The Third Hokage's Worries

As the Wood Golem swung its fists, it brutally pummeled the once-arrogant Tailed Beast.

The Konoha ninjas couldn't help but picture the legendary scene in their minds.

"Was this how Lord First Hokage used Wood Release to subdue the Nine Tailed Beasts back then...?"

"So this is Wood Release?"

"It's terrifying!"

"Our power isn't even on the same level!"

Kakashi and the others murmured, their eyes full of shock.

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

They'd heard stories of Hashirama Senju capturing the Tailed Beasts, but little more.

Now, witnessing Yo's battle against Shukaku, they could finally picture it for themselves.

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

The Third Hokage's feelings were even more turbulent, too complicated to put into words.

He was both excited and worried.

Wood Release!

After decades, true Wood Release had bloomed in Konoha once more!

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

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

For Konoha, which had just suffered a series of blows—the Nine-Tails Incident, the Fourth Hokage's sacrifice, the Uchiha Clan Massacre, and more—this was like a shot in the arm.

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

A clan born evil had actually gained control of Wood Release.

Was this a blessing or a curse for Konoha?

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

But if he had other ideas, he'd be an enormous threat!

Just like Madara Uchiha had been—a disaster for the village.

At that moment, the situation in the middle of the battlefield changed again.

As the vines continued absorbing chakra, Shukaku's roars grew weaker. His enormous body began to shrink rapidly, withering away.

The sand that made up his body, no longer sustained by chakra, peeled away in great chunks and scattered.

The suffocating Tailed Beast chakra receded like the tide.

In just a few breaths, the terrifying, mountain-sized beast disappeared.

In his place was Gaara once more.

His face was pale as paper, his breathing faint. He was unconscious.

The battle was over!

It ended with the One-Tail Shukaku defeated and returned to his Jinchuriki form!

The entire arena fell silent.

Everyone looked at Uchiha Yao, standing on the Wood Golem's shoulder.

Shock! Awe! Fear! Disbelief! Astonishment!

Uchiha Yao!

He was only twelve!

A little Genin who'd graduated from the Ninja Academy not long ago!

And yet... he'd really suppressed the One-Tail all by himself!

Far away in the stands,

Naruto, still shaken, watched the scene with his mouth opening and closing. Then he suddenly sprang to his feet and exclaimed excitedly,

"That was amazing! Did you see that? I told you Yao was the strongest! He even beat that giant monster!"

Sakura and Ino were just as shocked and admiring, while Hinata's cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkled.

Their admiration and joy were simple and sincere. They didn't understand what this victory represented!

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

As one of the Tailed Beasts, Shukaku was a weapon of war capable of toppling a small nation and terrifying even the great ninja villages!

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

And now,

This weapon of war had been subdued by a twelve-year-old boy!

What did that mean?

It meant the boy already possessed the terrifying combat strength to face a Tailed Beast alone, and even suppress one.

In a great ninja village, he'd be powerful enough to stand against the Kage head-on!

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

Some Konoha Jōnin murmured in a daze, giving voice to the unease in many people's hearts.

Yes, terrifying!

Across all of Konoha, who could guarantee that they could suppress the Hokage?

No one could!

Aside from the legendary Legendary Sannin, probably no one had that kind of power.

But Yao had done it!

The Jōnin felt conflicted. They didn't know whether Yao's appearance would be good or bad for the village.

But one thing was clear: the village's balance of power was bound to change.

Yao noticed everyone's gazes, but he didn't care.

He'd already prepared for everything when he decided to reveal Wood Release.

Whether it was others fearing him, certain people coveting his power, or the village elders feeling threatened and trying to suppress him,

Yao wasn't afraid!

Flying Thunder God + Sage Body + perfect Wood Release—in this era, Yao couldn't even imagine how he could lose.

Unless Nagato showed up, he might be able to suppress Yao a little—but that would be all. Kill him?

That was pure fantasy!

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

The enormous Wood Golem broke apart, and the fast-growing forest slowly sank into the ground, leaving only a devastated battlefield behind.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The Third Hokage, Kakashi, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and the other Konoha Jōnin rushed to the center of the ruined arena.

Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and the other rookies followed right behind them.

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

Once they confirmed that Gaara had only run out of chakra and fallen into a deep coma,

They both let out a huge sigh of relief, then struggled to hoist the unconscious Gaara up between them.

The mood in the arena turned delicate.

The Third Hokage gave Yao a long look, then turned to Baki, the Jōnin leading the Sunagakure team. His gaze sharpened.

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

"Doesn't Sunagakure owe Konoha a reasonable explanation?"

The Third Hokage's tone was calm, but everyone could hear the accusation and restrained anger in his words.

This had seriously violated the trust and rules between allied nations. It could easily be considered a provocation!

A more aggressive Hokage could have used this as an excuse to declare war on Sunagakure.

Cold sweat immediately broke out on Baki's forehead. He was frantic with worry.

The plan had gone wildly off course. Sunagakure had gone from a potential aggressor to a provocateur in the wrong. There was no chance of winning if they turned against Konoha now.

Baki forced himself to speak, his face twisting into an apologetic expression.

"I'm terribly sorry, Lord Hokage! This was purely an accident!"

"Gaara... his condition has always been unstable. His seal weakened when his emotions ran wild!"

"This was a failure on our part to keep him under control! Sunagakure is willing to cover all the losses caused by this incident!"

"And we'll ensure that he's kept under strict supervision. Nothing like this will happen again!"

"On behalf of Sunagakure, I offer our sincerest apologies for the alarm and destruction we've caused your village!"

He adopted an extremely humble posture. This wasn't the time to let relations break down.

On top of that, Yao's terrifying display meant they needed to reassess their original plan.

Baki just wanted to get away as soon as possible and report everything that had happened to the Fourth Kazekage.

The Third Hokage said nothing.

He naturally didn't believe it was just an accident, but Sunagakure was being sincere and keeping its head down.

Konoha had the moral high ground, but it wouldn't be wise to press the matter any further right now.

The Chunin Ninja Exams weren't over yet. A complete falling-out wouldn't benefit either side.

"I hope so."

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

"During the Chunin Ninja Exams, make sure the One-Tail Jinchuriki is kept under close watch."

"Konoha wants to see young ninjas learn and grow together, not an out-of-control Tailed Beast and destruction."

"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Hokage! We'll keep him under strict control and make sure nothing like this happens again!"

Baki looked as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He quickly bowed, then signaled to Temari and Kankuro.

They understood at once, hoisted Gaara between them, and hurried away.

After the Sunagakure ninjas left,

The Third Hokage looked around at the ruined area surrounding the Central Tower.

The tower's main structure had collapsed, and the arena had been completely destroyed. The preliminary matches obviously couldn't continue.

The Third Hokage sighed. "Everyone, today's sudden incident has forced us to suspend the preliminary matches."

"We'll move to the backup venue tomorrow and continue the exams! For now, everyone is dismissed!"

"Uchiha Yao, come with me!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Yao nodded and followed Hiruzen Sarutobi away.

Naruto tried to follow, but Kakashi held him back by the shoulder.

Sasuke pressed his lips together as he watched his brother's retreating figure, his expression conflicted.