The stadium erupted into chaos as a thick wave of purple chakra spread across the audience. In mere moments, hundreds of people slumped in their seats, their bodies collapsing like puppets with their strings cut.
High above, Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his smirk hidden beneath his Sound headband. "Perfect. Lord Orochimaru's plan is proceeding smoothly."
Below, the Sound and Sand ninja rushed forward, leaping into the arena with weapons drawn. Their targets were clear—Sasuke Uchiha and Ryuga Uzumaki.
However, Konoha's shinobi were prepared.
"Defend the civilians!" one of the Jonin ordered.
The moment the enemy rushed in, Kurenai, Asuma, and Gai counterattacked, their movements fluid as they intercepted the invaders.
Meanwhile, Naruto, who had been waiting anxiously in the medical room, heard the distant explosions and the screams from outside. His stomach tightened with unease.
Something was wrong.
"Naruto!" Sakura ran in, her expression pale. "The village is under attack!"
Naruto's eyes widened. "What?! What about Sasuke?!"
Before Sakura could respond, a deep rumble echoed through the stadium.
Sasuke stood on the battlefield, Sharingan active, his fists clenched as he faced off against Gaara, whose body had begun to shift. His arm was no longer human—it had transformed into a massive, clawed limb of sand, pulsing with eerie chakra.
Gaara's breath was ragged. His turquoise eyes gleamed with a bloodlust that sent chills down Sasuke's spine.
"I need to lure him away."
Sasuke knew that if Gaara transformed completely here, the stadium would be reduced to rubble. He couldn't risk innocent lives.
Gaara growled, his monstrous arm twitching. "You… hurt me." His voice was layered—his own mixed with something deeper, more primal. "I'll kill you."
Sasuke clicked his tongue. "Tch. Come and try."
With that, Sasuke leapt onto the stadium walls and bolted toward the trees.
Gaara didn't hesitate. He let out a feral snarl and launched himself after Sasuke, his massive claw ripping into the stone as he followed.
From the medical room, Naruto saw Sasuke and Gaara disappear into the forest. His fists tightened.
"I'm going after them!" he declared.
Before Sakura could protest, he sprinted out.
Mitsuki had felt something was off even before the attack began. Her instincts, honed from years of rigorous training, screamed at her to turn back.
As she approached the medical room where Ryuga was being treated, a squad of Sound ninja burst through the entrance. Their eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
"The target is inside," one of them growled.
But they never got the chance to step forward.
SLASH!
Mitsuki's kunai gleamed under the dim light as she cut down the first enemy in one swift motion. Blood splattered across the floor as the others recoiled.
One of them gasped. "She's—"
Before he could finish, Mitsuki disappeared in a blur of movement.
BOOM!
A shockwave rippled through the corridor as she struck the second attacker with a devastating kick. His body slammed against the wall, leaving cracks in the stone.
The remaining two Sound ninja hesitated.
Mitsuki narrowed her eyes. "You picked the wrong target."
With practiced precision, she weaved through their defenses, cutting them down before they could react. Their bodies collapsed to the floor in silence.
She exhaled, turning her gaze toward Ryuga's unconscious form.
"Looks like you're still out of the fight." She sighed, then smirked. "You're going to be mad when you wake up and realize you missed everything."
She turned her head toward the stadium, where another battle was unfolding. "But I have something else to deal with."
The Barrier: The Battle of Legends Begins
While the arena was in turmoil, Orochimaru stood atop the Kage's balcony, his golden eyes gleaming with delight.
Minato and Hiruzen stood side by side, their bodies tense as four cloaked figures emerged from massive wooden coffins.
The symbols on the coffins read:
First Hokage - Hashirama Senju
Second Hokage - Tobirama Senju
Second Mizukage - Gengetsu Hozuki
Second Tsuchikage - Mu
Hiruzen's face hardened. "Orochimaru… you've gone too far."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Oh, Sensei, don't be so dramatic. I was only planning to kill you today, but someone else has paid me handsomely to get rid of Minato as well."
Minato's eyes narrowed. Someone else?
Orochimaru clapped his hands together, completing the jutsu. "Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei!"
The coffins opened, revealing the four resurrected Kage. Their eyes were blank, their bodies moving mechanically.
Though their consciousness was sealed, their power was undeniable.
Minato's fists clenched. "We have to destroy them before they regain too much strength."
Hiruzen nodded grimly. "Easier said than done."
The first to move was Tobirama. Without hesitation, he formed a series of rapid hand seals.
"Suiton: Suidanha (Water Severing Wave)!"
A high-pressure blade of water shot forward, aiming for Minato's throat.
In a blur of yellow, Minato vanished and reappeared behind Tobirama, kunai in hand. He struck, but a wall of wood erupted in front of him—Hashirama's Mokuton.
"Hashirama's control over wood style is still strong even in this state…" Minato muttered.
Hiruzen took a defensive stance as the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu, smirked. Though his face was emotionless, his body moved as if enjoying the battle.
"Genjutsu: Clam Mirage."
A thick mist spread through the battlefield, shrouding everything.
Minato and Hiruzen both gritted their teeth as they lost sight of their enemies.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared behind Hiruzen. Mu, the Second Tsuchikage, materialized, his body splitting into two.
"Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu (Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World)."
A cube of light formed in his hands, expanding rapidly.
If that touches us… we're dead.
Minato barely managed to grab Hiruzen and teleport them away before the cube disintegrated everything in its path.
Landing on a nearby rooftop, Minato wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Four Kage at once… even for us, this is bad."
Hiruzen exhaled deeply. "We'll have to go all out."
Orochimaru, watching from above, grinned. "Good, good. Struggle all you want."
As the battle raged on, inside the medical room, Ryuga's fingers twitched.
His eyelids fluttered.
Then, his eyes snapped open.