221-225
Added 2025-08-13 16:59:59 +0000 UTCChapter 221: Sasuke and Gaara
Neji's eyes bulged with visible veins as he stared at the rapidly approaching Naruto.
The dense chakra within Naruto made him cautious; it was truly terrifying.
He even wondered how Naruto trained to have such abundant chakra.
After all, he had graduated a year earlier than Naruto.
As expected, Neji lost.
His prized Gentle Fist acupoint strikes couldn't land on Naruto.
While the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven was a formidable defense, Naruto was an all-rounder. He completely overwhelmed Neji.
Neji could only concede defeat, powerless.
No one expected Naruto, the so-called dead-last, to defeat a seasoned prodigy without even losing his breath.
He had become the biggest dark horse of the tournament.
---
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched silently.
He felt a slight sense of guilt towards this child. Despite his exceptional talent, Hiruzen had kept him hidden all this time.
Perhaps he truly was getting old.
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought with a touch of melancholy.
His eyes darted around under the Hokage hat, searching for Itachi's figure.
After finding no trace, he grew even more dispirited.
---
"Winner, Naruto!"
As Hayate's announcement rang out, the arena erupted in cheers and boos.
Many had favored Neji, only to be surprised by how completely he was defeated.
Others had favored Naruto because, from the start of the competition until now, he seemed to have bottomless potential, always managing to defeat his opponents.
Perhaps it was this knack for miracles that made them back Naruto.
Neji stared blankly at the sky, waiting for the medical personnel to carry him away.
He was deeply lost in thought.
The beliefs he had held onto for so long were now showing cracks.
---
Naruto watched Neji being carried away. After a deep look, he turned and left.
His silhouette was a little forlorn.
Though still a young boy, he had already lost the vivacity typically associated with youth.
In its place was a sense of maturity and depth.
It was hard to tell what he was truly thinking.
Even though many people were cheering for him, he found it boring, even noisy...
Human emotions, they don't truly connect.
---
Compared to others who were surprised by Naruto's strength, Sasuke's heart swelled with joy.
Was Naruto finally done hiding his true power?
This was awesome...
Sasuke was genuinely happy for Naruto.
He wanted more people to know the real Naruto.
His amazing talent and terrifying strength, enough to surprise everyone.
---
"Sasuke's up next..."
After watching Naruto's match, Itachi started to doze off.
Even with the roaring crowd, it didn't disturb Itachi's sleepiness one bit.
This ability was something many insomniacs could only dream of.
Who knows how much time passed, but Kakashi gently shook Itachi and whispered in his ear.
"Oh..."
Itachi rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep, after hearing Kakashi. He then focused his attention on the arena.
---
"Scorching Wind!"
The match between the two began with an immediate burst of intensity.
Sasuke's opponent was Gaara.
There was no sense of testing the waters; Sasuke immediately activated Shadow Clones and used a combination of jutsu.
He was going to bring honor to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"A good combination jutsu."
Gaara stood behind a shield made of piled sand.
He commented with a hint of emotion.
His tone was a bit annoying, as if he thought himself superior.
---
Sasuke frowned slightly at the opponent's sand shield.
The shield blocked the wind, so the flames couldn't spread past it.
And the temperature of the flames wasn't enough to melt sand, so this move failed.
Luckily, he had plenty of chakra, so it was no big deal.
If they were evenly matched, he would gradually fall behind because his chakra output and the opponent's chakra defense weren't proportionate.
"It's really lively."
A middle-aged man, wearing a straw hat, entered the stands.
He looked at the bustling crowd around him, feeling a mix of emotion.
His tone carried a hint of satisfaction and reflection.
---
"That's a truly sturdy shield."
Sasuke said calmly, after his plan to melt the sand failed.
His expression didn't change; he was just testing the waters.
Thinking this, he signaled to his shadow clones.
The shadow clones, seeing this, quickly formed hand signs like blurs.
Moments later, several sharp water jets shot towards the shield in front of Gaara.
If water wasn't working directly, then he would use water to increase the sand's weight and try a nature transformation counter.
The power of the water jets wasn't great; it was only a C-rank jutsu.
