Utakata moved swiftly through the arena's corridors, his elegant robes barely rustling as he walked. The revelation during Dosu's match had confirmed his suspicions—the Sound ninja were holding back deliberately. Combined with their open alliance with Orochimaru, something was clearly amiss.

  He needed to reach Mei immediately. If his instincts were correct, the entire tournament might be a setup for something far more sinister.

  As he rounded a corner toward the Kage viewing box, a figure stepped from the shadows, blocking his path. The man wore standard Konoha jonin attire, but his face guard and calm demeanor marked him as ANBU.

  "Utakata-san," the man said with a polite incline of his head. "I am Tenzo."

  Utakata paused, maintaining a casual stance while subtly preparing his chakra. "Is there something I can help you with? I'm rather in a hurry."

  "I've been requested to ask for your assistance," Tenzo said, his expression revealing little. "Given your... unique abilities, the Hokage thought you might be willing to aid us in keeping watch over the final match of this round."

  Utakata's eyes narrowed. The phrasing wasn't lost on him—the man knew he was a jinchūriki, and specifically wanted his help for the three-way match that would include all three tailed beast containers.

  "That's an interesting request, but I need to speak with the Mizukage," Utakata replied, adjusting the bubble pipe tucked into his obi. "It's rather urgent."

  "I understand," Tenzo nodded. "I'd be happy to escort you to her myself after the match. Given the nature of the final competitors, we're taking extra precautions."

  The implication hung in the air between them. This Tenzo wasn't simply a jonin—he had to be someone with special abilities related to tailed beasts. Konoha's Wood Release user, perhaps? The rumors of such a shinobi had circulated even in Kirigakure.

  Utakata weighed his options. Whatever information he needed to convey to Mei about the Sound ninja might already be too late if something was planned for this match. On the other hand, if Konoha was specifically requesting his help to contain three jinchūriki, the situation could be even more volatile than he'd realized.

  "May I ask what exactly you're concerned about?" Utakata inquired, studying the other man's face.

  Tenzo's expression remained carefully neutral. "Let's just say we have reason to believe one of the competitors might have a seal that's... improperly balanced. It would be beneficial to have someone experienced nearby."

  Utakata understood immediately. The Kazekage's son—Gaara. He'd sensed the instability in the boy's chakra even from a distance. Combined with Haku's still-new status as a container and the Uzumaki boy's raw power, the arena was essentially a powder keg with three different fuses.

  He took a moment to consider, absently forming a small bubble with his pipe as he thought. If something was about to happen, he couldn't afford to be anywhere else. But Mei also needed to know about his suspicions.

  Making his decision, Utakata brought his hands together in a seal. A moment later, a perfect copy of himself formed from bubbles beside him.

  "My clone will deliver my message to the Mizukage," Utakata said, gesturing to the bubble duplicate. "I'll accompany you."

  Tenzo nodded, appearing unsurprised by the technique. "Thank you. Your assistance is appreciated."

  The bubble clone bowed slightly before departing down the hallway toward the Kage viewing box. As it moved, Utakata noticed Tenzo watching it with analytical eyes.

  "Don't worry," Utakata said with a small smile, "it's quite capable of delivering a message, though it won't last in combat."

  "Impressive technique," Tenzo replied, gesturing for Utakata to follow him. "We should position ourselves near the arena floor, but out of sight. The match is about to begin."

  As they walked, Utakata considered the implications of this partnership. Konoha was being unusually open about their concerns—suggesting either great confidence or great worry. Either way, he found himself curious about the capabilities of the man beside him.

  "I take it you have experience with tailed beasts?" Utakata asked, keeping his tone conversational.

  "You could say that," Tenzo answered, his expression revealing nothing. "I've been assigned to this task specifically because of my abilities."

  Utakata nodded, understanding the confirmation without details. That settled it—this had to be the Wood Release user. The First Hokage's abilities had been legendary for controlling tailed beasts.

  They reached a secluded viewing area with a perfect sightline to the arena floor. Below, the proctor was preparing to call the final competitors for the round's last match.

  "From here, we can intervene quickly if necessary," Tenzo explained, his eyes already fixed on the arena entrance where the competitors would emerge. "Let's hope we won't need to."

  Utakata leaned against the wall, his bubble pipe in hand, ready to act at a moment's notice. "Indeed. Let's hope."

  In the Kage viewing box, Mei Terumi was maintaining the polite smile expected of her station. The final competitors would be called soon, including her own jinchūriki, Haku. Beside her, the Hokage and Kazekage were engaged in casual conversation about the quality of the genin they'd witnessed so far.

  A slight shimmer in the air caught her attention as a bubble floated into the box from behind her guards. The ANBU stationed in the corners tensed, but relaxed when it took on Utakata's form. The bubble clone approached with proper decorum, bowing before leaning in to whisper directly into her ear.

  "Sound ninja acting strangely. Minimal aggression, conservation of chakra. Possible coordinated action brewing. I've been redirected by Konoha Wood Release user to monitor the jinchūriki match."

  The clone's message delivered, it silently burst into a fine mist that evaporated almost instantly, leaving no trace of its existence. Mei's expression never wavered, though her mind raced through the implications. If Konoha suspected something serious enough to position their Wood Release user near the jinchūriki match, the situation was potentially more volatile than she'd anticipated.

  She took a measured sip from her tea before casually directing her attention to Sarutobi.

  "I must say, Hokage-sama, your security arrangements are quite impressive this year." She gestured subtly toward her guards, a pre-arranged signal to heighten their alertness. "One might think you were expecting trouble."

  Zabuza shifted his weight almost imperceptibly behind her, his hand drifting closer to the hilt of Kubikiribōchō. Chōjūrō's posture stiffened as well, though his gentle features betrayed little of his readiness for combat.

  The Sandaime's weathered face creased into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "A prudent host always prepares for every contingency, Mizukage-sama, particularly when entertaining such distinguished guests." He tapped his pipe thoughtfully against the arm of his chair. "But yes, I do have reason to believe my former student might attempt something... dramatic."

  Mui, the representative from Grass, who had been silently observing the conversation, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The warden's presence had been a subtle reminder of Orochimaru's crimes extending beyond Konoha's borders.

  "Orochimaru, you mean?" Mei asked, her tone light despite the gravity of the subject. "It would be quite bold of him to make an appearance here, with such concentrated security."

