"Jinchuriki?!" Samui's cool, composed face could no longer remain calm.
As a well-informed Jonin of Kumogakure, she was more than familiar with the term 'Jinchuriki'!
Because her village had two of them!
The quality of Chakra emanating from this red-haired boy before her had definitely reached the level of a Tailed Beast!
Although it didn't seem as deep as that of Killer B or Nii Yugito, the pure malice and violence were more intuitive and impactful!
Young Sasuke's Sharingan spun wildly, trying to analyze that vast and violent Chakra Flow, but all that came back was a field of crimson!
Shikamaru's face turned pale. He finally understood where the other party's arrogant confidence came from.
'Jinchuriki!'
'This was not something ordinary Ninja could contend with!'
Suigetsu's taunting grin froze on his face. The hand holding the Nuibari was sweating.
Karui, Omoi, and Atsui instantly entered a state of maximum alert. They knew better than anyone the destructive power of a Jinchuriki on the battlefield!
"You've got to be kidding?! Someone like Master is a Jinchuriki?" Karui drew the Ninja Sword from her back with one hand, her eyes wide on her pretty face.
"This is a huge problem..." Omoi almost dropped the lollipop from his mouth.
The air in the rest area seemed to solidify the moment Gaara erupted his Chakra.
The six members of the Land of Stars were like the center of a storm.
The opposing coalition of Konoha, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure, on the other hand, were like small boats tossing in a storm. The previous advantage in numbers and the sense of security brought by two Jonin now seemed so pale and ridiculous in the face of this immense Tailed Beast's Chakra.
Gaara slowly raised a hand, and the sea of sand around him surged accordingly.
His green eyes now seemed covered with a faint, dark red, bloody glow, his voice carrying an indifference that chilled one to the bone:
"Now, can you behave yourselves and stay here?"
As Gaara's voice fell, Temari also moved.
The giant three-star fan she always carried on her back was grasped by the handle with one hand and swung forward forcefully, thudding heavily on the ground!
Thud!
In the dull sound of impact, the three-star fan fully unfolded, revealing three giant purple star patterns clearly visible on its surface.
On the other side, Kankuro also untied the 'package' wrapped tightly in white bandages from his back.
Rip—!
The bandages fell away, revealing the strangely shaped humanoid combat puppet inside.
Its face and forehead were covered with three eyes.
Its four arms were not symmetrically grown, but spread out at aggressive angles. The ends of each arm connected to a different weapon: a sharp curved blade, a barbed iron fist, a retractable grappling hook, and a cannon-like device.
Precise gears and metal wires for conducting Chakra could be seen at the joints. The overall style retained the roughness of Sunagakure's puppetry but also revealed a more precise sense of technology.
This was one of the works from Sasori's youth, later inherited by Kankuro, who had talent as a puppeteer.
After Sunagakure was annexed by the Land of Stars, the three Sand Siblings entered the Land of Stars. Kankuro, due to his puppeteer talent, pursued further studies at the [Puppet and Mechanical Arts Research Institute] under the Land of Stars' Academy of Sciences, where he came into contact with the puppet technology of the Moon's Otsutsuki Clan, as well as new materials and Chakra Energy Technology developed by the Land of Stars based on the concept of scientific ninja tools.
With the help of the research institute, he fully upgraded and modified [Karasu].
The current Karasu was not only made of more durable and lightweight materials, with more efficient internal transmission and Chakra Circuits, but its weapon systems also integrated some of the Land of Stars' standard scientific ninja tools. Its overall combat effectiveness far surpassed that of an ordinary Jonin.
Under Kankuro's control, Karasu assumed a posture that could both attack and defend. The weapons on its four arms slightly adjusted their angles, locking onto the directions where the opposing group was most dense.
Although it didn't have the terrifying and daunting momentum of Gaara's Tailed Beast's Chakra, its cold mechanical feel and emotionless killing aura were equally unsettling.
Karin, Kurotsuchi, and Ranmaru each took advantageous positions, entering a combat state.
The six Land of Stars' Genin, with Gaara as the core, faintly surrounded the four teams from Konoha, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure, plus the two Jonin.
And the Tailed Beast's Chakra that Gaara erupted, like a beacon suddenly lit in the dark night, its vast and terrifying fluctuations instantly penetrated the chaotic arena, transmitting to every Ninja sensitive to Chakra.
"Th-This feeling...?!"
"A Tailed Beast?! How can that be?!"
