Above the stands.
Orochimaru and the Third Hokage are facing off.
Outside Konoha Village.
A group of Sand and Sound ninja have gathered and launched a surprise attack on the village. Giant snakes were summoned to break through Konoha's defenses.
Inside the arena.
Shukaku, the One-Tail, is arrogantly proclaiming his freedom after breaking the seal. All the ninjas are terrified of the suddenly appearing Tailed Beast, fearing the impending disaster it will bring.
However, Uchiha Sasuke, who is facing Shukaku, remains unfazed, showing no trace of fear on his face. He even mocks the beast's pitiful amount of chakra.
"Hmph..."
"So cute…"
"Such a pitiful amount of chakra…"
"Just like a harmless pet…"
For an Uchiha, especially Sasuke, a Tailed Beast is like a toy that can be easily dealt with at any time.
Moreover...
The One-Tail has the least chakra of all!
"What did you say, you little kid?"
Shukaku roars in anger, looking down at the small black-haired boy at his feet, and swipes a giant claw at Sasuke.
"I said you are very weak…"
The floor beneath Sasuke shatters in an instant as he swiftly dodges Shukaku's claw, jumping towards the beast's head!
This twelve-year-old boy, surrounded by Lightning Release chakra, charges at the seemingly invincible monster with a calm and composed face.
"Sasuke!!!"
Hatake Kakashi's face flashes with tension. He knows his student is strong but does not believe Sasuke can defeat a Tailed Beast!
Are you kidding?
That's the One-Tail, comparable to the Nine-Tails!
The past Nine-Tails incident caused heavy losses to Konoha, even costing the life of one of the finest Hokage and countless elite Jonin to barely quell the chaos!
No matter how strong Sasuke is, he is still just a kid. How could he possibly be a match for the One-Tail?
"Go save him!"
Might Guy leaps down to help!
But before the Jonin could reach to rescue the kids in the preparation area, Shukaku's massive body collapses with a thunderous crash!
Sasuke's form, moving like a bullet, strikes Shukaku's head with immense force, knocking the beast to the ground!
"Is this a joke…"
Fear flashes in Shukaku's eyes!
That kid…
Did he really knock it down so easily?
It is a Tailed Beast, an immortal being in the ninja world!
Just as Shukaku tries to rise, Sasuke, now in Lightning Release chakra mode, moves with terrifying speed and strength, resembling a small yet powerful humanoid dragon!
Boom!
Shukaku's belly collapses under the impact!
"This kid…"
With its sharp intelligence, Shukaku quickly tilts its head, attempting to unleash a powerful Vacuum Bullet to eliminate Sasuke in one blow!
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet!"
Suddenly, a purple skeletal structure emerges around Sasuke!
Susanoo's skeleton grows veins and fills its body rapidly. Armor plates form instantly, fully equipping Susanoo's fourth form, encasing Sasuke!
However, the powerful Wind Release jutsu hits Susanoo's armor like a breeze, causing no damage at all!
This half-body Susanoo, almost the same size as Shukaku, ignores the beast's claws, forming a fist and striking hard!
Boom!
Susanoo's fist crashes into Shukaku's face!
Shukaku's body flies backward, smashing into the arena wall, causing it to collapse, and the beast is flung out of the arena!
"Hey, examiner…"
Sasuke turns and calls out to Shiranui Genma, who is fending off the Sand ninja attack, "Can you declare the winner of this match?"
"..."
Genma's forehead twitches.
No way…
Does the Uchiha even care about the situation?
Konoha is under enemy attack, and the Chunin Exam is the least of concerns!
"Kakashi…"
Might Guy halts, looking back at the sweating Kakashi, "Is your student…"
"..."
Kakashi rubs his forehead.
"How is this possible!"
Sand Jonin Baki cannot believe Shukaku was so easily defeated by a Konoha kid! Even knowing Sasuke's strength, seeing Shukaku utterly powerless is shocking and embarrassing for their village's Tailed Beast.
In fact…
It gets worse…
Sensing danger, Shukaku tries to flee, looking nothing like the arrogant beast from moments ago…
Baki suddenly realizes another problem: their Tailed Beast might fall into Konoha's hands if they don't act!
No way!
That cannot happen!
"Wake up Gaara, get him out of here!"
Baki urgently instructs Kankuro and Temari to wake Gaara and reseal Shukaku, to escape with the One-Tail from Konoha!
With the collapse of the invasion plan and the disappearance of the Fourth Kazekage, the plan is failing…
The only option is to minimize losses!
However, Susanoo nocks an arrow and instantly pins Shukaku to the ground, forcing the beast back into Gaara's body as he staggers to his feet!
"I'll stop him!"
Baki steps in front of Susanoo, urging Temari and Kankuro to take Gaara away: "Don't let the One-Tail fall into Konoha's hands…"
But…
Konoha's ninja also realize the problem!
"I'll chase them!"
Sasuke dispels Susanoo, quickly leaps over Baki, and pursues Gaara and his siblings!
Considering the behavior of Akihara Kagura…
If the Third Hokage dies and Sasuke, a powerful ally, does not intervene, it could tarnish his image. The Third Root leader would not make such a political mistake!
Just in time…
Pursuing the Sand Village's One-Tail Jinchuriki is perfect!
"Wait…"
Hatake Kakashi could not stop it in time and could only order the new generation of ninjas who had not yet been assigned tasks, "Naruto, Sakura, go assist Sasuke and warn him not to fight in the village to avoid involving innocent people!"
