Even after the chaos of the Third Ninja World War, tensions still simmered between nations and hidden villages. Conflicts arose frequently, but recently, a silent consensus had been reached to halt any major actions.
The reason was simple.
New Year's Eve was approaching.
For a year, both civilians and ninjas, who had narrowly survived the battlefield, longed to savor this hard-earned peace. For them, there was no certainty that they would be alive to reunite with their loved ones the following year. Such was the life of a shinobi.
This world valued strength above all. The weak followed rules, while the strong dictated them. Allies today could easily become enemies tomorrow if the price was right.
Though New Year's Eve had yet to arrive, Konoha was already brimming with festive energy. Grateful villagers came to the Uchiha Police Force to express their appreciation for their efforts in maintaining order. Bai Ye accepted these gestures without hesitation. After all, how could a strong and self-disciplined man refuse the goodwill of the people?
Parker had expected Bai Ye to say something along the lines of, "Only accept the expensive ones," but to his surprise, Bai Ye didn't. In some cultures, gift-giving was a form of respect, and rejecting a gift meant rejecting goodwill. Even if these villagers had little to offer, their sincerity was clear.
Today was a significant day.
The Uchiha Police Force was setting out on an official mission.
For the past year, they had worked tirelessly to maintain peace in the village, a fact not lost on the villagers. As the team assembled at the village gates, their motorcycles lined up in formation, many onlookers expressed admiration and reluctance.
"The Guard is truly magnificent."
"We must encourage our children to study hard and one day join the force to contribute to the village."
"I wonder how Lord Hokage is feeling, having to rely on the Guard for village security during their absence."
"Oh, yes… Lord Hokage… That's hard to say."
As the villagers watched, Nawaki grinned and patted Itachi on the shoulder.
"Good brother, I'll have your back when we get there."
Did that really need to be emphasized? Itachi shot him a blank look, then frowned. Ever since Bai Ye denied his request for leave, he had felt… off. The Guard members noticed it too.
"Did you ride Lin today?" someone asked casually.
It seemed Bai Ye's illusion had left lingering effects on Itachi. He had developed an obsessive tendency, repeating certain actions as if afraid of forgetting something important. He would often pause and take deep breaths.
"The name of the jutsu… is Qilin!"
Distorting his face in frustration, Itachi roared at Nawaki.
Lightning crackled around him, and flames flared from his mouth.
Though a victim of Bai Ye's genjutsu, he had unknowingly benefited from it. His mind had imprinted the technique so deeply that it became second nature. Bai Ye had effectively forced him to master a new jutsu for free. It was a harsh but effective lesson in gratitude, according to Bai Ye.
He eagerly anticipated the day Itachi would use this against Obito.
Unlike Sasuke's Kirin from the original timeline, Itachi's version didn't rely on natural energy. Instead, it was powered by Bai Ye's chakra, allowing Itachi to trigger it passively—a life-saving trump card.
Why did Bai Ye cast this genjutsu on Itachi in the first place?
Simple. Obito had nearly been crushed by Bai Ye before, making it unlikely he would confront him directly again. However, he would surely seek out Itachi, viewing him as a pawn. Bai Ye had ensured that pawn would fight back.
Boom!
At last, Bai Ye arrived at the village entrance.
Draped in his signature cloak of justice, he exuded an undeniable aura of command. His outfit, clearly custom-made, was far superior to those of his subordinates. He carried himself with effortless confidence.
He glanced at his new vehicle, satisfied.
Orochimaru had outdone himself, crafting a luxury travel unit. Two oversized police motorcycles provided power, pulling a sizable compartment spacious enough for Bai Ye and his companions to rest.
A strong and disciplined man like him wouldn't lower himself to driving. That time could be better spent… enjoying the journey.
A breeze swept through as Bai Ye waved to the villagers. Inside the compartment, Tsunade and the others waited. Unlike Bai Ye, they weren't as comfortable under public scrutiny.
Bai Ye's gaze swept the area until he locked onto a distant figure—Sarutobi Hiruzen, watching from the shadows.
The Third Hokage was undoubtedly plotting something, as always. Bai Ye almost looked forward to uncovering his latest scheme and dismantling it with ease. He relished the opportunity to put Sarutobi in his place, treating it like a game of toying with a monkey. If the old man overstepped, Bai Ye wouldn't hesitate to deliver a final blow.
Turning away without a second glance, Bai Ye entered his carriage. Two female Guard members followed. He had no intention of letting male subordinates witness what was about to happen inside.
Then, a moment later, Bai Ye emerged again, holding Sasuke in one hand and gesturing to Itachi with the other. His gaze flickered toward Mikoto.
"Madam, you wouldn't want anything to happen to your child, would you?"
Blushing, Mikoto averted her gaze, too shy to speak.
"Godfather, what are you doing?" Sasuke asked, confused. He had been napping peacefully.
"Nothing, really. Just didn't feel like looking at you," Bai Ye replied with a smirk.
Sasuke was baffled.
"Didn't you always want to spend more time with your brother? Now's your chance to ride with him."
"Brother-in-law! Why are you giving my spot to Sasuke?" Nawaki protested, stepping out from behind Itachi.
"You can ride with Shanyang," Bai Ye said, pointing to the burly vice-captain. With a grin, Shanyang effortlessly lifted Nawaki onto his motorcycle.
No choice. Nawaki had poor balance. His first police motorcycle had lasted all of two days before he wrecked it. Tsunade wouldn't allow him to ride solo, so he had no choice but to double up with someone else.
Relieved, Itachi took Sasuke into his arms. He couldn't imagine the nightmare of having Nawaki twisting and turning behind him the entire ride. This was much better.
With all preparations complete, Bai Ye re-entered the carriage.
At the village entrance, the Guard members revved their motorcycles in unison.
The deafening roar sent shivers down the villagers' spines.
This time, before departure, Bai Ye had given clear instructions:
Show off.
Make it loud.
Shock the entire ninja world.
After a year of work, they deserved this. Even the proud Uchiha, accustomed to their own grandeur, relished the chance to let loose.
As the Guard accelerated toward the Land of Fire, rumors spread rapidly across the shinobi world. Many villages assumed Konoha was mobilizing for war, only to discover it was merely a "team-building exercise."
A very extravagant one.
As the team advanced, the Uchiha turned the journey into a race, confident they wouldn't lose their way.
Night fell, and the convoy stopped to rest near an abandoned mine. Bai Ye emerged from his carriage, adjusting his shirt. The fresh marks on his chest hinted at an intense "battle" within.
Then, unexpectedly, voices echoed from the mine entrance. Two figures emerged.
"Hey, you over there!"
"Do you know where Konoha is?"
And standing before them was a blind child…
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