Temari and Kankurō hurriedly left the arena, carrying Gaara's body. The red-haired youth still emanated monstrous chakra, his face half-distorted as if a beast were trying to escape. Each step the siblings took was heavy, the air around them vibrating with the sand demon's suffocating presence.
As the trio disappeared, a strange calm fell over the stands—and then, like an invisible wave, alarge-scale genjutsuspread.
The audience's eyes began to close one by one. Ninjas, civilians, spectators from other villages—all fell like lifeless dolls. The silence lasted only a moment before turning into chaos.
Suddenly, explosionsechoed at the village gates. Tear gas bombs were thrown at the sleeping crowd, and armed shadows appeared amidst the smoke. The Sand and Sound ninjas attacked from all sides.
In the stands, Kakashi looked up, feeling the hostile chakra coming from every point.
"Damn..." he muttered.
Just below, Sasuke launched himself after the fleeing enemies. The young Uchiha leaped over the wall, his Sharingan blazing in his eyes, without looking back.
Kakashi held his breath, realizing the risk.
"SAKURA!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the arena. "WAKE UP THE OTHERS AND GO AFTER SASUKE!"
The girl blinked, freeing herself from the genjutsu, and ran to wake up Naruto and Rock Lee, who were still unconscious.
At the top of the stands,Li Shangobserved everything. His blue eyes reflected the chaos that spread throughout the village.
'Should I get involved? What if Orochimaru targets me for interfering with his plans?'
He felt the seal on his neck pulsate gently, a reminder that he still carried part of the sannin's essence within him.
'But Sasuke also received the mark... and is heading straight to his death.'
"Neji, let's go!"
The firm voice came from behind. It wasRock Lee, already awake, his body still fragile, but his eyes full of determination. Sakura followed him, focused.
Li Shang took a deep breath and replied calmly.
"Right."
For a moment, he stared up at the sky, shrouded in smoke and chakra. Explosions echoed in the distance, and the sound of giant snakes slithering through the streets shook the ground beneath his feet.
He knew he could no longer sit on the sidelines.
Following Sasuke's trail, Li Shang advanced silently through the trees. The wind carried the metallic scent of blood and destruction consuming Konoha. His Byakugan expanded to its full extent—his pale blue gaze piercing through leaves, stones, and chaos itself.
'Sasuke... is two miles ahead.'
He could clearly see the Uchiha facingTemari, who had remained to delay their pursuit. The girl's body was exhausted, her wind attacks weak and disorganized. She fell a few minutes later, and Sasuke continued, mercilessly.
But Li Shang didn't say anything to the group.
He was more concerned with what he saw in the other direction.
As far as his vision could see,Konoha was on fireGiant snakes advanced through the gates, destroying houses and towers. The beasts' roars shook the ground, and Orochimaru's allies—now clearly discernible—held sway over the battlefield.
'These giant snakes are causing such destruction... Is Konoha going to fall?'
Li Shang's heart beat faster. The seal on his neck burned faintly, reacting to its creator's presence.
He felt no attachment to that village. He had no friends, no family, no duties. There was onlythree monthssince arriving in that world, and to him, Konoha was just a convenient refuge—a safe place to cultivate, train, and grow stronger.
But now, seeing the destruction spread, something inside him tightened.
'Maybe it's foolish to risk my life... Orochimaru is a monster. And if I get in his way, he might come after me.'
His gaze fixed on the colossal snakes and the columns of smoke rising into the sky.
"I have no idea how strong the people in this world truly are. Compared to me, I'm just an ant. Even using all my cultivation, fighting someone like him would be suicide."
The wind blew, carrying the distant sound of screams and metal. Li Shang took a deep breath, his eyes still fixed on the chaos.
'And yet… I can't sit still.'
The seal glowed faintly, responding to the chakra that began to flow from his body.
Rock Lee watched him from afar, noticing the subtle glow.
"Neji...?"
Li Shang clenched his fists.
"Let's catch up to him. Before something happens to Sasuke."
The chase through the forest was frantic. The sound of snapping branches, the rustling of leaves, and the distant echo of explosions gave the chase an almost infernal pace.
Kankurō, exhausted, stopped for a moment, his body covered in sweat.
"There's no point continuing... if they want to fight, let them come!"
Without waiting for an answer, he pulled the package on his back and opened it, revealing the black puppet. Before anyone could stop him, Shino stepped forward, his voice calm and steady.
"I'll take care of it. He ran away from the fight and I don't tolerate unfinished business."
The sound of insects buzzing filled the air. Kankurō's eyes widened, but a twisted smile appeared on his lips.
"Then come on, bug boy."
Within seconds, they both disappeared into the trees.
Li Shang watched silently, his gaze distant.
'One less obstacle in the way... but the real problem still lies ahead.'
They continued forward. Sakura was breathing heavily, and even Rock Lee, still recovering, was beginning to show signs of fatigue. It was then that Li Shang stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing.
"Let's wait..."
His Byakugan picked up movement several hundred meters away. A group of ninjas was rapidly approaching. Their chakra flow was unstable, aggressive, and clearly hostile.
"We have company. And they are not allies."
Shikamaru frowned.
"What a problem..." he muttered, taking a kunai out of his pocket.
Li Shang glanced at him sideways.
"Shikamaru, you and Lee stay. Hold them off as long as you can."
Rock Lee clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination.
"Understood. Neji... go ahead."
Li Shang nodded and with a leap, disappeared into the trees alongside Sakura and Naruto, the sound of footsteps echoing like distant thunder.
The forest seemed to close in around them. Li Shang could sense them. 'Sasuke is just ahead... but that chakra...'
His face twitched.
'It's not normal. It's wild like a fox.'
Suddenly, he spoke, without slowing down.
"Sasuke is in front... be careful. This Gaara guy's chakra isn't normal."
Sakura swallowed, her heart racing.
"He... he's fighting him alone?"
Li Shang didn't respond. He just sped up.
The ground began to shake.
When they emerged from the tree line, the world before them seemed different.
The clearing was destroyed, twisted trees and craters scarred the terrain. In the center,Sasuke Uchihawas kneeling, his right arm smoking, his hand covered in blood and residual sparks from theChidori.
In front of him, the enemy ceased to be human.
Gaara roared, his skin turning into living sand, rising to cover his entire body. His chakra exploded like a wave, distorting the air. The black markings on his face expanded, and a mad laugh escaped his throat.
"More... I want more blood!"
The sand writhed, shaping itself into something colossal. Within seconds, a grotesque-looking creature rose—ademonic raccoonmade entirely of compact sand. His eyes were black, with yellowish pupils, and each breath made the ground vibrate.
The beast's chakra spread throughout the forest, causing the trees to fall and the air to become heavy as lead.
Sakura staggered, her expression filled with dread.
"Wh... what is this?"
Li Shang took a step forward, his gaze fixed on the creature.
"A jinchūriki... the host of a tailed beast."
Shukaku's roar echoed, shaking the entire field.
Sasuke stood up slowly, panting, his gaze fixed on the beast that now stared at him like prey.
Li Shang clenched his fist, the seal on his neck burning slightly.
'Orochimaru... this village has become a testing ground for your monsters.'
[Author's Note:This story was originally written in Portuguese, so there may be some translation errors. If you notice any, please let me know so I can fix them. Thank you for reading!]