East side stands of the arena.
The fan-shaped area that had once accommodated thousands of spectators was now a mess.
Collapsed seats, shattered stone slabs, corpses of Otogakure's Ninja lying in disarray, and the giant cracks left by the wild growth of the Wood Release sea of trees all together outlined the brutality of this battlefield.
As the words 'Minato-sama's intention' fell…
Kakashi's entire body froze.
The kunai held across his chest developed an unwanted tremor, and even his breathing stagnated for a beat.
'Minato... sensei?'
'How is this possible?!'
'Minato-sensei and Kushina-san died twelve years ago, sacrificing themselves to protect the village during the Nine-Tails Attack!'
'But...'
Kakashi stared intently at Yukimi, his pupils uncontrollably contracting and trembling.
'How did Yukimi know about Minato-sensei?'
'And she used an honorific like 'Minato-sama'?'
'If she had only heard the name 'Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato' from some source, she would probably, like most people, call him 'Fourth Hokage' or 'Namikaze Minato', not this clearly intimate 'Minato-sama'.'
'Unless...'
'Unless, she had really seen Minato-sensei.'
"Yukimi..." Kakashi's voice was hoarse.
"What nonsense are you talking!"
He forced himself to calm down, his hand gripping the kunai tightening slightly.
"Minato-sensei was not only my teacher, but also the Fourth Hokage of Konoha Village, a hero who sacrificed himself to protect the village."
Kakashi spoke word by word, his voice growing more and more firm.
"If Sensei were still alive, he would absolutely never join the Land of Stars!"
Yukimi stood on a thick, horizontally growing branch, holding a kunai in a reverse grip in her hand. On her face, dotted with a few freckles, her smile was radiant.
She didn't take the opportunity to attack, just quietly watched Kakashi, enjoying this interesting scene.
"As expected..." Yukimi put away her kunai, crossed her arms over her chest.
"Just as Auntie Kushina said."
"Stubborn as a mule."
'Auntie... Kushina?'
Kakashi's breathing suddenly grew heavier.
'She even knew about Kushina-sensei?!'
One had to know, back then, Kushina's identity as the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki was top secret even within Konoha!
Apart from the Third Hokage, the Sannin, and a few high-ranking individuals, no one knew her true identity!
Even Kakashi himself only gradually learned some of the inside story after becoming Minato's student.
But this Yukimi before him…
Not only knew about Minato, but also knew about Kushina, and even used such an intimate term as 'Auntie'?!
Countless questions surged into Kakashi's mind like a tide, throwing his brain into complete chaos.
Rumble—!!!
Just then, a vast, suffocating Chakra suddenly erupted from above the arena!
The violence and hatred contained in that Chakra instantly swept across the entire Konoha!
Trees trembled, the ground shook, as if a twelve-level typhoon was sweeping through!
"This is... Tailed Beast's Chakra?!" Kakashi whipped his head around to look at the direction of the Chakra eruption, his eyes filled with shock.
'Had Naruto lost control?!'
This thought flashed through Kakashi's mind first, his heart suddenly tightening.
"Kakashi!"
Two urgent shouts came from the side.
It was Guy and Asuma.
The two landed beside Kakashi one after the other, both with grave expressions.
Asuma had some abrasions on his body, and his Jonin flak jacket was torn in a few places, obviously traces left from his earlier battle with Yusuke.
Guy's condition was slightly better, but his breathing was also somewhat rapid.
"Are you two alright?" Kakashi quickly scanned them.
"We're fine." Guy wiped the sweat from his face, gave a thumbs-up, and flashed his signature bright smile.
"But that kid is really something! His Taijutsu is quite impressive!"
But his smile quickly faded, as he turned his head to look in the direction of the Chakra eruption, his thick brows furrowed.
"This Chakra... could the Nine-Tails be out of control?"
Asuma didn't speak, just stared intently in that direction, his lips pressed into a thin line.
His face was somewhat pale, fine cold sweat appearing on his forehead, the hand holding his Chakra Blade trembling slightly.
