Without destruction, there is no reconstruction!
Konoha needs warriors now more than ever.
Why should we stand by and watch as the village's corrupt high-ranking officials continue to surrender and apologize?
Why should we accept the unjust death of Hizashi-sama?
"Kill!!!"
Hinata Hiashi's eyes burned with fury as he faced the oncoming Root shinobi pouring out of their hidden base.
He shed his outer robe, veins bulging around his pale eyes as he activated his Byakugan.
He was the first to charge.
"Kill!!!"
The Hyuga clan roared in unison, surging forward behind their leader.
Let the Broken Hokage Rock be our signal!
The flames of war engulfed Konoha in an instant.
"A Konoha ruled by a corrupt elite is no home of ours."
"What use is the Will of Fire if we have no home left?"
"If I must die today, let it be for Konoha's rebirth! No kunoichi has yet shed blood for this cause—let me be the first!"
Before the Shimura clan compound, a rallying cry echoed.
"Konoha's history will be rewritten today!"
"Victory will be ours!"
"Victory!!!"
"Behind us stand the Aburame! The Inuzuka! The Akimichi! Our Nara and the Yamanaka!"
Boom! Boom!
"Brothers, within the hour, we take the Shimura compound!"
"Kill!!!"
"Don't stop! Cut them down!"
Elsewhere, in front of the Sarutobi compound—one of Konoha's oldest and most esteemed clans—
A horde of wandering shinobi were being driven back.
Blood painted the streets.
For those who had grown up drenched in battle, this was nothing new.
The scattered forces of rogue ninjas were no match.
Watching the faltering resistance, Zabuza sneered, his bloodlust rising.
"So what if we're losing?"
"This isn't my first defeat!"
"Keep pushing forward!"
"Even if you're the last one standing—FIGHT!"
"Reinforcements are coming!"
Just as Zabuza finished speaking, a shinobi from Kusagakure, still panting from battle, threw his forehead protector to the ground.
"The new Konoha must be built on fresh blood!"
"I will carve my name into history!"
"I refuse to let my descendants suffer as I have!"
"Kill!"
The rallying cry took hold.
In an instant, the tide shifted.
The scattered rogue ninjas regrouped and surged forward with renewed resolve.
Meanwhile, outside Konoha—
"What the hell is going on in Konoha?"
"Otogakure, Sunagakure… and all these rogue shinobi…?"
Obito, clad in his signature Uzumaki mask, turned to White Zetsu standing beside him.
His gaze shifted to the shattered remains of the Hokage Rock.
His voice dropped into a growl.
"Akatsuki reports that the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki has illusion abilities rivaling Itachi Uchiha's."
His gaze darkened.
"White Zetsu, what's happening?"
"Are you being influenced by some unknown force?"
Zetsu twitched violently.
A shudder ran through its body.
"Ah~!!!"
Obito's mind went blank for a moment.
Then, with growing irritation, he snapped, "White Zetsu, explain yourself!"
But White Zetsu wasn't listening.
Its eyes locked onto Naruto in the distance.
Its trembling intensified.
"Ah~!!!"
Lady Kaguya…? The Mother of the Divine Tree…?
No… neither…
Ah~
Such warmth… Like the sun itself…
I… I must get closer… I must surrender…
"I CAN'T RESIST!"
With an abrupt movement, White Zetsu lunged at Obito, wrapping its hands around his throat.
Obito froze.
"Let go, you fool! Stop making a scene!"
But Zetsu ignored him.
One arm stretched outward—reaching desperately for Naruto.
"Naruto-sama!!!"
White Zetsu roared.
It clenched its grip around Obito's throat.
Obito's eyes widened.
"You…!"
Snap!
White Zetsu's head twisted violently and fell limp.
"Divine Wrath."
Obito barely managed to phase through space in time, vanishing from Konoha in a flicker.
Frowning, he muttered under his breath.
"Why the sudden rebellion?"
"Uzumaki Naruto… what are you?"
On the battlefield—
"You, hold the rooftops! You, guard the clan heads!"
"The rest of you—come with me to protect the Daimyo!"
Three squads of ANBU shinobi gathered as Shinnosuke issued orders.
Teeth clenched, he prepared to lead his strongest team to shield the Daimyo.
But just as they moved—
The Kazekage's elite guards charged.
"Out of our way!"
Shinnosuke and his captains leapt forward in unison.
A barrage of jutsu rained down upon the Kazekage's men, obliterating them in a fiery explosion.
Smoke billowed.
Whoosh!
Two figures streaked through the air.
Orochimaru had already driven the Hokage onto the rooftop.
Shinnosuke tensed.
He moved to intercept—but before he could react—
Shing!
Pain exploded from his sides.
His vision blurred.
He looked down.
