Xiao had organized a group of people to carefully explore the unknown space they were transported into.
It was a pure white void, filled with thick, pale mist. The fog blurred all directions—north, south, east, and west were indistinguishable. Even veteran shinobi couldn't discern their bearings.
At the same time, around the entire world, massive screens suddenly appeared out of thin air.
Across the ninja world, from the smallest villages to the largest nations, everyone looked up to find a screen floating overhead.
In populated places like the Five Great Ninja Villages, the screens were colossal, hovering high above the sky and broadcasting an eerie silence before they flickered to life.
Then, without warning, a video feed emerged—a live scene from the exam space. The image was crisp, the sound perfectly clear.
Unbeknownst to the people within the exam space, their every move and word was now visible to the entire ninja world. Every conversation, every action, was on display.
---
In Konoha, inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the screen with sharp, scrutinizing eyes.
He had already dispatched the Anbu Black Ops to investigate these strange screens. With their skills, answers would come soon.
As he watched, a group clad in black cloaks adorned with red clouds appeared on the screen—Akatsuki.
They were a mixture of men and women, but all exuded powerful, murderous intent.
"S-rank missing-nin…?"
Sarutobi furrowed his brows. For any other village, a group like this would be a world-ending threat. But for Konoha… he remained composed.
However, a dozen shadow-level ninjas gathering in one place?
Could they be a secret faction formed by the other villages?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, one figure on screen swiftly formed hand seals and slammed his palm to the ground.
"Fast hands."
"That's Summoning Jutsu."
"It failed?"
As a seasoned ninjutsu master, Sarutobi could tell immediately: it was a summoning technique. But the jutsu didn't succeed. There wasn't even a summoning crest.
Even someone like Naruto wouldn't botch it like that.
Could this space be blocking their chakra?
Sarutobi squinted at the figure—cloaked in black, metal rods protruding from their face and ears…
Then he saw the eyes.
He froze.
The Rinnegan.
The legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.
He looked closer and saw the rest of the group behind the cloaked ninja.
Seven pairs.
Seven sets of Rinnegan.
Sarutobi's voice trembled. "This… this is impossible!"
More than a dozen elite shinobi was one thing—but seven with the Rinnegan?
He leaned in, shaken, and the screen suddenly zoomed. It panned slowly across their faces like a dramatic anime close-up.
He counted them aloud.
"One… two… three… four… five… six… seven…"
His body slumped into his chair.
Where did such terrifying power come from?
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief—only to find a new face on the screen.
Scarlet eyes.
"Kaleidoscope Sharingan… Itachi!"
Sarutobi bolted upright again.
His voice cracked. The tremor in his throat betrayed his emotions.
So this was the "organization" Itachi had joined?
Then the screen shifted again.
A man in a swirling mask.
Only one visible eye.
Sarutobi exhaled… and that eye erupted in a glowing, sinister red.
Another Kaleidoscope Sharingan.
---
Elsewhere, on the training field at the Ninja Academy, Sasuke Uchiha had been sparring with Naruto Uzumaki when he spotted a familiar figure on the screen.
His eyes narrowed.
"Uchiha Itachi…"
His fists clenched.
"I will kill you."
---
In Sunagakure, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa stood at the village gates, fuming at the giant screen in the sky.
Behind him, a squad of Sand shinobi bowed their heads after a fresh round of verbal thrashing.
"You useless fools! Who are they?!"
"Ninjutsu invades our land and you idiots have no answer!"
"Search! I want every inch of this desert turned over!"
Behind him, whispers stirred among the shinobi.
"Wait, isn't that… Scorpion?"
"Yeah, that's Granny Chiyo's grandson."
"That's right. That puppet—Fei Liuhu—I fought him when he defected."
"Didn't he join an organization? This must be it…"
Rasa's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Bring the elders. I want answers."
---
In the Land of Iron, inside a lavish casino, Tsunade slammed down her chips.
"Open! Open! Huh?"
She paused. Her gambler's instincts tingled. She glanced up and spotted a screen broadcasting the Akatsuki.
"Huh. That guy again?"
She shook her head.
"Whatever. Open it! …Ah, lost again. Shizune! Bring more money!"
---
Similar scenes played out across the ninja world.
---
Back in the exam space, after seeing the summoning fail, Obito spoke coldly.
"None of our ninjutsu works here."
Even time-space techniques were blocked.
From the crowd, Deidara suddenly pointed at Itachi, clay bombs in hand.
"You?! Why the hell are you here?!"
The tension rose. The explosives crackled with chakra.
Beside him, Konan frowned, her voice calm but wary.
"Suzaku, is this some kind of illusion?"
Itachi remained composed, his voice low.
"No."
His expression didn't flinch—like a true shinobi. Even an S-rank forbidden jutsu exploding nearby wouldn't faze him.
But inside?
His heart was roiling.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the mist.
Everyone turned.
Two figures emerged from the fog.
Even the Akatsuki paused.
A dozen cloaked figures stood still, their red clouds like blood against the pale void.
The newcomers were stunned—faced with the terrifying sight of the Akatsuki assembled together.