tailed Beasts' current status."
Zetsu nodded. "Understood."
"Ichibi, sealed within Gaara of the Sand. Nibi, with Yugito in the Cloud. Sanbi, within the Fourth Mizukage. Yonbi, with Roshi of the Stone."
"This Roshi has long been at odds with Ōnoki and left Iwagakure. He's an ideal target."
"Gobi, sealed in Han of Iwagakure, a high-ranking shinobi."
"Rokubi, with Utakata, a rogue Mist-nin. Also a good target."
"Nanabi, with Fū of Takigakure. We can strike when she leaves the village."
"Hachibi, with Killer Bee, brother of the Fifth Raikage A. He's currently training somewhere hidden in their village but was recently spotted outside, also a viable target."
"As for the Nine-Tails…" Zetsu's tone grew darker.
"Konoha remains… strange. Every White Zetsu we sent vanished without a trace. We stopped sending them and resorted to controlling spies instead."
"The Nine-Tails was split by the Fourth Hokage, sealed separately in his wife and son, Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Naruto."
"In terms of power, Kushina is likely the strongest of all Jinchuriki, even with only half the beast. To be safe, I recommend targeting Naruto first and leaving Kushina for last."
He paused.
"Konoha's Chunin Exams are coming soon, and the Sand will be participating. I suggest using this opportunity to target Ichibi Gaara and Nine-Tails Naruto simultaneously."
"For the others still in their villages, we'll wait. Move too soon, and we'll alert the entire world."
Pain nodded. "Good. Well said."
"Your thoughts align with mine," Obito murmured.
"Then we'll begin task assignments."
Pain's cold gaze swept across the group.
"Ichibi — Sasori and Deidara. Ambush in transit. Adapt as needed."
"Got it! I'll show Ichibi the true art of explosions!" Deidara shouted.
Sasori merely nodded, silent as ever.
"Hachibi — Kakuzu and Hidan."
"Understood," Kakuzu replied flatly. Heh. This intel alone is worth a fortune… maybe I can squeeze something out of Uchiha Gen later.
He didn't realize three of Gen's spies were already inside the organization. If Gen didn't want to pay, he'd never see a single coin.
"Leave it to me!" Hidan laughed.
He clearly didn't know what kind of monster Killer Bee was. Without his immortality tricks, Bee's swordsmanship alone could slice him apart. Even with Kakuzu's help, the odds weren't great.
"Yonbi — Kisame and Juzo. Your Water Release counters his Lava Style. It shouldn't be difficult."
"We'll complete it," they said in unison.
Pain nodded approvingly. "Reliable as always."
"Rokubi — I'll take it with Konan and Mei Terumī. You'll provide backup if needed."
"Understood," Konan said calmly.
"No problem," Mei replied with a grin.
Pain continued. "Zetsu, handle intel. I expect accuracy. No mistakes."
"Heh… understood," Zetsu chuckled.
"As for the Nine-Tails…" Pain's tone deepened. "Zetsu, what's Konoha's strength?"
"The Third Hokage, Uchiha Gen, Tsunade, and Kushina all remain stationed there," Zetsu said. "Jiraiya visits occasionally, and Orochimaru appears from time to time. You all remember his power."
"He's terrifying alone, even worse with Edo Tensei. Facing them all head-on would be suicide."
Obito spoke next, his voice flat. "Leave the Nine-Tails to me."
Only he could infiltrate Konoha. And rather than take orders from Nagato, it suited him better to claim the mission himself.
"Very well," Pain said. "Our targets this time: Ichibi, Yonbi, Rokubi, Hachibi, and the Nine-Tails. Prepare accordingly. Meeting adjourned."
Pain's image flickered out first, followed one by one by the others, until the cave sank back into silence once more.