The Konoha Crush Plan Begins!

After Naruto and Neji's match ended, the second match was supposed to be Gaara against Sasuke Uchiha, but Sasuke still hadn't shown up.

Soon, however, Namiashi Raidō appeared beside Issui and told him that Lord Hokage wanted him to postpone Sasuke's match and start the next one.

Issui nodded, then called out to the audience, "Because Sasuke Uchiha has yet to appear, we've decided to postpone this match and move on to the next one. Will the contestants for the third match please enter the arena?"

The spectators began talking among themselves. Most of them had probably come to see Sasuke Uchiha, but Sasuke hadn't shown up, so they were very unhappy. Some even thought Sasuke Uchiha was trying to escape the match. All sorts of complaints filled the arena.

For the sake of the operation, Kankuro raised his hand and said, "Uh, I forfeit!"

What? A forfeit? The spectators' anger soared. Was this guy even a ninja? They were already very unhappy about Sasuke Uchiha being late, and now that Kankuro had forfeited, they were dissatisfied with the Chunin Exams.

Issui had no choice but to say helplessly once more, "Kankuro forfeits. Shino Aburame wins without a fight. Will Temari and Shikamaru Nara, the contestants for the next match, please enter the arena?"

Temari didn't disappoint this time, flying straight down on her fan. Shikamaru, who considered everything a hassle, was kicked down by Naruto. The audience was very dissatisfied with Shikamaru's lack of spirit, and a great deal of trash was thrown his way.

Temari didn't care how little fighting spirit Shikamaru had. She attacked him straight away.

Shikamaru had no choice but to evade Temari's attack and hide, then attack her with the Shadow Imitation Technique.

Temari had studied battle tactics extensively. She realized that the length Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique could extend was actually limited by the area of his shadow, so she measured the greatest distance it could reach.

But as time passed, the area of the shadow under the sun would grow larger and larger. Shikamaru began thinking, trying to work out a strategy to defeat Temari.

Temari didn't care what Shikamaru was thinking. She knew that the longer things dragged on, the worse it would be for her, so she attacked directly, using Ninja Art: Sickle Weasel several times.

Shikamaru dodged Temari's Wind Release attacks. Behind a tree, he made a parachute out of his clothes and threw it into the sky, increasing the area of his shadow and the distance it could extend.

After making the parachute, Shikamaru began his next attack, using the Shadow Imitation Technique against Temari and drawing her toward the spot where he wanted her: the hole Naruto had dug.

Temari paid it no mind. She knew the maximum distance Shikamaru's shadow could extend, but then she spotted the parachute he had thrown into the sky. The area of Shikamaru's shadow had increased considerably, and it could extend farther. Temari could only dodge his attacks, and gradually, she was drawn close to the hole Naruto had dug.

After Shikamaru stopped attacking, Temari began considering her own strategy. She decided to leave a clone where she was while she circled around to attack Shikamaru, which would let her succeed.

Unfortunately, just as Temari was about to create a clone, she was caught by Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique. Shikamaru had used the shadow inside the hole Naruto had dug, sending it out of the hole behind Temari to bind her. His battle plan had succeeded.

Then Shikamaru immediately forfeited, saying he didn't have enough Chakra left. Although he still had plenty of strategies, this troublesome guy hated trouble more than anything, so he decisively gave up.

Seeing that the match had been decided, Issui announced, "The winner is Temari."

Next was Sasuke's match. They couldn't keep putting it off, could they? So they would just wait for that guy Sasuke to arrive.

Seeing that Sasuke still hadn't come, the Third prepared to declare Sasuke's forfeit and move on to the next match. But the Kazekage, who was actually Orochimaru, asked to wait another ten minutes, so they waited.

Finally, Kakashi and Sasuke arrived just in time.

Kakashi said sheepishly, "Yo, we're not late, are we? The match hasn't ended, has it?"

Issui smiled and said, "No. Although you arrived at the very last second, you still made it on time, so the match will continue. As expected of you, Kakashi-senpai, sticking to your usual style. All right, the second match, Sasuke Uchiha versus Gaara, begins!"

Gaara seemed extremely excited. On his way out of the waiting room, he even killed two Kusagakure ninja, scaring Naruto and Shikamaru half to death on the stairs.

The battle between Gaara and Sasuke Uchiha was about to begin.

Issui looked at the two excited fighters and flicked his hand. "Begin."

The kid Sasuke had grown much stronger under Kakashi's training. Using his Sharingan, Sasuke had copied Rock Lee's fighting style and used Lightning Release Chakra to stimulate the activity of his physical cells, bringing his speed up to the level Rock Lee had shown in battle. Gaara's Shield of Sand simply couldn't keep up with Sasuke's speed, and Sasuke beat him until he couldn't fight back.

