"Huh? What's this?"
"Feathers?"
"Why can't I touch them?"
"Ah?"
White feathers drifted down from the sky. The audience looked on with curiosity, but the moment they instinctively reached out, their vision blurred. In just a few seconds, the world before their eyes lost clarity.
Within the Chūnin Exam arena, tens of thousands of ordinary spectators instantly fell into a deep sleep.
Even some genin with weak mental resistance and poor genjutsu proficiency collapsed unconscious.
'The plan has begun.'
The moment Menma saw the snow-like feathers filling the air, that thought surfaced immediately.
On the contestant platform, Sasuke, Sakura, Rock Lee, and Tenten all wore expressions of shock.
Below, Naruto stared blankly upward.
'What… what the hell is this?'
At the same time
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Maki leapt from the spectator stands, landing directly beside the massive sand sphere that encased Gaara.
Boom!
Explosions erupted around the perimeter of the arena.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
From multiple directions, dozens of black-clad figures burst into motion.
"Enemy attack!"
Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, and the other jōnin reacted instantly, entering full combat readiness.
Shiranui Genma flashed forward, positioning himself directly in front of Naruto, who still looked dazed. His gaze locked onto Maki, sharp and hostile.
"Sunagakure shinobi—are you betraying the alliance and declaring war!?"
His words carried killing intent.
At the same time
On the highest platform.
Orochimaru seized the moment, dragging the still-reacting Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, onto the rooftop.
"Four Violet Flames Formation!"
The four Sound ninja activated the barrier simultaneously. A blazing purple formation rose at the four corners, completely isolating Orochimaru and Sarutobi from the outside world.
ANBU reinforcements struck the barrier
And were instantly incinerated into ash.
The remaining guards could only stop outside, powerless.
"Orochimaru… do you truly intend to do this?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at his former student, sorrow evident in his eyes.
"Heh heh… It's not about intention, Sensei. This outcome was decided long ago."
Orochimaru extended his neck unnaturally, a Kusanagi sword sliding from his mouth. He licked the blade slowly, his eyes gleaming with madness.
"Today, Konoha will be destroyed right here."
"…I see."
Sarutobi fell silent briefly before lifting his gaze. Sharp resolve cut through the cloudiness of his eyes.
"I will not repeat the mistake I made years ago. Orochimaru… I will end this with my own hands."
He cast aside his ceremonial robe, revealing his combat attire. Despite his age, an overwhelming aura erupted from his body.
"Then let us see if you still possess that strength, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Today, I've prepared several surprises for you."
Orochimaru glanced briefly toward Menma below, mockery flashing in his eyes.
!?
In that instant
"Impure World Reincarnation!"
Orochimaru slammed his hands together.
Just as in the original events, Sarutobi reacted immediately, suppressing the final coffin before the Fourth Hokage could emerge.
Teacher and student.
Their decisive battle began.
This duel would influence the fate of the entire invasion.
And yet
The most critical factor remained Gaara.
Inside the sand sphere, his tailed beast transformation was already underway.
As long as that shell remained intact, once the technique completed, Gaara would fully transform into Shukaku.
The devastation that would follow was something no ordinary shinobi could stop.
Above the arena.
Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, and Yūhi Kurenai moved instantly.
Shino, Kiba, Hinata, Shikamaru, Chōji, and the other genin, though confused, followed their teachers' orders and moved to protect the nobles and officials of the visiting nations.
When Kakashi noticed Maki and the ANBU-disguised Kabuto Yakushi guarding Gaara's sand cocoon, he immediately understood—
This was a critical objective of Sunagakure.
"Kai, I'll leave this to you!"
"Got it!"
In moments, the jōnin divided their roles. One group remained above to contain the Sound and Sand ninja, while Kakashi and the others leapt downward toward Gaara.
"That alliance was a joke from the beginning."
Maki sneered at Genma, Kakashi, and the approaching jōnin.
"Today, Sunagakure takes back everything we lost!"
"What's going on… Kakashi-sensei? Genma?"
Naruto asked anxiously from behind, confusion finally giving way to alarm.
"Naruto," Kakashi said firmly, his Sharingan fully exposed, its three tomoe spinning with deadly clarity, "withdraw immediately. Go assist with the civilian evacuation. Leave this to us."
This was no longer a sparring match.
Even Naruto could feel the gravity of the situation.
He stared at Maki, Kabuto's masked figure, the sand-encased Gaara, and the hostile Temari and Kankurō.
'They're enemies.'
That realization finally settled.
"No, Kakashi-sensei!"
Naruto shook his head fiercely.
"I'll fight here! The others can handle the rear!"
He might be reckless—but he wasn't blind.
This was an invasion.
And he would fight.
Side by side with his comrades.
To protect the village.