The Third Hokage's Worries

Watching the Wood Golem swing its iron fists, pounding the once-arrogant Tailed Beast into submission.

The Konoha shinobi couldn't help but recall the legendary scenes from the past.

"So this is how the First Hokage... used Wood Release to subdue the nine Tailed Beasts back then..."

"This is Wood Release?"

"Terrifying!"

"It's on a completely different dimension from our power!"

Kakashi and the others murmured, their eyes filled with shock.

By the time their generation was born, the God of Shinobi had long since passed away.

The tales of Hashirama Senju capturing Tailed Beasts were mostly just stories they'd heard.

But now, witnessing Yao's battle with Shukaku, it suddenly felt real.

They truly understood how the God of Shinobi had suppressed the Tailed Beasts.

The Third Hokage's emotions churned like a storm, complex and unspoken.

Both excited and worried.

Wood Release!

True Wood Release, after decades, had bloomed again in Konoha!

And it was so powerful it could suppress even the One-Tail Shukaku head-on!

This meant... Konoha would once again possess a strategic-level force capable of opposing Tailed Beasts and deterring other nations!

For a Konoha that had just endured the Nine-Tails Incident, the Fourth's sacrifice, the Uchiha Clan Massacre, and a string of blows, this was nothing short of a shot of adrenaline.

But the problem was, the one wielding this power was an Uchiha!

A clan born evil had actually mastered the power of Wood Release.

Was this a blessing or a curse for Konoha?

If Uchiha Yao obeyed the village's arrangements, it would undoubtedly be a good thing.

But if he harbored other intentions, it would be a massive hidden danger!

Just like Madara Uchiha back then, a disaster for the village.

At that moment, the situation at the center of the battlefield shifted again.

As the vines continuously drained Chakra, Shukaku's roars grew weaker and weaker, and its massive body began to shrink and wither rapidly.

The sand that formed its body, losing the Chakra that sustained it, peeled off in large chunks and dissipated.

The suffocating Tailed Beast Chakra receded like a tide.

In just a few breaths, the mountain-like terrifying beast vanished.

It reverted back to Gaara.

His face was pale as paper, his breath extremely faint, unconscious.

The battle was over!

It ended with the One-Tail Shukaku's defeat, reverting to its Jinchuriki!

The entire scene was dead silent.

Everyone's gaze turned, as if by unspoken agreement, to Uchiha Yao on the Wood Golem's shoulder.

Shock! Awe! Fear! Disbelief! Incomprehension!

Uchiha Yao!

A twelve-year-old!

A mere Genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy!

Had... actually, by himself, suppressed the One-Tail!

Far off in the stands.

The still-shaken Naruto watched the scene, his mouth opening and closing, before he suddenly jumped up and exclaimed excitedly:

"That's amazing! See! I told you Yao was the strongest! He can even beat a monster like that!"

Sakura and Ino were equally filled with shock and admiration, while Hinata's face was flushed red, her eyes sparkling.

Their admiration and joy were simple; they didn't understand the meaning behind this victory!

But the Third Hokage, Kakashi, Might Guy, and the others understood.

Shukaku, as one of the Tailed Beasts, was a weapon of war capable of toppling small nations and terrifying even the great shinobi villages!

It was also Sunagakure's strategic cornerstone for deterring other nations!

And now.

That weapon of war had been suppressed by a twelve-year-old boy.

What does this mean?

It means this youth already possesses the terrifying combat power to single-handedly confront, even suppress, a Tailed Beast.

Placed in a major ninja village, he would be enough to go head-to-head with a village's Kage!

"This... is too terrifying... Uchiha Yao, he..."

Some unknown Jōnin of Konoha muttered absentmindedly, voicing the chill that had settled in many hearts.

Yes, terrifying!

Looking across all of Konoha, who could guarantee they could suppress the Hokage?

No one could guarantee it!

Probably no one except the legendary Sannin had that kind of strength.

But Yao had done it!

The Jōnin's feelings were complicated. They didn't know whether Yao's emergence was good or bad for the village.

But one thing was clear—the village's power structure was bound to change.

Yao noticed the gazes on him, but he didn't care.

Since he dared to reveal Wood Release, he had prepared for everything.