Even if the scale of his use was comparable to a B-rank jutsu, Gaara's sand was truly solid.
The sand shield was hit with several crater-like dents from the water jets, but compared to a nearly one-meter thick sand shield, these mere tens of centimeters of dents weren't enough.
Furthermore, water poured on the sand didn't seem to cause much change, and it didn't affect Gaara's control.
As long as he stood on solid ground, as long as his opponent's strength didn't exceed his by too much, he was basically invincible.
This was his confidence.
---
"Are you done? If this is all you've got, then let me kill you..."
Gaara's eyes were bloodthirsty as he spoke in a sinister tone.
Constantly defending wasn't his style.
Sasuke didn't reply to Gaara's words.
A myriad of ninjutsu floated through his mind.
He was a little indecisive...
This was just the beginning...
---
He formed hand signs again, still with shadow clones.
But this time, four shadow clones stood in a line with him.
Including himself, five Susakes formed their own squad.
"Lesser Five Elements Bullet."
Sasuke's eyes gleamed with excitement, as if he was picturing what was to come.
His main body formed the hand signs for Fire Release.
The other clones formed hand signs for other jutsu.
---
Five Elements Ninjutsu involves performing five different elemental jutsu.
Then, they are combined to enhance their power.
It's a "one plus one is greater than two" kind of operation.
Combining them also offers various advantages.
However, he wasn't planning on doing that yet; he was just going to bombard him.
C-rank jutsu weren't the techniques that decided a ninja's fate.
---
Water Release, Fire Release, Wind Release, Earth Release, and Lightning Release all surged towards Gaara.
It was as if they wanted to give Gaara a complete baptism.
Sasuke's chest puffed out as he quietly waited for his shadow clones to release their jutsu.
His Great Fireball Jutsu was set to be the finale.
Earth spikes aimed for the craters from before.
Although they were almost fully repaired, that spot was slightly weaker compared to other areas.
Next were the lightning ball, water ball, wind blades, and Great Fireball.
All the ninjutsu came one after another, without any pause, hitting the same spot.
And different ninjutsu had different attributes.
The reactions they caused on the sand were also different.
The goal was to destroy the chakra controlling the sand and the structure of the sand shield itself.
---
He just wanted to break the shield for fun, to test his ninjutsu.
This was way more fun than attacking rocks.
And this sand even had an automatic repair function.
What a great target, it felt incredibly satisfying to hit.
Sasuke maintained a calm facade, but internally, he was snickering mischievously.
No one but himself could have guessed his true intentions.
Chapter 222: Sasuke's Setback
Gaara, just about to unleash a jutsu, saw his sand shield wavering, his face terribly grim. "This is never-ending," he thought. But he still stopped his hand seals, strengthening the sand. At the same time, sand from his gourd surged out, drilling into the ground like a giant yellow serpent. He was creating a massive amount of sand; the shield in front wasn't from his gourd, so it wasn't as easy to manipulate.
"Gaara's actually been on the defensive this whole time?" Temari said, surprised. In her eyes, her brother was the strongest of their generation; how could the fight be like this? Kankuro's expression flashed with a knowing glint, but he didn't speak.
---
Seeing Gaara, who had just been spouting threats, fall silent, Sasuke had originally planned another round of B-rank jutsu bombardment. He wanted to use every jutsu he knew to show Itachi, who might be watching, how much he had grown. However, he also felt a bit silly playing around like this. This kind of bombardment was great for group fights. In a one-on-one match, especially against an opponent of Gaara's caliber, it seemed like "scratching an itch." Unless he used that Great Five Element... since each of those jutsus possessed immense power.
---
With that thought, Sasuke dispelled his Shadow Clone Jutsu. His eyes turned crimson, undulating as if something was about to burst forth. Soon, a pair of tomoe emerged, constantly trembling. Quickly, a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan appeared, slowly rotating. The Sharingan had the ability to copy, but against this strange sand, it clearly had no effect. And Sasuke's use of genjutsu was still at an introductory level. So, he began to form hand seals.
A series of piercing sounds started to emanate from the battlefield, chaotic and disorderly, causing intense headaches—pure noise pollution.
