On the quiet night of January 10th, in the 50th year of Konoha, the Hidden Leaf Village lay silent under the vast sky of the Land of Fire. The once bustling streets were now deserted, and a brilliant full moon hung high, its silvery light casting a delicate veil over the village, lending it an ethereal beauty.
At the heart of the village, the Hokage Tower stood brightly lit, a stark contrast to the dark surroundings. Surrounding the tower, numerous members of the Anbu Black Ops, clad in tight black uniforms with white straps and animal-themed white masks, stood like silent sentinels, their ninja swords strapped to their backs. A heavy, palpable tension filled the air.
Suddenly, a figure dressed in a white cloak and wearing a pure white mask appeared on the rooftop platform of the Hokage Tower. Speaking rapidly, the figure announced, "Kumogakure and Sunagakure forces are attacking. Notify all the village's ninjas immediately.
"Instruct them to assist the Police Force in evacuating civilians to the shelters as quickly as possible. Once done, regroup at the Hokage Tower!"
"Yes, Captain!"
All the Anbu members knelt briefly in acknowledgment before vanishing into the night, spreading out across the village like fleeting shadows, each carrying a sense of foreboding.
Roughly six minutes later, at the western edge of the Uchiha Clan's district, an Uchiha ninja landed in front of a two-story house.
"Uchiha Gen, an emergency summons. Report to the Police Force immediately."
"Understood."
After receiving a reply, the messenger vanished without a trace.
Inside a second-floor bedroom, a figure swiftly rose from a warm bed, dressing efficiently. He donned his armor, strapped on his ninja tools, and slung a sword over his back before leaping out of the window into the courtyard.
The moonlight revealed the figure's features: a boy of about twelve or thirteen with sharp, well-defined features, deep black eyes, and a noble yet cold demeanor. His black top and pants were complemented by gray-black armor on his chest, arms, and legs, all adorned with the iconic Uchiha fan emblem. Unlike most ninjas who wore sandals, he opted for breathable black boots.
His presence exuded a mix of aloofness and valor.
"What could warrant such an urgent summons at this hour?" he muttered. "What's the Third Hokage up to now?"
The irreverence in his tone was uncharacteristic for someone from the Hidden Leaf, where respect for leadership ran deep across all ranks.
In truth, Uchiha Gen wasn't a native of this world but a transmigrator from Earth. On an ordinary night, he had been watching Naruto and One Piece on his phone before falling asleep. When he awoke, he found himself in this world.
The original owner of his body had succumbed to severe injuries on the battlefield. When Uchiha Gen took over, he returned to the frontlines briefly before being sent back to the Leaf Village for recovery.
For three and a half months, he had stayed within the Uchiha district, honing his skills while awaiting further orders.
"This timing… it's definitely nothing good. Most likely war," he sighed. "Although I've inherited the original's battle memories, experiencing it firsthand will be a different beast. Nerve-wracking yet… exhilarating."
As he spoke, his black pupils morphed into blood-red Sharingan with two tomoe in each eye, glowing faintly in the dark like a sinister flame.
These eyes were born from the original's anguish—first awakened at the age of ten upon hearing of his parents' deaths, and later evolved after witnessing the deaths of his mentor and teammates.
Despite unlocking the two-tomoe Sharingan, the original owner had perished due to chakra depletion after evading enemy attacks.
A cool night breeze blew past, clearing Uchiha Gen's mind. Shaking off his stray thoughts, he vanished into the night.
In front of the Police Force headquarters, numerous Uchiha ninjas clad in dark uniforms had assembled in orderly ranks. The atmosphere was solemn, devoid of chatter.
The Police Force, being a militarized unit, operated with strict discipline. When Uchiha Gen arrived, his clanmates instinctively stepped aside to let him take his place at the front.
As the Leaf Village's most prestigious clan, the Uchiha boasted a population exceeding two thousand. However, less than half were ninjas, and only a fraction of those possessed the Sharingan.
Among the Uchiha, Sharingan users held higher status, with two-tomoe users ranking just below the elite three-tomoe members.
At just thirteen years old, Uchiha Gen's talent had already earned him significant recognition within the clan.
Shortly after his arrival, three more ninjas joined. Once roll call confirmed everyone's presence, a tall ninja emerged from the headquarters.
This man, with short brown hair and narrow eyes, wore a dark blue robe over black combat attire. His chest armor bore the Uchiha fan symbol, while green jonin-style chainmail adorned his shoulders.
"Captain Yatsushiro," the group greeted with a respectful bow.
Yatsushiro nodded gravely. "Kumogakure and Sunagakure have launched a surprise attack and are closing in on the village. The Hokage has ordered the immediate evacuation of civilians to shelters. Afterward, all ninjas are to regroup at the Hokage Tower."
"Move out!"
The grim news weighed heavily on everyone. For the first time since its founding, the Hidden Leaf faced an enemy at its doorstep.
Uchiha Gen's expression darkened, his fears confirmed. This was indeed war.
The ferocity of Kumogakure and Sunagakure's offensive promised a brutal conflict. Both sides would fight fiercely to defend their homes and honor, ensuring heavy casualties.
Yet this event clarified a lingering mystery for Uchiha Gen:
The fall of Hiruzen Sarutobi during his prime likely stemmed from this disastrous invasion. Coupled with the massive losses of the Third Ninja War, his leadership failures left him with no choice but to step down in favor of the Fourth Hokage.
"Yes!"
Despite their somber moods, the ninjas responded without hesitation. They dispersed, some heading to awaken their clansmen, others moving to assist civilians.
Under the ninjas' swift actions, the once-quiet Hidden Leaf soon erupted into chaos. Streets filled with villagers carrying children, their cries echoing through the night.
This first-ever invasion had exposed the lack of preparation among both ninjas and civilians. Coordination was clumsy, and the evacuation dragged on until dawn.
By then, all civilians had been moved to shelters, and the ninjas, despite their exhaustion, gathered at the Hokage Tower's square like an army of restless shadows, ready for the battle to come.