  "Indeed. Boldness has never been a quality my former student lacked," Sarutobi replied with a hint of what might have been pride beneath the regret. "Though the years have added cunning to his boldness."

  Mei tapped a perfectly manicured nail against her teacup. "If I were planning such a disruption, I might consider attacking elsewhere while all attention is focused here. Your village's defenses must be stretched thin with so many visitors."

  The Kazekage shifted in his seat, his eyes narrowing slightly at the theoretical discussion of Konoha's vulnerabilities. The gold dust chair he'd created caught the sunlight, drawing attention to its ostentatious design.

  Sarutobi chuckled, the sound carrying a weariness that belied his good humor. "A reasonable strategy, Mizukage-sama, and one I've accounted for. But no—if there is an attack, it will be right here, in this very arena."

  "Surely you jest, Hokage-dono," the Kazekage interjected, his voice carrying a slight edge. "Even Orochimaru wouldn't be so foolish as to challenge three Kage at once, with their elite guards present."

  Sarutobi turned his gaze toward Rasa, studying him with eyes that had witnessed decades of shinobi warfare. "My student is many things, Kazekage-dono, but a fool is not one of them—at least, not in the way you suggest."

  He gestured toward the arena below, where the competitors for the next match would soon appear. "Orochimaru could certainly orchestrate attacks throughout the village if pure destruction were his aim. But that has never been what drives him."

  The old Hokage leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly despite the privacy seals active around their box. "No, his foolishness lies elsewhere—in his desperate need for recognition. Orochimaru can't simply win; he must win with an audience. His greatest achievements must be witnessed, acknowledged, and recorded in the annals of history."

  Mei caught the subtle tension in Rasa's posture. The Kazekage's eyes had darted briefly to the arena entrance before returning to Sarutobi with practiced calm.

  "It's actually one of the few qualities he and Jiraiya shared, though neither would ever admit it," Sarutobi continued with a nostalgic smile. "Both of them were showmen at heart—just with very different performances."

  The thought of the legendary Sannin being described in such mundane, almost childish terms caught Mei by surprise. A genuine giggle escaped her lips before she could suppress it.

  "I find that hard to imagine," she said, covering her mouth delicately. "The fearsome Orochimaru, motivated by a desire for applause?"

  Rasa remained silent, his expression carefully neutral as he adjusted his Kazekage hat. The movement cast a shadow across his features, making his expression even harder to read.

  "Oh, you'd be surprised," Sarutobi replied, his eyes twinkling with reminiscence. "Allow me to share a story from their genin days that illustrates my point perfectly."

  The old Hokage settled back in his chair, momentarily transported to a time when his greatest worries had been the antics of three extraordinarily talented, extraordinarily troublesome children.

  "This was before they became known as the Sannin, of course—just three genin with more talent than sense," he began, tapping out his pipe against a small tray. "We had been assigned a diplomatic mission to the Land of Hot Water. Simple enough—deliver a scroll, attend a ceremony, return home."

  Sarutobi's eyes crinkled with amusement. "The young lord we were meeting had heard tales of Konoha's prowess and requested a demonstration of our skills. I thought it would be good experience for my students to showcase some basic techniques—nothing flashy, just enough to satisfy curiosity."

  He refilled his pipe methodically as he continued. "I should have known better than to use the word 'showcase' anywhere near those two. Tsunade, practical as always, prepared a simple but impressive medical jutsu demonstration. But Jiraiya and Orochimaru..."

  Sarutobi shook his head, chuckling. "They spent the entire journey there trying to outdo each other with increasingly elaborate plans. What began as a friendly competition devolved into absolute secrecy, with each convinced they would upstage the other."

  Mei found herself genuinely interested, momentarily distracted from the potential crisis brewing. "What happened?"

  "The day of the demonstration arrived, and the young lord was seated with his court to witness Konoha's finest. Tsunade went first, healing an injured bird to appreciative applause." Sarutobi's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Then it was Jiraiya's turn."

  The Hokage gestured expansively. "He had prepared what he called his 'Ultimate Toad Oil Flame Dragon Technique.' It involved summoning several toads to spray oil in a specific pattern, which he would then ignite with a fire jutsu to create the shape of a dragon."

  Sarutobi paused for dramatic effect. "What he didn't know was that Orochimaru had spent the previous night coating the courtyard stones with a chakra-reactive substance—intended for his own demonstration of controlling snakes that would emerge from the ground in a spectacular pattern."

  Mei could already see where this was heading, her lips curving into an amused smile.

  "The moment Jiraiya's toads released their oil, it reacted with Orochimaru's compound. Instead of forming his planned dragon shape, the oil scattered everywhere, creating dozens of small flame bursts. The toads, startled by the unexpected reaction, began hopping frantically around the courtyard."

  Sarutobi could barely contain his amusement now. "And when Orochimaru tried to salvage the situation by summoning his snakes anyway, the creatures emerged disoriented from the chemically-altered ground. Rather than forming the elegant pattern he'd planned, they slithered directly toward the nearest heat source—Jiraiya's flames."

  "Oh no," Mei said, genuinely entertained.

  "Oh yes," Sarutobi confirmed. "Within moments, we had panicked toads, confused snakes, and flames spreading across the courtyard. The young lord's guards thought we were staging an attack and drew their weapons. It took Tsunade dumping the ceremonial koi pond over the entire scene to prevent a diplomatic incident."

  Sarutobi's shoulders shook with quiet laughter. "You should have seen them—two of the most talented genin I'd ever trained, drenched and covered in soot, surrounded by disgruntled toads and snakes, trying to explain how this disaster was entirely the other's fault."

  Mei couldn't help but laugh at the image of the future legendary Sannin reduced to squabbling, sodden children. Even Zabuza let out a short, rough sound that might have been amusement.

  "The young lord, thankfully, had a sense of humor," Sarutobi continued. "He declared it the most memorable demonstration he'd ever witnessed, though perhaps not for the reasons they'd intended."

  "And what did you do?" Mei asked, genuinely curious.

  "I assigned them to clean and repair the courtyard together, of course," Sarutobi replied. "And they spent the entire time arguing about whose technique would have been more impressive had the other not interfered."

  The Hokage's expression softened with nostalgia. "That's what I mean about them being showmen. Even as genin, they couldn't bear the thought of being outshone—especially by each other."

  Mei nodded, understanding the point beneath the entertaining anecdote. "And you believe Orochimaru hasn't outgrown this trait?"

