Absorbing the One-Tail and Breaking Through to Mid-Kage Level, Mu Intimidates Danzo and Overwhelms the Entire Field

Inside the arena, yellow sand filled the sky, turning the world dark.

The rampaging Gaara had transformed into a partial tailed-beast form. Sand waves churned around him, and every wave of his hand unleashed devastating sandstorms. The arena stands were easily torn apart and collapsed.

Ordinary genin and chunin fled in terror. ANBU squads joined forces to cast ninjutsu—Water Release, Earth Release, and Wind Release stacked one atop another and blasted into the surging sand waves, yet they vanished like stones sinking into the sea, unable to halt them even for a moment.

This was the terrifying power of a tailed beast.

Even an incomplete rampage was not something ordinary ninja could contend with.

Naruto stood before the fallen Rock Lee, a faint red mist from the Nine-Tails curling around him as he glared furiously at the One-Tail's incarnation.

"What are you so afraid of? Why do you only know how to use your strength to bully others?!"

Naruto shouted, trying to awaken Gaara's true heart in his own way.

But Shukaku's consciousness had taken control at that moment, and Gaara could no longer hear anyone's words.

"Too noisy... Crush him!"

A deep, hoarse roar rang out. A giant hand of sand formed out of thin air and slammed down at Naruto with crushing force.

Naruto gritted his teeth and instantly created countless Shadow Clones, layering them in front of himself. But the sand hand was far too powerful. The Shadow Clones collapsed at the slightest touch, unable to block it in the least.

The spectators held their breath, all believing Naruto was about to suffer grievous injuries.

The Four Sound Ninja watched coldly from the shadows, secretly delighted.

The more chaotic the exam grounds became, the more Konoha's forces would be tied down. That would make it easier for them to secretly carry out Orochimaru's scheme and pave the way for the coming Konoha Crush Plan.

Within the shadows of an upper pavilion, Danzo watched quietly, calculations flickering in his eyes.

"The One-Tail's rampage has tied down most of Konoha's experts. Naruto and Lee are in danger..."

"Sasuke's mind will surely be distracted by the battle. This is the best time to take his eyes."

He raised a hand slightly. The auras of several Root ninja beside him instantly vanished as they prepared to quietly skirt the battlefield and seize an opportunity to ambush Sasuke.

Just as the situation completely spiraled out of control and no one could suppress the One-Tail's rampage—

On the rooftop, Uchiha Mu, who had been silently overlooking the entire arena, finally slowly straightened.

Invisible spatial-temporal ripples gently spread around him. The One-Tail Shukaku chakra he had just absorbed and refined within his body had already settled and stabilized.

That violent, scorching tailed-beast power had been completely assimilated by him, becoming part of his own foundation.

The amount of chakra within him soared, breaking through its limits in one surge. He steadily crossed the peak of early Kage level and entered mid-Kage level!

Not only had his total chakra increased dramatically, but his physical strength, chakra density, and foundation in spatial-temporal ninjutsu had all undergone a comprehensive transformation.

A faint tailed-beast pressure spread from Mu's body, vaguely confronting Shukaku's vicious aura.

Having absorbed the One-Tail's chakra, his presence had become even deeper and more unfathomable. Standing atop the rooftop, he resembled a god or demon looking down upon all living beings.

[Ding! Main quest triggered: Quell the Chunin Exams disturbance and suppress the rampaging One-Tail!]

[Quest reward: 100 skill points, deeper insight into the Eight Gates, and a significant increase in tailed-beast chakra affinity.]

The system notification sounded in his mind, but Mu's expression remained calm. Everything was within his expectations.

He had already intended to take action during this One-Tail rampage. He could quell the chaos and complete the quest while openly displaying his strength, intimidating all factions—including Danzo, who secretly coveted the Uchiha Clan's ocular techniques.

Below, the giant sand hand had already closed in on Naruto, about to crush him alive.

At that critical moment—

An indifferent voice rang clearly throughout the entire arena, piercing through the wind and sand.

"You've made enough trouble. This ends here."

