Collapse Plan: Protect the Hidden Leaf Village

The instant the Sound Ninja charged into the lounge, the air in the entire space seemed to freeze.

"Move!" Kankuro was the first to react, and the puppet "Crow" on his back unfolded in an instant.

Temari already had the Three-Star Fan in her hands. "Traitors of the Hidden Sand Village, don't even think about it!"

But the Sound Ninja's target was clear—they rushed straight at Sasuke Uchiha, who had just finished his battle and spent a tremendous amount of chakra.

"Rasengan!"

Naruto roared and blocked in front of Sasuke. The azure chakra sphere slammed hard into the Sound Ninja's kunai.

Shikamaru sighed and formed hand seals. "What a drag... Shadow Imitation Technique, success!"

The movements of two Sound Ninja immediately froze.

Uchiha Ling did not join the melee. He expanded his perception fully, clearly catching the heart-stopping chakra fluctuations outside the arena.

"We have to support the outside as soon as possible," he said in a low voice. "Leave the enemies here to you."

"Wait!" Temari shouted. "We don't know what's going on outside. Rushing out is too dangerous!"

Ling's gaze swept over everyone. "The One-Tail has already gone berserk. If we drag this out, the entire Hidden Leaf Village will suffer."

He said no more. In a flash, he rushed out of the lounge.

The scene outside was shocking.

The massive Shukaku roared at the sky, and sandstorms swept through the entire Hidden Leaf Village. Buildings were collapsing, civilians were fleeing, and figures were fighting everywhere.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

The Hidden Leaf Village ninja were resisting with their lives on the line, but Shukaku's power was simply too strong.

Ling quickly analyzed the situation. The top priority now was to stop Shukaku from continuing its destruction while finding and protecting the survivors.

"The medical team will set up a relief station in the eastern district. Transfer all wounded there!"

A familiar voice rang out not far away.

It was Shizune. She was directing medical ninja to treat the wounded, her forehead covered in sweat.

Ling immediately stepped forward. "Senior Shizune, is there anything I can help with?"

When Shizune saw him, surprise flashed through her eyes, then she quickly said, "Ling? Great! There are many trapped civilians near Training Ground Three. Shukaku's sandstorm is spreading that way!"

"Understood!"

Without hesitation, Ling turned and rushed toward the eastern district.

The scenes along the way were horrifying. Wherever the sandstorm passed, everything was reduced to ruins. Hidden Sand and Sound Ninja occasionally launched ambushes from the shadows, but Ling dealt with them swiftly.

[Ding! Check-in target detected: Shizune]

[Interaction level: cooperation + rescue]

[Check-in reward: Medical Ninjutsu: Hemostasis (efficient)]

New medical knowledge poured into his mind, just in time to be used in the rescue that followed.

The closer he got to Training Ground Three, the more violent the sandstorm became. Visibility had already dropped to less than ten meters, and the howling wind carried gravel that struck his cheeks painfully.

"Help!"

"Mom..."

Cries came from the direction of the training ground.

Ling sped up and finally found the trapped civilians in the sandstorm. More than twenty people were crowded inside a half-collapsed building, most of them elderly people and children.

"Everyone, don't panic! Follow me!"

Ling amplified his voice with chakra and opened up a relatively safe passage through the gale.

Just then, a wave of sand suddenly attacked from the side!

"Watch out!"

Ling immediately formed hand seals. "Lightning Release: Earth Flow!"

Lightning sank into the sand, temporarily slowing the sand wave. But more sand waves were forming.

"This can't go on..."

Ling rapidly thought through countermeasures.

Suddenly, an idea came to him. Concentrating chakra in his feet, he leaped into the air.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A powerful stream of air temporarily blew away the sandstorm ahead, revealing a path.

"Go, now! I can't hold this for long!"

Ling shouted down at them.

Under his cover, the civilians began evacuating. But Shukaku seemed to notice this little bug that dared to defy it, and more sand waves surged in from every direction.

"Damn it..."

Ling felt his chakra being consumed rapidly. With him alone, it would be very difficult to protect so many civilians at once.

At that critical moment, several figures suddenly appeared around him.

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"

Hiashi Hyuga arrived with the ninja of the Hyuga Clan.

"Shadow Imitation Technique, success!"

Shikaku Nara also brought his clan members over to support them.

"Ling, hold on!"

Choza Akimichi's massive figure blocked the very front.

The elite jonin of the Hidden Leaf Village had finally assembled.

"Thank you, seniors!"

Ling let out a breath of relief.

With everyone working together, the civilians were finally transferred safely. But the battle was far from over.

"We have to find a way to stop Shukaku."

Hiashi Hyuga's Byakugan was fixed on the distant giant beast.

"Ordinary attacks are useless against it."

Shikaku Nara's expression was grave.

Ling suddenly thought of something. "Maybe... we can use Shukaku's weakness."

Everyone's eyes focused on him.

"What Shukaku fears most is Water Release. If we can create a large enough Water Release ninjutsu..."

Choza Akimichi shook his head. "For an area this large, only if Lord Second Hokage came back to life."

"No, it might not need to cover that large an area."

Light flashed in Ling's eyes. "As long as we find the right timing and position..."

Suddenly, an earth-shaking boom came from the distance.

Everyone turned to look and saw the Third Hokage locked in a bitter battle within the Four Violet Flames Formation. Even more alarming, Shukaku had begun gathering a Tailed Beast Ball!

"There's no time to hesitate!"

Hiashi Hyuga made the decision on the spot. "Ling, tell us your plan!"

At the critical moment between life and death, the ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village united once more. And the young Uchiha Ling was about to face the most important trial of his life.