"Got it!"
Uzumaki Naruto nodded quickly.
"What about us?"
Might Guy kicked away two Sound Ninja, looked around, and finally focused on the highest stand, "Shall we go save the Third Hokage?"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi was silent for a moment, then looked up at the area of the stands and said softly, "That battle belongs to the Third Hokage. Do not interfere..."
On the stands, Orochimaru's appearance had already caused panic among the crowd.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Orochimaru had barely exchanged a few moves when a group of Konoha Anbu quickly rushed forward, wanting to protect the Hokage!
However, four figures jumped out from the crowd, landed around the top of the stands, and raised their hands to form seals, erecting a tall Four Violet Flames Formation that blocked everyone outside, leaving only Orochimaru and the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen inside!
"Anbu ninjas..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen threw off his Hokage cloak and took off his ceremonial robe, revealing his fully armed light armor, and ordered in a deep voice, "Go support the others in the village immediately. Leave Orochimaru to me..."
"Teacher..."
Orochimaru smiled slightly, raising his hand slowly, "It seems you were ready to sacrifice yourself long ago... Are you ready to witness my new achievements?"
"This time..."
"I will correct the mistakes of the past..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his hand to tie his wrist and focused his gaze on Orochimaru, his eyes growing deep, "Today, I will personally kill you..."
"Let's see who falls here today..."
A cold glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes as he quickly formed seals with his fingers, suddenly slamming his hand on the ground, "Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!"
A summoning inscription appeared on the ground, and two coffins suddenly rose from the earth. The third coffin was shattered by Sarutobi Hiruzen's Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu the moment it appeared!
But...
For Orochimaru, the experiments in the two coffins were enough!
Today, he would rely on the experiments in these two coffins to kill his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and capture that kid Uchiha Sasuke!
As expected...
No one in this village could match his two experiments!
Clatter!
Two figures emerged from the coffins.
No matter who saw these two figures, their hearts would momentarily stop, as if they were seeing the souls of the dead!
No...
They were the souls of the dead!
"First Hokage... Second Hokage..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked in disbelief at the two figures that appeared, his mind momentarily blank and panicked, for he knew their strength well!
"Exactly."
Orochimaru spread his hands and smiled, "The First Hokage of the Konoha and the Second Hokage. Although the Edo Tensei can only utilize a portion of their power, it's more than enough to deal with the Konoha..."
Elsewhere, someone had been watching all this in secret.
Yakushi Kabuto, wearing a hood, had been roaming the audience, even using his medical skills to save some of the injured.
"What a waste..."
Kabuto, with glasses on his nose, looked at the two Reanimated Hokage in the Four Violet Flames Formation and couldn't help but smile, "Compared to the Edo Tensei Sasuke gave me, Orochimaru-sama's Edo Tensei still has many areas needing improvement!"
Unfortunately, this wasn't his stage.
Perhaps there would never be a stage for him in the future either.
Kabuto didn't mind; he was only observing the battle on the stands, quietly waiting for the death of the Third Hokage.
Because this so-called grand play...
Was merely the prelude to a truly great show.
Everyone in the ninja world was waiting for the death of the Third Hokage, a man nearing seventy who had wielded the power of the Konoha for decades and influenced the ninja world for decades. He had maintained peace in his way.
Even though...
That peace was like decaying leaves.
Everyone felt they couldn't breathe freely under this old man's rule, not because of his power, but because of his pervasive prestige.
Just his living presence made the ninja world feel like a stagnant pool, with ninjas struggling in this still water, whether they were from the Konoha Village or other great nations.
Now...
The old man's life was finally nearing its end.
No matter how crude Orochimaru's Edo Tensei was, the summoned First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, could only exert a tiny portion of their power, yet it was more than a seventy-year-old man could resist...
"I must use that technique..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen fought desperately, almost entirely suppressed by the First and Second Hokage. While struggling, he observed the situation in the arena.
"Sasuke..."
"Has gone to pursue the enemy?"
"What a pity..."
"In fact, he should have fought alongside Sasuke..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands slowly formed seals, regretting all he hadn't accomplished before his death. He even thought out his death script.
If possible...
Sarutobi Hiruzen hoped that in this battle, the First and Second Hokage summoned by Orochimaru could defeat Uchiha Sasuke, and at the most critical moment, he, the Third Hokage, would sacrifice his life, using the Reaper Death Seal to end it all...
In this way...
The Will of Fire would certainly be passed on to Uchiha Sasuke...
Unfortunately...
The young Uchiha Sasuke was not present...
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a bit of regret but could only form the Reaper Death Seal to end his errors with his life, hoping the Will of Fire burning within him could rejuvenate the Konoha...
As Sarutobi Hiruzen finished his seals, a huge Shinigami phantom appeared behind him. Amid Orochimaru's frightened gaze, the appearance of the Shinigami seemed to lead the old man and his enemy away together...
"It's over."
Yakushi Kabuto removed his hood, watching as the old man controlled the Shinigami to grasp the souls of the First and Second Hokage and even sealed Orochimaru's arms. He slowly adjusted his glasses.
"Sasuke-kun."
"Our plan is about to begin..."
"Facing the wind, become the shadow in the darkness, let the shadow envelop this ninja world..."
Kabuto's hand reached into his chest, touching a mask, a longing smile on his lips, "Let us start creating a new world, a world shrouded in darkness yet allowing everyone to feel the warmth of spring…"