Whether it was others' fear, certain people's covetousness, or the high-ranking officials' wariness and suppression—

Yao wasn't afraid of any of it!

Flying Thunder God + Sage Body + perfect Wood Release—at this point in time, Yao couldn't see how he could lose!

Unless Nagato came, maybe he could suppress him a little. But that was all—suppress him. Kill him?

That was pure fantasy!

Looking at the unconscious Gaara, Yao knew the battle was over, so he withdrew his Chakra.

The giant Wood Golem disintegrated, and the rampant forest slowly sank back into the ground, leaving only a devastated battlefield.

Shushushu!

The Third Hokage, Kakashi, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and other Konoha Jōnin arrived at the center of the ruined site.

Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and the other rookies followed close behind.

Temari and Kankuro rushed to Gaara's side, checking on him anxiously.

After confirming that Gaara had only exhausted his Chakra and fallen into a deep coma, the two finally let out a huge sigh of relief. They flanked him, struggling to lift the unconscious Gaara to his feet.

The atmosphere in the arena turned tense.

The Third Hokage gave Yao a deep look, then turned his sharp gaze to Sunagakure's lead Jōnin, Baki:

"Jōnin Baki, regarding your village's One-Tail Jinchuriki fully transforming into a Tailed Beast during Konoha's Chūnin Exams..."

"Shouldn't Sunagakure give Konoha a reasonable explanation?"

The Third's tone was calm, but the accusation and hidden anger in his words were unmistakable.

This was a serious violation of the trust and rules between allied nations. It could be seen as a provocation!

If a more aggressive Hokage were in charge, this alone could be used as a pretext to start a war with Sunagakure.

Sweat instantly beaded on Baki's forehead, and he cursed his luck inwardly.

With such a massive deviation in the plan, Sunagakure had gone from a potential attacker to the party in the wrong, a clear provocateur. Turning on Konoha now meant certain defeat.

Baki steeled himself and forced an apologetic expression onto his face:

"A thousand apologies, Lord Hokage! This matter was purely an accident!"

"Gaara... his condition has always been unstable. A violent emotional fluctuation caused the seal to loosen!"

"This was a failure in our supervision! Sunagakure is willing to bear all losses caused by this incident!"

"And we guarantee to tighten our watch, ensuring nothing like this happens again!"

"Regarding the disturbance and destruction caused to your village, I offer the sincerest apologies on behalf of Sunagakure!"

He kept his posture low. Now was not the time for a complete break.

Even the original plan needed to be reassessed because of that terrifying display by Uchiha Yao.

Baki just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible and report what had happened to the Fourth Kazekage.

The Third Hokage remained silent.

He naturally didn't believe this was a mere accident. But with Sunagakure's sincere attitude and low posture, Konoha held the moral high ground, yet it wasn't wise to press the issue immediately.

The Chūnin Exams weren't over yet. A complete fallout would benefit neither side.

"I hope so."

The lines on the Third Hokage's face softened slightly. "Jōnin Baki, take your people back to rest for now."

"During the Chūnin Exams, make absolutely certain the One-Tail Jinchuriki is kept under control."

"Konoha wants to see young shinobi exchange and grow, not a rampaging Tailed Beast and destruction."

"We are grateful for the Hokage's leniency! We will strictly supervise him and guarantee nothing like this happens again!"

Baki, as if granted a pardon, quickly bowed in respect, then shot a glance at Temari and Kankuro.

They understood at once, immediately hoisting Gaara up and swiftly leaving.

After the Sunagakure team departed.

The Third Hokage surveyed the devastated central tower area.

The main tower had collapsed, the competition grounds were completely destroyed—the preliminaries clearly couldn't continue.

The Third Hokage sighed. "Everyone, an unexpected incident has occurred today, forcing the preliminaries to be suspended."

"Tomorrow, we will switch to a backup venue and continue the matches! For now, everyone is dismissed!"

"Uchiha Yao, come with me!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Yao nodded and followed Hiruzen Sarutobi away from the scene.

Naruto tried to follow, but Kakashi pressed a hand on his shoulder.

Sasuke bit his lip, watching his brother's back with a complicated expression.