"Chidori? No, it's the initial stage..." Kakashi, who had been staring blankly, occasionally glancing at his ninja pouch, ready to pull out his little book, was drawn in by the noise. He then saw the flashing electricity in Sasuke's hand and murmured in shock. However, seeing the quality of the lightning and the noise, he understood. Then, somewhat resentfully, he looked at Itachi...
---
"Yes, the incomplete Chidori. I only taught him a short while ago, and I didn't expect him to learn it so quickly." Itachi recalled the pile of scrolls he had given Sasuke in the Land of Waves, one of which was the Chidori he had gotten from Kakashi. Hearing Itachi's words, Kakashi gave Itachi an exasperated look, then said nothing more. He felt a good deal of resentment. He had wanted to pass these techniques down to his future disciples. Yet, before he even took on a disciple, his famous jutsu had already spread. It was quite frustrating. He had thought Itachi wanted to borrow and study it, which had excited him greatly at the time.
---
Sasuke looked at the lightning in his hand, quite pleased. He found it perfectly suited his aesthetic, much cooler than Naruto's Rasengan. The only thing was the noise, which, being so close, made his chest feel tight. It was really too loud. It was basically an indiscriminate attack, which was quite annoying. However, he maintained a calm facade, hoping no one would realize what he was thinking. And the noise attracted everyone's attention, which was quite satisfying. Sasuke thought to himself. His knees slightly bent, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan stared intently at Gaara.
---
Gaara looked at the lightning in Sasuke's hand and secretly swallowed. This jutsu made a warning bell ring loudly in his heart; he felt a sense of danger. His sand armor offered him no sense of security. With a thought, his innate sand, which was currently creating more sand, began to vibrate. He watched Itachi, who was rapidly charging towards him, without a word. His wrist moved slightly, making a grasping motion. A large hand made of sand emerged from the ground, aiming for Sasuke's legs, preparing to grab him. He didn't want Sasuke to get close.
---
"Childish..." Seeing the sand that had failed to dodge grab his legs, Sasuke's chakra surged. The condensed sand was instantly dispersed. It didn't even last a second. His current chakra and physique were no longer what they used to be. This wasn't a battle of equals. Forget Gaara; even a Jonin would get beaten by him.
---
Seeing this, Gaara's heart sank. He raised his wrist, making a lifting gesture, as if a noble emperor signaling a minister to rise. Behind him, yellow sand rapidly surged, forming a colossal wave of sand, tens of meters high, crashing down towards Sasuke. Sasuke, seeing this, was utterly stunned. He felt like a tiny boat in a vast ocean. The winds were rising, and waves were crashing. Human strength in such a moment felt like that of a small ant.
---
Hiruzen Sarutobi in the stands frowned slightly. The high walls around the arena were only five meters tall; this rising sand could easily injure the audience. Moreover, the yellow sand completely obscured the view. Hiruzen's eyes narrowed darkly as he looked at the Kazekage beside him. "The Kazekage has a worthy successor," Hiruzen said ambiguously.
Flickering lights appeared at the four corners of the arena. A massive square barrier enveloped the fighting grounds to prevent harm to the spectators.
---
Sasuke looked at the enormous, map-altering jutsu before him and suddenly felt his lightning wasn't so impressive anymore. "What the hell is this? This is ridiculous!" he thought. "What kind of freak is this now?" Sasuke thought, speechless. His once-proud jutsu seemed utterly powerless at this moment. He, who had always had smooth sailing, was now experiencing a setback. "Charge head-on, enduring it with my body? Don't be stupid..." "Bombard with ninjutsu?"
---
His ninjutsu couldn't possibly shake such a grand force. What he lacked right now was precisely this kind of large-scale jutsu. However, despite how desperate it looked, Sasuke had no intention of giving up. He didn't know that Gaara had already utilized Shukaku's chakra. Shukaku was standing on the sand, on the earth... Of course, due to the seal's restrictions, Gaara was only using a portion of its chakra. This was still enough to pin down several Jonin. This was the destructive power of a Jinchuriki, and the deterrent and overwhelming force of large-scale combat.
