Konoha Crush Begins!

"Is that your final defense?" Sasuke sneered. "Then let me peel it off, layer by layer!"

"This is bad! At this rate, Gaara probably won't follow the plan."

In the stands, Kankuro spoke anxiously under his breath.

The day before, the three Sand Shinobi had received the final battle plan.

Baki had instructed Gaara to keep watch for signals throughout the fight.

Once the time was right, he was to immediately transform directly into the complete form of One-Tail Shukaku and attack the daimyo in the stands.

At the same time, the Sound Shinobi had stated that they would deal with Uchiha Sasuke amid the chaos. It seemed they intended to capture him alive and take him away for some other purpose.

Meanwhile, the Third Hokage would be handled personally by the Kazekage.

As for Kankuro and Temari, they were to coordinate with Baki, assist Gaara in causing maximum destruction, and stop anyone who dared step forward to interfere.

Elsewhere, the Sound Shinobi and Sand Shinobi forces would simultaneously launch direct assaults from Konoha's western side and southern main gate.

The Kazekage, Gaara, and the army would all strike at once, launching devastating attacks against the Hokage, the daimyo, and the village itself.

This was—the Konoha Crush Plan!

However, Sasuke's overwhelming display of strength could not help but worry Kankuro.

"At this rate, that guy Gaara will definitely be completely focused on defeating Sasuke, ignoring everything else."

Sure enough, after being knocked down several times in succession by Sasuke, Gaara had begun to show his anger.

Although Gaara had not suffered even the slightest injury under the protection of his Sand Armor,

the humiliation of the situation had already made the monster inside him grow increasingly violent.

"Sand Style: Desert Wave!"

Gaara formed hand seals with both hands and wrapped himself tightly in sand.

His resentful gaze remained fixed on Sasuke until the sand completely formed into a sphere, thoroughly cutting him off from the outside world.

"What? Are you going to hide in your shell like a turtle?"

Sasuke mocked.

Though he said that aloud, Sasuke understood perfectly well: if the enemy wanted to do something, then he absolutely could not be allowed to finish it.

Before the sphere could fully solidify, Sasuke rushed forward at high speed, intending to stop Gaara from hiding inside.

However, as though it were alive, the sand sphere raised rows of spikes and attacked Sasuke.

Sasuke could not dodge in time. His arms and thighs were cut to varying degrees, and when he slammed a fist into the sand sphere, it felt as though he had struck a solid iron plate.

Blood seeped through the bandages around his fist.

"I didn't expect sand of different densities to have such an enormous difference in hardness."

Sasuke leaped back, panting heavily.

In that case, even better.

Sasuke smiled.

Right now, his opponent was a stationary living target. He could only reluctantly reward him with a Chidori.

By the stands, Baki had also become anxious.

How was Gaara supposed to see the signal telling him to act now?

Around the arena, Orochimaru's hidden agents were also rapidly calculating how things should proceed next.

Yakushi Kabuto, once again disguised as an Anbu, was swiftly adjusting his battle plan.

No matter what, conquering Konoha was the core strategic objective.

It seemed that the plan to abduct Sasuke amid the chaos would have to be put aside for now.

Lightning streaked across the sky as Chidori viciously pierced through the Desert Wave. Shukaku's long arm extended from the hole in the sand sphere, then withdrew again.

The Desert Wave dispersed. Gaara clutched his shoulder. He was injured.

Just moments ago, Gaara had been preparing to transform into his possessed form and wreak havoc.

But Sasuke had seized the initiative with Chidori.

Gaara's transformation had been interrupted halfway through. Not only had he wasted a great deal of Chakra, his entire body had also suffered a severe backlash.

"Yes! Looks like that Uchiha brat is going to win after all!"

"What a letdown. So the Sand Shinobi's top contender was nothing special!"

Thunderous cheers erupted throughout the arena, but the sea of cheers soon gradually fell silent.

White feathers drifted down before everyone's eyes, and waves of drowsiness washed over them.

In a corner, after confirming that Gaara could no longer proceed according to plan, Yakushi Kabuto decisively used the "Genjutsu: Nirvana Temple Technique."

Within moments, every spectator had fallen into a deep sleep.

"Genjutsu?"

In the stands, Kakashi and Might Guy quickly stood back-to-back and entered a guarded stance.

Before the main platform, the Kazekage likewise turned a sinister gaze toward the Third Hokage.

A brownish-green signal flare shot into the air, and the forces west and south of the city immediately began to move!

The Konoha Crush Plan had officially begun!—

In the arena, Sasuke still stared intently into Gaara's eyes.

He was certain of what he had just seen within the Desert Wave.

Though he did not know the exact circumstances, Sasuke was certain that what he had injured was not human.

"Gaara, calm down!"

At that moment, Temari and Kankuro leaped into the arena and stood beside Gaara, trying to persuade him.

"There's no point in continuing to fight that guy!"

"Have you forgotten our mission?!"

The two shouted.

"Get out of my way! I'll kill him!"

Gaara roared, still preparing to charge at Sasuke.

"What are you three still doing? The operation has already begun!"

Baki leaped into the arena and stood in front of the three.

The successive unexpected developments made Sasuke increasingly restless.

By now, he had noticed that every spectator had fallen into a strange silence.

And on the main platform where the Hokage was seated, an unusual purple barrier had already risen.

"What's going on?"

Could it be that Orochimaru had already made his move?

The massive conspiracy between the Sound Shinobi and the Sand Shinobi was finally about to lift its mysterious veil.

Across from him, Gaara clutched his head and dropped to his knees in pain, while Temari anxiously checked on him.

"His injuries are worse than expected, and he has already expended a massive amount of Chakra. He can't act according to plan right now."

Temari reported to Baki.

"Idiot. It's all because he acted on his own." Baki cursed.

"What do we do next? Are we acting without Gaara?"

Kankuro shouted.

"Gaara is the Sand Shinobi's trump card. No matter what, he must join the battle. You two, take him away. Once his Chakra recovers, have him immediately transform into his complete form and begin the operation!"

"What about you, Sensei?"

"I'll stay here and hold this guy back for you."

As Baki spoke, he faced Shiranui Genma and assumed a fighting stance.

"You think I'll let you leave?"

Shiranui Genma understood full well what was at stake. He moved as if to lunge at Gaara.

"Go, now!"

Baki urged them. Temari and Kankuro did not dare delay. They quickly supported Gaara between them, turned, and fled.

Shiranui Genma rapidly assessed the situation before him. Rather than taking further action, he turned to Sasuke and said,

"Sorry, but the Chunin Exams end here. You already possess the strength of a Chunin. Since you're a Konoha shinobi, you must do your part for Konoha."

"So I just need to keep beating Gaara, right?"

Sasuke understood Shiranui Genma's meaning and said directly.

"Don't pursue them too deeply. From here on, this isn't a competition anymore. It's a real battle."

Sasuke did not waste any more words. He burst into motion and rapidly pursued the direction in which the three Sand Shinobi had fled.