blogombal Chapter 426 The Arrogant Gaara
Chapter 426 The Arrogant Gaara
An explosion occurred at the competition venue, and a purple barrier rose.
The Sound Ninja, who had been lying in wait in the streets of Konoha and near some important facilities, tore off their last disguise and grinned as they pressed the switch on the detonator in their hands.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Continuous explosions occurred throughout Konoha, violently shattering the village's tranquility.
The windows of houses shattered under the shockwave, shop signs burned fiercely, and the carefully arranged celebratory decorations on the streets became fuel for fire, with thick smoke and flames rising everywhere.
The carefully chosen explosion site not only caused physical damage but also triggered panic among civilians.
The villagers were stunned by the sudden, all-out attack and were thrown into chaos.
Cries, screams, alarms, explosions, the sound of buildings collapsing...
In this chaotic prelude, the Star Country ninjas, who had already dispersed according to plan, silently stabbed at Konoha's vital points like unsheathed blades.
Sato Saeko, Suzuhara Ai, and Morishita Toshito, three Jonin who have already made a name for themselves among the new generation of Star Country, each lead a strike team consisting of two elite Chunin, speeding through the chaotic streets and rooftops.
Their objective was clear: to create maximum chaos around Konoha's Root and Anbu bases, thus hindering the defenses of Konoha's core area.
Zuo Yun's Lightning Blade, Fang, flashed with dangerous blue lightning. Wherever he passed, the scattered Konoha ninjas would often collapse to the ground after just one exchange.
Ai Suzuhara controlled miniature puppets that, like a swarm of butterflies, burrowed into ventilation ducts and hidden corners, installing jamming devices and detonating tags.
Morishita Toshito, like a human battering ram, used his twin swords, Hiramekarei, to directly bombard the building's exterior walls, creating entrances and causing collapses.
Their raid quickly tied down a large number of ninja guarding the Konoha Anbu and Root bases.
Meanwhile, another team led by Toneri Otsutsuki and Chino Miyajo headed straight for the Hokage Building in Konoha. Their target was the "Secret Technique Storage Room" hidden deep underground in the Hokage Building.
At this moment, the Hokage Building's defenses were at their weakest due to the sudden situation at the venue, the invasion at the village entrance, and the explosions everywhere.
"Found it, on the third basement level!" Shiro's Byakugan was exceptionally sharp at sensing chakra and barrier fluctuations, easily locating the secret technique storage room protected by multiple barriers.
"Enemy invasion!"
"Stop them!"
"Ugh!"
"We need backup!"
Chino's petite figure rushed forward swiftly, her blood-red eyes flashing red light. No Konoha ninja could last a single round against her.
Several Star Ninjas skilled in breaking seals followed closely behind, easily creating a gap in the barrier and opening the door to the treasure vault.
They began methodically moving scrolls containing various ninjutsu, forbidden techniques, and bloodline research materials accumulated by Konoha over decades...
These are invaluable assets of knowledge.
Looking at the shattered barrier, Shirou sighed, "Lady Kushina was absolutely right. Konoha doesn't have many decent barrier ninjas anymore. So many years have passed, and they're still using the Uzumaki clan's barrier techniques without any improvement."
Meanwhile, Uchiha Shisui, along with Kaguya Kimimaro and Haku, was heading downstream of the Naka River towards the former site of the Uchiha clan's territory.
There lies the past of the Uchiha clan, and something is buried there.
The competition venue.
At the top of the high wall, on a flying eave with a wide view.
The young Sasuke, wearing a black wide-brimmed hat and a black overcoat, stood quietly.
The shadow of his hat brim covered most of his face, with only his right eye visible, calmly looking down at the competition venue below, which was in complete chaos, like an anthill that had been destroyed.
The flashes of light from the explosion reflected on his face, flickering but failing to stir even the slightest ripple in his Mangekyou Sharingan.
He gazed at the "Four Purple Flame Formation" blazing with purple flames, at Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi vaguely confronting each other within the barrier, at the large number of unconscious civilians and sporadic battles erupting in the stands, and at the thick smoke rising from the streets of Konoha in the distance and the rampaging giant summoning beasts...
Everything was so similar to the "Konoha Crush Plan" in my memory, yet there were subtle differences.
Orochimaru's allies changed from Sunagakure to the Land of Stars, and his disguise changed from the Fourth Kazekage to the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields, but Orochimaru's obsession with the Third Hokage never changed.
History is like a stubborn painter; even with different paints, it still paints the same cruel picture.
"Master... this, is this the 'Konoha Crush Plan' from back then?" Boruto, standing beside him, gripped the railing tightly.
Although I had heard this story from history books and my father, the impact of witnessing such a scene firsthand was worlds apart from the written description.
He saw the unconscious civilians, the Konoha ninjas who fought desperately but kept falling, the Sound ninjas who wreaked havoc, and the ninjas wearing the Star Country headbands who suddenly attacked Konoha.