---
"Do it... Kakashi, you hold off Guy." Itachi rubbed his eyes, rising like the wealthy merchant beside him, as if trying to get a better look at the situation in the arena. His lips moved slightly, his voice transmitting into the ears of Orochimaru and Kakashi on either side of him. Orochimaru said nothing, his figure flickering away. Kakashi, on the other hand, gave Itachi a deep look, then went to find Guy. Itachi was practically omnipotent. Even his relationship with Guy, and Guy's... Kakashi shivered, remembering Might Duy's fighting power. One word: fierce! Two words: super fierce! He was truly a beast.
Chapter 223: The Curtain Rises
"Don't panic, big brother's about to give you a huge boost..."
Itachi's gaze seemed to pierce through the swirling sand, seeing a somewhat bewildered and lost Sasuke.
While everyone was focused on the two youngsters battling in the arena, Orochimaru appeared behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, a kunai pressed against the neck of the Hokage, who was distracted by Sasuke's safety.
"Don't move."
Orochimaru's distinct voice rang out, causing Hiruzen Sarutobi's body to stiffen.
Then came a wave of confusion.
He hadn't expected it to be Orochimaru...
His once beloved student was now holding a kunai to his neck...
A wave of sorrow washed over Hiruzen Sarutobi, making it hard for him to breathe.
Orochimaru, Itachi... both were Konoha's prodigies...
And now, their blades were aimed at Konoha...
"Orochimaru... can you tell me why you're mixed up with Itachi?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't move, letting Orochimaru carry his body away swiftly.
"Lord Hokage! Damn it! Lord Hokage has been abducted!"
At this moment, the Anbu finally noticed something was wrong and shouted.
The voice had powerful penetration.
Instantly, the sound spread throughout the entire arena.
The Anbu, who were already prepared, immediately scattered.
They had long since received orders.
If something like this happened, they were to immediately evacuate civilians.
Take them to a safe place to hide.
Juzo and the Kazekage made no move, maintaining a detached attitude.
Juzo's eyes were a bit bewildered. Wasn't this supposed to be just a show? Why was there fighting?
And attacking the Hokage, what the hell?
The Kazekage's eyes gleamed, as if he had just thought of something.
"Tell Gaara to stop. Our ally is in crisis. The Chunin Exams are suspended. Go help."
The Kazekage spoke calmly, and his bodyguard nodded.
"Oh, I didn't expect the Kazekage to become the Hokage's subordinate, did I?"
Juzo said with a mocking tone.
Who knew what his intentions were? He remained wary of the Kazekage.
The Kazekage's brow furrowed at Juzo's words.
It wasn't because he was guarding against him, but their alliance was new, and their relationship was truly ambiguous. If he didn't act, who knew if Juzo would turn against them?
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was a seasoned Hokage, and his combat power was immense. The Kazekage didn't believe Hiruzen Sarutobi was in any real danger.
It was good to show goodwill if possible.
Now that their three great villages were allied, life was much better.
If they were to fall apart, the weakest Hidden Sand Village would suffer again...
Now, things were great. The Land of Fire had abundant food, the Land of Water had seafood; life was simply too beautiful, full of sunshine.
"This..."
The large man in the audience had a grim expression as he watched this scene.
Just moments ago, he had been engrossed, but now he was filled with gloom.
To launch a terrorist attack in Konoha right in front of him, what were they thinking?
Just as Hashirama was about to make a move, he stopped again...
The battle was still under control.
The intruders hadn't attacked civilians.
After all, the cost of him intervening would be immense.
If news of his survival spread, it would cause a huge uproar.
And the people of Konoha wouldn't let him go either.
If they tried to make him Hokage again, wouldn't that just be pure torment?
The main thing was that he wasn't very satisfied with his disciple Tobirama and felt a bit disgusted, so he didn't really want to save him...
Most importantly, it seemed to be a family matter now, master and disciple fighting each other, which showed how much of a failure Hiruzen Sarutobi was as a person.
Sasuke looked at the approaching sand wave and created a large earthen dome about five meters tall.
He continuously used fire to burn and reinforce its defense.
Because he was inside, he didn't hear the commotion outside.
The sand wave slammed hard against the inverted bowl-like structure.
A few seconds later, cracking sounds began.