With no other choice, Gaara used his absolute defense, wrapping himself completely in sand. He then formed an Eye of Sand to watch what was happening outside.

Sasuke's subsequent attacks had no effect against Gaara's absolute defense, and he was counterattacked by the sand instead. There was no way he could win like this, so he began preparing to use his trump card.

Sasuke unwound the bandages on his left hand, then gathered Lightning Release Chakra and changed its nature. The Lightning Release Chakra took on a tangible form in his hand, and in an instant, it was as though a thousand birds were calling, filling everyone's ears with chirping.

Chidori!!! The only ninjutsu the Konoha technician Kakashi had created himself.

Then, with the help of his Sharingan, Sasuke charged straight at Gaara. He broke through Gaara's absolute defense with ease and wounded him in the shoulder.

Gaara was injured, and he grew angry.

Sasuke fearfully struggled to pull his hand free. A claw of Shukaku followed it out, then retreated again. What kind of monster was this?!

Just then, Kabuto used a Genjutsu: Temple of Nirvana Technique!!!

The Konoha Crush Plan had officially begun!!!

The Kazekage—no, Orochimaru-attacked the Third. Namiashi Raidō was caught off guard and knocked against a wall by the enemy. Orochimaru seized the Third and took him to the roof of the viewing tower. Two Anbu squads appeared at the Hokage and Kazekage's viewing tower, and the second squad went below to protect the daimyos of the various nations, while the first stayed to protect the Hokage.

Several Sound Ninja emerged from the smoke bombs and attacked the first Anbu squad, but failed and were knocked to the ground.

Immediately afterward, however, the Sound Four of Otogakure-Kidomaru, Tayuya, Sakon & Ukon, and Jirobo-burst out from the clothes of the subdued Sound Ninja. The four joined forces to cast the Four Violet Flames Formation, sealing the Third and Orochimaru inside so the two could fight to their hearts' content and preventing anyone else from interfering.

At the same time, three giant snakes successfully summoned by the Sand shinobi appeared on Konoha's outskirts. Ordinary ninja couldn't stop them at all, and the battle alarm officially sounded.

Meanwhile, in the center of the exam arena, Baki appeared at Gaara's side with Temari and Kankuro. Because of his injury, Gaara was gradually losing consciousness.

Baki said anxiously to Temari and Kankuro, "Quickly, take Gaara away from here. I'll hold them off."

Issui stepped forward with a smile. "You're Baki of Sunagakure, aren't you? Do you think you can do whatever you want right under my nose? Leaving won't be so easy. Trade your life for theirs, Jonin Baki."

A terrifying killing intent surged from Issui, sending the leaves around him flying wildly. Gray currents of air gradually appeared around him.

Baki shouted, "Go, quickly! This man is too powerful for you to handle. Even I have no chance of defeating him!!"

Temari and Kankuro nodded with strained expressions, then quickly took Gaara away and disappeared.

Sasuke watched Issui's surging killing intent with inward surprise. This guy's killing intent alone is already disrupting the flow of Chakra in my body, and that's when he isn't even directing it at me. He's so strong. I don't think I could even withstand a single move from him. But what on earth is happening now? The exam has descended into complete chaos. That was a Genjutsu just now, and now I'm hearing loud crashes and feeling tremors. And why has the Kazekage taken the Hokage hostage? What on earth happened? Is it war?

With his back to Sasuke, Issui said, "The exam is over. Konoha is now facing a joint attack from Sunagakure and Otogakure. Go fight for the village. Pursue Gaara and stop all their plans. I suggest you take some companions with you, but if you don't want to, I won't force you to do anything. Leave quickly. I'm going to kill this Sunagakure man, and I don't want to hurt you by accident."

Sasuke clicked his tongue and said, "What? I can do it on my own. But don't go dying, Shuihuo."

With that, Sasuke quickly left.

"Genjutsu: Death God Encounter Technique!!!" Issui immediately used this advanced Genjutsu, which used killing intent to control an enemy's Chakra.

Baki was experienced. When he found himself in a world filled with slaughter, he knew he had fallen under a Genjutsu.

Baki saw his childhood and the constant killing after he became a ninja. Finally, he entered a blood-red chamber. The instant he stepped inside, everything was sealed shut. Then countless ghosts appeared before him, each telling him how he had killed them. Baki gradually became afraid. Then another ghost appeared. Wasn't that the Konoha Jonin Gekko Hayate, whom he had killed? He had come too.

After all the ghosts had finished recounting Baki's sins, they rushed at him together, fighting over his body and tearing into it with their teeth. Pieces of flesh were ripped from his body. It hurts so much. This is real. No, this isn't real. It's a Genjutsu. Release! Damn it, why can't I get out?