Kabuto gave a small nod, unfazed by the look on Baki's face. His gaze drifted into the distance, a flicker of complexity in his eyes—the original plan had been tossed out completely.
What would happen next was anyone's guess.
"What about Gaara?!"
Seeing Gaara go fully tailed-beast, Temari's expression turned anxious.
"Relax. Gaara's just slipped into a temporary slumber. He'll be fine for now."
Baki looked at Temari, his tone softening as he explained.
"Waking up and finding so many people I want to kill—how delightful!"
Shukaku exploded with a booming, manic laugh, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Fūton: Suna Sandan (Wind Release: Sand Scattershot)!
Shukaku's massive body whipped once, and countless grains of sand blasted out like bullets in every direction!
"Not good!"
Baki's face changed; he yanked Temari and Kankuro back at full speed.
Standing off to the side, Kabuto also retreated in a hurry—no one wanted to eat a wide-area strike from Shukaku head-on.
A sharp, tearing whistle ripped the air; in the blink of an eye, the entire Chūnin Exams venue was riddled with holes.
Many civilians who hadn't cleared out in time, along with some shinobi caught off guard by Shukaku's sudden attack, died on the spot!
Locked in a standoff with Orochimaru, Hiruzen saw this and his eyes went blood-red at the corners.
"Sunagakure—you'll pay for this! All Anbu, pin Shukaku down with everything you've got!"
Hiruzen roared in fury.
"Understood!"
Anbu operatives vanished where they stood, streaking toward Shukaku.
Watching them rush out, Hiruzen steadied himself and turned back to Orochimaru, launching his attack.
Shukaku was a huge threat, but the village did have ways to deal with a tailed beast.
If Orochimaru escaped today, that would be a disaster for Konoha.
To openly collude with other villages against Konoha—everything Orochimaru was doing had made Hiruzen give up on him completely.
Even if Orochimaru had once been his most beloved disciple!
Doton: Doryūdan no Jutsu (Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet)!
A fanged earth dragon surged up from beneath Hiruzen's feet, lunging straight at Orochimaru.
At the same time, Hiruzen didn't slow for a heartbeat. He tore off his Hokage cloak and tossed it aside, revealing a body that, though lean with age, was still packed with corded muscle.
His lined face still radiated an aura no one could afford to underestimate.
Seeing this, Orochimaru licked his lips; a rare spark of battle-lust flickered in his eyes.
Fighting Hiruzen-sensei when he's going all out… not a bad idea.
He had planned to use Impure World Reincarnation, but suddenly it felt… dull.
And in the current chaos, attempting Edo Tensei would likely get interrupted anyway.
Doton: Doryūdan no Jutsu (Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet)!
Orochimaru's hands flashed through seals. Though Hiruzen had moved first, Orochimaru's jutsu flew just a fraction faster.
"Hiruzen-sensei! You're already old!"
Orochimaru let out a low chuckle, then opened his mouth wide—Kusanagi no Tsurugi (Kusanagi Sword) shot forth.
Hiruzen's expression didn't change. He charged straight in, hands still weaving signs.
"Orochimaru, I've told you before—this isn't how ninjutsu is used!"
Hiruzen suddenly halted. His hands clapped together with force.
Fukugō Ninpō: Doryū Enryū (Composite Ninjutsu: Earth Dragon Flame Stream)!
Borrowing the earthen dragon he had just formed and combining it with Katon (Fire Release), he created a dragon of earth wreathed entirely in flames, spewing fire as it surged.
Orochimaru's earth dragon shattered the instant they collided, and the incoming Kusanagi no Tsurugi was knocked flying by the flaming earth dragon.
Boom!
With a thunderous blast, the roaring, flame-wrapped dragon swallowed Orochimaru whole.
—
At Konoha's front gate.
"That was way too easy—can't believe Konoha's main gate breaks this easily," Suigetsu said, thrilled.
"Easy?"
"If Konoha were really this easy to breach, it wouldn't be the foremost of the Five Great Shinobi Villages."
Zabuza glanced at the ruined gate ahead. Excitement flashed in his eyes, then he shot Suigetsu a cold look and sneered.
Ameyuri smiled, charming lips parting to show pointed teeth. "If not for Yuto-sama breaking their barrier—and with Suna providing cover right now—the moment we showed up here, we'd have been hit."
"Speaking of which, where are those guys?"
Hearing them, Suigetsu shrugged and looked around in confusion.
"Yuto-sama sent them ahead to support Suna's units. With Sunagakure's current strength, they can't stand up to Konoha's assault."
Ameyuri fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a lower voice.
"If not for Yuto-sama, Kirigakure's strength wouldn't be much different from Suna's right now."
"They're coming."
Zabuza's voice brushed both of their ears.
Ameyuri and Suigetsu snapped their eyes forward.
A large number of Konoha shinobi were already converging on the gate, flooding into their field of view.
The Konoha Police Force!
Ever since the Uchiha clan was wiped out, the Police Force's authority had been handed back to the village leadership. Because the Hokage commanded his own Anbu, and Danzo controlled his own Root, both sides rarely let the Police Force meddle.
These days, the ones truly in charge of the Police Force were Homura and Koharu!
When Suna attacked Konoha, those two hadn't planned to intervene—not just because they felt it was the Hokage's responsibility, but more importantly because Suna hadn't yet posed a serious threat to them; there was no need to spend their own strength.
But now, with Konoha's gate blown open by the enemy, it was a slap in their faces. Even if they didn't want to commit their forces, they had no choice.
"Attacked by Suna yet still able to station so many shinobi nearby—so this is Konoha's true strength?"
Suigetsu swallowed, visibly shocked.
"From the start, Suna's assault probably wasn't even worth Konoha's attention."
"Even now, Konoha likely hasn't shown all its power."
Ameyuri let out a light laugh beside him, though a chill threaded her voice.
"And as the stepping stone for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to return to the stage—doesn't that make it even more fun?"
Zabuza drove the Executioner's Blade into the ground with a heavy thunk, his voice edging on mad delight.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are no joke.
At their peak, their missions were to assassinate the Kage of every village!
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