"BOOM..."
Someone was attacking Konoha Village?!
Massive explosions echoed through the air. Smoke, fire, and lightning rose into the sky, waking the entire Hidden Leaf Village.
Civilians and shinobi looked toward the explosion site with horror in their eyes.
"What's happening?"
"Run!"
"An enemy is attacking..."
"What exploded..."
"Enemy! Where is the enemy?"
In seconds, all of Konohagakure fell into panic. Except for a few well-trained ninjas, everyone else became a mess.
Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi, who had been shopping together, looked at each other in shock before immediately running toward the explosion site.
"It might not be an enemy!" Asuma said.
"Guy was heading in that direction earlier. If there were enemies, he would have raised the alarm," Kurenai replied.
"Isn't that where Training Ground 19 is? But if it's our own people, why are they making such a commotion?"
"Who knows?"
Asuma and Kurenai picked up speed as they headed toward Training Ground 19.
Throughout Konohagakure, everyone grew restless. Some alert shinobi followed their lead.
"Those idiots! These two absolute idiots!"
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook with anger and slammed his fist on the desk, causing all the documents to scatter onto the floor.
"Someone, go comfort the villagers immediately!"
"Notify all shinobi that this is not an attack!"
"Have the ninja maintain order first—don't let panic spread!"
"Send someone to explain the situation to the daimyo and nobles at the sanatorium right away!"
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Hiruzen rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. Being old, he truly did lack energy these days.
"Even for a sparring match between shinobi, there's no need to be so excessive!"
The Third Hokage decided that when this was over, Naraku Shihouin and Kakashi Hatake would have hell to pay.
Since you two have so much energy, you can focus it on your work, you bastards!
...
Outside Training Ground 19.
ANBU members arrived just in time to briefly explain the situation and stop the flood of approaching ninjas. The,n they relayed the Third Hokage's orders to turn around and calm the villagers.
Only a few shinobi were permitted to enter the training ground.
"Damn..."
"Even for a competition, there's no need to go this far."
Asuma, cigarette dangling from his lips, pulled Kurenai into the training ground. When he saw the scene inside, he was so shocked he could barely speak.
The moment he opened his mouth, his cigarette fell to the ground.
"Is this a sparring match? This looks more like an all-out battle!"
Kurenai was so shocked she couldn't close her mouth. Even for experienced Jōnin like them, this scene was stunning.
In Training Ground 19, the smoke and dust were gradually clearing, but burning flames and occasional lightning flashes still released powerful bursts of energy.
The once-flat training ground was now covered in craters. The boulders, trees, and streams that had once dotted the landscape were completely destroyed.
This training ground was utterly ruined. Without extensive repairs, it would never be usable again.
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio, led by Shikaku Nara, also arrived at the scene, staring in amazement at the destruction around them.
"Really? Don't those three ever think about the consequences?" Shikaku wore a troubled expression. They were Jōnin of Konohagakure, yet they showed no sense of responsibility.
Inoichi Yamanaka surveyed the ruins, looking confused. "Why would these three suddenly decide to spar? Kakashi is usually very rational. Naraku's personality is typically calm and methodical. But Guy is too excited and hot-blooded."
"Hahaha..." The portly Chōza Akimichi said with a smile, "There must be a reason. We're all comrades. If a friend invites you to spar, it's hard to refuse."
Ninjas of the Akimichi clan all seemed tall and strong, yet surprisingly, they possessed gentle and kind personalities.
"That may be true, but..."
Though it was excessive, since it was just a sparring match, Shikaku didn't worry too much about it.
He was concerned about something else. When he rushed here, he had seen the chaos in Konoha Village, and it troubled him deeply.
Long-term peace was a good thing, but they must not forget that the shinobi world was still full of dangers. If there had truly been an enemy attack, the damage to Konoha would have been severe.
So quietly, he began planning to report this to the Third Hokage afterwards.
"Swoosh!"
Hiashi Hyūga, head of the Hyūga clan, rushed to the training ground. As clan leader, he needed to make arrangements for his clan members, which was why he arrived a bit late.
As soon as he got there, he spotted Naruto Uzumaki and his group crawling out of the woods nearby, looking embarrassed and dishevelled.
Neji Hyūga was among them, but he didn't appear to be injured.
Hiashi wanted to approach and show concern, but when he saw Neji deliberately turning away—his intention to distance himself obvious—he could only sigh and give up.
"How dreadful!"
Looking at the ruins around him, Hiashi was horrified. This level of destruction was beyond the abilities of ordinary Jōnin!
Naraku Shihouin, Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy—which of these three had broken through the limits of Jōnin rank?!
Just as everyone was taking in the ruined training ground, loud roars suddenly erupted from deep within.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
From the heart of the training ground, thunderous noises continued. Flames burned more intensely, violent collisions shook the air, and the ground began to tremble once again.
"What's happening now?"
"No way—it's already like this, and they're still fighting?"
"These people are really going to face the Hokage's wrath!"
All the Jōnin present turned their eyes to Hiashi Hyūga. The meaning was clear: you can see far—tell us what's happening.
"Byakugan!"
Veins bulged around Hiashi's eyes as he gazed into the training ground. His Byakugan instantly reached across a great distance, and he saw three figures fighting amidst the flames, smoke, and lightning.
"They're in the innermost part! The battle isn't over yet!"
"It's Naraku Shihouin, Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy. Yes, the three of them are still fighting!"
Everyone was speechless. The fight wasn't over?
Even setting aside the others, how was Kakashi Hatake maintaining that much chakra?
...
Deep inside the training ground.
Three figures flew through the air, exchanging punches and kicks. Their entangled forms emitted explosive bursts of flame.
"WHAM!"
Kakashi took a punch to the kidney and gasped as he flew backwards.
"Ha!"
Naraku, who had exhausted his strength and hadn't yet recovered—who hadn't even had time to retract his fist—felt a kick coming from the side. Even before they made contact, the violent momentum had already hit him.
"BOOM!"
Guy kicked Naraku with all his strength, green energy flowing around his leg. But Guy felt no joy because the next second, Naraku's body erupted in flames. Before Guy could pull away, he was struck by a merciless elbow.
"CRASH! BANG! BOOM!"
The guy fell to the ground like a meteor. As the earth cracked beneath him, a massive crater exploded outward!
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