The Chunin Exams were still underway. The third match, between Temari and Shikamaru Nara, had finally shown everyone what a battle between genin should look like—a thrilling contest of both intelligence and skill.
But no one knew what was happening backstage.
Kabuto Yakushi watched as Karin extended her arm toward Sasuke. He glanced at the other ninjas nearby, his expression growing complicated. Orochimaru had given him a clear order: find a suitable opportunity during the Chunin Exams to take Sasuke Uchiha away. At any cost.
To be honest, Kabuto didn't quite understand Orochimaru's logic. No matter how he looked at it, Sasuke wasn't stronger than his teammate, Naruto Uzumaki. Could it be that Naruto was too strong, and Orochimaru didn't dare make a move on him?
The two little girls, Sakura Haruno and Karin, were not a concern. But finding a way to snatch Sasuke from under the noses of the surrounding Konoha ninjas would be no simple task.
Of course, having an inside man changed everything.
A swirl of falling leaves appeared before everyone's eyes. The ninjas backstage looked up in surprise, and as they watched the leaves drift down, they slumped over, falling into a deep sleep. Sasuke, who had been lying on a stretcher, also tumbled to the ground.
Even as he fell, he did not let go of Karin's arm. His mouth was slightly open, allowing her blood to drip, drop by drop, into his mouth.
A figure appeared beside Kabuto. "Did you get him?"
Kabuto looked at the drowsy Sasuke and nodded. "There shouldn't be any problem for now... Take him away!"
"Alright!" The person reached out to grab Sasuke.
Unexpectedly, the moment his hand neared, a pair of scarlet Sharingan eyes snapped open. Sasuke twisted his body, grabbing the man's arm in a reverse grip. A ninja sword gracefully cut through the air and came to rest on the person's shoulder.
"A shoddy genjutsu..."
Using genjutsu in front of an Uchiha? These guys were either too bold or just plain foolish. But when Sasuke saw the man's face, his expression changed abruptly. "You... what are you doing here?"
It was Dosu, from the Sound village. Sasuke was horrified. This was the guy who had injured Kabuto before the exams started, and now he was working with him to capture him.
"Because the leader of the Sound village..." Kabuto's voice came from behind Sasuke as he continued slowly, "...is Lord Orochimaru."
"Lord... Orochimaru?"
Sasuke turned his head to see the smile on Kabuto's face, and his heart sank like a stone. This guy had defected to Orochimaru, too. This was not good news. Sasuke knew Kabuto's strength was far greater than he let on. He was a formidable enemy. But why had he been lurking in Konoha all this time?
Suddenly, a powerful wave of chakra erupted from the arena. A group of ANBU were frantically shouting for support, their voices filled with confusion about what was happening.
Sasuke's face changed again. Konoha was being invaded.
Kabuto remained unfazed. He stroked the scroll in his hand and said softly, "It's about to begin... the Konoha Crush plan."
"My mission is just to capture this little brat named Sasuke, right?" Dosu fiddled with his arm, his head lowered.
The white-haired youth nodded and smiled. "Sasuke-kun won't be caught so easily. If you lose..."
"Don't worry," Dosu interrupted, raising his head to fix his eyes on Sasuke. "I won't lose to this little brat who grew up in a greenhouse!"
"Bastard..." Sasuke gritted his teeth and drew his ninja sword.
-----
Meanwhile, in the arena, after Temari had left the stage, everyone was waiting for the battle between Kankuro and Shino Aburame. But unexpectedly, the Fourth Kazekage suddenly took the Third Hokage hostage.
No, to be precise, it was Orochimaru who had taken the Third Hokage hostage. The S-rank rogue ninja, once exiled from Konoha, had announced his return on this incredibly important occasion.
What made things worse was that the One-Tail Shukaku went on a rampage at the same time.
"I really don't know where that guy Orochimaru gets his confidence from..." Naruto Uzumaki swung his arm, stepped onto the railing, and looked at his team leader. "Kakashi-sensei, I'll go take care of the One-Tail!"
