Chapter 216: Intimidation of the Tailed Beast
BOOM!
Almost the entire Forest of Death was shaken by the terrifying aftershock of this tailed beast chakra cannon! Violent air currents spread outward like tangible impact rings, stirring up billowing dust and broken branches. Towering ancient trees swayed violently, experiencing a sudden storm.
All examinees executing missions in the forest simultaneously stopped their movements, looking with shock toward the direction from which that destructive energy came.
"What's happening?! What was that?! Akamaru, are you alright?!"
In the distance, Team Eight had just successfully subdued a squad using traps they'd set up, smoothly obtaining the scroll they needed.
Before they could celebrate, they were frightened pale by this catastrophic commotion like natural disaster descending. Kiba clutched Akamaru tightly—ninja dogs' danger perception far exceeded ordinary shinobi.
At this moment, Akamaru's eyes were tightly shut, his entire body curled into a ball, emitting faint whimpering sounds. This was the first time Kiba had seen his partner show such profound fear.
Over there... what kind of monster appeared?!
Though Aburame Shino still wore sunglasses making his exact expression unclear, his slightly trembling body already revealed his inner shock.
He clearly sensed that all insect colonies dwelling within his body were madly warning, transmitting nearly instinctive death threats.
This level of power... should we really continue staying here? Wouldn't forfeiting and fleeing the exam grounds be the wise move?
Hyuga Hinata's situation was even worse. The instant the explosion occurred, she instinctively activated her Byakugan attempting to investigate the source, only to have her senses directly assaulted by that crimson chakra filled with violence and destruction.
Her legs weakened as she crouched on the ground, hands tightly hugging her trembling shoulders, face pale as paper. For Team Eight possessing excellent reconnaissance abilities, precisely because they could clearly sense that power's terror, the mental impact they suffered was far more intense than ordinary examinees.
Just as the three were shrouded in fear, nearly making the decision to forfeit—
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Several figures flashed out from nearby forest at extreme speed. They uniformly wore Konoha ANBU standard attire, faces covered with animal masks.
The lead ANBU captain quickly swept his gaze over the still-settling energy fluctuations in the distance, then focused on these three clearly frightened village genin before him.
"No need to panic."
The ANBU captain's voice came through his mask. "The Hokage has indicated that power is within controlled range and won't affect other exam ground areas. As long as you stay away from the explosion center, your assessment can proceed normally."
After leaving this brief reassurance, without waiting for Team Eight's response, several ANBU once again employed Body Flicker Technique, transforming into several black shadows rushing at extreme speed toward the battle's central area, leaving only Kiba, Shino and Hinata in place, looking at each other with shock and confusion written all over their faces.
Meanwhile, on the Forest of Death's other side, the Sunagakure squad had just crushed an overconfident Kirigakure squad that attempted to ambush them, smoothly obtaining the needed scroll.
They continued according to original plans, disguised as ordinary examinees traversing the dense forest, quietly awaiting the signal for their plan's official launch.
However, that heaven-destroying explosion and the violent chakra impact that followed instantly made Kankuro and Temari's faces turn deathly pale, as if doused with ice water.
The three of them actually somewhat held a "fishing in a barrel" mentality participating in the Chunin Exam. After all, their strength far exceeded ordinary genin. But sensing that natural disaster-like power, they clearly realized—before such existence, they were as insignificant as ants!
What exactly is that thing?! Temari's knuckles turned white from gripping the three-star fan on her back. If directly encountering that kind of power, they'd definitely die without intact corpses!
Just as Kankuro and Temari were gripped by fear, hesitantly considering whether to temporarily avoid confrontation—
"Ugh...!"
A pained groan came from behind. The two whipped their heads around to see Gaara actually supporting himself with one hand while the other clutched his head tightly, body trembling slightly, face showing extremely pained expression.
"Gaara! Are you alright?!"
Temari suppressed her fear and stepped forward with concern, only to be roughly pushed away by Gaara's waving hand.
"Ugh... shut up... shut up!"
Gaara's voice was hoarse and distorted, resisting the roaring monster in his heart.
"Damn fox!!!"
The Shukaku inside him, stimulated by this kindred terrifying chakra, fell into unprecedented fury, constantly roaring and ramming in his consciousness. The intense mental confrontation made Gaara's head split with pain. Simultaneously, he himself also produced an inexplicable restless reaction to that power filled with destructive aura.
After quite a while, Shukaku's disturbance gradually calmed. Gaara gasped heavily, wobbling as he straightened his body again. Looking at his brother and sister trembling slightly from fear before him, his cold gaze still held no warmth whatsoever.
"Move," he uttered brief, cold commands. "Continue the mission."
"Con-continue?" Kankuro's voice carried incredulous trembling. "But Gaara, that commotion just now..."
"Shut up." Gaara interrupted him. "Do you want to die?"
"...!"
Between the distant unknown threat and the certain death warning before them, Kankuro swallowed with difficulty, ultimately succumbing to more immediate fear and lowering his head. With Temari's equally pale face, the two could only steel themselves and follow Gaara, continuing toward the central tower.
---
Just now, the very moment Nine-Tails chakra explosively erupted from within Naruto, crimson light sweeping through the forest, in the Hokage building's top floor office, the atmosphere was grave.
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen sat upright in his office chair, hands steadily supporting the crystal ball, brow furrowed, gaze sharp as a torch as he stared at real-time footage displayed within the sphere.
Through the crystal ball's surface, he saw—Uzumaki Naruto's body wrapped in tangible crimson chakra, his form changing drastically in the light, ultimately transforming into a small Nine-Tails!
However, the small Nine-Tails that Naruto became not only hadn't lost reason, but rather swiftly adjusted posture, his body firmly protecting Uchiha Satsuki and Haruno Sakura in front, completely separating them from the threat ahead.
This isn't uncontrolled rampage... Understanding and profound shock flashed through the Third Hokage's eyes. This is... perfect mastery of tailed beast power! A true perfect jinchuriki form never before seen in Konoha's history!
Since that night many years ago, this was the second time he'd witnessed Naruto actively guide and wield this violent power capable of heaven-destroying, earth-shattering destruction. And this time, that control appeared even more skilled, even more effortless.
This should have been a milestone worth relief and celebration, meaning Konoha possessed unprecedented strategic power.
But at this moment, not a trace of joy could be found on the Third Hokage's face. All his attention, all his surprise and gravity, had already been firmly seized by another figure in the crystal ball—that figure standing atop a giant serpent's head, remotely confronting the tailed beast-transformed Naruto.
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