Under the attack of the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Shino sensed batches of his kikaichu slowly dying, causing him to frown.
Sasuke, seeing some fallen kikaichu on the ground, realized the technique was effective and performed hand seals again.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!" This time, it wasn't small fireballs but a straight-line, high-speed flame. The powerful fire roasted the kikaichu, accelerating their death rate.
When Sasuke stopped his attack, Shino quickly withdrew the remaining kikaichu and again distanced himself from Sasuke.
However, the speed difference was too great. Shino was soon caught by Sasuke and hit by a thrown kunai. As everyone was surprised, Shino's entire body turned into insects, quickly swarming toward Sasuke.
It turned out Sasuke had attacked an insect clone, while the real Shino had hidden himself earlier.
But since Sasuke used a kunai attack, Shino's insects couldn't catch up to the now-alert Sasuke.
Then, Sasuke activated his Sharingan, quickly spotting the hidden Shino among the sparse trees. He performed hand seals again, unleashing another Phoenix Sage Fire Technique at him.
Faced with Sasuke's caution, Shino could only evade again. But the moment he landed after dodging the Phoenix Sage Fire, Sasuke appeared behind him once more, punching him flying...
After being sent flying, Sasuke again appeared behind him, pressing a kunai against him...
"I surrender." Seeing this, Shino could only sigh.
At this stage, Shino was still too young. His use and number of kikaichu were still lacking...
Moreover, Sasuke's superiority in speed, Fire Release, and the dynamic capture of the Sharingan countered him significantly. In a forest battle, Shino might have been able to maneuver a bit, but defeat was still highly likely...
"Match over. Winner: Uchiha Sasuke!" Hearing Shino's surrender, Genma quickly announced the result.
Upon hearing Genma, the area above fell silent.
Most importantly, several people heard an explosion coming from the Hokage's location...
It turned out that during Sasuke and Shino's intense battle, the audience above had been placed under a Genjutsu by Kabuto and others. Ordinary civilians and even some regular Ninja had fallen asleep.
Rewinding a few minutes: spectators watching Sasuke's brilliant attacks were excitedly cheering when they suddenly saw a large amount of feathers appearing before their eyes, feeling drowsy.
"Kakashi, this is..." Sensing the situation, Guy quickly looked at Kakashi beside him.
"Mhm, it's a Genjutsu! Release!"
Then, both quickly disrupted their Chakra to dispel the Genjutsu.
Apart from Kakashi and Guy, Izumo and Yamashiro Aoba also dispelled the Genjutsu.
"What's happening? Release!" Sakura quickly realized something was wrong and performed the release.
"Genjutsu... The mask has started to move? Then it's about time..." Thinking this, Baki looked toward the Kazekage on the arena...
Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, looked at the Third Hokage. Sensing Orochimaru's gaze, Hiruzen looked back in confusion.
Boom!
"It's the signal!" Upon hearing this distinct sound, Otogakure and Sunagakure's Ninjas outside quickly reacted, advancing toward Konoha Village.
The Anbu in the arena also quickly acted upon hearing the sound, some heading directly toward the Hokage's position...
Baki and Kankuro quickly stood up. Temari and Gaara in the competitor's area also frowned, as neither was in condition to fight now.
"Let's withdraw." Giving a complex look at Takeru beside him, Gaara said to Temari.
"Mhm." Hearing Gaara, Temari also glanced at Takeru before helping Gaara leap out of the towering arena, heading outside.
"Takeru-nii, should we pursue?" Sensing the arena's disturbance and Temari and Gaara's escape, Ui and Ritsu immediately looked at Takeru.
"No need." Hearing them, Takeru shook his head. From the start, Takeru had no intention of doing anything to them… otherwise, they would have been killed earlier.
"Kazekage-dono, what are you doing?" The Third Hokage found the Kazekage's series of actions difficult to understand, though he vaguely had some bad premonitions, hoping they were just guesses.
"Hokage-sama!" Raido quickly came to Hiruzen's side, but soon both were enveloped in thick smoke.
Anbu from the audience area quickly reached the Hokage's side. Two Anbu teams allocated tasks: one to protect the Hokage, the other the Daimyo.
The Anbu protecting the Hokage, seeing Sunagakure's guards rush out from the smoke, immediately attacked them.
The sneaking Sunagakure's Ninja were directly cut in half, falling onto the roof behind them...
Above the Anbu, as the smoke slightly cleared, Raido beside the Hokage had been hit by four kunai, painfully leaning against the wall.
"Hokage-sama, please escape!" After saying this, Raido could no longer hold on and lowered his head.
At that moment, the Kazekage seized the still shocked Third Hokage, placing a kunai at his neck as a threat, then jumped with him to the highest roof...
Then, the Sunagakure's guards seemingly killed earlier by Anbu shed their disguises, splitting into four individuals. The four quickly took positions at the four corners of the roof, forming a rectangle.
"Hmph, finally our turn to appear!" Kidomaru said with an excited smile.
"Being in a transformed state all this time, I'm completely unsatisfied!" Sakon and Ukon smirked.
"You all smell of sweat!" Tayuya looked at the other three with disgust.
"Don't be like that; we're comrades, right?" Jirobo acted as the peacemaker.
'Otogakure's Ninjas?' Noticing their forehead protectors, the Third Hokage was surprised.
"Raido, cover the Hokage! Beware of traps!" The lead Anbu, leader of the 'Wood' team, shouted to the three Anbu behind him.
"Yes!" Hearing him, they quickly nodded and leaped toward the roof where the Hokage and Kazekage were.
"Begin!" Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, ordered Kidomaru and the others.
Hearing Orochimaru, the four simultaneously formed a hand seal. "Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation!"
As their words fell, a special purple barrier quickly enveloped them.
An Anbu tried to penetrate the barrier, but upon slight contact, his body burst into flames and rolled down. The other three Anbu quickly maintained a certain distance from the barrier, not daring to act rashly.
"A Barrier Ninjutsu?" Guy also noticed the situation at the Hokage's location.
"To act before the Anbu... they're no ordinary foes." Looking at the situation above, Kakashi frowned.
Then, both prepared to go assist, but as they moved, an Anbu appeared in the audience area, blocking their path.
"What are you doing? The Hokage is in danger!" Looking at the Anbu, Guy said loudly.
The Anbu didn't speak, slowly raising his head to look at Kakashi and Guy. Some masked individuals disguised as spectators quickly jumped beside the Anbu, appearing to follow his lead.
"What a bother." Seeing this, Kakashi sighed.
"To think the enemy would disguise themselves as Anbu. Was the Genjutsu user also him?" Looking at Kabuto, who maintained a hand seal, Guy said flatly.
"Correct, it's him." Hearing him, Kakashi confirmed.
"I never thought Sunagakure would betray Konoha." The Third Hokage above looked at the Kazekage in disbelief.
"Treaties are mere decoys to lull the opponent. The Chunin Exams end here. From now on, history will change." Hearing him, Orochimaru said flatly.
"Do you wish to start a war?" Hearing him, Hiruzen Sarutabi looked gravely at Orochimaru.
"Correct." Orochimaru nodded indifferently.
"We should avoid force, seek peaceful negotiation to resolve issues. There's still time, Kazekage-dono." Seeing Orochimaru's gaze, Hiruzen still tried to persuade him.