The Chunin Ninja Exams were in chaos. Konoha and Sunagakure were both fighting, but they were all waiting for Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi to decide the victor inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.
This time, however, Sunagakure had help from Mei Terumi's people and was not subdued as quickly as in the original story.
Under Baki's leadership, the Sunagakure Shinobi launched a ferocious counterattack.
"I hope nothing goes wrong this time," Hozuki Mangetsu muttered to himself after taking out a group of Konoha ninja with a single move.
He had failed to complete his mission last time. Now that he had received a reward from the Inventory System, surely he would not fail again.
"Fire Rat Ball!"
Another wave of blue flames came at him, and Hozuki Mangetsu hurriedly used the Hydrification Technique to dodge the attack.
The Kumogakure squad led by Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki, slowly emerged.
"What a pain. Why does the mission require us to help Konoha? We could just watch from the sidelines," Cee complained.
If Yugito had not suddenly intervened, would it not have been better to wait until they had finished fighting and then come out to finish off the survivors?
"You're that Two-Tails Jinchūriki from before." Hozuki Mangetsu recognized the kunoichi before him.
"I recognize you too, Hozuki Mangetsu of Kirigakure!" Yugito looked calmly at the man. He had overwhelmed her and Konoha's Might Guy in the instance before, leaving them unable to catch their breath.
This time, she absolutely would not lose to him again.
"I've beaten you before!" Hozuki Mangetsu could not be bothered to waste words on Yugito. He immediately used his signature Water Gun Technique, aiming at her and firing shot after shot.
Yugito displayed the agility of a cat demon. As expected of someone acknowledged by Matatabi, the Two-Tails: few could match her speed.
Hozuki Mangetsu was clearly not among those few. Yugito, who had also received a reward, had made up for her shortcomings to a great extent.
Now, Hozuki Mangetsu could not even hit the hem of Yugito's clothes.
Yugito moved behind Hozuki Mangetsu at tremendous speed and attacked him relentlessly with the claws on her hands.
Hozuki Mangetsu could not fend her off, and before long, he was covered in claw marks.
After another water shot missed, Hozuki Mangetsu could only change targets. If I can't hit you, I can hit your teammates. You won't be able to do anything about that, will you?
Hozuki Mangetsu aimed his gun at Cee and Samui. Cee was only a reconnaissance Shinobi at this point, and Samui was still a Genin. Neither could withstand the attack.
Just then, the long-delayed Obito and the others finally arrived on the battlefield.
"Damn it, you actually... This is unforgivable!" Upon returning, Obito Uchiha saw the devastation. Countless Konoha civilians had been slaughtered by Sunagakure Shinobi.
Both the young Kakashi and the adult Kakashi joined the battle, targeting Mei Terumi, who was disguised as a Sunagakure ninja.
The Orochimaru who had crossed over spotted the unlucky Rasa in the crowd at a glance. Rasa had been careful enough after seeing Orochimaru, but Orochimaru had still managed to find him.
"Damn it, I'm in trouble!" With that, Rasa hurriedly tried to flee, but how could Orochimaru possibly let him go? He was right behind him, watching him intently.
At the same time, Obito also chose to join the battle and, by coincidence, ran straight into Hozuki Mangetsu's water shot.
"Wood Release: Wood Wall!"
Obito released the Ninjutsu, and a shield made of multiple wooden vines rapidly grew from the ground to protect them.
Obito blocked Hozuki Mangetsu's water shot.
"Thank you, Konoha Shinobi." Samui was exceptionally calm, not frightened by Hozuki Mangetsu in the slightest.
"He can use the Hydrification Technique to evade most physical attacks. Be careful." Samui had already keenly spotted Hozuki Mangetsu's weakness.
His earlier reward had allowed his Hydrification Technique to overcome its weakness to Lightning Release, so there was only one way to defeat him now.
"Genjutsu! Only Genjutsu can defeat this guy," Samui told Obito.
"But none of us are very skilled at Genjutsu, are we?" Cee replied from the side.
Obito said confidently, "Yes, there is. No one understands Genjutsu better than I do."
Obito pointed at his Uchiha Clan crest, and Samui recognized that the person who had blocked the attack for them was actually a member of the Uchiha Clan.
Obito activated the Mangekyō Sharingan in both eyes, then appeared behind Hozuki Mangetsu.
Hozuki Mangetsu was not particularly on guard and was caught completely off guard by Obito's surprise attack.
Yugito looked at the Uchiha Clan Shinobi in some surprise. She had not expected him to be able to hurt Hozuki Mangetsu.
"Don't underestimate the Uchiha Clan!"
Obito pressed his palms together and shouted, "Fire Release: Blast Wave Wild Dance!"
Obito then used Fire Style to spit a rotating serpent of fire from his mouth. The swirling blast combined with the rotating fire serpent to form an enormous spinning blaze.
He had also used this Ninjutsu against Kakuzu, though he was not as proficient with it as he had been then.
This time, Hozuki Mangetsu was very cautious and hurriedly used the Hydrification Technique to dodge the attack.
But just as he evaded the flames, Obito was hidden behind them, and the two locked eyes.
Obito pushed his Mangekyō as hard as he could. Hozuki Mangetsu struggled for a moment before falling still.
"My Ninjutsu won't hold him for long. Attack, quickly!" This was Obito's first time using the Mangekyō, and he was not very proficient with it.
Hearing Obito's words, Yugito did not dare let her guard down. She immediately used her strongest attack.
In her Partial Tailed Beast Transformation state, she fired a Tailed Beast Bomb straight at Hozuki Mangetsu.
Poor Hozuki Mangetsu was taken out by the Tailed Beast Bomb without putting up any resistance.
[Ding, Hozuki Mangetsu eliminated.]
Samui