"What's going on? What's that? A monster?"
"How did Hokage Sama allow such a monster to take the exam?!"
"What happened to Hokage-sama?"
"Enemy attack!!"
The sudden explosive movement made the people who were in the auditorium panic. Especially when they saw Gaara's changed appearance, everyone was even more terrified.
"Sasuke, Sakura, go and evacuate the crowd," Kakashi instructed his students. Meanwhile, Guy, Kurenai, and Asuma were also delegating tasks to their teams.
Despite the limited information available, Rock Lee and the others could still contribute by assisting in the evacuation of the villagers.
Suddenly, a group of ninjas clad in Otonin uniforms initiated an assault on the present ninjas, be they Sakura or Kakashi.
"Otonin Ninja? Wasn't this the plan made by Naruto and Minato Sensei?" Kakashi thought suspiciously.
"Guy, your priority should be clearing the area to ensure the safety of the villagers!" Kakashi declared.
"Got it! Iron Fist!" Guy responded.
"Team One goes up! Protect Hokage-sama! Team Two goes down! Protect the guests of the Land of Fire!" Kakashi commanded, allocating specific tasks to each team.
Simultaneously, the Anbu ninjas, intent on surrounding the Third Hokage, sprang into action, swiftly advancing toward the elevated platform.
"Don't get in the way, Anbu!"
Suddenly four ninjas in white robes and masks appeared and stopped Anbu who came to protect Hokage.
They stood at the four corners of the high platform roof, taking off their disguises and revealing their real faces.
It was Sound Four, Orochimaru's elite bodyguards.
"Do it!" Orochimaru, still disguised as the Kazekage, positioned himself behind the Third Hokage, clutching a kunai tightly, and bellowed with a loud voice.
"Yes!" The four of them sealed together.
"Four Violet Flames Formation!"
A cuboid barrier of translucent purple flames materialized, enveloping the entire roof. The barrier exhibited an array of purple flames, effectively obstructing any external access. Anyone who made contact with the barrier's walls would be instantly burned by the intense flames.
The sudden appearance of the barrier immediately injured the Anbu ninjas who came to support Hokage.
"It's a barrier!"
"Damn it!"
The ninjas who came up to support saw the barrier and cursed secretly. Now, they could only watch the Third Hokage fight alone.
"Is Sunagakure planning to betray Konoha?" Inquired the Sarutobi Hiruzen with a composed demeanor.
"This tiresome game ends here," Kazekage responded.
"Does Kazekage-sama seek to incite a war? Your arrival in Konoha suggests such intentions from the start."
"Indeed."
"In that case, we should aim to resolve this matter through peaceful negotiations rather than resorting to force..."
"Hehe, have you become senile with age, Sarutobi-sama?" Kazekage suddenly laughed.
"You!!" Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened abruptly, a wave of disbelief washing over him as he helplessly witnessed Orochimaru tearing off the Kazekage's disguise from his face.
"Orochimaru!!" Sarutobi's shock was immediate.
"Hehehe, it has been quite a while, Sarutobi Sensei~~," Orochimaru smirked mischievously.
"Hey, Kakashi, look over there!" Guy suddenly shouted.
"Huh? That's... Orochimaru!?" Kakashi exclaimed in astonishment as he gazed at Orochimaru, donned in the attire of the Fourth Kazekage, and observed the enchantment encompassing the elevated roof.
"I never expected Orochimaru, whom we have been searching for over the past two weeks, to
be the Kazekage..." Kakashi couldn't help but admire the legendary "Sannin" at that moment.
Even the Third Hokage failed to recognize this form of disguise.
However, it appears that Naruto is not directly involved in this situation. So, what is Sensei's plan?
Naruto and Minato's plan can be summarized in just five words: "Wait, observe, and strike opportunistically."
At that moment, Minato stood atop the Hokage Rock and keenly observed the activity on the training grounds and the motion near the eastern city wall of Konoha.
"It appears that my turn has come," Minato remarked with a smile before swiftly vanishing from his position.
The roof of the Anbu base building.
"Report! A massive snake has emerged to the east of Konoha, accompanied by approximately a hundred Sand Shinobi. They are launching an invasion on the village!" A ninja rushed panting and reported to Yamato.
"It finally happened," He responded.
He had been discussing Orochimaru with his companion moments ago, and now events were unfolding immediately.
"Summon all nearby patrolling ninjas to converge on the scene without delay! Additionally, swiftly establish contact with the commander stationed at the outpost near the eastern front!"
"Yes!"
Yamato gave the order immediately and then rushed to the scene himself.
*****
"Well, it looks like Orochimaru's plan was successful," As Naruto swiftly evaded incoming attacks, he keenly sensed the shifting movements occurring in his surroundings.
"What's the matter? Is this all you've got, Uzumaki Naruto?" Gaara taunted, his body partially concealed by sand, as he prepared to unleash a ferocious assault on Naruto.
No matter how much Baki, Temari, and Kankuro called out to Gaara, they were unable to calm him down.
"What do we do now?"
"Damn it, we'll have to suspend the plan, but Gaara..."
Baki truly wishes to take Gaara away, but he cannot persuade him!
Furthermore, the revelation that the Kazekage Baki had been interacting daily for a month was Orochimaru in disguise left him utterly dumbfounded. It felt as if his head was about to split open!
Wasn't the plan this time for the Sunagakure to join forces with Otonin Village to invade Konoha? Yet, instead of the expected alliance, their Kazekage vanished, Orochimaru launched an attack on the Hokage, and Otonin Village's forces were also deployed. Baki and the others were left without their pillar of support.
"You want to witness my true strength?" Naruto questioned with a laugh. In his mind, he thought, "Don't be so conceited just because you wield the power of the One-Tailed Jinchūriki."
"Very well, Gaara. Allow me to demonstrate the might of the bonds I share with the creature you perceive as a monster," he declared confidently.
"Kurama Mode!!"
"Little Kurama!"
Sealing the space, Naruto and Little Kurama fist bumped their fists.
"Don't you need my help? Little Kurama can only last for three minutes, this time shouldn't be enough," Kurama said, at this time it also saw the external situation.
"Three minutes is enough, but I might need your help later." As Naruto said, he left the sealed space, the outside world, and the moment he connected with Little Kurama's Chakra, a burning Chakra coat appeared on Naruto's body, just like wearing a red royal robe.
"Big Ball Rasengan!" The powerful Chakra gathered in Naruto's hand, forming an extremely compressed ball, which was pressed hard on Gaara's face.
Boom!
A deafening noise erupted, causing smoke and dust to billow into the sky above the practice field. The commotion seized the attention of everyone present, leaving them in a state of bewilderment and disorientation.
On one side of the field, a breach had been created in the wall, emanating silence from within the lingering smoke and dust. Meanwhile, on the other side, a solitary figure stood resolutely, bathed in a radiant red glow.
"Who is that?"
"He seems to be... Naruto?!"
"Naruto? How did he become like this? What ninjutsu is this?!"
Everyone looked at Naruto whose appearance had changed drastically, with mixed emotions of doubt, shock, and bewilderment.
"Sensei…" Kakashi looked at the back of Naruto who was wearing a red royal robe, and once again seemed to see Namikaze Minato standing in front of him, protecting them with great strength.
"Hee hee hee, speaking of which, Sensei, take a look at who that is," Orochimaru suddenly grinned at the Third Hokage.
"..."
"That's the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki you've spent years observing, thinking you had him under your control... Uzumaki Naruto~"
…