Although Sasuke struck Gaara several times using Chidori, the powerful piercing jutsu was largely blunted by Gaara's dense sand defense. While it did create openings and cause Gaara trouble, the actual physical damage was minimal.
As Gaara's transformation progressed and he became more like the One-Tail, Shukaku, his chakra became increasingly unstable and violent. His monstrous form grew more fearsome, and the sealing jutsu trying to restrain him was breaking down. Just swinging his massive sand-covered arm created shockwaves that made it nearly impossible to approach, let alone land an attack. Sasuke's assaults were proving ineffective.
Haruno Sakura, leaning against a tree not far from the battlefield, quietly administered first aid to herself. Moments earlier, when Gaara had broken free from her earlier Genjutsu-induced paralysis, one of his massive clawed sand limbs had slashed at her. The strike nearly impaled her — a fatal blow. Fortunately, Sasuke Uchiha, reacting with lightning speed, had intervened and pushed her out of harm's way, though he took a glancing blow to his left arm in the process.
Luckily, Gaara didn't pursue her. In his berserk state, Sakura barely registered as a threat. Sasuke, on the other hand — the one who had wounded him — was his target.
As Sasuke struggled to find a way to fight back, Naruto Uzumaki finally arrived on the scene.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted, forming a hand seal. In an instant, dozens of shadow clones flooded the battlefield and charged Gaara, launching a frenzied attack to relieve the pressure.
Naruto rushed over to Sakura. "Sakura! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied, still catching her breath. "But check on Sasuke — he got hit hard by that last shockwave!"
"I'm fine," came Sasuke's voice. He emerged from behind a tree, panting but still on his feet. Seeing him upright, both Naruto and Sakura breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's great! Let's go — the three of us together can't lose to Gaara!" Naruto said enthusiastically.
Sasuke gave a small, confident smile in response. But before he could say anything, his body buckled. He collapsed forward, catching himself with shaking arms. A searing pain shot through his neck — the cursed seal was reacting violently.
"Damn it… Not now…"
Sasuke had already exceeded his limits. Kakashi had strictly warned him not to use Chidori more than twice a day, yet he had gone well beyond that, and had even used his Sharingan to keep up with Gaara's frenzied movements. His chakra reserves were depleted, and his body couldn't keep up.
Sakura and Naruto rushed to his side.
"Sasuke-kun! Are you alright?" Sakura asked in panic. She knew some basic medical ninjutsu, but chakra exhaustion was beyond her ability to treat.
The cursed seal on Sasuke's neck pulsed. Even minimal chakra usage triggered sharp pain. He couldn't respond — he was barely conscious. Even when supported, he couldn't stay on his feet and collapsed again.
"…Looks like I'm out for now," he muttered bitterly. "Damn it… there are still stronger opponents out there, and I can't even get past this…"
Suddenly, Sasuke's eyes snapped to the treeline.
"Watch out — Gaara's coming!"
Naruto spun around. "What?! My shadow clones were wiped out already?!"
He gritted his teeth. "Sakura — stay here and take care of Sasuke. I'll hold Gaara off!"
He leapt forward, creating more shadow clones to launch a new offensive.
Meanwhile, inside the Four Purple Flame Formation, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, panted heavily. Across from him stood the First and Second Hokage, revived via Impure World Reincarnation. Though Orochimaru had suppressed their full power, their undead bodies reformed no matter how many times Hiruzen struck them down. Even with temporary strength restored by the experimental omnipotent potion, Hiruzen could barely hold them off.
"It's too much," he thought grimly. "Even if I break through their line, defeating Orochimaru in this state is nearly impossible…"
"You can't fight all three of them alone," one of his shadow clones muttered, reflecting his own doubt.
"I thought I could handle this on my own," Hiruzen admitted, breathing hard. "But it seems… age has finally caught up with me. No helping it. Ape King Enma — prepare yourself."
With that, he dispelled his clones and began weaving a series of complex hand signs.
"Five Element Seal Combination: Great Elemental Barrage!"
Simultaneously, he unleashed Earth, Water, Fire, Lightning, and Wind Release techniques in a massive, coordinated assault. The five elements surged together in a roaring convergence, smashing into the Four Purple Flame Formation's barrier. The air crackled, the flames shimmered — and then, with a deafening roar, the unbreakable barrier cracked and shattered.
The blast's aftershock tore through nearby rooftops, demolishing a nearby building before dispersing harmlessly into the air.
Orochimaru, barely avoiding the blast, stared wide-eyed. "Impossible… You still had that much power left?"
This was a level of ninjutsu even Hiruzen couldn't easily use in his prime. To release it now — under such duress — could only mean one thing: he had chosen to burn out everything he had left.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "So you're betting it all, Sarutobi-sensei… I underestimated your resolve."
Outside the shattered formation, Mizuki, observing from a concealed location, noted the weakening chakra flow around the barrier. He gestured to the Anbu around him.
"Target the fat one and the woman — Jirōbō and Tayuya. They're the weak points in this chakra formation."
Though the Four Sound Ninja's coordination maintained the barrier's power, uneven chakra levels could create micro-fissures. Under enough pressure, those weak points would crack.
Following Mizuki's orders, the Anbu launched a synchronized barrage of elemental jutsu at the specified spots. As the pressure mounted, the Four Purple Flame Formation began to ripple and distort.
Another barrage — this time a Five Elemental Barrage fired from Hiruzen's last clone — tore through the remaining layer.
The Four Purple Flame Formation, one of the Sound Four's greatest techniques, finally collapsed.
"…It's down?" Mizuki muttered, half in disbelief.
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