OoC Thread (should you want to sign-up)
It has been over one-hundred and seventy years since the Fourth Shinobi World War. Over the past thirty years, crises begot wars and collapse of many ninja villages. Tens of thousands of shinobi lost their ninja way, becoming the Lost. Many became hermits and lonely nomads or otherwise lost to record, including several Jinchuriki; others became dangerous brigands, finding a new purpose in stealing-from the world that they so opposed, hurting many more ninja villages.
However, several decorated ninja helped many of the Lost, giving new purpose and life to many. Villages were reconstructed and raiders were fought-back, their followers dignifying their movement "Rebirth". Many raiders were crushed, but earned ire from the Shinobi Union for their methods that has caused tensions between the two and nearly brought war already before they agreed to halt operations. The world is on edge, and raiders continue to prod from their enclaves. To keep order, a task force has been secretly established by the Shinobi Union to deal with a threat that will bring the world to the brink.
Under starlight and snowfall, an assembly occurred. Congregated hurriedly, the menagerie of shinobi from various villages gathered far away from preening eyes in an observatory. The brutalist architecture and barren path indicated how little thought was had for the thought of visitors. The inside was warmer than the outside, though still of an air that carried a shortness of breath for some of the shinobi. The meeting room was furnished with utilitarian intent, from the fake wood table to the swivel chairs, the only exception to the strict utilitarianism were a few seasonally out-of-touch paintings of vegetation in the spring.
"Gentlemen," a voice called-out to the room before arrival, that of an ANBU operative from Sunagakure accompanied by a samurai, "I apologize for the short notice, but this is an urgent matter and the time for the cover stories was pressed, but we feel that this is an urgent matter that needs secrecy."
"We have reported sightings of at least eighteen missing-nin in the Land of Iron alone," the General said as he threw a stack of dossiers onto the table. "We weren't alone in sightings, but I put together the pieces. Judging by the locations of the sightings across the world, they've got purpose and are moving farther inland than reasonable. While we and the Shinobi Union have been trying to interdict them, we suspect, judging by the orders of these sightings, that they are headed to Konohagakure," General Miki explained in guttural tones.
"Given the timing and how many of them are of mercenary motivations, we suspect that somebody has untoward intentions regarding the upcoming Chūnin Exams and is willing to pay a princely sum for it. For this reason, we have decided to see fit for the establishment of a task force to disrupt whatever plans this benefactor may have. These men are mercenary in motivation, so I doubt that they are headed to Konoha for the cherry blossoms. ANBU Black Ops shall keep trying to intercept them before arrival, but it some might have their appointment with T&I delayed until after their arrival, and that is your responsibility. To disguise your presence, everyone here is going to be provided covers for being there, either as exam proctors or as bait, by which I mean genin. Your responsibilities will be protection of the Chūnin exams and, if so necessary, the village-at-large from these unwelcome guests and the apprehension of these people's employers. . . Any questions?"
The morning of the Chunin Exams was slightly noisier than normal. There were more morning birds than the norm, but still relatively peaceful as the sun rose on the early spring landscape. Early morning training soon was drowned-out by the sounds of the awakening village. The small aberration became a large one as training grounds had far more practicing teams than normal, both from those outside the village and natives who wanted some last-minute training. Standing on-top of a building in the historic district was one member of the task-force in the grey uniform of the exam proctors, forced to not adopt just a cover but a disguise on account of conflict of interest that his involvement in the exams would otherwise present for the first part of the exam meant to occur down below.
"Eighteen unaccounted for. This is going to be a chore," groaned the ninja under the alias of "Taiki Nakamura".