"Shouldn't we...do something? There are still many people down there..."
Boruto's voice was filled with reluctance and anxiety.
Even knowing that this was another time and space, he couldn't remain completely indifferent as he watched the innocent suffer and his familiar village being ravaged.
Young Sasuke slowly shifted his gaze from the chaos below to the area outside the arena.
His Rinnegan could vaguely detect several rapidly moving, powerful chakra reactions heading towards the Uchiha clan's territory. One of them was unusually familiar and belonged to Uchiha Shisui.
He naturally knew what Shisui was doing. Although the Nakagawa Shrine had been razed, there were still things that the Uchiha clan had to retrieve in the underground chambers there.
"Do nothing." Young Sasuke's voice was calm and unwavering.
"Just watch quietly. Our target has always been Urashiki Otsutsuki. I have a feeling he will come."
He paused, then added, "Moreover... Konoha won't fall so easily. The pain and growth of each era must be borne and completed by the people of that era themselves."
Boruto opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but looking at his master's cold profile and the Konoha ninja below who were indeed beginning to organize a counterattack, he swallowed his words.
He clenched his fist, turned his gaze back down, and locked onto the blond figure in the arena—Naruto Uzumaki.
The playing field below was now surrounded by chaotic noise and shrapnel from the occasional explosions.
What was originally a battlefield for glory has now become an isolated island fraught with danger.
"Menma-nii! Hinata! What, what's going on?!" Naruto leaned against Menma and Hinata, adopting a wary stance, his azure eyes filled with confusion, anger, and tension in the face of a sudden crisis.
Although he was passionate, he was not stupid. The explosions throughout the venue, the unconscious crowd in the stands, and the Sound Ninja and Star Ninja who suddenly attacked the Konoha ninja all indicated that this was a premeditated attack!
However, he had not yet fully grasped the enemy's objectives.
Hinata stood close to Menma, her hands in the Gentle Fist stance, her Byakugan scanning the surroundings nervously.
She was more worried about the direction of the stands, and her gaze quickly found the area where the Hyuga clan was located.
The father, Hiashi Hyuga, was protecting his younger sister, Hanabi, behind him. Several Hyuga branch family ninjas were arranged in a defensive formation around them, so there was no immediate danger.
Hanabi also saw her older sister. Her little face showed some tension and fear, but she still tried her best to wave to Hinata.
Hinata felt sour in her heart.
Just then, two figures landed on opposite sides of the arena almost simultaneously.
A tall and sturdy figure landed on the side of the Iwagakure team; it was Akatsuchi, the Jonin leading the Iwagakure team this time.
His expression was grave. He glanced at the purple barrier in the direction of the VIP seats, then swept his gaze across the chaotic venue, cursing inwardly.
Before setting off, the old man did mention that "there might be unforeseen circumstances," but I never expected it to be an act of war on this scale!
Moreover, the Land of Stars was involved, yet they gave no warning to Iwagakure, a vassal village. This distrust and dangerous signal sent chills down Akatsuchi's spine.
Without hesitation, he helped up Kirara, whose legs were still trembling from the emotional trauma, and shouted to Deidara and Sora, "Stop standing there! Let's go! Get out of Konoha with me right now! We can't stay here!"
The examiner, Hayate Gekko, landed beside Menma and the other two.
He still had the blade of grass dangling from his lips, but his face was pale, and he coughed a few times.
"Sudden enemy attack! Match suspended!"
"You three, stop standing there like idiots! Go to the east stands right now. I remember Kakashi and Asuma are over there. Find your Jonin instructor and follow orders!"
He spoke quickly and urgently, and was slightly out of breath when he finished.
Menma nodded and said briefly to Naruto and Hinata, "Let's go."
The three turned around, preparing to follow the guidance of the moonlight and the swift wind to leave this place of trouble.
"Hey! You over there! Your name is Menma, right?"
A voice came from behind, carrying obvious resentment and a hint of awkward approval.
Mianma didn't stop walking, but just slightly turned her head.
Deidara's eyes were fixed on Menma's retreating figure as he shouted, "I'll remember you! And your art... that fleeting, brilliant explosion... I acknowledge it!"
"Next time! Next time we meet, I'll show you what true, ultimate, and eternal explosive art really is! Hmm!"
Even at this moment, Deidara did not forget his "art" manifesto, only his tone was more like an alternative declaration of war from a paranoid.
Menma didn't respond to Deidara, but only glanced at Sora and Kirara, the two androids, out of the corner of his eye.
"Mount Myoboku... I'll remember this debt."
The atmosphere in the athletes' rest area was tense.
Sasuke's face was anxious, his crimson three-tomoe Sharingan scanning the chaotic arena and the constant explosions outside, his hands clenched into fists.
"Sai! Shigaraki Tanuki!" Sasuke turned around abruptly and roared at his two teammates.
"We can't just sit here and wait! We need backup outside! Let's go help clear out those Sound Ninja, or go to the Hokage..."
