"Heh heh heh~~ I guess you really do grow content with peace when you get old... Teacher Sarutobi!"
The Fourth Kazekage sneered at the Third Hokage.
"You're...!"
The Third Hokage had lost his earlier composure. He stared at the Fourth Kazekage in shock.
"Heh heh heh~~"
Back in the arena, after Sasuke had struck Gaara with Chidori, he leaped away to put some distance between them. Then he noticed something strange in the stands and saw the Four Violet Flames Formation.
"What the hell is going on?" Sasuke stared at the enormous square Four Violet Flames Formation nearby, completely baffled.
"That's enough, Gaara." Just as Gaara was about to go berserk, Temari and Kankuro jumped in front of him to stop him.
"I'm going to kill him!" Gaara ignored Temari and Kankuro. With a savage expression, he started toward Sasuke.
"There's no point in continuing to fight him. Don't forget our mission!" Kankuro grabbed Gaara.
"Get out of my way, or I'll kill you too." Gaara shoved Kankuro aside and tried to attack Sasuke.
Just then, their Jonin instructor, Baki, appeared in front of them. "What are you waiting for? The operation has begun!" As Baki spoke, Konoha Special Jonin Genma Shiranui appeared beside Sasuke. The two groups faced off.
"Gaara was seriously injured just now, and he's used up too much Chakra. He can't perform that jutsu," Temari explained to Baki.
"Damn it, Gaara is Sunagakure's trump card. We have to make sure he plays his part, no matter what. You two, get out of here and find a way to treat his wounds. Once he's recovered, have him use that jutsu." Baki ordered Temari and Kankuro to take Gaara away while he stayed behind to cover their retreat. At his command, Temari and Kankuro carried Gaara off.
"Sasuke, sorry, but the Chunin Ninja Exams are over. You're already at Chunin level. As a Konoha shinobi, you have to do your part for Konoha." Genma watched Baki as he spoke to Sasuke beside him.
"So I just have to defeat Gaara, right? Let's pick up where we left off," Sasuke said coldly.
"Don't pursue them recklessly. This isn't an exam anymore. It's a real battle."
"Hmph! The goal's the same either way!" Sasuke said, then took off in the direction Temari and the others had fled.
Meanwhile, inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.
"Goodness, goodness. I'd planned to take Sasuke away while Gaara caused a commotion. Looks like I won't get my way." The Fake Fourth Kazekage chuckled at the Third Hokage.
"I see! So your targets are Konoha and Sasuke!" The Third Hokage stared at the fake Kazekage.
"Konoha isn't that important to me. More interestingly, if Gaara fully awakens, you'll get to see something fascinating. Well, never mind him. Your stupidity has plunged Konoha into chaos, and I've already won."
"Hmph! I taught you that you can't know the outcome of anything until the very end, didn't I? OROCHIMARU!"
"Heh heh!" The Fake Kazekage gave a sinister grin, then reached up and peeled a human-skin mask from his face, revealing his true appearance: the Third Hokage's student, and Konoha's S-Class Rogue Ninja, Cold-Hearted Orochimaru.
Orochimaru sneered. "I told you long ago to choose the Fifth Hokage sooner. Because the Third Hokage—that is, you—will die here soon."
"I always knew this day would come eventually, but..." The Third Hokage closed his eyes as he spoke to his former student. Then he snapped them open and glared at Orochimaru. "Don't think you can take my head so easily."
Teacher and student, both Kage Level, were on the brink of battle.
By then, Konoha Civilians were fleeing to shelters under the direction of some Chunin. But Chen didn't join them. He'd been looking forward to this day for a long time. How could he possibly hide away?
"Heh heh! The show's about to begin!" Chen watched the giant snakes rampaging through Konoha in the distance, his voice tinged with excitement.
Ding! The system has issued a war mission. Please choose a side. Defenders: Konoha Attackers: Sound-Sand Alliance Mission requirements: Kill enemy shinobi—5 Jonin, 10 Chunin, and 20 Genin. Mission reward: 50,000 Points. Mission failure penalty: Deduct � Points. Accept?
"If I fail, you deduct � Points? What if I don't have enough Points? Are you going to erase me?" Chen asked worriedly. In the novels he'd read in his previous life, the protagonist's cheat system was always threatening to erase him. If the Strongman System worked the same way, Chen would have to think carefully before accepting the mission.