Throughout the arena, Konoha's Ninja who were rescuing and evacuating unconscious civilians, or engaged in fierce battle with infiltrating Otogakure's Ninja, especially those who had experienced the tragedy of the Nine-Tails Attack twelve years ago, upon sensing this Chakra full of hatred, all had their faces drastically change, unable to suppress the fear and chill welling up in their hearts.
That nightmare of a night, that rampaging Nine-Tailed Fox, the rivers of blood and the screams of family and friends...
As if with the revival of this Chakra, it all clearly appeared before their eyes again.
Some Ninja with weaker mental fortitude even experienced sluggishness in their movements, allowing the Otogakure's Ninja to seize the opportunity and cause casualties.
On the stands, Kakashi, Asuma, Guy, Kurenai, and others, who were locked in battle with Yukimi, Yusuke, and Neji, also simultaneously detected this astonishing Chakra.
"What?!" Asuma used his special knuckle-blades to parry a powerful chop from Yusuke, sliding back several steps using the momentum, and turned his head towards the rest area, his face full of shock.
He immediately shouted to Kurenai, who was doing her utmost to protect the six Genin, Kiba, Shino, Lee, Sakura, and others, not far away: "Kurenai! Forget about us! Take the children and leave here immediately! Head to the underground shelter! Quickly!"
Kurenai bit her lower lip. She looked at Guy, who was engaged in a high-speed Taijutsu duel with Neji, fighting fiercely, and then at Kakashi, who was confronting Yukimi. She knew this was no place to hesitate.
"Kiba! Shino! Lee! Sakura! Follow me!" She made an immediate decision, leading the several still-panicked Genin towards a relatively safe passage below the stands.
Kakashi, confronting Yukimi, slightly adjusted the angle of the kunai in his hand.
He heard Asuma's shout and also sensed the increasingly clear Tailed Beast's Chakra. His shock was no less than anyone else's.
"Yukimi... your Land of Stars actually brought a Jinchuriki to Konoha? What exactly are you trying to do? Start an all-out war?"
It was well known that the Land of Stars itself had no Tailed Beast.
But Sunagakure did!
The war that broke out between the Land of Stars and Sunagakure back then was rumored to be closely related to Tailed Beasts.
Now it seemed that the Land of Stars had not only annexed Sunagakure but also brought the former Sunagakure's Jinchuriki under their control and to Konoha!
This meant the Land of Stars was determined to see this operation through, even sparing no expense in using a strategic-level weapon like a Jinchuriki!
"Kakashi, don't be so surprised." Facing Kakashi's interrogation, Yukimi's face still had a lively smile, freckles and all.
She held a kunai in a reverse grip in each hand, her body slightly crouched, maintaining a posture ready to erupt in a charge or dodge at any moment. She just smiled lightly, her tone even carrying a hint of teasing: "Our Land of Stars always acts with great 'sincerity'. Bringing a Jinchuriki is just to ensure the 'plan' can proceed smoothly. As for an all-out war..."
She paused, her gaze seemingly casually glancing towards the roof of the VIP viewing stand, where the purple barrier was still burning.
"Later, an even bigger 'surprise' is waiting for you. It's still too early to be surprised now."
On the other side, the Taijutsu duel between Guy and Neji had entered a white-hot phase.
Neither used Ninjutsu, only colliding with the most pure Taijutsu, speed, and power.
Although Guy had not opened the [Eight Gates], his physique and combat intuition, honed through years of rigorous training, had reached heights unattainable by ordinary people.
Each of his punches and kicks contained enough force to split stone and rock, the accompanying wind scattering the debris of seats around him.
However, Neji's performance secretly surprised Guy.
This genius youth of the Hyuga branch family, around the same age as Lee, displayed Gentle Fist skill and physical qualities that rivaled a Special Jonin!
Neji's Byakugan was fully activated, veins bulging. Its 360-degree field of vision allowed him to perfectly capture all of Guy's movements.
His Gentle Fist wasn't simply fierce and powerful, but balanced hardness with softness. Often, at the very last moment, he would use exquisite angles and force to defuse Guy's heavy blows while seizing the opportunity to counterattack with Tenketsu-striking techniques.
Their fists and feet collided, producing dull thudding sounds. Their movements were so fast that only blurry afterimages of green and gray were visible to ordinary people. Wherever they passed, sturdy stands, seats, and railings were easily destroyed as if made of paper.
Guy could sense that Neji was also not using his full strength.
…
Meanwhile, in the darkest corner of Konoha.
The Root's base, buried deep within the mountain beneath the Hokage Rock.
