The massive roof of the Chunin Exams arena had been powerfully reinforced by the [Four Violet Flames Formation]. Though the inside had already been reduced to a complete mess, it had not collapsed.
Yet the interior of the barrier had long since become unrecognizable, with no trace of its original appearance remaining. Thick trees had burst through brick and stone in wild growth, solid rock walls had risen from the ground, and the damp traces left by Water Release intermingled with the scorched craters left by Explosive Tags—these were all remnants of the fierce clash.
The Adamantine Staff transformed from Enma was deeply embedded in the ground. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaned on it, his chest heaving violently as the severe depletion of Chakra left him gasping without pause.
Across from him, the damage inflicted upon the First and Second Hokage by Explosive Tags was slowly healing at a visible rate. The injuries caused by the opening the Third Hokage had found only through desperate effort seemed capable of delaying them for only a very limited time.
Compared with Orochimaru, the Third Hokage was clearly in far worse condition. Orochimaru still appeared composed on the surface, having consumed far less Chakra than the Third Hokage, but the signature cold smile on his face had become somewhat stiff, even carrying a faint trace of barely perceptible... agitation.
According to the final memories sent back by his distant clone, the three trump cards he had meticulously prepared to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—two Uzumaki clan members skilled in Sealing Jutsu, along with Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, who could suppress Tailed Beasts—had all been stopped by Menma alone, who had appeared out of nowhere!
What chilled him even more was the tangible, bone-piercing killing intent the clone had felt before dispersing. Even Orochimaru