  "If anything, it's only intensified," Sarutobi confirmed, his expression growing serious once more. "He doesn't just want to defeat his enemies; he wants to demonstrate his superiority. It's why I'm certain that if he plans to move against Konoha, he'll do it here, where everyone can witness it."

  Throughout the story, Rasa had remained unnaturally still, his face betraying nothing. Now, he cleared his throat. "An amusing tale, Hokage-dono, but perhaps we should return our attention to the matches. I believe the final competitors for this round are about to be called."

  Below, the proctor had indeed stepped forward to announce the match that would complete the first round: Gaara versus Haku versus Naruto. The crowd's energy surged as they anticipated the three-way confrontation.

  "Indeed," Sarutobi agreed, setting his pipe aside. "And I suspect this will be a match worth our full attention."

  As the three young jinchūriki made their way into the arena, Mei caught Sarutobi's eye, a silent understanding passing between them. Whatever happened next, they would be ready.

  Naruto's heart hammered against his ribs as he stared across the arena at his opponents. The crowd's roar faded to a distant hum in his ears. Sweat beaded on his brow despite the cool breeze that swept across the stadium.

  I've trained so hard for this, but will it be enough?

  Haku stood with perfect stillness, a calm smile on his face that belied the deadly precision Naruto knew he possessed. Their encounter in Wave Country had shown Naruto just how formidable the ice-user could be—and that was before he became a jinchūriki.

  And then there was Gaara.

  The red-haired Sand ninja hadn't moved a muscle since entering the arena. His pale green eyes remained fixed on some middle distance, as though his opponents weren't even worth acknowledging yet. The gourd on his back seemed to shift slightly, the sand inside restless.

  Naruto wiped his palms against his orange pants. Three days ago, he could barely summon a decent-sized toad. Now he could touch the Kyuubi's power—just barely, just enough to feel its vastness—but wielding it was another matter entirely. Jiraiya's crash course had left him exhausted, and he still wasn't sure he could control it when it mattered.

  What was Pervy Sage's advice again? Focus on protecting someone precious...

  Naruto glanced up at the stands, catching sight of Hinata's anxious face. Beside her, Sakura gave him a confident thumbs-up, while in the competitor's stand Sasuke offered a solemn nod that somehow conveyed both don't embarrass yourself and you've got this at the same time.

  His gaze drifted higher, to where the Kage sat watching. The old man's weathered face creased in a smile when their eyes met. A smile that said, I believe in you.

  The realization hit Naruto like a blow to the chest. This wasn't just about advancing to the next round or even making chunin. This was bigger. Much bigger.

  Each of them was a jinchūriki—a human sacrifice, a vessel for power that could level mountains. Haku for Mist, Gaara for Sand, himself for Leaf. Whichever of them proved strongest would subtly shift the balance of negotiations happening between their villages. The Hokage's smile wasn't just encouragement; it was confidence in Konoha's power, personified in Naruto himself.

  I'm representing the entire village.

  The crowd's cheering swelled again. "NARUTO! NARUTO!" A chant begun by Hinata and his friends spread through the Konoha sections of the audience. They cheered not just because they knew him, but because he wore their headband, carried their hopes.

  A memory flashed through his mind—the Hokage's voice from the opening ceremony: "Today you fight not just for your own advancement, but as representatives of your villages. Show the world the caliber of shinobi your village produces."

  The proctor stepped back, raising his hand. The three genin formed a rough triangle in the center of the arena, each watching the others with wary eyes.

  Haku's voice cut through the tension. "Naruto-kun, would you mind if Gaara-san and I fight one-on-one for a bit? It might be to your advantage to observe us first."

  The suggestion made tactical sense. Let his two powerful opponents wear each other down, conserve his own strength, gain intelligence on their techniques. The smart move.

  Naruto straightened his shoulders. "That would be the smart thing to do," he admitted. "But I can't let others fight my battles for me when I'm representing the Leaf. Not anymore."

  Surprise flickered across Haku's feminine features, followed by a genuine smile. "You've grown, Naruto-kun."

  Haku turned his attention to Gaara, who still hadn't acknowledged either of them with so much as a glance.

  "Gaara-san," Haku's voice was gentle, almost kind. "Do you have anyone precious to you? Someone you fight to protect?"

  The question seemed to penetrate Gaara's indifference. His eyes focused on Haku, narrowing slightly.

  "My mother is always with me," Gaara said, his voice low and raspy from disuse.

  Haku's face brightened. "That's wonderful—"

  "She demands blood," Gaara continued, cutting him off. "And I will feed her yours."

  A chill ran down Naruto's spine. There was something deeply wrong about the way Gaara spoke, something broken in the hollow calm of his voice.

  Gaara's gaze swept over both of them. "We are weapons. That is our purpose—to destroy those who stand before us." His eyes widened, a manic gleam entering them. "You will validate my existence with your deaths."

  The proctor's hand came down. "Begin!"

  "Begin!"

  Sand erupted from Gaara's gourd in a violent wave, expanding outward with unnatural speed toward both opponents. The crowd gasped as the tsunami of particles surged across the arena floor.

  Naruto leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the leading edge of the attack. His sandals skidded through dirt as he landed, heartbeat drumming in his ears.

  Haku moved in the opposite direction—directly toward the oncoming sand. His body became a blur of motion, feet barely touching the ground as he accelerated. Ice needles formed between his fingers, glinting in the sunlight.

  "Such speed," Neji muttered from the stands.

  Naruto created two shadow clones, flanking him on either side, but his attention remained fixed on the incredible display before him. The confidence he'd felt moments ago wavered at the sight of his opponents' abilities.

  Haku wove through Gaara's attacks with impossible grace. Each time the sand lunged for him, he was already elsewhere, leaving only afterimages in his wake. The ice senbon flew from his hands in precise volleys, striking the sand with pinpoint accuracy.

  Where the needles hit, frost bloomed across the sand's surface, temporarily freezing sections in place. But Gaara's defense wouldn't yield—the frozen particles simply crumbled away, replaced by fresh sand.

  "He's trying to create openings in Gaara's defense," Sakura observed from the spectator stands, leaning forward with intense focus. "But the sand regenerates too quickly."

  Gaara stood motionless at the center of his sand barrier, arms crossed, face impassive. Only his eyes moved, tracking Haku's lightning-fast movements. With each unsuccessful attack, the sand responded more aggressively, sweeping out in broad arcs designed to catch his elusive opponent.

