Sunagakure launched its attack. Baki, as Rasa's guard, threw a smoke bomb that marked the start of the operation, enveloping himself, Rasa, Minato Namikaze, and Shisui in a thick cloud of smoke.
At the same time, three Sand ninja appeared behind Shindai and the others, charging directly at them with clear intent.
Shindai immediately activated a Magnet Release technique, manipulating iron sand to form long needles that pierced through two of the Sand ninja. The third fell victim to Pakura's Scorch Release blast, instantly evaporating into a desiccated corpse.
The entire arena had become extremely chaotic.
Sand ninja disguised as spectators seated in the stands also sprang into action, clashing violently with members of the Konoha Military Police Force who were maintaining order within the venue.
Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly took command, directing the ninja inside to eliminate the intruders while assisting the evacuation of civilians.
Outside Konoha's walls, other Sand ninja spotted the signal. Working together, they unleashed their Ninjutsu to forcibly breach Konoha's outer defenses, storming into the village.
Inside Root headquarters, Danzo announced coldly with sharp eyes, "Operation begins now! Follow me to the arena—our targets are Hikaku Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan and Minato Namikaze!"
Leading from the front, Danzo advanced toward the battlefield accompanied by Root ninjas.
On the streets of Konoha, Yuto Uchiha led fellow Uchiha clan members into action, launching surprise attacks on Konoha ninja patrolling the area, creating further chaos.
Standing atop Hokage Rock were five Paths of Pain excluding Animal Path, along with Kakuzu, Deidara, Setsuna Uchiha, and Hidan, overlooking the Hidden Leaf Village.
Deva Path spoke sharply, "Proceed according to plan. Now!"
Setsuna Uchiha and Hidan immediately vanished using body flicker techniques.
Asura Path, Human Path, Preta Path, and Naraka Path followed suit, disappearing from sight.
Deva Path gave one last gaze down at Konoha before saying, "Kakuzu, Deidara—we begin destroying Konoha now."
Within the Hyuga clan compound,
Hizashi Hyuga, who had been sitting quietly with eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes and rose to his feet.
Hizashi exhaled slowly, murmuring, "Hmph... It's time for a final resolution."
...
Inside the arena,
Naruto looked around bewildered, unable to understand how everything had suddenly fallen into chaos.
Sasuke rushed toward Naruto, anxiously shouting, "Naruto, I just received word—Konoha is being invaded by Sunagakure! We must find the others quickly and organize resistance against the invasion!"
Naruto couldn't believe it. "What?"
"Don't just stand there—move!"
Before Sasuke and Naruto could escape, an unnatural arm—clearly not human but monstrous—shot out from Gaara's protective sand sphere, attacking both of them.
Naruto and Sasuke immediately jumped backward, narrowly dodging the strike.
The mechanical sphere gradually cracked apart. Naruto and Sasuke stared at Gaara's current state in shock.
Gaara's body had clearly transformed—he still maintained a vaguely humanoid form, but half of him had transformed into a monstrous form with a sand-made tail.
As if resonating, Naruto finally understood what Gaara had meant earlier by calling them "the same kind of person."
"You...you're also a jinchuriki?!"
Gaara still seemed to have a sliver of sanity—but it was practically nonexistent.
Saliva dripped from his lips. His right eye had turned into the eye of Shukaku, and he stared at Naruto with those eyes: "Killing you will prove my existence!"
Gaara suddenly charged forward and swung his sand-covered arm toward Naruto.
Naruto was sent flying through the air with a single punch, crashing heavily against a wall and coughing up blood.
"Damn it!"
Seeing Naruto injured enraged Sasuke. After forming a few hand seals, he placed his left hand over his right.
[Chidori!]
Electricity crackled around his right hand, creating a sound like a thousand birds chirping.
Sasuke had fully mastered the Chidori he learned from Kakashi. With both eyes showing the Sharingan, he locked onto Gaara and dashed toward him.
Gaara didn't evade. Instead, he raised his right arm again and swung a punch at Sasuke.
Their right fists collided—Sasuke's Chidori pierced straight through Gaara's sand arm, but it proved ineffective, failing to harm Gaara.
Suddenly twisting his waist, Gaara used his sand tail to strike Sasuke directly, sending him flying as well.
Naruto appeared behind Sasuke mid-air, catching him before landing.
Then, unexpectedly, the Nine-Tails' voice echoed inside Naruto's ears:
"That stupid raccoon-dog is sealed within that guy. You want some of my power? I'll give it to you now. But if you can't beat it...then die already!"
A crimson aura of Nine-Tails chakra surrounded Naruto's body. This time, a Tailed Beast Coat formed around him, complete with a single tail.
"Naruto?"
Concerned, Sasuke looked at Naruto, afraid he'd lost control.
Looking at his own hands, Naruto said, "Don't worry about me, Sasuke. The one inside me really hates the one inside him. It's willingly giving me strength—I'm still in control!"
He slammed his right fist into his left palm. "Sasuke! Let's do this together!"
Facing Gaara, Sasuke pulled out a kunai: "Yeah!"
Going along perfectly, Naruto and Sasuke attacked Gaara together.
Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze, Shisui, Rasa, and Baki stood atop a nearby rooftop.
Minato frowned deeply as he stared at Rasa in the distance: "Why are you doing this, Kazekage?"
Rasa removed his Kazekage hat and spoke in a hoarse voice, "Why did you have to do this? Hokage, why pretend not to understand? I've always wondered—why does your Konoha have such fertile land, while all we have is desert?
And furthermore… Konoha has already grown so powerful. Why do you keep stealing our land? At this point, I can no longer see any hope other than invasion!"
Minato Namikaze replied solemnly, "We have never taken your land. Rather than blaming us, perhaps you should reflect on why Sunagakure has fallen into this state."
A cluster of Gold Dust—an advanced chakra-infused substance—appeared beneath Rasa's feet, slowly lifting him into the air until he floated high above Minato. Looking down at Minato, he said, "I have indeed reflected. And my conclusion is this: only through force will Sunagakure ever find a way forward."
Minato exhaled deeply and removed his Hokage hat. Gazing upward at Rasa suspended midair, his eyes hardened with determination. "Anyone who dares invade Konoha—I, Namikaze, will never let them succeed!"
However, the first to make a move was neither Rasa nor Minato, but Baki.
[Wind Release: Blade of Wind!]
With his three fingers pressed together forming the seal, Baki hurled an extremely thin, circular wind blade about twenty centimeters in diameter toward Minato.
Shisui performed the Body Flicker Move, appearing directly in the path of the incoming wind blade.
[Great Fireball Jutsu!]
Shisui exhaled a massive fireball that exploded violently, neutralizing Baki's wind blade.
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