"That's it? Didn't you say a huge force invaded?"
"The Yamanaka clan already interrogated them. It's confirmed—Sand Shinobi, Sound ninjas working together, plus a large number of rogue ninjas. Thousands in total."
"And a new signal flare just appeared near the Chunin Exam venue. It wasn't ours, which means another force joined."
"Then where are they…?"
On Konoha's border wall, a group of Jonin stared at one another, completely confused.
They had prepared for a massive assault—
for a desperate, bloody defense—
even for heroic sacrifice.
Instead, what showed up were scattered groups of twenty or thirty enemies at a time.
They were taken down almost instantly.
Too easily.
So easily that it felt wrong.
"Could that signal have been a retreat order?"
"Impossible. Who launches an invasion just to pull back like that?"
"Maybe something major happened at the exam venue. Maybe the enemy realized they couldn't win."
"That sounds ridiculous."
"Not really. Uzumaki-jonin predicted this long ago and prepared countermeasures. There must be something suppressing Kazekage Rasa over there. The Sand Shinobi might not even be able to retreat without permission."
"No— I checked the signal. It wasn't Sand's pattern. It was Cloud's."
"You're saying Cloud also joined? That's insane."
"Insane? Those brutes love chaos. If they didn't jump in, that'd be the real miracle."
The more they talked, the stranger it felt.
"It's been too long… why haven't they arrived yet?"
Deep in the forest, a Sand Shinobi suddenly muttered uneasily.
Something felt wrong.
He turned to ask his companions—
—and his scalp went numb.
Behind him, there was nothing.
The team that had been moving together moments ago was gone.
"Enemy—!"
Pain stabbed his neck.
No sound came out.
His body went numb.
He collapsed.
"Combined Sharingan illusion is terrifying. Even Jonin can't tell it's fake."
"One anesthetic needle and they're done. No need to fight."
"This was Itachi's research, right? I still hate using it."
"You still can't get over that night?"
"I never will. Even if it was an illusion, it felt real."
"Enough. Move them out. We've still got targets."
The forest returned to silence.
One by one, invading ninjas collapsed—
taken down without resistance,
dragged away without a sound.
Some were more alert.
They tried to regroup, to flee—
but the needle still found them.
"Who are you?! You're not Konoha ANBU!"
A Sand Jonin lay paralyzed, staring in terror at the man before him—a white tiger mask.
He hadn't even seen the attack.
Complete suppression.
"Shut up. You people start wars and invade villages for nothing—you're not innocent."
The masked man waved.
Others appeared, sealed the Jonin's mouth, and carried him away.
"Lord Shisui, why not just kill them? Using anesthesia is such a hassle."
"That's the President's order."
"People are unhappy about it."
"Think. What's our goal?"
"To unify the ninja world."
"Then one day, Konoha, Sand, Cloud, Stone, Mist—they'll all be one family. If you kill freely now, how will you face their families later?"
"…I understand."
"Good."
Shisui vanished.
Elsewhere, Yuhi, Rin, Aoiha, and others hunted the invading elites.
Aoiha's heart was the most conflicted.
These were her former comrades.
Touching the anesthetic needle in her hand, she felt grateful.
Because of Naruto's order, no one was killed—only captured.
It let her fight without destroying herself inside.
"Aoiha-sama, we need help!"
"What's wrong?"
"Cloud ninjas are tougher. The anesthesia isn't enough. Some were injured."
"I'm on my way."
She moved instantly.
Sand's side was nearly done.
Cloud was harder—but manageable.
With the Red Sun Society's strength and preparation, failure wasn't an option.
Meanwhile, at a Konoha training ground—
Shimura Danzo stared in horror at the boy before him.
He never imagined a twelve-year-old could push him this far.
"Danzo," Sasuke sneered, "Naruto was right. You want to be Hokage? Lead Konoha to glory?"
"What a joke."
"You of all people know this world—the weak get eaten."
"You can't even beat a Chunin. How many stronger people are out there? Who can you defeat?"
"Too weak to act, yet dreaming of everything. Isn't that ridiculous?"
"Shut up!" Danzo roared. "You don't understand! As long as I— as long as I—"
His voice faltered.
His eyes grew unfocused.
Yes…
So weak.
So powerless.
Then why had he believed?
If not for Uchiha Shisui—
if only he had taken Kotoamatsukami—
if only he could control the Nine-Tails—
Then he could have been like the First Hokage.
Then his dreams would have come true.
Instead, he was being crushed by a child.
"I'm not convinced!"
"This has to be an illusion!"
"It can't be real—!"
Danzo screamed like a madman.
And in that moment—
he truly was one.
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