  "Is this all you have?" Gaara's voice carried across the arena, flat and unimpressed. "Mother expected more."

  Haku didn't respond verbally. Instead, he flashed through hand signs while dodging another sand tendril. "Secret Technique: A Thousand Needles of Death!"

  Water droplets materialized from the ambient moisture, surrounded Gaara from all angles, and transformed into ice needles that converged on him simultaneously.

  The sand shield expanded instantly, creating a perfect dome around its master. The needles struck with a sound like hail on stone, embedding halfway before stopping.

  Naruto gritted his teeth. He'd faced both these opponents before, but watching them fight at full strength against each other made him acutely aware of the gap between them. Haku's speed and precision, Gaara's absolute defense—each seemed untouchable in their own way.

  But I refused to be ignored!

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto's hands formed the familiar cross seal.

  The arena filled with puffs of smoke as dozens of orange-clad clones materialized, surrounding both combatants in a sea of blond hair and determined blue eyes.

  "Don't forget about me!" the Narutos shouted in unison, charging forward.

  Haku paused momentarily, surprise flashing across his features at the sheer number of clones. That split-second hesitation cost him—a tendril of sand wrapped around his ankle.

  "Caught you," Gaara said.

  Haku's body shimmered and shattered into ice crystals, the ice clone disintegrating as the real Haku appeared several meters away.

  "Not quite," Haku replied.

  The first wave of Naruto clones crashed against Gaara's defenses, attacking from all sides with kunai and fists. Sand whipped through the air, dispatching them in rapid succession, but for every clone destroyed, another took its place.

  Haku found himself similarly besieged, forced to deal with clones attempting to grapple him while maintaining his assault on Gaara. One clone managed to grab his arm before a senbon through its forehead dispelled it.

  "Your clones are persistent, Naruto-kun," Haku called out, genuine appreciation in his voice as he spun through another group, leaving them collapsed in his wake.

  From his position at the edge of the battlefield, Naruto analyzed the situation. His original impulse had been to just overwhelm his opponents with sheer numbers, but watching them dismantle his clones with such efficiency required a more tactical approach.

  "Where is the blood?" Gaara's voice rose over the sounds of battle, frustration evident for the first time. He crushed another clone between two sand walls, only for it to vanish in a puff of smoke. "Why won't you bleed?"

  The disturbing question echoed across the arena, causing murmurs in the crowd. Even the Kages in their viewing box leaned forward, attention sharpened.

  Mei turned toward Sarutobi. "Is that normal behavior for Suna's jinchūriki?"

  In the stands, Temari winced at her brother's outburst. Kankuro, already tense from his own match and the hidden puppet containing Tenten, muttered something under his breath.

  Oblivious to the reaction he'd caused, Gaara's attacks grew more violent. The fine control he'd shown earlier began to fade, replaced by brute force as sand hammers smashed through groups of clones at once.

  Haku noticed the shift immediately. "His emotional state affects his fighting style," he said quietly to himself, filing away that observation for later use.

  The ice-user was finding the clones increasingly troublesome. While individually weak, their constant presence restricted his movement options and prevented him from setting up his more elaborate techniques. Each time he tried to create his ice mirrors, a clone would disrupt his concentration.

  "I see your strategy, Naruto-kun," Haku called out, genuine respect in his voice as he dispatched another three clones with senbon through their throats. "You're more clever than you appear."

  "I'm full of surprises!" shouted back one of the clones before being crushed by a sand pillar.

  Naruto's real body remained at the periphery, constantly creating replacement clones while studying his opponents. His initial fear of being outclassed hadn't disappeared, but watching the battle unfold gave him insights he hadn't expected.

  Gaara's sand, while nearly impenetrable, moved with patterns that could be predicted if watched carefully enough. And Haku, for all his speed, had to slow down occasionally to cast his ice techniques.

  The battle continued its chaotic dance—Haku darting between Naruto's clones to launch attacks at Gaara, Gaara's sand destroying everything within reach while maintaining his perfect defense, and Naruto's clones creating constant disruption throughout the arena.

  Up in the stands, the spectators were riveted. Many had expected Naruto to be quickly eliminated, leaving the two foreign ninja to battle it out between themselves. Instead, they were witnessing a genuinely three-sided conflict.

  "Look at how he's using his clones," Kakashi said to no one in particular, his visible eye curved in what might have been pride. "Not just as cannon fodder, but as a tactical element."

  Indeed, Naruto had begun positioning his clones more strategically, creating corridors that funneled Gaara's sand attacks away from certain areas, or forming defensive walls that allowed other clones to get closer to their targets.

  Haku, meanwhile, was adapting to the battlefield conditions. Rather than attempting to maintain his distance, he began moving through the mass of Naruto clones, using them as cover against Gaara's attacks.

  "Your clones make excellent shields, Naruto-kun," Haku said, sliding between two of them as a sand spear pierced the space where he'd been a moment before.

  "Hey!" protested the clone that got hit instead, before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

  Gaara's frustration continued to mount. The constant smoke from dispelled clones was beginning to obscure parts of the battlefield, and neither of his opponents would stay still long enough for a decisive blow.

  "This is pointless," he growled, the sand around him swirling more violently. "I'll crush you all at once."

  The sand beneath the battlefield began to shift, causing the ground to become unstable. Clones lost their footing, stumbling into each other or the range of Gaara's attacks.

  Haku, sensing the escalation, decided it was time to counter more aggressively. He flipped through hand signs while leaping over a wave of sand.

  "Secret Technique: Crystal Ice Mirrors!"

  Water gathered from the air, forming a dome of ice mirrors surrounding Gaara. Haku's image appeared in each mirror simultaneously, senbon glinting between his fingers.

  "Now we'll see if your sand can protect you from all directions at once," Haku's voice echoed from every mirror.

  Gaara's eyes widened slightly—the first real expression he'd shown since the match began. His sand shield thickened, forming layers around his body like an armored cocoon.

  Senbon flew from every mirror, converging on Gaara with impossible speed. Most embedded themselves in the sand, but a few—launched with precision at the thinnest points in the defense—scratched through, drawing thin lines of blood on Gaara's cheek and arm.

  The arena went silent as a look of utter shock crossed Gaara's face. He reached up slowly, touching the small trickle of blood on his face.

