Laughable, Challenging a God Is Itself Folly

Seeing Gaara's defeat, Hagoromo's eyes couldn't help but turn towards the stands.

Orochimaru was defeated, but Gaara was not replaced by Shukaku as expected.

So, where will things start moving next?

"Hehe, Kazekage, you're quite at ease."

The Fourth Raikage A, stood up and looked at Rasa's position, his tone very cold.

The Five Great Nations convened a joint meeting, and he invited the Land of Wind to attend.

There's actually Jinchūriki among the candidates taking the exam now; if he doesn't express his opinion...

Even that old fox Hiruzen Sarutobi doesn't know what he'll be thinking.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained calmly seated, gently exhaling a puff of smoke.

"Raikage, you are overthinking it. We Sand Shinobi Village have our own plans. Gaara's strength is sufficient to handle any situation."

"This is also an opportunity for Sunagakure to demonstrate its power to all nations."

Thud--

Raikage smashed the table next to him with a punch, roaring, "Don't try to fool me!"

"Look at this for yourself, this is called demonstrating power!"

" With the Jinchūriki exposed in public, those Akatsuki guys could show up at any moment!"

The Raikage pointed at Gaara, who was leaning against the wall after being defeated by Naruto. Although he was able to use the power of the Tailed Beasts, he was still defeated.

Is this what you call demonstrating strength?

Rasa seemed stuck, as if the plan hadn't actually gone this way.

The signal for action was originally supposed to come after Gaara unleashed his power.

But now...

"It doesn't matter anymore," a strange light flashed in Rasa.

Boom--

A loud bang exploded in the distance, the sound seeming like a signal.

Explosions echoed throughout Konoha.

Upon hearing this voice, Rasa seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and was about to take action.

Swish--

A Ninja Blade was plunged straight into his body, and the Mitsudomoe in Shisui's exposed single eye spun wildly.

This scene stunned everyone present, and they all turned to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly got up, looked at Rasa, and couldn't help but sigh.

"The Fourth Kazekage... no, or perhaps Sasori of the Red Sands."

"I never expected you to be so audacious."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Rasa with his murky eyes, taking step after step forward, his aura gradually becoming more and more imposing.

When they arrived in front of 'Rasa', their aura had reached its peak.

Rasa, who was pinned to the chair by Shisui, trembled, and the veil on her face fell off.

"What?!"

The puppet-like appearance astonished everyone present.

All of Shadow's guards immediately took a defensive stance.

"Hehehe, the Third Hokage truly lives up to his title as a Shinobi Hero. When did you discover this?"

As Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes grew colder in response to the Akatsuki's question, he continued to stare at them.

If it weren't for Hagoromo's actions, which led Rasa's son to order Baki to return, he might not have known that Rasa had already died.

"No matter what actions your Akatsuki takes, they will not succeed."

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't respond. After saying that, he turned around and went to the front of the viewing platform. In an instant, his image appeared on all the screens.

As his divine robes fluttered, Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried a reassuring tone.

"Please remain calm, everyone!"

"The group attacking Konoha at this moment is S-rank missing-nin group wanted by all nations. I hereby issue this order in my capacity as the Third Hokage."

"The observation area of the venue has thirty-six emergency exits. All guides, please do your best to ensure the villagers evacuate in an orderly manner!"

"Families of young and able-bodied ninjas, please assist in maintaining order; this is also the duty of ninjas."

The originally chaotic venue gradually quieted down because of Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, taking advantage of this opportunity.

The guides, who had already been stationed in various locations, sprang into action; they were all ninjas who had graduated in the last two years.

They had received the exercise assignment before the third exam began, but they never expected that someone would actually attack them now.

The teachers at the Ninja Academy were organizing everyone in the crowd, and even the instructors were there.

These newly graduated Genin began to act according to their training.

The Fourth Raikage spoke only after Hiruzen Sarutobi speaking:

"Third Hokage, what is the meaning of Konoha? You found out but didn't inform us!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi his head to look at the clearly disgruntled figures behind him, and said calmly, "If it were you all in your own village—"

Will I be notified?

After these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.

Upon seeing this, 'Rasa' burst into laughter as if he had seen a joke.

"The Five Great Nations, what a joke!"

Before he finished speaking, a surge of malevolent Chakra suddenly enveloped the entire venue.

On the towering city walls of the meeting place, several figures, dressed in red robes and black robes, appeared like deities descending to earth.

Pain, the Deva Path Pain, stood in the center, his rippled Rinnegan filled with indifference.

With a slight raise of his hand, Deidara, standing beside him, seemed about to accomplish some great feat, and shouted excitedly.

"Art is an Explosion!"

"Drink!"

With a flick of his fingertips, a giant clay bird soared into the sky behind him and swooped down toward the center of the venue.

With a flap of its wings, countless Clay Spiders fell like raindrops.

Upon seeing this, the Anbu who had been on guard around the venue shouted loudly, "Defense!"

Forget about keeping watch around them, they all rushed towards their positions inside the arena.

Although we don't know what this spell can do, we absolutely must not let it be activated!

Inside the arena, Hagoromo lightly lifted her foot, and her Chakra surged immediately.

His hands began to flash with dazzling blue light, and countless bird calls echoed throughout the venue. His immense Chakra caused the surroundings to move even without wind.

Lightning Release: Chidori Subduing Waves!

Hagoromo's hands held the Chidori, which flew in all directions, using the conductors in the high walls around the venue to rush upwards.

Sizzle--

The next instant, countless lightning strikes spread throughout the venue, as if one were in a pool of lightning.

The Clay Spiders that fell down immediately lost their original Chakra- infused properties and fell to the ground.

Immediately, Hagoromo raised her hand, and countless lightning bolts converged, forming a lightning spear that shot straight into the sky and struck the giant clay bird.

Thud--

The giant clay bird, cleaved in two by the lightning-struck spear, crashed to the ground, kicking up a huge cloud of dust.

Deidara, standing on the high wall, blinked, and the next moment his pupils involuntarily contracted sharply.

His technique was actually cracked in an instant!

"All Anbu, listen to my command: divide the battlefield!"

Hagoromo addressed the approaching Anbu directly, then looked up at the still indifferent Deva Path Pain.

"You went through all that trouble, and you just stood by and watched?"

His tone was extremely calm. They had already received Itachi's notification during the Chunin Ninja Exams, and it seemed that Akatsuki's target was Konoha.

He was injured as a result and used a scroll to teleport back.

Unexpectedly, Deva Path Pain was so stubborn, coming despite knowing there might be a trap.

"Ridiculous! Challenging a god is itself a reckless act!"