Sai and Shigaraki Tanuki were unusually silent. After exchanging a glance, they silently took a step closer to Sasuke's side, subtly forming a protective stance.
"Sasuke." Sai's eyes turned cold.
Our mission is to protect you.
"You are not allowed to engage in any combat until you receive new instructions or confirm that it is absolutely safe. That is an order."
Shigaraki Tanuki didn't speak, but silently took half a step forward, forming a tighter angle with Sai, subtly blocking Sasuke's possible path of advance.
"You!" Sasuke's chest heaved violently, his eyes burning with rage.
He had long known that these two teammates were "monitors" planted by higher-ups to watch him, but he never expected that at this critical juncture, they would still have to carry out this ridiculous "protection" mission!
What kind of protection is this?
House arrest?
Shikamaru, along with Choji and Ino, gradually approached.
Shikamaru glanced at Sasuke, whose expression was unfriendly, and his two teammates who were clearly acting strangely. He inwardly cursed the trouble, but now was obviously not the time to ask questions.
He whispered to Sasuke, "Hey, Sasuke, calm down!"
"The situation is unclear right now, and acting rashly could make things worse. Let's observe the situation first..."
Before Sasuke could say anything more, several figures appeared in the rest area.
Ao from Kirigakure, accompanied by two Kirigakure Chunin, quickly arrived at the side of Hozuki Suigetsu, Chojuro, and Uzumaki Hinoka, and whispered a few words to them.
Samui from Kumogakure also appeared before Karui, Omoi, and Atsui, his usually aloof face filled with solemnity.
Then Qing walked over to Samui and said something.
Concealed by mist and clouds, the two teams instinctively began to move closer to the center, forming a loose, temporary alliance.
Faced with a sudden, large-scale attack and an unidentified enemy, temporary alliance is an instinctive choice.
Immediately afterwards, their gazes, in unison, turned with wariness, doubt, and a hint of hostility to the other side of the rest area, to the two Star Country genin squads that had been quiet since earlier.
Gaara, Karin, and the other four stood there quietly, completely out of place amidst the chaos and tension around them.
Shikamaru frowned, scratching the back of his head helplessly, muttering, "I knew it... things wouldn't be that simple. The Land of Stars really didn't have good intentions. Participating in the Chunin Exams was just a pretext. This is... so troublesome."
As if to confirm Shikamaru's jinx, Gaara, who had been silent all along, calmly swept his eyes over the dozen or so people opposite him.
Genin and Jonin from Konoha, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure.
Gaara slowly crossed his arms over his chest and said, "I'm sorry, but until we receive further instructions, you... cannot leave here for the time being."
"What?!"
"Arrogant!"
"Who do you think you are?!"
These words were like lighting a powder keg, instantly igniting the anger of the people on the other side.
Hozuki Suigetsu grinned, revealing sharp teeth, and pointed the tip of his scalpel at Gaara, his tone full of disdain: "Hey, red-haired brat, you think you can stop us with just the six of you? And two Jonin too?"
He pointed to Qing beside him and Samui on the other side.
The others also showed similar expressions.
The two teams from the Land of Stars are indeed very strong, having already proven their strength in the previous exams. However, our side now has four teams with twelve examinees, as well as elite Jonin like Ao and Samui, giving us a clear advantage in terms of strength.
Where does the other party get the audacity to say such a thing?
Karin put one hand on her hip and habitually pushed up her glasses with the other. A hint of amusement flashed in her eyes. She pouted and smiled at Gaara, saying, "Hey Gaara, you see? I told you I was too good at hiding my strength. I was really underestimated. I should have taught them a lesson in the Forest of Death."
Gaara remained noncommittal regarding Karin's complaints.
His gaze slowly swept across the faces of everyone opposite him.
The suppressed anger in Sasuke's eyes, the solemnity on Shikamaru's face, the arrogant expression of Hozuki Suigetsu, the tension in Chojuro's eyes, Karui's defiance, Omoi's worry, and the wariness in Ao and Samui's eyes...
"In that case..." Gaara let out a soft breath.
As he exhaled, a massive, violent, and hate-filled chakra suddenly awakened within him, erupting with a deafening roar centered on Gaara!
Waaah—!
A dark red chakra aura swept outwards from him like a whirlwind!
The solid stone floor beneath his feet was instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and then it shattered!
Tiny pebbles and dust were carried into the air by the violent chakra, forming a small force field filled with a sense of oppression.
The giant sand gourd behind Gaara opened its spout automatically, unleashing an endless torrent of yellow sand that swirled around him, producing a sickeningly screeching sound.
The sheer amount of chakra that this person possessed was enough to make their soul tremble and their breath catch in their throat!
"This, this is...?!" Qing took a step back and immediately released the seal on his right eye. The transplanted white eye widened instantly, veins bulged on his forehead, and his voice trembled.
"This chakra... there's no mistake! It's a tailed beast! He's a Jinchuriki!!"