Times seem to have shifted to an uncomfortable silence, with a vague sense of anxiety lingering in the air. The Akatsuki no longer pursue their vouch for world domination, with a hidden plan no one can yet fathom. Orochimaru failed to capture Sasuke Uchiha, and all goes well for the individual teams who were nothing more than Genin so long ago.
Yet something dark sweeps through the night. A veiled presence sits patiently as the veil of life rolls back, and beyond the curtain lies a force beyond human, bent on a will of malicious ire.
This is now the Path of Venom. This is the new world of Naruto Uzumaki.
After Orochimaru was seemingly destroyed, and Team Hebi was formed, it wasn't long before Uchiha Sasuke would catch his brother dead in his tracks. Hebi stayed behind, as Suigetsu Hozuki attempted to kill Kisame, and retrieve the sword he had long awaited. Itachi falls incredibly ill, blind and exhausted, soon dying before young Sasuke's feet after a long battle. Then, Madara sweeps up the fainted Sasuke, and takes off to an unknown location to try and clarify things.
The Akatsuki are never hindered, always searching for the ever present Uzumaki Naruto, and more importantly, the Jinchuriki.
Sasuke's searchers, the Konoha shinobi, are at camp near the rubble of the Uchiha battle; undecided on whether it would be best to go back to Konoha to reform, or whether to continue their hunt.