"So strong!"
Gaara's expression slightly changed upon seeing the situation, and he waved his big hand.
More flowing sand surged toward Aoba.
However, in the next moment, Aoba's figure vanished into thin air.
Gaara was shocked in his heart at once, immediately realizing the opponent's greatest strength, speed.
Originally surging toward Aoba, the sand now began to move toward himself.
Gathering around him, preparing for Aoba's attack.
Just then, with a loud "BOOM," Aoba's figure appeared in front of Gaara, landing a punch directly.
Because the speed was too fast, his Shield of Sand had no time to react.
The Shield of Sand is a passive skill, a ninjutsu using sand imbued with Shukaku's will, capable of automatic defense.
But this ninjutsu also has a flaw: once the enemy's attack is too fast, it doesn't have time to react.
Previously, Rock Lee had already proven this. But this time, it actually made Gaara feel pain.
This was the first time since he was born that he understood what pain truly felt like.
The yellow sand on his skin fell off in chunks.
This was the Armor of Sand, also using sand from the gourd, covering the surface of his skin. This is his true means of defense.
But now, all of it was violently shattered by Aoba.
His body was flung away fiercely, and even blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
"Gaara is injured?", Kankuro's face showed fear, his tone filled with disbelief.
Although he had previously faced Aoba's monstrous strength, it had been his puppet taking the blow.
But now even Gaara was injured.
Kankuro was somewhat relieved that he had switched places with his puppet back then. If he had taken that punch himself, he might've gone to meet his great-grandma.
Standing nearby after leaving the lounge, Temari's expression was also shocked, but she quickly thought of another matter.
Her expression couldn't help becoming tense, 'Gaara might lose control!'
———
"So this is what pain feels like?", Gaara lay on the ground, licking the blood at the corner of his mouth.
A subconscious image of Yashamaru emerged in his mind. That man who obviously hated him deeply yet still pretended to love him.
Turns out, physical pain was just like this, completely incomparable to the pain in the heart.
'Aoba treats me so well, could this also be a trap from Konoha?'
'They are also eyeing the monster inside me.'
The surrounding sand became even more violent, and when Gaara stood up from the ground, the look in his eyes was already beginning to lose rationality.
Madness and killing intent gradually spread.
"They say pain makes you grow, but you look like you've grown crooked," Aoba looked at Gaara's state and couldn't help but sarcastically comment.
'No telling how many more personality-correcting punches it would take to straighten this guy out.'
The battle on the field entered the second round, and under the field, the undercurrents began to stir.
———
Nara Shikaku stood in a corner, watching the match on the field.
Seeing Gaara's changes, his heart instinctively raised his level of vigilance.
They already knew the opponent was the One-Tail Jinchuriki.
"How's the barrier preparation coming along?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a Konoha Anbu appeared before him, "The barrier team is all in position. The Four Violet Flames Formation can be activated at any time. The emergency evacuation routes for the villagers are also ready."
"What about the Hidden Cloud side?"
"They're also being watched."
"Very good."
———
Watching the fight between Aoba and Gaara on the field, at this moment, Rasa couldn't help but feel a bit of shortness of breath.
As time passed, the start of their plan grew closer and closer.
Rasa's gaze unintentionally shifted away from the two fighting on stage and began scanning the audience.
According to their original plan, Orochimaru's subordinates, along with his own, should now be hidden among the audience.
Sunagakure didn't have any ninjas skilled in barriers, so the job of setting up the barrier was handed to Orochimaru's people.
This was also the key to this operation.
They must use the barrier to trap Tsunade inside so he could have enough space to rely on the Akatsuki's power to quickly eliminate her.
And the Sunagakure ninjas would take the opportunity to cast genjutsu to control the scene.
When Gaara released Shukaku on the field, that would be the signal to begin the operation.
He would then attack Tsunade at that moment to immediately draw the attention of the Konoha ninjas.
And after Gaara released Shukaku, the Konoha ninjas' attention would shift back again.
That would leave him with Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame to face Tsunade.
Then, taking advantage of Tsunade's hemophobia weakness, they would end the fight instantly.
Rasa ran through the plan once more in his mind and suddenly felt a bit hot in his body and a chill on his back.
"What's this?"
'Sweat?'
'Am I actually nervous?'
———
Back on the field.
Gaara was already kneeling on the ground, bruised and swollen, eyes lifeless, as if doubting his own existence.
While Aoba stood in front of Gaara, completely unscathed, "Still feeling hot-blooded?"
"Gaara!"
The Sunagakure shinobi in the audience were all horrified at this moment, none of them expecting that the previously well-laid plan would run into an accident here.
Gaara had been knocked down flat by Aoba.
'Can Shukaku even come out now?'
However, in the next moment, Gaara collapsed on the ground. He directly passed out.
Seeing this from the high platform, Rasa's heart suddenly tensed.
'The plan has to begin!'
Suddenly, all the sand within the venue surged toward Gaara, covering him in an instant, forming a sand ball.
"This is…", Tsunade abruptly stood up, took two steps forward, and frowned at Gaara.
The sand ball was expanding, and one could vaguely see something massive struggling inside.
"Kazekage, is Sunagakure trying to start a war?", Tsunade's expression changed, asking sternly.
There's no issue with a Jinchuriki participating in the Chūnin Exams, but releasing a Tailed Beast is a huge problem.
"Hokage, there's no need to panic," Rasa stood up and said with a light laugh, "Let me just..."
Swish!
He directly pulled out a kunai, not choosing to attack Tsunade, but instead slashed open his own palm.
Bright red blood flowed out.
In an instant, multiple purple barriers rose up around, enclosing the entire high platform.
This sudden scene left the audience on the spectator stands confused about what was happening.
But many Anbu appeared around and began directing the audience to evacuate.
In the next moment, a large cloud of smoke and dust rose in the center of the arena.
Shukaku's chunibyo and arrogant voice echoed.
"I'M FINALLY OUT!"
A fat tanuki stood between heaven and earth, roaring loudly.
Upon seeing this, Aoba couldn't help but complain inwardly, 'This thing looks a hundred times uglier than in the anime.'
Its whole body was made of sand, dragging a fat body, and its belly was covered in strange blue stripes.
"Fat tanuki, you're too noisy."
"Hmm? It's you, brat?", Shukaku lowered his head and looked at the tiny Aoba below his feet.
Its small heart suddenly trembled. It had previously seen this guy use those terrifying chains, the same chains used to bind Kurama.
Right now, it was still inside Gaara's body, not in its true form. If it got tied up, even breathing would be difficult in the future.
Shukaku realized the gravity of the situation.
The fat tanuki turned and ran away.
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