"You're… far more interesting," Orochimaru said, turning to Naruto, his chilling smile seeming to brighten.
He chuckled softly. "Very well. I shouldn't go too far. Drag this out, and that poor Kazekage inside might not survive."
From their position, the Membership Badges of Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji pinged, sensing the nearby Fate-Witnessing Stage.
Orochimaru pressed a hand to his chest, where his badge was embedded.
With a mix of anticipation and excitement, he applied to transform all of Konoha into a Fate-Witnessing Stage.
[Existing stage detected in range. Override?]
"Override!" Orochimaru declared, arms spread as if embracing something grand. "My stage is just beginning!"
With his words, the sky, earth, and world itself fractured, wrapped in jagged cracks. Every villager, every person—even stray cats and dogs, and the ninja before him—soared uncontrollably skyward.
Panicked cries erupted.
"What's happening?"
"I can't move!"
"Look, everyone else is the same!"
"The whole village… everyone…"
"Honey, where are you?!"
Konoha, home to tens of thousands, was thrown into chaos. One moment, people lived their quiet lives; the next, that peace was shredded. They could only scream, searching for loved ones among the floating masses, clinging to each other to share their terror.
Some spotted the monstrous sandstorm in the arena.
Unbound by the stage's barriers, it swelled, tearing through the arena, swallowing debris, uprooting trees, and ripping apart houses. It spread relentlessly, a brutal force threatening the entire village.
A true cataclysm unfolded.
"The village… how…?"
"My house!"
"What's going on?!"
"Konoha… destroyed?"
Villagers, unaware of the cause, watched their world unravel, seeking solace in shared fear.
Floating ninja tried everything—ninjutsu, movement, explosive tags.
Nothing worked.
Their bodies, suspended, were isolated, unable to affect or be affected by anything.
"Look! It's Naruto!" Iruka shouted, spotting the few not floating.
Unlike them, Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji faced the sandstorm's brunt.
Sasuke and Neji fared better; the outer storm was mere aftershocks, not the core's terror.
But Naruto, the weakest, flailed, yelling as the storm swept him up.
"Naruto!" Iruka cried, heart racing.
A black rope shot out, snaring Naruto, halting his tumble into the storm.
Iruka exhaled, seeing Naruto like his own child.
"Hey!" a Chūnin shouted, pointing below in horror. "That's Orochimaru!"
"What?!"
"The S-rank traitor!"
"He caused this?"
"Orochimaru…"
Iruka rubbed his eyes. The "rope" wasn't rope—it was a massive black serpent, slithering from Orochimaru's sleeve, its reeking maw aimed at Naruto's neck.
Iruka nearly blacked out.
Better the storm than that.
"Let me go!" Naruto thrashed, but it was futile.
Orochimaru's gaze locked onto the sandstorm's core.
His raspy voice pierced the chaos, reaching every ear. "Rasa, this skill of yours can't kill anyone."
His words took effect.
The sandstorm dissipated visibly, calming in under a minute. Sunlight bathed the ravaged village, casting an eerie, disorienting calm.
Rasa, reverting from quail to human, floated on an invisible wind, his face drained from exertion.
His eyes fixed on the man below.
"Orochimaru!" he spat.
That traitor! They'd planned to attack Konoha together, but Orochimaru vanished before the strike.
"What a fearsome expression," Orochimaru said, unfazed, his cold gaze sweeping the arena's lineup. His smile grew playful. "Such a splendid roster—rare indeed. Rasa, my ally, does your hatred for Konoha surpass mine? Taking on the whole village alone?"
Rasa nearly coughed blood in rage.
If you hadn't ditched me, I wouldn't be in this mess!
But he only snorted. "Our deal—still valid?"
"Of course," Orochimaru replied.
"Good."
Rasa sighed in relief. Orochimaru's arrival was better than nothing. Leading his own ninja village, Orochimaru had funds and clearly opened many cans.
Now…
Rasa glared at Konoha's unscathed team below, his killing intent sharpening.
Wait—not unscathed.
A faint golden badge hovered silently, its meaning unmistakable.
"Who died?!" Tsunade's brows furrowed.
"Who?" Hiruzen scanned the team.
Ino-Shika-Chō, Kakashi, Guy, Kurenai, Asuma—all present.
"That… must be Lord Danzo," Hiashi said, dusting himself off, eyeing the badge.