"Asuma?" Kakashi noticed his abnormality.
"...I..." Asuma's voice was hoarse, carrying an indescribable unease.
"I don't know why... but I have a feeling... the old man isn't doing well."
His gaze was cast towards the roof where the Four Violet Flames Formation had been, his eyes full of worry.
That feeling was like an invisible hand squeezing his heart, each beat carrying a dull pain.
It was the instinct of blood connection.
Kakashi's heart sank, but this was clearly not the time to delve deeper.
He turned his gaze back to Yukimi opposite.
Neji and Yusuke had also already landed beside Yukimi.
Neji's condition was clearly somewhat disheveled. His white Hyuga Clan's outfit was covered in dust, and sweat had soaked the hair on his forehead.
Clearly, the earlier Taijutsu clash with Guy had consumed a great deal of energy.
As a genius of the new generation, Neji's strength was among the best of his peers, but facing an Elite Jonin like Guy, especially in Taijutsu battle, he still felt a clear gap.
Yusuke's condition was much better. He had almost no obvious injuries, just slightly rapid breathing, clearly the earlier battle using the Seven Heavens Breathing Method had also placed some burden on him.
"Neji, did you see clearly?" Yukimi didn't turn her head, asking calmly.
Neji nodded. The veins around his Byakugan bulged, maintained in an activated state.
"It's Shura-sama." His voice carried a near-fanatical reverence.
"That Chakra... no mistake. Shura-sama is personally taking action."
"Just as I thought!" The smile on Yusuke's face grew even brighter and more excited.
"An enemy that can make Shura-sama personally move... it must be those 'enemies from beyond the sky' mentioned in the intelligence, right? How exciting!"
In the Land of Stars, Shura is a legend, a myth.
What kind of existence would be an enemy that could make a myth personally take action?
Yusuke really wanted to know.
His right hand gripped the hilt of the Kubikiribocho, his left hand opening and closing its fingers, the joints producing a soft 'crack'.
"Should we go over and take a look? Maybe we can help—"
"Don't be impulsive." Yukimi interrupted him.
Her voice was also unusually serious. Those eyes, always carrying a smile, were now also extremely grave: "Since Shura-sama is personally taking action, it means the enemy is not someone we can handle."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the three Konoha's Ninja opposite, who were on high alert.
"Our mission is to guard the perimeter and ensure the plan proceeds smoothly."
"Acting on our own will only cause trouble for Shura-sama."
Yusuke and Neji exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.
"Understood!"
The three's conversation was not deliberately lowered, clearly reaching the ears of Kakashi and his group.
Kakashi, Guy, and Asuma's expressions changed simultaneously.
'That Tailed Beast's Chakra belonged to Shura?'
'Shura had personally moved?'
Nowadays, the reputation of Shura in the Ninja World is even greater than that of Madara over fifty years ago.
After all, Madara has been dead for over fifty years. Currently, the only living Ninja in the Ninja World who witnessed Madara's terrifying strength firsthand is probably only Onoki.
But Shura has been extremely active in the Ninja World for the past decade. He has attacked Konoha three times and Kumogakure twice. Not only did he inflict heavy damage on the two Great Ninja Villages and retreat unscathed, leaving them completely helpless.
He also, in just ten years, single-handedly built a vast Land of Stars.
After annexing the Land of Wind and Sunagakure, occupying most of the western territory of the Ninja World, the Land of Stars has faintly become the strongest country in the Ninja World.
The Land of Stars is only one Fourth Great Ninja War away from becoming the number one military power in the Ninja World.
'And, judging by their meaning, the enemy Shura is about to face is the so-called 'enemies from beyond the sky'?'
'What are those?'
Countless pieces of intelligence about the Land of Stars and Shura gathered over the years flashed rapidly through Kakashi's mind, but none mentioned the concept of 'enemies from beyond the sky'.
'But, how terrifying must an enemy be that even Shura must prepare for?'
This thought made Kakashi's heart sink to the bottom.
'If an enemy that even Shura needs to personally deal with appears in Konoha, then Konoha...'
