Gaara raised his palm, a cloud of yellow sand floating under his control, his voice cold and sharp, "You... drew the worst lot!"
The next moment!
The yellow sand suddenly flew towards Uchiha Sasuke!
"With just this?"
However, Uchiha Sasuke responded to the sand with a casual raise of his arm, dispersing it with a swipe, as if it was just a wisp of dust!
"I'll kill you!"
Gaara's face turned instantly furious, half of it morphing into a monstrous visage as the Chakra surged within him!
"Sand Coffin!"
Gaara controlled the sands instantly to wrap around Uchiha Sasuke like a sealed cocoon, tightly enclosing him!
"Sandstorm Burial!"
Gaara lifted his palm aggressively, ready to clench it into a fist, wanting to use the sand to squeeze Uchiha Sasuke to death!
However, amidst the desperate constriction, a burst of lightning appeared within the sand!
The defense in Lighting Release Chakra Mode was astonishing, Uchiha Sasuke calmly stood in place, as if nothing had ever happened!
"How is this possible!"
In The Hidden Sand Village's preparation area, Kankuro was startled.
"That move…"
Temari was also somewhat shocked looking at the unharmed Uchiha Sasuke, recalling the terror of that move, "That's Gaara's most brutal killing technique…"
However…
The battle within the field had already changed.
Uchiha Sasuke's Lighting Release Chakra surged out, instantly winding around his body, his silhouette speeding like lightning, swiftly charging towards Gaara!
"Die!"
The sands rolled!
Masses of sand, controlled by Gaara, attempted to halt the charging Uchiha Sasuke, yet they were shattered like inferior workmanship!
Boom!
A fist directly landed on Gaara's chin!
This always arrogant red-haired boy flew backward, the sand armor shattering instantly, making him look like a broken porcelain doll!
The fight between the two...
Completely unmatched in scale!
Fear appeared in Gaara's eyes, never having faced such speed and strength in an opponent before, even the ever-protective sands couldn't defend!
Moreover…
His sand couldn't even catch up with the opponent's speed!
Gaara raised his hands, the sand spreading and gathering, forming a solid spherical shield around him, hoping to block Uchiha Sasuke's attack!
Yet…
The sand sphere instantly shattered!
Uchiha Sasuke's sprinting silhouette tore through it like paper, the lightning crackling from his fingertips!
"It seems it can't protect you…"
Lightning flashed at Uchiha Sasuke's fingertips, his gaze cold and disdainful, "Is that all you got? Don't think our battle is just child play like those others."
The blue lightning instantly dazzled brightly!
Gaara's sand defense dissolved completely, the red-haired boy screaming in pain amidst the lightning's flash!
Just as the examiner of the third match, Shiranui Genma, intended to intervene, fearing Gaara might be killed by Uchiha Sasuke, the situation flipped again!
A gigantic claw grasped out!
The claw moved rapidly, aiming directly for Uchiha Sasuke, as if to crush the dark-haired boy before it!
"I finally came out!"
A furious voice echoed through the arena!
With its appearance, a massive entity filled the arena above, resembling a plump raccoon yet differing entirely in its fierce build!
"That is… the One-Tailed Shukaku!"
The ninjas present were bewildered, looking at the enormous tailed beast that emerged!
For Konoha, which had once faced the horrific night of the Nine-tails Attack, nothing was more terrifying than the appearance of a tailed beast, causing everyone to stand up in panic, reliving the tragic night from years ago!
The One-Tailed Shukaku!
The Hidden Sand Village's war weapon!
Though its Chakra amount is ranked lowest among tailed beasts, the terror of a tailed beast has long been ingrained, not everyone can face such a beast without flinching!
However…
Further chaos erupted with a covert surprise attack!
As the One-Tailed Shukaku emerged, ninjas from The Hidden Sound Village and The Hidden Sand Village launched a sudden assault on Konoha Ninjas, igniting immediate combat between the factions!
Atop the highest stand of the arena.
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen remained seated calmly, lazily blowing a smoke ring, seeming unperturbed by the kunai appearing at his throat.
While everyone was shocked by the One-Tailed Shukaku's appearance in Konoha, Fourth Kazekage Rasa appeared behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, holding a kunai against his throat.
"Kazekage..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face remained calm as ever, as if all were still within his grasp, "If you abandon all plans now, and drop the kunai in your hand, I can choose to let today's events slide, the One-tailed's power can't change anything…"
"You didn't recognize even me? Sensei."
Fourth Kazekage Rasa removed his veil, revealing a coldly handsome face, like a snake extending its long tongue to lick its lips, "The One-tailed can't really change anything, nor even decide the battle…"
"Orochimaru!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face slowly turned cold.
He had anticipated Orochimaru's appearance!
But hadn't foresaw this manner!
"Sensei…"
"I've been through the Nine-tails Attack…"
Orochimaru's mouth curled into a sinister smile, "If my predictions are correct, the One-tailed is just a toy for that Uchiha kid…"
"But…"
"I have some entertaining things…"
Orochimaru raised the kunai, stabbing through his palm with a grin, "Whether it's crushing Konoha, or solving that genius Uchiha brat, they're more than enough…"
"Indeed…"
"They excel at dealing with Uchiha…"
"Moreover…"
"They know Konoha best…"