  "Blood... my blood..." His voice was barely audible, filled with disbelief that rapidly transformed into rage. "MY BLOOD!"

  Sand exploded outward with unprecedented force, shattering the ice mirrors and sending fragments scattering across the arena. Haku was thrown backward, barely managing to land on his feet.

  "You hurt me," Gaara's voice had changed, deeper and layered with something inhuman. "Mother wants your blood now. ALL OF IT!"

  The remaining Naruto clones braced themselves as the sand began to take on a new form around Gaara, claws forming and a bestial tail beginning to emerge.

  In the stands, Temari grabbed Kankuro's arm. "This is bad. If he transforms here—"

  "I know," Kankuro cut her off, glancing toward the Kage box where their father sat watching without apparent concern.

  Back on the battlefield, Naruto had formed a new batch of clones, but they hung back, uncertain in the face of Gaara's transformation. The real Naruto felt a chill run down his spine. The malevolent chakra emanating from Gaara resonated with something deep inside him, like recognizing like.

  This is what Jiraiya warned me about.

  Haku, recovering from the blast, assessed the situation with remarkable calm. "I see," he said quietly. "Your control over your bijuu is incomplete."

  Gaara's sand continued to envelop him, covering half his face with what looked like a grotesque mask. "I'll kill you... I'll kill you all... and prove my existence!"

  Naruto watched as more sand gathered around Gaara, forming what was beginning to look like a miniature version of the tanuki he'd seen in books about the bijuu. The killing intent radiating from him was palpable, pressing down on everyone in the arena.

  I can't let this continue.

  In the Kage box, Sarutobi rose slightly from his seat, exchanging glances with Mei. Rasa remained impassive, though a faint smile played at the corners of his mouth.

  "Shouldn't we intervene?" Mei asked quietly.

  "Let's see how they handle it first," Sarutobi replied, eyes never leaving the arena. "This is... educational."

  On the battlefield, Haku stood his ground as Gaara's transformation continued. He formed new hand signs, ice beginning to gather around him in a protective shell. "If this is how you wish to fight, I can match your power."

  A cold blue chakra began to emanate from Haku, visible even to those without special sensing abilities. The temperature around him dropped precipitously, frost forming on the ground beneath his feet.

  Naruto, watching both his opponents begin to tap into their bijuu's power, made his decision. His hands formed the familiar cross seal once again, but this time with different intent.

  "No way am I letting you guys leave me behind," he muttered, closing his eyes and reaching for that burning sensation deep within his core. "I'm a jinchūriki too, ya know!"

  The red chakra he'd accessed with Jiraiya's help began to bubble around him, enveloping his body in a fiery aura. His whisker marks deepened, his canines lengthened, and his eyes, when they opened, had transformed from blue to slitted crimson.

  Three distinct chakras—red, blue, and sandy brown—clashed in the center of the arena, creating a spectacle that had everyone from common villagers to the Kages themselves holding their breath.

  The three jinchūriki faced each other, their borrowed powers manifesting around them, the true battle only now beginning.

  The three jinchūriki stood in the center of the arena, their chakras clashing violently in the air between them. Gaara's partial transformation continued, sand forming what looked like half a tanuki face over his own, his right arm encased in a massive claw of hardened sand.

  Haku's normally gentle demeanor had vanished, replaced by cool determination as frost gathered around his feet, spreading outward in an ever-widening circle.

  Naruto's red chakra cloak bubbled and hissed, the single tail forming behind him whipping back and forth with a mind of its own.

  Gaara struck first. With a guttural roar, he slammed his transformed arm into the ground. Sand erupted from the impact point, racing outward in every direction like a tidal wave. But this was only the prelude.

  "Mother will have your blood!" Gaara's voice had become a distorted growl. "Sand Tsunami!"

  The ground beneath the arena began to tremble. Cracks appeared in the stone floor as more and more sand poured forth, defying all logic of where it could possibly be coming from. It swirled upward, forming a massive vortex around Gaara's body.

  "A desert within the arena," Haku murmured, his breath visible in the increasingly cold air surrounding him. "Impressive."

  Within seconds, Gaara had vanished entirely within a swirling sandstorm that filled his third of the arena. The sand particles moved with such speed that they created an abrasive barrier—anything that tried to pass through would be stripped to the bone.

  "My turn," Haku said, his hands flashing through seals with practiced precision. "Secret Technique: Crystal Ice Mirrors."

  But this wasn't the same technique he'd used against Lee a month ago. This time, the ice formed not into a dome of mirrors but into the shape of an enormous turtle shell around him, at least fifteen feet high. Frost patterns spread across its surface, growing and shifting like living things. From within came Haku's voice, echoing and distorted:

  "Yuki-Oni's Breath."

  A howling blizzard erupted from openings in the shell, meeting Gaara's sandstorm where they touched. The collision created an unearthly shriek as sand and ice particles ground against each other, neither giving way, both forces perfectly matched.

  In the stands, the spectators gasped and pointed. Some held their arms up against the cold air that was beginning to spread throughout the arena.

  "What the hell?" Kiba's jaw hung open as he watched the spectacle unfold. "Since when could they do that?"

  "The properties of sand and ice manipulation seem far more extensive than what we observed in the preliminaries," Shino noted, his voice as calm as ever despite the extraordinary scene.

  "But neither of them is moving," Hinata said softly, her Byakugan activated. "They're both just... defending."

  She didn't mention what else she could see—the unnatural chakra swirling within both competitors, chakra that didn't feel human.

  In the center of the maelstrom stood Naruto, seemingly forgotten by his opponents as they focused on countering each other. The red chakra surrounding him intensified, bubbling more violently.

  "Hey! Don't forget me!" Naruto shouted, his voice carrying a feral edge that made several spectators shiver. "Mass Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

  The familiar hand sign was the only warning before the arena suddenly filled with orange. Dozens became hundreds became thousands in a matter of seconds, each clone surrounded by the same red chakra aura as the original. They filled every available space, climbing on top of each other, running up the walls, hanging from the railings—everywhere the eye could see, there was Naruto.

  "Holy shit," Ino whispered, clutching the railing in front of her. "How is he making so many? That's not possible!"

  "His chakra reserves must be off the charts," Sakura replied, her green eyes wide with amazement. "I knew he could make a lot, but this..."

  Sasuke remained silent, his Sharingan activated, watching the swirling patterns of chakra with intense focus.

