#12

The day of the third exam finally arrived.

The sky was clear, the sun shining brightly over Konoha. White clouds drifted lazily overhead, casting soft shadows on the bustling village below.

Today, the village's gates were wide open, welcoming important guests from all over. Nobles and daimyos arrived in grand ox-drawn carriages, flanked by samurai guards, exuding an air of prestige and power.

For the daimyos, the Chunin Exam wasn't just a spectacle—it was a way to assess the strength of the competing villages. It helped them decide which village to hire for future missions and security contracts.

Konoha took this event seriously. As the host, they ensured the highest level of hospitality, assigning elite ninja squads to escort and protect the visiting dignitaries. However, this left the village's internal defenses somewhat weakened—a vulnerability Sarutobi Hiruzen never expected Orochimaru to exploit.

The main exam arena was an enormous circular coliseum. The ten remaining competitors stood at the center, awaiting their matchups. High above, spectators filled the stands—nobles, civilians, and shinobi from various villages, all eager to witness the battles.

At the highest platform sat Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and "Kazekage" Rasa. They alone occupied grand high-backed chairs, marking their distinguished status.

Hiruzen turned to Orochimaru, who was expertly disguised as the Kazekage. "Your village has sent some truly talented young shinobi this year," he commented, attempting to strengthen their alliance.

Orochimaru responded with a few polite words before falling silent. He wore the traditional Kazekage attire—a large hat emblazoned with the kanji for "Wind," a veil concealing his face, and a long robe draped over his body. Only his piercing snake-like eyes were visible through the cloth.

Something about his gaze unsettled the Hokage. Hiruzen frowned slightly.

Was something wrong?

No, he told himself. Maybe he was just being paranoid.

Unseen beneath the veil, Orochimaru licked his lips in anticipation. 'Soon, old man. You'll see the surprise I have for you.'

Down in the arena, the proctor, Shiranui Genma, stepped forward and announced the first match:

"Naruto Uzumaki vs. Neji Hyuga!"

The remaining contestants retreated to the waiting platform while Naruto and Neji took center stage.

From a hidden corner in the stands, Mufasa yawned. He barely paid attention to the heated battle below.

"Man, what a nice day for a nap," he muttered to himself, stretching lazily.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Neji Hyuga, a genius of the Hyuga Clan, seemed unstoppable. But Naruto, the story's protagonist, was not one to back down. Before long, he turned the tables on Neji, proving that fate was not set in stone.

The next match followed: Temari vs. Shikamaru Nara.

Thanks to Mufasa's modifications, Temari's signature battle fan had been enhanced, and her combat strategies had also evolved. However, even with these advantages, Shikamaru's brilliant tactical mind allowed him to ensnare her in his Shadow Possession Jutsu.

"Tch. Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered as he realized he couldn't maintain the hold for long.

Instead of wasting energy, he simply raised his hand. "I forfeit."

The crowd erupted in murmurs of confusion, but those who knew Shikamaru understood—he always fought with logic, and to him, unnecessary effort was just too much trouble.

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for: the appearance of Sasuke Uchiha.

He was late, and Genma was seconds away from declaring a forfeit when Orochimaru, still disguised as the Kazekage, intervened. "Let's give him a little more time."

And just in time, Sasuke arrived, standing tall beside Kakashi Hatake.

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with excitement. 'Ah… my dear Sasuke. You finally arrived.' Just like that, he became hard then and there.

Gaara, Sasuke's opponent, entered the battlefield, his eerie presence sending shivers through the arena. Before the match even started, he had already claimed two lives, eliminating lesser opponents without breaking a sweat.

"Begin!" Genma announced.

Sasuke wasted no time. He dashed toward Gaara at high speed, striking with a flurry of well-aimed punches and kicks. "I won't let you use that sand of yours."

Having learned from Rock Lee's previous fight against Gaara, Sasuke maintained constant close-range pressure, preventing Gaara from forming large-scale sand defenses.

Gaara gritted his teeth, struggling to keep up. Sasuke's relentless taijutsu barrage broke through his sand armor, forcing him to retreat.

But Gaara wasn't finished.

His body stiffened. The sand around him swirled violently, forming a thick protective cocoon—his ultimate defense.

A small opening appeared in the sand dome, revealing Gaara's third eye, a jutsu that allowed him to monitor the battlefield while remaining hidden.

Sasuke hesitated. "Tch… not good."

From within the cocoon, Gaara whispered, "Sand Bullet Barrage."

