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The stadium trembled as Gaara staggered, crimson eyes glowing with the raw, chaotic power of the One-Tail, Shukaku. Each movement of sand was violent, uncontrolled, and destructive, striking in every direction. The villagers and shinobi in the stands watched in terror as the Jinchūriki struggled to maintain control over the beast within him.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi tensed, sensing the danger growing with every passing second.
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Temari and Kankuro Intervene
"Gaara! Follow us!" Temari shouted, her giant fan cutting a safe path through the swirling sand.
Kankuro's puppets moved in precise formation, shielding their brother as Gaara stumbled forward, barely controlling the Jinchūriki's rampaging power. With careful timing and coordination, the Sand siblings guided him out of the arena and toward the forest, forcing the One-Tail to calm just enough to avoid collateral damage.
The crowd gasped as the trio disappeared into the trees, leaving behind a battlefield scarred by uncontrolled sand.
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Kabuto's Genjutsu
Even as the arena emptied, panic spread elsewhere in Konoha. Kabuto activated a massive genjutsu, waves of illusion sweeping over the village like ink in water.
Buildings twisted, streets shifted, and the landscape itself seemed to dissolve. Shinobi and civilians alike fell into the genjutsu, disoriented and trapped in hallucinations.
Kirito, hidden in the shadows, noted the effect carefully. Perfect… the chaos is total. The village's defenses are compromised.
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The Sudden Attack
Amidst the confusion, a coordinated assault struck from multiple directions. Sand and Sound ninja moved with lethal precision, exploiting the panic caused by Kabuto's genjutsu. Explosions, sand blades, and stealthy ambushes threw Konoha's defenses into disarray.
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The Orochimaru Reveal
At the heart of the village, the crowd and ninja turned as a massive barrier enveloped the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Inside, a masked figure stood, revealing himself: Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage.
"Your village's time is over," he hissed, chakra coiling around him like living serpents. With a sudden surge, he moved to engage Hiruzen directly.
The Third Hokage's expression remained calm, but his eyes flared with determination. "So, it's you…" he murmured, preparing for the confrontation he had feared for years.
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Battle Amidst the Invasion
As the invasion raged—Sound and Sand ninja attacking, massive snakes slithering through streets, and civilians trapped in Kabuto's genjutsu—the battle between Orochimaru and the Third Hokage began. Lightning and wind clashed against dark, coiling chakra, while the village descended further into chaos.
Kirito, from his vantage point in the shadows, observed every moment. The battles, the openings, the chaos—all of it was a map for his plan. The poisoned senbon, the fuinjutsu-enhanced clone, and the Hyuga estate strike were now perfectly aligned with the confusion spreading across Konoha.
Soon… he thought, eyes narrowing. Everything is in place. Timing is all.
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