Two ANBU captains—his own comrades—had stabbed him in the kidneys.
"You… you traitors…!"
One of them raised his blade.
"Shinnosuke, surrender."
With a swift strike, everything went black.
On the rooftop—
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened as he took in the scene before him.
The village burned below.
And standing before him—
Orochimaru.
The snake Sannin sneered, his golden eyes glinting with malice.
"Shall we begin?"
At his command, the four Kazekage guards moved into position.
Instantly, they tore off their disguises.
They wove seals in unison.
"Ninjutsu: Four Purple Flame Formation!"
A massive purple barrier erupted, sealing the rooftop.
An ANBU rushed in—
But the instant his kunai touched the barrier—
A searing purple flame consumed him whole.
His agonized screams echoed before his body collapsed into ash.
The watching ANBU clenched their fists.
"Damn it! That barrier is impenetrable!"
From a nearby rooftop, Kakashi, Guy, and a shackled Jiraiya observed in silence.
Jiraiya's breath hitched.
His pupils shrank as realization struck.
Orochimaru…
Why…?
Why is he here…?
What is he planning…?
Before they could react—
Whoosh——
At that moment, the hidden ninjas of Otogakure emerged from the shadows, swiftly surrounding Kakashi and his team.
On a nearby rooftop, Kurenai Yuhi and her two companions found themselves encircled by another group of Otogakure shinobi.
"Heh, Kurenai, you take a break. Leave this to me and Yugao!" one of the Konoha kunoichi said confidently.
The village was in chaos.
Kabuto Yakushi, having unleashed a large-scale genjutsu, appeared before Ino Yamanaka.
"So, you're the one behind this illusion," Ino said, breaking her Mind-Body Switch Technique and fixing her gaze on Kabuto.
"I didn't expect you to have such mastery over the Yamanaka Clan's secret arts." Kabuto's eyes narrowed, his expression turning cold.
Tenten stepped in front of Ino protectively, showing no signs of fear.
"I heard you've been hiding your true strength, Kabuto."
"Your chakra is gathering in your hands. Planning to use that?"
"A Chakra Scalpel?"
Kabuto's eyes widened in shock.
Meanwhile, on the roof of the arena, Sarutobi Hiruzen observed the battle-torn village and the chaos erupting in the Chunin Exam stadium.
His brows furrowed. "Otogakure shinobi?"
He turned his gaze back to the 'Fourth Kazekage' standing before him.
The pieces were falling into place.
During the second exam in the Forest of Death, Mitarashi Anko had reported Orochimaru's presence.
Two squads of ANBU were dispatched to investigate.
Yet, despite their search, Orochimaru remained elusive.
Hiruzen had suspected that his former student might make his move today.
He had even reinforced security measures in anticipation.
But Orochimaru had still managed to exploit a weakness in their defenses.
Unless... someone from within had provided him with inside information.
"Danzo…" Hiruzen muttered, closing his eyes briefly in pain.
But there was no time for doubt now.
He exhaled sharply, regaining his focus, and locked eyes with Orochimaru.
"I didn't expect Sunagakure to ally with you to attack Konoha, their supposed ally."
Off the battlefield, Genma Shiranui supported Sasuke Uchiha, who was drained of chakra.
He turned to Gaara. "The Chunin Exams are over. You should head to the evacuation shelter."
In the spectator stands, Shikamaru, Neji, and Shino stood up simultaneously.
Choji and Kiba joined them, forming a five-man squad.
"Hmph, Sasuke isn't the only one who gets to show off," Kiba muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Let's go, Akamaru!"
"Woof!" Akamaru barked in agreement.
Shikamaru turned to Neji. "Go get Sasuke. We'll move ahead."
Neji nodded and approached Sasuke.
"Uchiha Sasuke, you're strong."
"Is that even a question?" Sasuke muttered, too exhausted to add his usual arrogance.
Seeing Neji arrive, Genma handed Sasuke over.
"I need to regroup with Raidō and the others," Genma said before forming a hand seal and vanishing with the Body Flicker Technique.
Gaara gazed at the dark clouds above, watching as a break in the sky allowed a beam of sunlight to shine down onto the arena.
Only then did he realize his siblings were watching him from the stands.
"Sand Body Flicker."
His body disintegrated into sand, reforming within moments beside Temari and Kankuro.
"Maki," Gaara said, his voice calm. "The forces of Sunagakure are not to engage. Gather our shinobi."
Maki hesitated for a moment, then, upon seeing Gaara's resolute expression, gave the order.
"Sunagakure shinobi, stand down! Withdraw immediately!"
"Wait—then why are there so many of you still here?" a voice called out as Asuma Sarutobi arrived on the scene.
But before he could react further, his vision distorted, and his world twisted into an inescapable nightmare.
