Chapter 259: Naive
"Snakes... they're giant snakes!"
"What's happening?! Is this an enemy attack?!"
When those behemoth-like summoned serpents appeared from nowhere and coiled on the venue's ceiling, the entire audience area instantly descended into extreme chaos.
People jumped from their seats in terror, shoving and screaming, trying to flee this place that had suddenly become perilous. Daimyo and nobles from various nations were surrounded by their bodyguard ninja, hastily escorted toward safe passages under protection.
Kakashi and Guy stood with grave expressions. The worst-case scenario had come true—the attack had indeed erupted during the Chunin Exams.
Just as the two prepared to be first to engage those rampaging giant serpents, Sound ninja hidden among the spectators also tore off their disguises! Several ninja wearing concealing clothing and Sound Village headbands leapt out, intercepting Kakashi, Guy, and numerous other Konoha ninja.
"Right now, you're not going anywhere," the lead Sound ninja's voice was ice-cold. "Can't let you... interfere with that lord's plan."
"Hidden Sound Village, so you really are trying to start a war?" Kakashi's gaze was sharp as a blade. "Get out of my way!"
Both sides instantly reached a standoff, kunai drawn. Guy also assumed his Strong Fist stance, battle on the verge of breaking out. At this critical moment, someone disguised as ANBU seemed to sense something and raised a hand to stop their companion about to attack.
BANG!
"HISS—!"
Heavy impact sounds and a giant serpent's agonized hiss suddenly came from overhead! Everyone looked up simultaneously.
They saw a petite yet swift figure already leaping into midair, delivering a clean, powerful punch that slammed hard into one serpent's lower jaw! That massive snake head was actually knocked sharply upward by this seemingly tiny strike, letting out a pained roar!
The figure didn't pause, taking advantage of the serpent's reared-back head to appear above it like a teleport. Her body twisted agilely in the air, using the falling momentum, her elbows and knees hammering like rain on the same spot on the snake's head!
"Lion Combo!"
Satsuki's cool voice rang out as she employed a taijutsu technique learned from Guy and modified, flowing like water as she completely defeated this giant serpent! The massive serpent body drooped limply, losing all vitality.
She landed lightly on a railing atop the viewing stands, black hair fluttering slightly in the wind. Just moments ago, she'd been hiding alone in a quiet spot cheering for Naruto when the sudden attack disrupted everything. Though unclear on the specific situation, seeing Konoha ninja intercepted, she stepped forward without hesitation.
The remaining serpents seemed enraged by their companion's instant defeat. They simultaneously turned their hideous heads, opened their gaping maws, released deafening hisses, and lunged at Satsuki from different directions!
Facing this terrifying coordinated assault, Satsuki simply closed her eyes. When she reopened them, those jet-black pupils had transformed to crimson, radiating eerie yet powerful ocular might.
"Become immersed in the Sharingan's genjutsu."
Her ocular power spread like invisible ripples, precisely invading each giant serpent's optic nerves.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Several consecutive heavy thuds sounded as all serpents lunging at her seemed to have their souls extracted at the same moment. Their massive bodies stiffened and froze, then like puppets with cut strings, they tumbled from above, crashing heavily onto the arena floor or stands, kicking up clouds of dust, unable to move again.
Meanwhile, on the rooftop, the situation had become dangerously tense.
"Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation!"
The Sound Four who'd been disguised and lurking in hiding instantly appeared, the four positioned at cardinal points, simultaneously forming seals. Just as Orochimaru leapt onto the rooftop while holding the Third Hokage hostage, a purple solid barrier suddenly rose, completely isolating inside from outside.
"Orochimaru..." The Third Hokage, with a kunai pressed to his vital point, spoke in a low voice. "Since the Kazekage was you in disguise all along, then where is the real Kazekage... right now?"
Orochimaru's tone was full of mockery and amusement. "What's wrong, Sarutobi-sensei? Don't tell me you think that Lord Kazekage was coerced by me? No, we reached a wonderful understanding. Right now, he's... serving an important 'purpose' elsewhere. You should worry about your own situation first."
Down in the venue below, Kankuro, Temari, and Baki watched the plan launch as scheduled, yet their hearts sank. Their gazes focused on the arena floor—Gaara maintained that terrifying half-Tailed Beast form but lay weakly on the ground from severe injuries, clearly unable to complete a full Tailed Beast transformation as planned.
In this attack, the One-Tail Shukaku's destructive power was an indispensable trump card for the Hidden Sand! They had to immediately remove Gaara from the scene and attempt to awaken Shukaku after his injuries recovered!
Naruto surveyed the venue descending into chaos. This anticipated invasion had begun after all... Then he'd act according to his own contingency plan.
His thoughts stirred and his form instantly blurred—Flying Thunder God Technique!
The next moment, he'd appeared beside Gaara. Under the shocked gazes of the three Sand ninja, Naruto steadily placed his hand on Gaara's mutated shoulder.
Whoosh!
Accompanied by the soft sound of spatial fluctuation, both figures instantly vanished from their original position!
"Gaara!?" Temari's cry was left behind.
When he'd used "Flying Thunder God Second Strike" earlier—or rather, the Flowing Light Instant Shadow: Double Execution Flash Step Second Stage Spatial Leap Zero Form technique—he'd left a Flying Thunder God formula mark on Gaara. Now, this mark became the coordinates for transportation.
After a brief space-time transition, Naruto and the semi-conscious Gaara appeared in a secluded forest clearing outside Konoha Village. Right here, he'd completely resolve the One-Tail Shukaku problem.
However, Naruto's gaze was immediately drawn to a distant sight—a giant three-headed summoned serpent as large as a small mountain was releasing earth-shaking roars, viciously attacking toward Konoha Village!
Though Konoha had indeed left him with many unpleasant childhood memories, now... this village held too many people he cared about, who also cared about him. If he possessed power yet chose to stand by with folded arms, he could never forgive himself.
Naruto suddenly felt he might truly be somewhat naive. He'd actually believed that taking someone's life might require sufficient reason, but extending a helping hand, protecting something... often didn't need any complex excuse.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
His hands rapidly formed seals. Accompanied by clouds of white smoke, hundreds of Naruto's shadow clones instantly appeared in the forest clearing. Without the slightest hesitation, they simultaneously mobilized their chakra—
"Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Hundreds of figures transformed into golden flashes at the same moment, using Flying Thunder God marks scattered throughout Konoha, throwing themselves back into that village where the flames of war had already ignited without looking back.
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