The sturdy earthen wall crumbled like broken porcelain.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his Sharingan becoming still, then slowly rotating.
The yellow sand poured in, the gap growing wider and wider, threatening to bury Sasuke alive.
Sasuke's face was grim.
Instantly, his chakra flared outwards, his knees slightly bent.
"No one should be watching right now, right?" Sasuke thought to himself.
His body, however, showed no hesitation. He lunged fiercely, shooting through the sand with the force of an arrow, enduring the pressure of the yellow sand.
In an instant, he stood atop the yellow sand.
This made Gaara on the other side pause slightly; Sasuke's reaction speed was too fast.
Thinking this, the yellow sand gradually dispersed.
His cheap father had just told him to stop, so he hadn't immediately increased the pressure of the sand.
He hadn't expected Sasuke to break free so quickly.
But then he remembered the thickness of his sand and understood.
He had only used the Sand Tsunami Burial in a hurry, and the amount of sand wasn't enough; it only looked impressive.
Sasuke, who was just about to unleash his power, paused slightly, seeing his opponent withdraw.
But then he froze.
As the yellow sand spread across the ground, the tall walls obstructing his view disappeared.
And he was drawn by the noisy sounds, and the figures on the nearby rooftop...
Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in black combat attire, was battling a refined-looking, melancholy, slender man.
At this moment, Sasuke had no mind for fighting.
He instantly ignored Gaara.
And rushed towards the edge of the arena.
This sudden turn of events attracted the attention of many people.
However, there was only one enemy, so the Konoha ninja instinctively surrounded the two fighting on the rooftop.
As for the foreign ninja, seeing this, they had no intention of being the first to act.
They all became spectators, watching the commotion in groups of two or three, eager to witness Hiruzen Sarutobi's prowess.
"Lord Hiruzen, you've grown old..."
Orochimaru said with a complex expression.
A glistening tear appeared at the corner of his eye, as if he were deeply moved.
However, this despondent expression was fleeting.
Naruto watched the two battling, and the increasing number of people gathering around them, his eyes darting as he pondered.
He felt that this was a good opportunity.
He could definitely begin his defection now.
However, he also wanted to see how these powerful individuals fought.
For a moment, he became very hesitant.
After thinking about it, he decided he still wanted to watch.
With Konoha in chaos, he should have a chance to slip away.
When the battle was over, no one would probably care about a minor character like him.
Even if someone noticed, they wouldn't send too many people to bother him.
Itachi remained seated in the audience stands.
The surrounding wealthy merchants were quickly fleeing with the assistance of Anbu.
Soon, Anbu members noticed him, looking quite out of place, and cautiously approached him.
They hadn't noticed how Orochimaru had appeared earlier.
But they had a general idea that he had appeared in these few areas.
And now, Itachi, being different from the common folk, attracted their attention.
"Stand down."
Just as they were getting closer, a low voice sounded.
The owner of the voice had a deep tone.
Chapter 224: Hiruzen Sarutobi vs. Orochimaru
"Lord Danzo?"
The Anbu turned their heads and saw that it was Danzo.
Just as they were about to say something, they caught Danzo's sharp gaze.
The Anbu members secretly swallowed hard.
They slowly retreated.
After all, the other party held a high position; they were just small fries.
To offend him would basically mean they were finished...
---
"Lord..."
Danzo looked at Itachi, who sat like an emperor in front of him, his heart filled with a sense of humility.
He already knew what was about to happen.
But Itachi hadn't seen him these past few days.
And he, Danzo, simply couldn't disobey Itachi's command.
"Danzo, some matters need to be brought to a complete close sooner or later, not left with ellipses or question marks... Prepare yourself."
Itachi didn't answer Danzo's words.
He just spoke calmly, announcing Danzo's impending death.
He had tormented Danzo for so long, kept him in fear for so long, given him hope, making him believe he was useful and wouldn't die, only for disaster to strike.
Itachi tortured him repeatedly.
Letting him die quickly was out of the question.
Danzo had the nerve to shoulder so many burdens and schemes.
Naturally, he deserved a fitting, complete end...
---
Seeing Itachi's expression, Danzo fell silent.
His heart filled with a mix of fury and fear...