"Naruto!" Kakashi called out to his student, then instructed softly, "Try not to cause too many casualties..."
"Don't worry, Kakashi-sensei!" A golden chakra cloak enveloped Naruto's body as he leaped down towards Shukaku.
Kakashi watched the situation unfold, his expression extremely grim. "That guy Orochimaru... has he already made a deal with the Sand Village?"
It seemed so. Throughout the arena, Sand ninjas were relentlessly attacking Konoha shinobi alongside the Sound ninjas. Temari, who had just finished her match, was now fighting Shikamaru again. Kankuro had also engaged his opponent, Shino Aburame.
The attack was so sudden that the Konoha ninjas were caught in the ambush, suffering heavy losses. With Shukaku raging in the arena, they were unable to focus their efforts.
High above, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru had already exchanged a round of attacks. Now, the two stood facing each other on the highest stand.
Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue and licked his lips, looking down at the Sand and Sound allied forces who held the upper hand. "Sensei, is this the Konoha you protect? Compared to when I was here, these little ones are so fragile!"
"Orochimaru!" Hiruzen's eyes narrowed as he spoke in a low, muffled voice. "If you retreat now, I will spare your life."
"Hahahahaha..." Orochimaru burst into wild laughter, laughing so hard that tears came to his eyes. After a long moment, he reached up to wipe them away, and his face suddenly turned cold. "That's really too bad."
His hand clenched into a fist. "I have returned to my hometown today for the precise purpose of taking your life!"
As his voice fell, just as Hiruzen was about to retort, another terrifying chakra fluctuation washed over their senses.
A tall, golden fox stood up on its hind legs. It looked less like a fox and more like a true fox demon.
"Is that the Nine-Tails?"
"You can tell just by looking at its fox head, right?"
"This Nine-Tails looks different!"
Many of the Konoha ninjas present had lived through the Nine-Tails' rampage years ago. The Nine-Tails of that night was a ferocious beast, completely different from the golden fox standing before them.
"That enormous chakra... only the Nine-Tails has that... Is it going on a rampage again?"
"Run, quick!"
"Sealing Team, we need support!"
"Lure the Nine-Tails away first! Deal with the One-Tail!"
Just as panic was spreading, an ANBU ninja pointed at the golden fox and shouted, "Captain, the Nine-Tails... it seems to be here to help us!"
ROAR!
In everyone's line of sight, the golden fox stretched out its claws and, with a single strike, knocked the rampaging Shukaku to the ground.
Hiruzen's mind relaxed slightly. He wasn't afraid of Orochimaru's threats, but he had been deeply worried about the Tailed Beast's rampage. Seeing the golden fox completely suppress Shukaku, a small smile actually appeared on his lips, though it hardly fit the grim atmosphere.
"Naruto... has really grown up." Hiruzen glanced at his former student beside him and continued in a low voice, "Orochimaru, it seems your plan is about to fail..."
"Not necessarily, Sensei." Orochimaru shook his head, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes. "You are too old. You can only indulge in the present comfort and have forgotten the painful experiences of Konoha's past..."
"Orochimaru, what do you mean?"
"Sensei, my parents died in the war when I was young." Orochimaru gripped the kunai in his hand and slowly cut his palm. "So I have always believed that without experiencing a mother's loving education, one's life cannot be considered complete... Ninjutsu: Impure World Reincarnation!"
"Come forth, Princess of the Uzumaki Clan!"
-----
Bonus Banter:
Hiruzen Sarutobi: Can you even fight the Nine-Tails?
Orochimaru: I've made many preparations...
Hiruzen Sarutobi: What preparations?
Orochimaru: First, the ultimate move against the Nine-Tails... Kushina Uzumaki!
Hiruzen Sarutobi: ...
Nine-Tails: ...
Naruto Uzumaki: ...