  Chouji had stopped eating, his bag of chips forgotten in his hand. "No wonder he never seems to get tired."

  "But this is beyond what any genin should be capable of," Neji said, his own Byakugan revealing the truth of what he was seeing. "This isn't normal chakra."

  Down in the arena, the clones had finished organizing themselves. They formed what looked like a three-dimensional invasion force, covering every surface. A thousand voices spoke in unison, creating an eerie harmony:

  "If you guys want to play defensive, that's fine by me!" The original Naruto, still standing at the center of the arena, grinned savagely. "I'll just have to break through!"

  Each clone reached into their pouches, pulling out what appeared to be standard shuriken. But these weren't ordinary weapons—each had been prepared in advance, with explosive tags attached to their centers.

  "Kage Shuriken no Jutsu!" thousands of voices cried out simultaneously.

  The air filled with the distinctive popping sounds of transformation jutsus as each shuriken multiplied into dozens more. In an instant, the space above the arena darkened with a cloud of spinning metal, each trailing thin strips of paper.

  "Those are all explosive tags," Rock Lee said, eyes wide with amazement. "Tenten would love this! Where is she?"

  He looked around, suddenly realizing he hadn't seen his teammate since she'd gone to confront Kankuro after his match.

  The attack began in earnest. Wave after wave of explosive shuriken rained down on both defensive formations. The first round struck Gaara's sandstorm, detonating upon contact. The explosions were absorbed by the swirling sand, but each one disrupted the flow momentarily before it reformed.

  Another volley descended on Haku's ice turtle. The explosions created spiderweb cracks across the surface, though the structure held. Frost immediately sealed the damage, but not before Haku's voice emerged:

  "Impressive, Naruto-kun. I did not expect such a stratagem."

  The bombardment continued, systematic and relentless. The Naruto army coordinated with surprising efficiency, different groups targeting specific weak points in both defenses. It was less a battle and more a siege, with thousands of clones methodically wearing down their opponents' protections.

  In the Kage box, Sarutobi watched with critical eyes, neither surprised nor concerned by what he was seeing.

  "Your jinchūriki has excellent control," Sarutobi observed, his eyes tracking the patterns of ice that continued to form and reform around Haku's defense. "Most can't access that much of their bijuu's power without losing themselves."

  "Haku has always been... exceptional," Mei replied with a small smile. "The Sanbi seems to have found a compatible host."

  Rasa remained silent, his expression unreadable as he watched his son's performance.

  Back in the arena, the explosions had grown more intense. The ground shook with each detonation, and smoke began to fill the air despite the efforts of Gaara's sandstorm and Haku's blizzard to clear it.

  Gaara's voice emerged from within his defensive whirlwind, strained and increasingly unhinged: "Is that all you have? Mother isn't satisfied yet!"

  The sandstorm expanded suddenly, growing in both height and intensity. The abrasive particles began to strip away the arena floor itself, grinding stone to dust.

  Not to be outdone, Haku's ice turtle grew additional layers, its shell thickening as the blizzard intensified. The temperature in the arena dropped precipitously—spectators in the front rows could see their breath and shivered despite the summer heat outside.

  Near the edge of the arena, Tenzo and Utakata exchanged concerned glances.

  "This is getting out of hand," Yamato said quietly, his hands already forming the signs for his Wood Release. "If any of these techniques breach the arena walls..."

  Utakata nodded, blowing gently into his bubble pipe. "I'd rather not see what happens when three jinchūriki fully lose control in a civilian-filled stadium."

  Without further discussion, both jonin moved in perfect coordination. Utakata's bubbles expanded and multiplied, forming a shimmering barrier around the perimeter of the fighting area. Yamato's Wood Release: Four-Pillar Prison Technique created a secondary containment structure, wooden beams rising from the ground to form a lattice above the arena.

  The combined techniques created a double-layered containment field—Utakata's bubbles would absorb and neutralize excess chakra, while Yamato's wood constructs would physically contain any stray attacks.

  "Should we intervene?" Utakata asked, maintaining his technique with apparent ease.

  Yamato shook his head. "Not without a signal from the Kages. Our orders are to contain, not interfere."

  In the center of the chaos, Naruto's clones continued their bombardment. The original Naruto stood with his feet planted firmly, directing the assault like a conductor leading an orchestra of destruction. The red chakra surrounding him had intensified.

  "Keep it up, guys!" he called to his clones, his fanged grin visible even through the smoke and debris. "We're breaking through!"

  And indeed, both defensive formations were showing signs of strain. Gaara's sandstorm had developed inconsistencies in its rotation, areas where the sand moved sluggishly before being reinforced. Haku's ice turtle bore countless cracks across its surface, the rate of repair slowing noticeably.

  The spectators watched in awe as the three-way battle escalated beyond anything they had anticipated from a chunin exam match. The raw power on display was more reminiscent of a clash between jonin—or something even greater.

  Down in the arena, the battle had reached a critical point. Naruto's explosive shuriken barrage had created a thin spot in Gaara's defense, a section where the sand moved sluggishly, struggling to maintain the protective barrier.

  Naruto spotted it immediately. "There! Everyone aim for that weak point!"

  Hundreds of clones redirected their attack, focusing their fire on the vulnerable area. The concentrated explosions created a momentary gap—and Naruto seized the opportunity.

  A primal scream of rage and pain erupted from within the sandstorm. The entire formation wavered, then collapsed inward, revealing Gaara on one knee, his transformation more advanced now—both arms transformed into tanuki limbs, half his face covered in the sand creature's visage.

  "YOU HURT ME AGAIN!" Gaara roared, his voice barely human. "Mother wants ALL YOUR BLOOD!"

  Before Naruto could retreat, a massive sand claw shot out, grabbing him and slamming him into the ground with bone-crushing force. The real Naruto gasped in pain as his clones moved to intercept, only to be swept away by a wave of sand.

  Seeing Naruto's success against Gaara, Haku emerged partially from his ice turtle, sending a barrage of ice senbon toward the distracted Sand ninja. "Your defense has a weakness as well, Gaara-san."

  The needles struck true, embedding themselves in Gaara's exposed human shoulder. Again, the sight of his own blood seemed to trigger something primal in the Sand ninja.

  "BOTH OF YOU WILL DIE!" he screamed, his transformation accelerating.

  Yamato and Utakata strengthened their containment techniques as the battle intensified. Both watched for any signal from the Kage box, but so far no order to intervene had come.

