In the center of the arena, under the gaze of tens of thousands, Naruto was being lifted high like a hero, basking in thunderous cheers that roared like the sea.
And at the very top of that uproar, in the VIP seats—
Orochimaru, draped in the "Kazekage" cloak, wore a warm, gentle smile on his pale face. He raised his cup in a toast toward Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him.
Yet deep within those golden snake-like pupils lay nothing but icy killing intent and naked greed.
Akashi Sora leaned lazily against the wall of the player passage, yawning carelessly.
His gaze cut through the crowd and locked precisely with Orochimaru's for a brief instant.
Keep acting. Go on, keep acting.
Sora silently sneered in his heart.
Oscar owes you a little golden statue.
"Next match!"
The chief examiner, Genma Shiranui, cleared his throat, his voice ringing across the entire stadium.
"Suna Village, Gaara — versus — Konoha Village, Uchiha Sasuke!"
The frenzied cheering abruptly stopped.
The atmosphere instantly became heavy and oppressive.
If Naruto vs. Neji had been a refreshing underdog comeback story, then this match was something completely different — a horror film.
Gaara stood expressionlessly in the center, the massive gourd on his back. Those deep, dark circles under his eyes and his emotionless turquoise pupils radiated a suffocating sense of pressure.
"Sasuke."
Sora called out to his disciple who was about to step forward.
"Hm?"
Sasuke turned back, his black eyes sharp as a blade.
Sora raised two fingers.
"Remember two things."
"First — his sand defense is fast, but it's not limitless. Use your fastest speed and strongest piercing power to break through before he can react."
"Second." Sora paused, the smile on his face turning somewhat playful, "If you can't win, just run. Don't stubborn it out to the death. Your brother is still watching from the stands. He'll be sad if you die."
Sasuke's body suddenly stiffened.
He instinctively glanced toward the stands, but saw nothing unusual.
Still, he knew Sora wouldn't joke about something like this.
Brother… is watching me.
An indescribable shiver raced up Sasuke's spine and straight to the top of his head.
He took a deep breath, said no more, and with a flicker of Body Flicker Technique, appeared opposite Gaara.
The battle began!
No probing — Sasuke's figure vanished from his spot instantly.
Fast!
Extreme speed!
His entire body turned into an afterimage almost impossible to track with the naked eye, circling Gaara at high speed, searching for a flaw in that absolute defense.
"Sand Armor!"
Gaara growled low. Flowing sand instantly covered his whole body.
But Sasuke's speed exceeded his expectations.
"Chidori!"
The piercing cry of a thousand birds tore through the sky. Blue-white lightning gathered in Sasuke's palm.
He didn't choose a straight thrust — instead, he wrapped the lightning around his entire body!
Chidori Current!
Crackle—!
Blue electricity spread like a spider web, instantly paralyzing the sand that tried to defend automatically.
Now!
Sasuke appeared behind Gaara's side. His right hand, blazing with Chidori, stabbed viciously toward Gaara's shoulder!
Puchi!
For the first time, blood sprayed from Gaara's body.
The entire stadium fell deathly silent.
On the stands, Temari and Kankuro shot to their feet in shock.
"How is this possible… Gaara's absolute defense…"
"AAAAAHHHH!!"
A scream that didn't sound human erupted from Gaara's throat.
From the shoulder where he was wounded, a grotesque arm made of sand burst out violently, smashing toward Sasuke.
Relying on the Sharingan's insight, Sasuke barely dodged at the last possible moment.
He stared at Gaara — half his body already beginning to turn into sand, eyes crazed — with an unprecedentedly grave expression.
This guy… is a monster!
But just as the battle was about to explode into full fury—
A single pure white feather drifted slowly down from the sky.
Then a second… a third…
Like snowfall, they fluttered down everywhere.
"It's here."
Sora looked up at the falling feathers, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.
"Ninja Art: Temple of Nirvana Technique."
The next second, more than ninety percent of the people in the arena had their eyes glaze over. Their bodies went limp and they collapsed to the ground.
The Konoha Crush Plan had officially begun.
"Release."
Sora didn't even form hand seals — he simply snapped his fingers lightly.
An invisible wave spread outward with him at the center.
Karin and Naruto beside him shuddered and instantly regained clarity.
"This is… genjutsu?" Karin asked in shock.
"What's happening?!" Naruto looked completely confused.
Sora ignored them. With a flicker, he appeared beside another figure who had also awakened.
Nara Shikamaru.
"Hey, genius." Sora patted his shoulder. "Stop sleeping. Time to work."
Shikamaru looked at the sea of collapsed people around him, then at the four figures who had suddenly appeared on the rooftops in the distance. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
At the same time, four Oto-nin appeared on the four corner rooftops of the arena, hands flashing through seals.
"Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation!"
A towering purple transparent barrier rose from the ground, enclosing the entire rooftop area and trapping both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru inside.
"Move!"
From the audience seats, dozens of disguised Suna and Oto shinobi — posing as spectators and even some Anbu — suddenly rose up together. Kunai and tanto stabbed toward the unprepared Konoha shinobi beside them.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
Might Guy turned into a green bolt of lightning, instantly kicking three enemies flying.
"Sensei Sora!!"
Naruto shouted anxiously.
"Shut up, you're noisy."
Sora irritably dug in his ear. Looking at the five Oto-nin charging toward him, he casually flicked his hand.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave."
Puff! Puff! Puff!
Invisible wind blades flashed past. Five heads flew into the air, blood splashing across the stands.
He didn't even glance back, only muttered in complaint:
"Seriously… disturbing me while I'm watching the match. Don't you people have any sense of decency?"
Might Guy's eye twitched at the sight, then he roared with boiling hot blood:
"That's youth for you! Sora! Let's protect Konoha together!!"
After casually dealing with the small fry around him, Sora ignored the overly passionate Guy and slowly walked toward the enormous purple barrier.
He could feel it — inside the barrier, two massive chakra signatures were gathering and brewing.
Edo Tensei.
Sora stopped walking. His amber eyes calmly reflected the scene inside the barrier.
He had absolutely no intention of stepping forward to help.
At this moment, Uchiha Shisui's squad should be far away at the border of the Land of Fire, chasing down missing-nin. Distant water can't put out a nearby fire.
The Uchiha clan had already received his "reminder" and were now fully defending their compound. They wouldn't get involved in this mess.
Itachi was nearby — Sasuke's safety was not a concern.
Everything was going exactly according to the script.
The Third Hokage… it was finally time for him to exit the stage.
And he himself would be the most loyal, dedicated audience member of this closing ceremony.
Sora watched as, inside the barrier, Orochimaru formed hand seals. Two coffins slowly rose from the ground.
On their surfaces were written, respectively, the kanji for "First" and "Second."
"Finally."
Sora licked his lips, an excited hunter's smile spreading across his face.
"Let me see… just how much substance the legendary God of Shinobi really has."