Chapter 58: Let the bullets go! Ugh! Let the enemy escape for a while!
He refocused his mind on the examination venue.
Kakashi was now confronting Maki, a Jonin from Sunagakure.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru's four subordinates had already set up a formation—the Four Violet Flames Formation—enclosing both Orochimaru and the Third Hokage within it.
Kizaru's Observation Haki remained active.
In such a dangerous moment, with enemies invading the Village, one had to be careful, or there was a high chance of an unexpected mishap.
Only through caution could one ensure safety.
He monitored the entire Village with his Observation Haki.
Although caught off guard by the enemy's surprise attack, the Ninja of Konoha Village were retreating steadily, but in a very orderly fashion.
While retreating, they made sure to stall the attacking Ninja and used the opportunity to evacuate civilians and non-combatants.
All Ninja were poised, awaiting the moment for a counterattack.
The Ninja of Konoha are not bad!
Suddenly, Kizaru sensed a discordant power.
It was beneath the Hokage Building.
There, a large contingent of Ninja was also hidden; judging by their attire, they appeared to be KonohaNinja.
Moreover, sensing the fluctuations of their aura, their strength seemed considerable.
However, these Ninja showed no intention of acting, seemingly indifferent to the invasion by external Villages.
Their leader, an aged man wrapped in bandages and leaning on a cane, exuded a powerful aura.
His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, lost in unknown thoughts.
For some reason, as soon as Kizaru saw this fellow, a single word inexplicably came to mind...'Scapegoat!'
Scapegoat!
Kizaru was inwardly shocked; Konoha, besides the Hokage's Anbu, harbored such a powerful hidden force?
But why weren't these people acting?
Could they have some ulterior motive?
Regardless of what Konoha's hidden forces were plotting, Kizaru now turned his gaze to the roof of the stands.
Because at this moment... Orochimaru and the Third Hokage had already started fighting!
It was said that these two powerful individuals were also master and disciple.
A flash of yellow light on Kizaru's body, and he appeared before the Four Violet Flames Formation, watching the battle within.
"You can't help here; go fight elsewhere," said one of the three Anbu guarding the area.
In this Anbu's view, Konoha was facing a joint invasion by two Ninja Villages, a highly critical situation, and every bit of fighting strength was crucial for Konoha at this moment.
He hoped that Naruto, a Genin of considerable strength, could first help evacuate the civilians in the Village.
Just as Kizaru was about to say something, both Orochimaru and the Third Hokage, who were inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, noticed his arrival.
Upon seeing Kizaru, Orochimaru's heart inexplicably tightened: his appearance here meant that Yakushi Kabuto's plan had completely failed.
This guy's speed truly terrified him.
Such extreme speed, which even he couldn't evade, was exactly like the 'Konoha's Yellow Flash' of yesteryear.
He truly was that guy's biological son!
He glanced at the Four Violet Flames Formationagain, his heart relaxing slightly; with the protection of this formation, the opponent shouldn't be able to enter.
Otherwise... he would have absolutely fled immediately.
His Orochimaru pursued the pinnacle of science and eternal truth; he did not want to die before achieving his goals.
The Third Hokage also looked a bit tense, "Naruto, there's nothing for you to do here; you should go after Gaara and the others..."
Seeing Naruto ignore him with a sour face, the Third Hokage grew anxious. Suddenly, he remembered something Ibiki had told him: this little fellow Naruto seemed to have an obsession with being called Kizaru.
The Third Hokage immediately corrected himself, "Kizaru, this is your mission. Take the Genin from your graduating class who are still conscious and pursue them."
Kizaru's face immediately lit up with a smile, "It's fine, those three guys won't get away. They're still far from running out of my Perception range! I'll watch your fight first; battles between Hokage-level powerhouses are rare!"
"Go quickly!" the Third Hokage urged.
The sandy arm that Gaara had extended at one point bore a strange pattern.
He had a slight impression of that pattern; it should be unique to Shukaku the One-Tail.
That meant... Gaara was very likely Sunagakure's Jinchuriki.
Once he recovered from his injuries and transformed into a Tailed Beast, the destruction he could cause was simply unimaginable!
Kizaru, however, waved his hand dismissively, "Relax, let the bullets... ah, no! I mean, let the enemies escape for a while."
Seeing that Kizaru was utterly unwilling to pursue them at this moment, the Third Hokage had no choice but to refocus his attention on Orochimarubefore him.
Looking at Orochimaru's familiar appearance, the Third Hokage's eyes welled up slightly... After all, this was his disciple. Back then, he had every opportunity to deal with this guy once and for all.
He had the ability to do so at that time.
Ultimately, he was too soft-hearted.
And as a result, he nurtured a tiger that became a menace!
The Third Hokage was filled with anger. He could almost forgive anything Orochimaru had done, even killing him, his teacher, but what he absolutely could not forgive was what he had done today!
Destroying his beloved Konoha Ninja Village was something he could never accept!
[Ninja Art - Tile Shuriken]
The roof tiles flew up, one by one, shooting towards Orochimaru.
In the battles of the strong, everything around them was a weapon, possessing immense power.
Orochimaru's body twisted, easily dodging the tile attacks. Then, with a wave of his right hand, several arm-thick long snakes flew out from his sleeve—it was the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
Kizaru watched the two fighting with great interest.
He even took some wood from the house, carved it into a small stool, sat there, crossed his legs, and somehow produced a handful of melon seeds, which he was happily cracking... Watching the show, watching the show... Kizaru cracked a melon seed, casually tossed aside a few shells, and then looked at the three masked Anbu who were nervously watching the battle in the arena, offering them the melon seeds, "Want some?"
The three Anbu were stunned, their anger flaring. They simultaneously roared at Kizaru, "What time is it, and you're still in the mood to crack melon seeds!"
Kizaru covered his ears with both hands to prevent being deafened by their shouts. After they finished yelling, he slowly and leisurely said, "Don't be so anxious, be calm!"
"Calm my ass! Hokage-sama is in danger, how can we not be anxious?" said the leader of the three Anbu.
"What's the use of being anxious? Can you get in?" Kizaru cracked another melon seed, spitting out the shell with a "Ptooey."
The three immediately looked dejected, "We can't get in."
"Exactly," Kizaru spread his hands, a helpless expression on his face, "So, just watch the show, don't overthink it."
Although the three understood that Kizaru had a point, they still couldn't truly ignore the battle in the arena!
They continued to stare intently at everything unfolding in the arena.