  "They're testing them," Utakata said quietly, understanding dawning. "The Kages want to see how far they can go."

  Yamato's expression hardened. "Let's just make sure no one else gets caught in the crossfire."

  In the stands, the spectators had fallen silent, the initial excitement of the match giving way to a growing unease. This no longer resembled a tournament fight—it was a clash between forces of nature, raw and primal.

  Despite the increasingly dangerous situation, Lee continued to glance around between watching the match, his concern growing.

  "Has anyone seen Tenten?" he asked again, turning to the other rookies. "She would never miss this part of the exam."

  "Maybe she's with Kankuro," Ino suggested with a sly smile, trying to lighten the mood. "They seemed pretty cozy earlier."

  Lee frowned. "That doesn't sound like Tenten. She would at least tell me or Neji where she was going."

  Back in the arena, Naruto had freed himself from Gaara's sand grip, his red chakra cloak protecting him from the worst of the damage. He stood now between his two opponents, breathing heavily but still grinning.

  "Is that all you guys got?" he taunted, though the effect was somewhat undermined by the trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. "Because I'm just getting started!"

  Around him, his remaining clones regrouped, preparing for another coordinated assault. Haku and Gaara faced him from opposite sides, their own transformations continuing to progress. Ice crystals had begun forming directly on Haku's skin, giving him an otherworldly appearance, while Gaara's body was now two-thirds transformed into the miniature tanuki.

  The three jinchūriki faced each other across the devastated arena, the very air between them distorted by the clash of their immense chakras—nature's most powerful forces channeled through human vessels, each fighting to maintain control while pushing their powers to the limit

  The concrete wall of the observation deck cracked beneath Temari's white-knuckled grip as she watched her youngest brother fighting below. Her eyes darted between Gaara, the Konoha jinchūriki, and the Mist one—each displaying power far beyond what genin should possess.

  "This isn't right," she whispered, tension vibrating through her body. "Gaara is being... matched."

  Kankuro stood beside her, Raven strapped to his back, Crow at his side. His painted face couldn't hide the growing unease in his eyes. "Worse than that. Look at the ANBU around the arena."

  Temari followed his gaze to the shadowed figures positioned strategically throughout the stadium. They weren't trying to stop the fight—they were containing it.

  "They've got barrier specialists and at least two chakra suppressors," Kankuro continued, his voice low. "Konoha is handling three jinchūriki going wild like it's nothing. Like they expected this."

  A chill ran down Temari's spine as realization struck. "They knew. Somehow they already knew about—"

  "It doesn't matter now," came a terse voice from behind them.

  They turned to find Baki standing there, his face half-hidden by the cloth covering one side, his visible eye hard as stone.

  "Baki-sensei!" Kankuro took a half-step forward. "We need to—"

  "The signal has been given," Baki cut him off. "It's too late."

  Temari's heart sank. Below in the arena, Gaara had just taken a powerful hit from Naruto's clone army, exposing a part of his human form beneath the sand armor.

  "But Father hasn't given the sign yet," she protested, looking toward the Kage box where the three village leaders still sat watching the match.

  "Different signal, different source," Baki replied cryptically. "Stick to the plan. Temari, you'll secure the east exit. Kankuro, you're still responsible for extracting Gaara once he's transformed."

  Kankuro didn't move, his eyes fixed on the brutal three-way battle below. "Sensei, look at the arena. This isn't going to work. We need to—"

  A distant explosion interrupted him, followed by another, then several more in rapid succession. The crowd murmured, heads turning toward the source of the sounds.

  "It's begun," Baki said.

  Down in the arena, Gaara's head snapped up at the sound of explosions, his transformed face splitting into a grotesque smile. The plan was proceeding. His siblings' concerns meant nothing—this was what he had been waiting for. An opportunity to fully unleash Mother.

  "Finally," he growled, his voice distorted by the partial transformation.

  Naruto and Haku both paused, momentarily distracted by the explosions.

  "What the hell is that?" Naruto demanded, his red chakra cloak flickering around him.

  Haku's eyes narrowed behind his ice mask. "Utakata-sensei warned me this might happen," he said quietly.

  Gaara formed a hand sign, one not typical for his sand techniques. "Now I don't have to hold back," he hissed through his transformed mouth. "Now Mother gets to play."

  "Tanuki Neiri no Jutsu," he whispered, his human eye closing as his transformed eye remained open, glowing with malevolent chakra.

  Gaara's body went limp, slumping forward as though unconscious—but the sand around him didn't fade. Instead, it surged upward, growing exponentially as the power of Shukaku flooded forth without restraint.

  "YEEEEHAAAA! I'M FREE!" The voice that emerged from the growing sand creature was no longer Gaara's, but the high-pitched, manic screech of the One-Tail itself. "Time to kill some humans!"

  The massive tanuki continued to form, its body expanding toward the stadium ceiling, forcing spectators in the lower rows to flee as sand crashed against the barrier that Yamato and Utakata were struggling to maintain.

  In the Kage box, Sarutobi rose to his feet as the first explosions echoed through the village. His gaze flicked briefly to the arena where Gaara was transforming, then out toward the village walls where plumes of smoke were now visible.

  "So it begins," he said, his voice calm despite the chaos erupting around them. "Though I must admit, I expected a more subtle opening move."

  "My apologies, Hokage-dono," Mui said with a slight bow that carried no remorse. "But Lord Orochimaru promised me the chakra needed to open the box containing my son. A father will do anything for his child."

  Sarutobi's eyes hardened. "Even betray an entire village?"

  "Even that," Mui replied, stepping back as one of his guards moved forward.

  The guard's face seemed to melt, skin peeling away to reveal the pale, snake-like visage of Orochimaru beneath.

  "Hello, Sensei," he said with a wide smile. "Did you enjoy the performances of our young jinchūriki? Consider it just the opening act."

  Sarutobi didn't appear surprised, merely resigned. "I knew you would return eventually, Orochimaru. Though involving so many other villages seems excessive, even for you."

  "Oh, I needed a proper stage this time," Orochimaru chuckled. "Taking over a village requires a certain... spectacle."

  Beside them, "Rasa" stood silent, his face expressionless. Now, cracks appeared in his skin, revealing the gray texture of reanimated flesh beneath.

  Mei stepped back, her bodyguards moving to flank her. "An Edo Tensei," she spat. "You dare bring such an abomination to a diplomatic gathering?"