Within the realm of Tsukuyomi, Asuma found himself impaled by countless blades, an unbearable agony consuming him.
A second later, he collapsed back into reality, convulsing on the ground.
"Why not just kill him?" a childish voice asked.
Naruto glanced down to see a small girl with white eyes tugging at his pant leg.
"Hanabi!" Hinata gasped, quickly picking up her younger sister.
Naruto's expression remained indifferent. "Because he still has his uses. His fate has already been decided."
He then turned to Gaara and Maki.
"So, Godaime Kazekage, what will you do now?"
Gaara's eyes widened slightly.
Maki, understanding the implication, knelt before him. "Lord Kazekage!"
Temari and Kankuro stepped forward without hesitation.
The gathered shinobi of Sunagakure exchanged glances, their faces filled with shock.
But as their eyes shifted between the rooftop and Gaara, realization dawned on them.
One by one, they dropped to one knee. "Lord Kazekage!"
After a while, a large group of Sand Village ninjas knelt behind Gaara.
"Naruto, the Sand Village has no intention of becoming enemies with the newly reborn Konoha."
Gaara took a deep breath, the icy expression he had worn for so many years finally melting away.
"Rise. From now on, there's no need for such formalities."
"Our ally is the new Konoha. Our enemy is the Konoha of the old ways."
"Maki, lead our forces and assist the new Konoha."
"Yes, Lord Kazekage!" Maki responded firmly before signaling the Sand Ninjas.
In an instant, they vanished.
"What is the meaning of this, Sand Village?!" Kabuto suddenly shouted. "Are you betraying the Fourth Kazekage?!"
Gaara glanced at the battered and bruised Kabuto.
"The Fourth Kazekage is dead. I am the Fifth Kazekage of the Sand Village. The man up there is an imposter."
Kabuto's eyes widened in shock.
Nearby, Tenten and the other kunoichi who had been chasing him froze mid-step. Neji and the others, who had gathered around Naruto, also stood in stunned silence.
"The Fifth Kazekage...?"
Their gazes shifted from Gaara to Naruto.
"Why are you looking at me? I'm not the Fifth Hokage," Naruto muttered.
Taking advantage of their distraction, Kabuto bolted.
Tenten moved to pursue, but Naruto held her back.
"Let him go. When he's had his fun, we'll bring him back and make him the orphanage director."
Gaara stepped forward, extending a hand.
"Uzumaki Naruto, as the Fifth Kazekage, I hereby reaffirm our alliance with Konoha."
"We'll talk later," Naruto replied, shaking Gaara's hand. As their hands met, Shukaku's chakra surged forward.
"Stupid fox! Get over here for a meeting!"
"Buzz off, I'm busy calculating—wait, what?!" Kurama barked back.
Ding~
Your meeting request was denied.
Shukaku: "..."
Meanwhile, atop the battlefield, the Hokage's gaze turned icy.
"Orochimaru, how long do you intend to play dress-up?"
"Hehehe~" Orochimaru chuckled.
"So you've noticed? Haha, the Sand Village truly is unreliable. But... realizing the truth this quickly…" He shook his head before raising a hand, peeling away the human skin mask to reveal his true face.
Gasps and furious expressions spread among the Sand Village ninjas.
"Orochimaru!"
His revelation left no doubt—the Fourth Kazekage was dead.
"Without the Sand Village's support, and with them possibly turning against you, things aren't looking good for you and your Sound Village forces," Kakashi noted indifferently.
Might Guy groaned, struggling to stand.
"Youth... passion...! Ouch—my back..."
"Hmph, so what if the Sand Village turns against us?" one of Orochimaru's subordinates sneered. "As long as Lord Orochimaru triumphs, the tide of battle will shift instantly! We still have the upper hand!"
BOOM!
An explosion roared in the distance.
All eyes turned toward the source.
A massive three-headed snake lay lifeless, blood pooling around it.
Standing atop the slain beast, Tsunade cracked her knuckles before leaping down. She bit her thumb, swiftly forming hand seals.
"Kurama, lend me some chakra."
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Bang!
A slug, larger than the fallen serpent, emerged from a cloud of white smoke.
One-fifth of its full form.
"Lady Tsunade!" the slug greeted warmly.
"No time for pleasantries," Tsunade said. "Handle the healing."
"Slug Clone Technique!"
"Understood, Lady Tsunade~!"
With a soft squelch, the slug split into countless smaller clones.
The Slug Great Healing Technique activated.
Even one-tenth of its power was enough to treat an entire village. Now, with one-fifth summoned, its healing capabilities were unparalleled.
Tsunade, however, looked drained.
Kurama groaned. "Ugh... you... you... urgh..."
"I've decided—I'm claiming a stake in your mountains and business districts!"
"Remember this!"