"Please rest assured, Host. The situation you are worried about will not occur. The Strongman System exists because of you, and you have supreme authority. If you die, the system will disappear as well, so the system has no power to erase you. If you fail the mission, the system will deduct an equal amount of Points. If you do not have enough Points, your balance will become negative, and you will be unable to make any exchanges. Any Points you earn afterward will first go toward repaying your negative balance."
"I see! Then there's no problem. I accept!" Chen relaxed after hearing the system's explanation.
"Please choose a side. Defenders: Konoha Attackers: Sound-Sand Alliance."
"Hmm, I'll choose Konoha." Chen thought it over without much hesitation. After all, Konoha was more or less his home.
Ding! The Host has chosen the Konoha side. Hidden mission triggered: Kill the enemy leader, "Orochimaru." Mission reward: 100,000 Points and one system draw! Mission failure penalty: None. Host, please join the battlefield to carry out the mission.
"Are you kidding me? You want me to kill Orochimaru? System, are you trying to get me killed? Good thing there's no penalty for failing. I'll just ignore this mission." Chen was startled by the follow-up mission the system had announced.
"Whatever. System, exchange a set of Anbu Outfit for me first."
Anbu Outfit Item level: E-rank Item type: Tool Required Points: 100 Exchange?
"Exchange!"
Once Chen had put on the Anbu Outfit, he used the Body Flicker Technique to leave home and rush toward the chaos outside.
Meanwhile, Kakashi and Might Guy sent Sakura, Naruto, and Shikamaru away, telling them to catch up with Sasuke and help him fight Gaara. A group of Sand Village shinobi surrounded the two of them.
"Kakashi! Let's have our XXXth match! Burn with the fire of youth! Hah!" Might Guy shouted excitedly to Kakashi, then charged at the enemies ahead.
"Honestly!" Kakashi charged after him. The two of them clashed with the Sound Ninja in an instant.
As expected of Elite Jonin Kakashi and Might Guy, they swept through the Sand Ninja like wolves among sheep. Not one of their opponents could withstand a single blow.
"They're... they're too strong! We're all going to be killed!" The few Sand Ninja left were terrified and tried to flee. Suddenly, a flash of steel cut through the air. A short figure appeared behind them, dressed in Konoha Anbu gear. He was slowly sliding the blade in his hand back into its sheath.
"W-what happened?" The Sand Village shinobi hadn't even figured out what was going on. Then, without exception, blood sprayed from all their throats!
Ding! Host has killed five Chunin. Reward: 5,000 Points.
"So fast! Before those Sand Ninja could even react, he slit all their throats in an instant," Might Guy thought in shock as he watched the Anbu before him.
Kakashi looked at the short figure and thought, "Anbu?"
"Sorry! I stole your prey!" The short Anbu spoke. From his voice, he sounded young. It was Chen, who had just arrived. (There's no need to go on about how it's his first time killing, how he can't bring himself to do it, or how he needs to get used to it. Killing is a necessity in Naruto, so I won't waste time on that pointless stuff.)
"You... you're Anbu?" Might Guy asked in surprise after hearing the short figure's voice. "You must still be a kid! And you've already joined Anbu."
"Come on, don't look so surprised! Kakashi-senpai joined Anbu at my age too. I've heard all about your exploits, Kakashi-senpai. Your information may be classified, but your reputation is so great that we in Anbu often talk about you in private. I've always admired you. Compared to you, Kakashi-senpai, I'm nothing!" Chen said casually to Kakashi and Might Guy.
"Anyway, we don't have time to stand around chatting. I'll be going now!" Chen spoke without paying any attention to Kakashi and Might Guy's reaction. Then he used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished right in front of them.
"Kakashi..." Might Guy started to say something to Kakashi.
"Yeah! He's right. A shinobi can't underestimate an opponent just because they're young, or they'll pay the price. All right, now that we've taken care of things here, let's go somewhere else!"
"Right! Our match isn't over yet. And I've already taken down � enemies, Kakashi!"
"Oh! �!" Kakashi simply replied.
"Ah! You really are my eternal rival, Kakashi! But I'm not going to lose!"
Elsewhere, Chen reached the top of a building and watched the chaos below in Konoha. The giant snakes in the distance roared as they rampaged through the village, and Konoha's shinobi hadn't managed to hurt them at all.
"Erha, I've found you a great opponent. You can thank me later!" Saying that, he leaped off the building. In midair, he bit his thumb and quickly formed the Hand Seals.
"Summoning Technique!"
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