  Orochimaru turned his serpentine gaze to her. "My dear Mizukage, I bring many gifts today. The return of Konoha to its rightful glory is merely the greatest of them."

  Sarutobi's hands flashed through seals. "Zabuza, get the Mizukage to safety. This is Konoha's fight."

  "I don't take orders from—" Zabuza began, but Mei cut him off.

  "We will relocate to a more advantageous position," she said firmly. "But make no mistake, Hokage-dono—Mist does not abandon its allies."

  As they spoke, a dome of purple energy began forming around the Kage box, cutting off escape routes. Four Sound ninja had appeared at the corners of the roof, each activating a portion of the barrier.

  "I'm afraid I can't let any of you leave just yet," Orochimaru said. "The show is just beginning."

  Throughout the village, chaos erupted as the coordinated attack began.

  At the southern wall, giant snakes burst from the ground, their massive bodies crushing the defensive barriers as Sound ninja poured through the gaps. Konoha sentries fell beneath the initial onslaught, their blood spattering across the village emblem carved into the gate.

  At the western approach, Rock Lee had just reached the top of the stairs, still searching for Tenten, when the first explosion rocked the stadium. He grabbed the railing to steady himself, then looked out over the village to see a monstrous three-headed serpent rising above the treeline.

  "This cannot be happening," he whispered, before his training kicked in. "I must find Guy-sensei!"

  He turned to sprint back down the stairs but froze at what he saw in the arena below. The sand ninja, Gaara, was transforming into something enormous—a creature of sand that nearly touched the stadium roof despite the containment efforts of the ANBU.

  On the eastern side of the village, a different kind of attack was underway. Shinobi wearing Grass headbands moved methodically through the streets, led by a silver-haired man whose eyes gleamed with cruel intelligence. Unlike the chaotic destruction wrought by the Sound and Sand forces, these ninja moved with surgical precision, targeting specific buildings and individuals.

  "Remember, Lord Orochimaru wants minimal civilian casualties," Shinno instructed his forces. "We are here to subdue, not slaughter. The Zero-Tails feeds on despair, not death."

  Behind him, a writhing mass of dark chakra manifested briefly before sinking back into his shadow, leaving only a faint purple glow around his body.

  In the ANBU headquarters beneath the Hokage monument, masked figures moved with uncharacteristic disorder. Root operatives, their blank masks distinguished by red markings, had infiltrated the regular ANBU ranks and were now systematically disabling the village's coordinated defense network.

  At the center of the operation stood a bandaged figure that everyone recognized as Danzo Shimura. None suspected that beneath the bandages was Kabuto Yakushi, his disguise perfect down to the mannerisms and voice.

  "Secure the sensor division," he ordered. "We must prevent them from coordinating a counterattack."

  One of the Root operatives bowed. "Danzo-sama, what about the Hokage? Our intelligence suggests he is currently engaged with Orochimaru-sama."

  "Let them fight," Kabuto replied in Danzo's gravelly voice. "Either outcome serves our purpose. If Lord Orochimaru prevails, we maintain our position. If the Hokage somehow survives, he will be weakened enough for us to deal with afterward."

  The operative nodded and disappeared in a flicker of movement. Kabuto allowed himself a small, satisfied smile beneath his bandages. Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

  Alarm bells rang throughout the academy as Iruka herded the panicked children toward the evacuation tunnels. The distant sounds of combat echoed through the village, growing closer with each passing minute.

  "Everyone stay together!" Iruka shouted over the chaos, counting heads as the students rushed past him. The youngest ones were crying, while the older academy students tried unsuccessfully to maintain stoic expressions. "Follow the drills we practiced!"

  "Iruka!"

  He turned to see Mizuki running toward him, looking disheveled but alert.

  "The eastern tunnel is compromised," Mizuki said, grabbing Iruka's arm. "We need to redirect to the northern route."

  Iruka's brow furrowed. "The northern route? That takes them right past the—"

  "I know, but it's our only option," Mizuki insisted, already shepherding the children in the new direction. "Sound ninja breached the eastern perimeter. I just barely got away."

  Something in Mizuki's tone made Iruka hesitate. The northern route would take the children dangerously close to the administrative district—precisely where the attack seemed to be concentrating.

  "Wait," Iruka said, stepping between Mizuki and the children. "Let me confirm with the command post first."

  Mizuki's expression hardened. "There's no time for—"

  "There's always time for proper protocol during evacuations," Iruka replied, his hand moving subtly toward his weapons pouch.

  A flicker of movement behind him was Iruka's only warning before something hard struck the back of his head. Stars exploded across his vision as he crumpled to the floor, consciousness fading rapidly.

  Through dimming eyes, he saw another chunin—Sota from the weapons division—standing over him with a truncheon.

  "I wanted to do that," Mizuki complained, kicking Iruka's limp form.

  "You were taking too long," Sota replied. "The kids are secured?"

  "Being moved to the collection point now," Mizuki confirmed. "What about our part?"

  Tsubaki emerged from the shadows of the academy hallway, her usually warm demeanor replaced by cold efficiency. "We have our own mission," she said, reaching into her vest to produce a small vial that glimmered with an opalescent sheen swirls of vibrant color running throughout.

  Mizuki smirked, pulling out a similar container filled with viscous purple liquid. "And with Orochimaru-sama's enhancement formula, we'll be unstoppable."

  Tsubaki carefully tucked the vial away. "Not yet. The timing has to be perfect."

  Throughout the village, the attacks intensified. Giant snakes crushed buildings beneath their coils. Sand shinobi engaged Konoha forces in bitter street battles. Sound ninja with their specialized sonic weapons targeted the village's communication infrastructure.

  And beneath it all, an undercurrent of betrayal as Konoha ninja who had secretly aligned with Orochimaru turned on their comrades, sowing confusion and discord at critical moments.

  In the arena, Shukaku's massive form pressed harder against the barrier, the cracks spreading as the ANBU struggled to maintain their technique. Naruto and Haku, momentarily setting aside their competition, moved to support the containment effort from inside, channeling their bijuu's chakra to reinforce the weakening walls.

  The village that had stood peaceful just minutes before now found itself fighting for survival on multiple fronts, caught in the opening act of Orochimaru's ambitious orchestration—not to destroy Konoha, but to claim it as his own.

  The invasion of Konoha had begun.