The Snake Stirs

"Barrier!"

Genma Shiranui's expression changed drastically in an instant, and he rapidly issued orders to the waiting examiners.

In an instant, several Konoha Ninja simultaneously Hand Seals, and a pale red barrier immediately spread out at the edge of the arena.

The spectators watching from outside the barrier were gaping in disbelief; could this really be a battle taking place among Genin?

However, the arena was shattered into dust, and the sandstorm raged, causing the barrier to shake violently for a time.

Shikaku Nara had already led several members of the Sealing Squad to the outside of the crumbling barrier in Body Flicker Technique, taking over and reinforcing it as they went.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, but remembering that his lazy only son was still trapped inside, he couldn't help but mutter, "This is troublesome!"

"Jinchūriki? What guts!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi a deep drag of his cigarette, fixing his gaze on the still unmoved Rasa. To be honest, he would never dare to place Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, in one of the other four great ninja villages, let alone for something as "trivial" as the Chunin Ninja Exams.

However, the situation changed drastically the next moment. Without a sound, the black line flashed by. Whether it was the giant wave of the Quicksand Waterfall Flow or the barrier set up by multiple professional sealing ninjas, it was cut open in an instant by Dōmeki's high-frequency blade without even a crackling sound.

The black line abruptly stopped in front of the audience, then suddenly dispersed into black mist, drifting back to the side of the standing red-haired boy.

"So strong!"

Even though they already knew of Dōmeki's power, the young Genin couldn't help but be amazed by the red-haired boy's strength once again.

"This can't be done!"

Although Shikamaru Nara has never been fond of fighting, he still felt a surge of passion when he encountered an opponent who was difficult to defeat even with all his intelligence.

He glanced at the female ninja standing in front of the exhausted Gaara, knowing that Sunagakure couldn't be relied on for the time being and that Konoha needed to unite.

He then gestured to his companion with his eyes, Shino Aburame with a wave of his hand, countless tiny insects crawled out of his body, forming plumes of insect smoke that surged towards the Dōmeki, who was not pursuing him.

"Electromagnetic Storm!"

At the same time, a black mist surged out in front of Dōmeki, intertwining with the insect smoke. However, a moment later, blue electricity surged among the Iron Sand dust, and with a crackling sound, large numbers of tiny insects fell to the ground, emitting a burnt smell, which made Shino was not far away, feel distressed.

Then

"A great opportunity!"

Several dark, shadowy tentacles emerged from the yellow sand on the ground and instantly wrapped around Dōmeki's feet.

With Shikamaru struggling to Hand Seals and remain stationary, he cast the Shadow Possession Jutsu. With the help of the shadows projected by Shino's swarm of insects and the yellow sand left on the ground by Gaara, he successfully linked his shadow to Dōmeki.

However, when he finally managed to control the red-haired boy's every move, he realized that the Dōmeki's Chakra was so vast that he could only manage to control it for a few dozen seconds with great difficulty.

But that's enough!

"Now's the time!"

Shikamaru struggled to squeeze out the words, while Neji Hyuga had already understood, had already flashed in front of Dōmeki.

"Eight Trigrams and Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

In an instant, palm shadows flew, and Naruto was a step slower to react, also created countless Shadow Clones to Naruto Uzumaki Combo!

"Wrong!"

Shikamaru Nara, who had barely managed to control Dōmeki, changed his expression drastically. He realized that with the red-haired boy's slight movements, his shadow seemed to be pulling at some indescribable behemoth.

All of his Chakra and stamina were instantly drained, and the shadow tentacles were easily severed.

The price he paid was that the moment Neji Hyuga threw his punch, he felt as if his entire body had been struck by a lightning-fast fist, and his body heaved up and down like a tattered sack.

Naruto's thousands of clones were swept into white smoke, while his only remaining true body was kicked away.

"Damn it, the difference in strength is too great!"

Shikamaru and the others pounded the ground in frustration, but the next moment...

"It's not over yet!"

Suddenly, in the quiet environment, a resounding sound, like the chirping of Chidori, rang out!

In the distance, lightning flashed.

A black figure flashed into view with lightning speed, tearing through the air as it passed, its presence extremely terrifying!

"Sasuke!!!"

The members of Konoha simultaneously showed expressions of surprise as they looked at the figure, which was almost invisible to the naked eye, and pointed directly at Dōmeki with an extremely fierce aura.

Intense electric light flashed in Dōmeki's eyes, and the indestructible lightning blades seemed poised to slice through his body in the next instant.

Sasuke, with an excited smile on his face, looked at Dōmeki was so close to him, with delight in his blood-red eyes. His right hand, which was holding Chidori, couldn't help but rise a little and move from his chest to his shoulder.

However, he noticed a slight smile on Dōmeki's lips.

The next moment, the familiar chirping of Chidori could be heard.

The lightning blade in the red-haired boy's hand was already aimed at the Uchiha boy's outstretched right hand.

The electric current surged, and the lightning bolt in Sasuke was severed.

Stunned, Sasuke was struck by the electric current and fell stiffly backward to the ground, with only one thought in his mind.

"The Chidori has been cut off! And Kakashi-sensei's Ninjutsu, why does he know it too?"

"It seems that Shun-kun has had his fill!"

In the stands, a bespectacled man dressed in Anbu attire quietly unleashed a large-scale Genjutsu, causing countless white feathers to slowly descend like phantoms onto the field. The spectators, who had been watching the exciting match with rapt attention, instantly drifted off to sleep, some lying down and some sprawling out.

It is indeed Genjutsu — the Temple of Nirvana Technique!

It's as if a signal has been activated.

All the Sound Ninja and Sand Ninja immediately dropped their disguises and moved, launching a sneak attack on the surrounding Konoha Ninja.

The Konoha Crush Plan – officially begins!

The highest point of the stands!

Rasa Kunai pressed a kunai against Hiruzen Sarutobi's neck, kidnapped him, and jumped onto the roof.

The four Sound Ninja disguised as Kazekage's guards immediately dispersed to the four sides, simultaneously Hand Seals and opening the Four Violet Flames Formation!

Within the crimson barrier, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been kidnapped, calmly gazed at Kazekage and uttered his question.

Why, Orochimaru?

"I couldn't hide it from the teacher after all!"

Orochimaru ripped off his mask, and a look of realization flashed in his eyes as he looked at his aging teacher.

"Hehehe, Teacher Sarutobi, as expected, even you can't escape the ravages of time!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's body suddenly turned into a puddle of mud, while the old man who reappeared not far away tore off his Hokage robe, revealing his close-fitting battle suit, though his once robust body now appeared somewhat hunched.

No one can escape the passage of time; birth and death are the inevitable fate of all things. Nothing in this world is eternal!

Orochimaru was momentarily stunned by the words of instruction, which sounded as familiar as before.

Instantly, he burst into wild laughter.

"Why can't we live forever? The Ninjutsu created by the Sage of Six Paths is such a magnificent existence. As long as we are willing to explore further and trace the origins of all Ninjutsu, eternal life is not difficult!"

"Teacher Sarutobi, you really can't understand me!"

Orochimaru, are you still afraid of death?

A look of sorrow flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. He knew that it was because he had witnessed too much death and understood the fragility of life that Orochimaru had embarked on this evil path of seeking immortality.

No, I have already defeated death!

Orochimaru grinned menacingly, his golden snake eyes instantly bulging upwards!