But he couldn't disobey in the slightest; his feet instinctively moved towards the battlefield.
Step by step, he walked despondently towards the fight.
To fulfill his destiny...
And what awaited him was eternal infamy...
Having fought for Konoha his entire life, it would likely be difficult for him to even be buried there...
At this moment, his heart was filled with deep regret...
Regret for why he had done such thankless things in the first place.
How many people would remember his contributions to Konoha? He'd toiled his entire life, yet never became Hokage.
Even more regretful was why he hadn't nipped it in the bud, why he believed Hiruzen Sarutobi's nonsense.
Now look at them, both were going to die.
This kid was even more terrifying than he had imagined...
---
"Hiruzen, if you had known this day would come, why didn't you act decisively back then? If you hadn't been so soft-hearted, you wouldn't be in such a difficult position today."
After a few moves, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Enma.
Enma looked at Orochimaru before them, speaking to Hiruzen Sarutobi with a feeling of vexation.
He had advised Hiruzen Sarutobi to nip the problem in the bud back then, but Hiruzen Sarutobi was indecisive...
Seeing the injuries on Hiruzen Sarutobi's body, Enma felt a pang of distress.
He sensed that the current situation was grim.
Especially since Hiruzen Sarutobi was already old; after just a few moves, his chakra had significantly depleted.
And looking at his aging body, his stamina couldn't keep up either.
---
"Sensei, don't resist any further..."
Orochimaru twirled his sword, and the bloodstains on the Kusanagi Sword were flicked away, not a single drop remaining.
"Orochimaru, you've grown stronger..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi gasped for breath, his eyes narrowed, staring intently at Orochimaru.
The words he spoke were calm, as if they were just chatting.
"You've just grown old..."
Orochimaru shook his head slightly, his lips parting.
His tone was complex; his heart must not have been at ease.
His killing intent wasn't firm.
Especially seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged appearance, it made him waver a little.
He wasn't entirely heartless.
---
"You truly have grown stronger, especially your heart. You're utterly deranged, brazen enough to attack your own master!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, seeing a hint of bewilderment in Orochimaru's eyes, shouted loudly.
He seemed to want to shake Orochimaru's resolve.
After all, Itachi Uchiha was still lurking in the shadows.
He was already finding it incredibly difficult to deal with just Orochimaru, let alone Itachi, who possessed immense power.
He feared that if he continued fighting, he would die before even seeing Itachi.
But for some reason, he didn't reveal Itachi's information.
Perhaps, he also thought that if he died this time, it might truly help Sasuke.
He also didn't want his grandson to suffer too much in the future...
---
The Earth Dragon Fire Bomb he had used earlier hadn't budged Orochimaru at all, so he wasn't willing to use such large-scale attacks on Orochimaru anymore.
Orochimaru's escape techniques were truly maddening.
So, he prepared to use taijutsu, conserving some of his strength.
"Go maintain order!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's peripheral vision caught the Anbu gathering around. Remembering Itachi's terrifying strength and Orochimaru's ninjutsu, he thought.
These Anbu weren't of much use, and it would be better to leave some reserves for Konoha.
Seeing that the Hyuga clan, who prided themselves as Konoha's noble clan, and other major clans hadn't sent anyone to help, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a wave of confusion.
He wasn't willing to send the Anbu to their deaths just to wear down Orochimaru.
Breaking this delicate balance.
---
At this moment, he felt a strange sense of liberation.
He was back to being the ambitious Hiruzen Sarutobi he was at seventeen or eighteen.
Orochimaru, seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi still thinking about preserving Konoha's reserves at such a time, felt a pang of regret.
These people, unbeknownst to Hiruzen, had long ceased to obey him...
Now, they were just putting on a show.
This was also why Orochimaru felt that Konoha was already riddled with parasites.
Corruption from the top down, a tangled web of deceit.
Many things were just appearances and superficial obedience.
Lulling the aging Hiruzen Sarutobi into a false sense of security.
Otherwise, how could Itachi and Kakashi have infiltrated Konoha for so long without Hiruzen Sarutobi finding anything?
That was the answer.
After all, Itachi had been living in Konoha for so long, and even if he hid himself well, he would leave traces.