In stark contrast to the external explosions, the shouts of battle, and the chaos, the interior of the Root's base was completely dead silent. Only the light from the lights on the walls emitted a faint glow, reflecting the cold contours of the steel corridors.
The air was thick with silence, as if one could hear the sound of their own heartbeat.
In an open square plaza at the center of the base, over a dozen Root's elites, wearing uniforms and patterned masks, knelt on one knee, heads bowed, motionless.
Their presences were completely concealed, as if merged with the surrounding gloom.
Danzo leaned on his ever-present cane, standing silently before them.
He still wore that tightly wrapped, dark-colored robe, his single eye slightly closed, his face expressionless, as composed as an old monk in meditation.
The sounds of explosions outside, even vaguely transmitted through the thick rock layers, could not cause his eyelids to stir in the slightest.
Aburame Tatsuma stood like a shadow half a step behind Danzo, equally silent.
From time to time, Root's member would appear from the shadows of the corridors, landing behind them and, in voices only they could hear, quickly and concisely report the external battle situation:
"Report! The Four Violet Flames Formation confirmed at the arena. Third Hokage-sama is trapped inside! The enemy identified as Orochimaru leading the Otogakure."
"Report! Land of Stars' Ninja are operating separately. Confirmed attack targets include Anbu's strongholds, Root's alternate base Number Three. Firefight has occurred at the Hokage Building."
"Report! The main force of Otogakure's Ninja has broken through the wall gap and is engaging with the force led by Nara Shikaku in District Three. The enemy is moving inward."
"Report! High-concentration Tailed Beast's Chakra reaction detected inside the arena. Confirmed as the One-Tail, Shukaku. Source is the Land of Stars' Jinchuriki, Gaara."
Each piece of intelligence would be enough to make an ordinary Jonin change color, or even panic.
Yet Danzo just listened quietly, his single eye still slightly closed, as if the war outside had nothing to do with him.
He neither ordered Root to sortie and support the various battlefields, nor did he order a contracted defense to hold the base.
He just stood there, as if waiting for something.
Tatsuma glanced at Danzo's profile, hesitating to speak.
He knew that Danzo must have his own deep meaning and schemes, but with Konoha engulfed in flames on all sides, the Third Hokage trapped, and powerful enemies invading, Root was standing by...
But in the end, he said nothing, just like the most loyal shadow, continuing to stand silently behind Danzo.
The outside world's clamor and killing seemed completely isolated from this underground dark world.
…
On the arena, atop the glazed tile roof of the VIP viewing stand.
The Four Violet Flames Formation was like an ornate cage, completely isolating the inside from the outside.
Purple flames burned silently on the barrier walls, emitting a terrifying heat.
Outside the barrier, Yamato, wearing an Anbu mask, along with two elite Anbu, was anxious and frantic.
They had tried several methods, all unable to shake the sturdy Four Violet Flames Formation in the slightest, instead almost being injured by the barrier's flames.
Inside the barrier, the atmosphere was grave.
Hiruzen had already taken off his outer Hokage's robe, revealing the black tight-fitting combat uniform underneath, with a lightweight chainmail shirt worn beneath it.
Under his helmet, his white goatee slightly fluttered in the agitation of his Chakra. The usual gentle smile on his face had long disappeared, replaced by the authority and solemnity forged through countless battles of blood and fire.
Vast Chakra, like an awakened volcano, erupted from his no longer young body, its pressure causing the air to emit a groaning hum.
The golden glazed tiles beneath his feet cracked inch by inch under this force, the fragments slowly floating as if weightless.
Orochimaru, standing opposite him, also erupted with Chakra, his momentum not losing ground in the slightest.
That cold, sticky Chakra clashed silently with Hiruzen's hot, righteous Chakra in the center of the barrier, squeezing against each other, emitting a hissing sound.
However, as his Chakra fully erupted, several extremely fine, cracked traces suddenly appeared on Orochimaru's face!
The cracks were very faint, but in the eyes of a Kage-level Ninja like Hiruzen, they were exceptionally clear.
Hiruzen's gaze abruptly hardened, his pupils suddenly contracting!
He stared intently at the strange cracks on Orochimaru's face, a guess that filled him with rage instantly coming to mind.
"Orochimaru! Could it be that you..." His voice slightly trembled.
"You have perfected that forbidden technique?!"
What he was referring to was, naturally, one of the core reasons why Orochimaru had been driven out of the village back then for conducting forbidden human experiments.
Attempting to research and master the [Living Corpse Reincarnation] technique, to seize others' bodies to achieve so-called 'immortality'!
Had this traitorous student, after all these years, truly succeeded?!