"Hey hey, Kakashi." Guy leaned close to Kakashi's ear, lowering his voice: "Things seem pretty bad... Should we withdraw first? Something's probably happened to Hokage-sama..."
Although he was hot-blooded, he wasn't brainless.
The three before him, Yukimi and her team, were not simple, solidly Elite Jonin.
One was a Seven Ninja Swordsman, one was a dual-Kekkei Genkai user with Wood Release, and even the youngest, Neji, could hold his own against him when he opened the Sixth Gate.
If the fight continued, they might not come out ahead.
Moreover, now that the Four Violet Flames Formation had been broken and even more terrifying enemies had appeared in the center of the arena, the top priority should be to confirm the Third Hokage's situation, not to entangle here.
Kakashi was silent for a moment, looking at the sea of trees atop the VIP viewing stand, and slowly shook his head.
His Sharingan locked onto Yukimi: "They won't let us withdraw easily, and besides..."
Boom!!!
Another wave of furious Chakra erupted in the arena!
This time, the malice contained in the Chakra was even more intense!
"Here it comes again!" Guy's expression changed.
"This Chakra..." Asuma tightened his grip on his Chakra blade, more cold sweat on his forehead.
Neji activated his Byakugan again, looking towards the center of the arena. A flicker of surprise passed through his pupils.
"No... this time it's... the Nine-Tails?"
"The Nine-Tails?" Iida Yusuke was startled: "Konoha's Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki?"
Yukimi's brow also slightly furrowed.
"It seems Shura-sama's Chakra has stimulated something inside that kid's body."
Her gaze turned towards the competitor rest area.
"This should... be interesting."
…
Competitor rest area.
Golden chains interweaved in the air, forming a giant hemispherical barrier, enveloping the entire rest area.
Inside the barrier, the atmosphere was stifling.
The teams from the four factions each occupied a corner of the barrier, maintaining wary distances from each other, yet forced to coexist in the same space due to the barrier's restrictions.
The four from Kirigakure sat in the easternmost corner.
Ao leaned against the wall, his unsealed Byakugan constantly maintained vigilance, scanning the movements inside and outside the barrier.
His expression also grew heavier from maintaining it for so long... clearly, the Byakugan was taking a toll on him.
Suigetsu sat cross-legged on the ground, the Long Sword Nuibari placed horizontally across his knees, his hands behind his head, his mouth pursed as he boredly shook his head.
But his eyes occasionally swept over the Konoha's team opposite and Gaara's group.
Chojuro held Kabutowari, his head lowered, as if trying to minimize his presence.
Honoka sat beside Chojuro, her arms around her knees, her red hair draped over her shoulders, her gaze occasionally looking towards Karin, with curiosity in her eyes.
The four from Kumogakure occupied the southern corner.
Samui stood with her arms crossed over her chest, back against the wall, her golden medium-short hair still dazzling.
Her expression was cool, and her usually calm eyes faintly carried a trace of gravity.
Omoi squatted on the ground, a lollipop in his mouth, his brow deeply furrowed, muttering indistinctly, clearly lost in his pessimistic fantasies.
Karui was much more agitated, her pretty dark-skinned face full of displeasure. She several times tried to stand up, but was stopped by Samui's gaze.
Atsui leaned against his sister, his chest wound having been simply bandaged. His face was still somewhat pale, but at least his life was saved.
Opposite them, on the north side, were the eight from Konoha.
Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, Sai, Shigaraki, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino.
Naruto sat against the wall, his head lowered, his expression unclear.
But his hands were clenched tightly into fists, as if with unwillingness.
Big Sis Hinata stood beside Naruto, her hands in her pockets, her white pupils warily scanning the surroundings, especially in the direction of the Land of Stars' members.
Sasuke stood with his back to the wall, his gaze always fixed on a certain direction outside the barrier. Deep within his black eyes, some emotion seemed to be surging.
That was the direction Menma had left in.
Sai and Shigaraki stood guard to the left and right of Sasuke, both maintaining vigilant postures, their kunai and short swords slightly drawn.