There would always be inconsistencies.
And Orochimaru himself had been in Konoha for several days, basically not even trying to hide.
He was just walking around with a stranger's face.
---
"Orochimaru, stand down. Don't be so stubborn."
Hiruzen Sarutobi held his Adamantine Staff, his eyes wide with anger, a surge of power erupting from him.
The rubble beneath his feet crackled, as if unable to bear Hiruzen's physical form.
Orochimaru looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's appearance, feeling a slight thrill in his heart.
He had wanted to test Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength before, but he had suffered a crushing defeat.
However, he was young back then.
Now, though his own strength was average, Hiruzen Sarutobi was old, so it was a fair fight.
He had been delaying his body modifications.
He hadn't yet found a masterpiece that satisfied him.
In his opinion, an ordinary body simply couldn't keep up with Itachi.
His new body, at the very least, had to not be too far behind Itachi's.
Kimimaro was excellent, but he hadn't yet deciphered the Byakugan's secrets, making him hesitant to proceed.
He was afraid of unforeseen circumstances and a wasted effort.
Sasuke was good, but he didn't dare...
Nor was he willing to cross swords with Itachi.
And with Itachi's revelations, the fog of time was gradually clearing.
---
"Spacing out at a time like this! Is that how I taught you?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, like a strict teacher, swung his staff, the gust of wind rustling Orochimaru's robes.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart felt much calmer.
Since nothing could be changed.
Then, for one last time, he would give his once most cherished student a lesson.
He hoped it would help him, becoming a cornerstone for Orochimaru's future path.
Though he still didn't fully understand what Itachi wanted, it didn't seem too bad for now...
As for what came after, he'd be dead, so what did it matter to him?
Chapter 225: Chaotic Battle
Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose eyes were gleaming, Orochimaru didn't reply. His sword, however, moved like a swimming dragon, dodging Hiruzen's long staff and thrusting towards his throat. He had countless failed plans; Hiruzen did not. He completely ignored Hiruzen's attacks, as if blind to them. This was the true perversity of the Orochimaru-style substitution jutsu.
Hiruzen felt a subtle sense of helplessness as he watched the long sword thrusting towards him. Not only was taijutsu ineffective, but even taijutsu couldn't counter this? Was this Orochimaru's true power?
---
With his vast experience, Hiruzen saw this scene. His long staff shifted, narrowly dodging Orochimaru's fatal sword strike. The staff met the tip of the sword. Then, it shifted again, holding the staff with both hands to parry the long sword.
"Who dares lay a hand on my grandpa?!" Just as Orochimaru was about to change his attack, a whooshing sound approached, accompanied by a grim voice. The speed was incredibly fast. Orochimaru, left with no choice, unleashed a burst of chakra to repel Hiruzen, then withdrew his sword, preparing to parry the newcomer.
---
Sasuke's entry didn't change Itachi's expression in the slightest. Just as when the Anbu were about to surround Orochimaru, he simply watched with cold eyes. As for Kakashi, he went to intercept the infinitely unpredictable Guy, leading him away. Otherwise, if Guy unleashed his "youth," things would get complicated.
"Will it be enough? Should I increase the intensity?" Itachi thought, stroking his chin slightly, watching Orochimaru fight two-on-one. The plan had begun; it could only succeed, not fail. The reason he hadn't made a move yet was because he sensed another formidable presence in Konoha. He had to be ready to defend against that unknown visitor at any moment.
---
With that thought, Itachi slowly stood up and walked in a certain direction. A cold smile played on Itachi's face. If the death of one Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't enough, then there would be another broken friendship. A broken friendship, plus Hiruzen Sarutobi, should be enough, right? If even that didn't awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, then it meant Sasuke was probably a lost cause. Beyond saving. If even his dearest friends and family getting hurt couldn't stimulate him, then Itachi had no other options. After all, Sasuke's feelings for Hiruzen Sarutobi, at this point, were in some ways deeper than his feelings for Naruto. After all, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi who pulled Sasuke out of the abyss. And they had spent so many years together... Even if it were just a pet, its death could cause a huge impact. Let alone a living person.