A rapid-fire stream of hardened sand projectiles shot toward Sasuke.

Reacting instantly, Sasuke leaped to the high walls of the arena, moving in a zigzag pattern to avoid the deadly barrage. As he ran, lightning chakra crackled in his right hand. A high-pitched screech echoed across the battlefield—the sound of a thousand birds chirping.

"Chidori!"

A moment of pure tension filled the stadium.

The strongest shield was about to collide with the strongest spear.

But just as Sasuke prepared to strike, chaos erupted outside the arena.

In the dense forest surrounding Konoha, an army of Sound and Sand ninja had infiltrated past the village's defenses, positioning themselves near the outer walls.

The Sand Village's summoning formation activated, and within seconds, the invasion had begun.

Inside the stadium, Konoha's forces were still distracted by the fight, completely unaware of the enemy forces closing in.

Meanwhile, Mufasa, still lounging in the stands, felt an unnatural fluctuation in his electromagnetic field—Orochimaru's large-scale genjutsu had been activated.

He sighed. "Here we go…"

While the rest of the crowd succumbed to the illusion, their eyes growing heavy before falling unconscious, Mufasa remained unaffected. His natural bioelectric energy acted as a barrier against mental interference.

Still, playing along, he let his body go limp, pretending to pass out like the others.

"Now… let's see how Orochimaru's little show plays out."

Down below, Sasuke finally struck, his Chidori piercing straight into Gaara's sand cocoon. Lightning crackled as sand exploded outward, revealing Gaara's enraged face underneath.

The mouth of the gourd twisted ominously.

Sasuke didn't dare to stop. He dashed away, narrowly avoiding the barrage of sand bullets. His Sharingan spun wildly, analyzing Gaara's movements. He knew this fight was at a breaking point.

Yet, in the end, Sasuke still held the advantage.

Gaara's body trembled as he clutched his wound, staring at the crimson streak on his hand. His breathing grew erratic, his lips curling into a crazed grin. Slowly, he raised his hand and licked the blood trickling down his fingers. His pupils contracted, and a chilling, murderous gleam took over his eyes.

Deep inside his mind, Shukaku stirred.

"Let me out," the tailed beast rumbled. "I'll tear that kid apart."

A surge of twisted chakra erupted from within Gaara's sand cocoon, thick and suffocating. The very air around him became heavy with malice.

Sasuke, standing just a few meters away, felt his muscles lock for a brief second. His instincts screamed danger.

But now, the spotlight was shifting elsewhere.

On the high platform, Orochimaru suddenly turned his head, his golden snake-like eyes locking onto Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged ones.

For a fleeting moment, the Third Hokage saw something familiar—a memory of a young, promising student he once knew. But that illusion shattered in an instant.

A thick cloud of smoke exploded around the platform.

Anbu stationed in the arena immediately sprang into action, leaping toward the source of the disturbance. Their mission was clear—protect the Hokage at all costs.

Yet, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained seated in his armchair, unwavering. His voice, steady and commanding, cut through the haze.

"Lord Kazekage," he said, his tone sharp. "What exactly do you think you're doing with such an unfriendly act?"

But the man in front of him was no Kazekage.

Without a word, Orochimaru lunged, pressing a kunai to the Hokage's throat. In one swift motion, he vaulted onto the rooftop, dragging Sarutobi with him.

From the stands, four figures suddenly emerged—Tayuya, Sakon and Ukon, Kidomaru, and Jirobo. They moved swiftly, taking their positions around the perimeter of the roof.

At Orochimaru's signal, the four began their formation.

In seconds, the Four Purple Flame Formation erupted to life—a towering, impenetrable barrier of searing violet flames enclosing the rooftop. The scorching heat radiated outward, forcing back anyone who dared approach.

Anbu skidded to a halt just outside the barrier, frustration evident in their eyes. If they so much as touched the flames, they would be incinerated on the spot.

Sarutobi narrowed his eyes. He was trapped.

From the ground, Guy and Kakashi moved to intervene, but the Sound ninja forces quickly intercepted them, halting their advance.

Even now, Hiruzen had yet to realize the horrifying truth—that the Kazekage standing before him was none other than Orochimaru in disguise.

His voice, laced with authority, rang out.

"Rasa! Do you understand what you're doing? This reckless action will ignite a war between our villages!"

His words carried weight, but Orochimaru only smirked behind his veil, relishing the moment.

_______________________________

If you want to support me, you can read 20 advance chapter on my patreon!

patreon.com/Rai_jin