---
Soon, Itachi arrived in front of Naruto. Under Naruto's somewhat wary gaze, Itachi slowly removed his human skin mask.
"Itachi-nii, is that you?" Naruto's face instantly lit up with joy upon seeing Itachi, as if he had found his organization. Itachi gently made a shushing gesture. Naruto immediately understood, his little head nodding rapidly.
"Naruto, go stop Sasuke, at all costs. And make sure Sasuke sees Hiruzen Sarutobi's death." Itachi didn't exchange pleasantries with Naruto; his previously smiling face turned cold.
"Huh? Why?" Naruto was stunned by Itachi's words, the joy on his face gone. He knew about the bond between Sasuke and Hiruzen Sarutobi, and he didn't understand why Itachi would say this, why he would ask him to do such a thing. He even started to doubt Itachi's true identity. He simply couldn't comprehend it.
---
"I'm doing this for Sasuke's own good. You'll understand later," Itachi said softly, stroking Naruto's head. Hearing Itachi's words, Naruto didn't move, just stared at Itachi quietly. Itachi saw Naruto's suspicious expression, as if he had thought of something. He parted his lips slightly: "Flying Thunder God, Minato."
Naruto was utterly bewildered when he heard Itachi's words. This was truly Itachi... But why would Itachi do this? Could it be... that the Uchiha clan's massacre was also related to the Hokage? After confirming Itachi's identity, Naruto's thoughts instantly exploded in his mind. His head subconsciously nodded. When Naruto came to his senses, he found that Itachi had already found a new spot to sit down. He felt a wave of helplessness and could only reluctantly head towards the battlefield. What else could he do? Itachi was his lifeline; with Itachi's care, he would have a much easier time, and might even get involved in something big. To gain something, one must give something in return. Naruto deeply understood this principle.
---
"So strong..." Orochimaru was surprised by the pressure Sasuke was exerting on him. Little did he know, both Sasuke and Naruto were "cheating" players. And now, this "cheat" was getting stronger. It was already unfair, and now it was getting ridiculously more powerful. To deal with a cheat, one could only use a cheat. Itachi deeply understood this secret. Unless he personally stepped in and suppressed them directly. If things went smoothly, it would be fine, but if not, he probably wouldn't be able to suppress them. After all, children of destiny would always unleash their full power when their lives were in danger. And they could even revive, their combat power exploding.
---
Looking at Sasuke's strength, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a wave of relief. The future was promising... New thoughts appeared in his cloudy eyes. Sasuke's talent was already so strong; he was a little worried that after his death, Sasuke would be exploited. After all, looking at Sasuke now, what he lacked most was intellectual guidance. He was only twelve years old, yet he could already subtly fight half of Orochimaru. This was already terrifying. And Hiruzen felt the pressure greatly reduced, almost becoming a spectator.
---
"Sasuke, stop! Fight me!" Just as new thoughts began to sprout in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, another young voice rang out. Sasuke was stunned by Naruto's words. "Why? Why now, Naruto?" With confusion, he looked at Naruto. But Naruto showed no sign of holding back, his body filled with powerful chakra, charging towards him like a phantom. If the force of Naruto's punch hadn't made his cheek tingle, he would have thought he was dreaming. How could this be? Naruto knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi was like family to him, so why would he restrain him at a time like this? Sasuke's eyes quickly turned red; he didn't understand why. Why was this happening?
Until the fist made intimate contact with his cheek, Sasuke was sent flying dozens of meters, off the roof, and plummeting down. As he flew backward, Sasuke dissipated the force and landed gently on the ground. The stones on the ground, however, shattered into pieces.
"Why, Naruto?" Sasuke didn't wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth; he just stared blankly at Naruto. He couldn't understand why Naruto would betray him.
---
"Fight me, stop dawdling." Naruto didn't answer Sasuke's question, not a single word. Yet, every movement and gaze indicated his stance.
"Next time, okay? I'm busy right now," Sasuke said softly, as if trying to awaken Naruto, who seemed to have gone mad for some unknown reason.
"No, now. Otherwise, I'll beat you to death," Naruto shook his head, saying coldly. The emotions he had always feigned to avoid being an outcast vanished, returning to his natural coldness, grimness, and killing intent.