The voice was not loud, yet it carried an irresistible authority, instantly drowning out the howling wind, flying sand, and screaming crowd.

Everyone subconsciously looked up toward the masked figure in ANBU combat attire on the rooftop.

The next moment—

Mu's figure flickered as Scar of Space activated instantly.

The void twisted slightly. His figure vanished from the rooftop in an instant, as though he had crossed space itself, and appeared directly between Naruto and Gaara.

Domain of Time silently spread around him. Centered on his body, the flow of time abruptly slowed within a radius of dozens of meters.

The giant sand hand sweeping toward them instantly became like a slow-motion image, sluggish and frozen, unable to advance another inch.

The yellow sand dancing wildly through the air also stopped in midair, as though frozen by an invisible force.

The entire arena fell deathly silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the scene, their faces filled with disbelief.

"Time... stopped?"

"What kind of ninjutsu is that? It's terrifying!"

"Just what level of powerhouse is that ANBU lord?"

The Four Sound Ninja froze completely in place, their hearts filled with endless terror.

This power... isn't something a human could possibly possess! No wonder Dosu fell to him. They're not even on the same level!

Danzo's single eye abruptly narrowed within the pavilion. His face was filled with shock as he stared fixedly at Uchiha Mu in the arena, stormy waves rising in his heart.

"Spatial-temporal ninjutsu... and he can even control the flow of time?"

"At only fifteen or sixteen, his strength has actually reached such a level..."

The greed in Danzo's eyes intensified, though it was now joined by several traces of wariness.

Such a genius, such ocular techniques, such strength—if he could not be used by Danzo, he would surely become a grave threat in the future.

But Danzo also understood that Mu's strength was unfathomable. Even if he dispatched all of Root, they might not be able to take him down.

He could only endure for now and wait to see what happened.

In the arena, Mu slowly stepped forward, facing Gaara in his partial tailed-beast form.

Shukaku's consciousness sensed the terrifying pressure emanating from the human before it. It let out a low growl and controlled the sand currents, attempting to attack once more.

But beneath the cover of Domain of Time, every sand technique was firmly restrained and could not move at all.

Mu raised his eyes. The scarlet light of his Mangekyō Sharingan flowed as powerful spiritual pressure directly enveloped Gaara's mind.

"Cast aside delusion and return to your true self."

As those calm words fell, genjutsu power invaded through the spiritual plane, forcibly suppressing Shukaku's violent consciousness while awakening the reason buried deep within Gaara's heart.

Gaara's originally scarlet and ferocious eyes gradually regained clarity. The rampaging chakra around him slowly began to recede, and the sand currents outside his body gradually fell back.

The markings of his partial tailed-beast transformation faded bit by bit, and his out-of-control viciousness was forcibly soothed.

In only a few breaths, the One-Tail rampage that had nearly destroyed the entire exam grounds was effortlessly and forcefully suppressed by Uchiha Mu.

The entire arena was silent. Every gaze fixed on Mu was filled with awe, shock, and disbelief.

Naruto stood there blankly, staring at Mu's back with worship in his eyes.

Big Brother Mu is incredible! He's even stronger than Lord Hokage!

Might Guy, Ibiki, and the other jonin all wore grave expressions. They understood clearly that this mysterious young ANBU already possessed terrifying strength beyond that of ordinary Kage-level ninja.

Mu lowered his head and glanced at the slightly dazed Gaara, whose reason had returned. His tone was calm.

"Control the power inside you properly. Don't let your viciousness consume you again."

After saying that, he did not spare Gaara another glance. Space rippled faintly around him, and his figure vanished from the spot in an instant, returning to the rooftop as though his shocking intervention had been nothing more than a casual gesture.

No one knew that Mu had not only successfully broken through to mid-Kage level, but had also absorbed a sufficient amount of One-Tail Shukaku chakra. His control over tailed-beast power and his understanding of spatial-temporal ninjutsu had both surged tremendously.

The 100 skill points had arrived, just enough for him to raise the Eight Gates to the lesser mastery stage and open the first six gates, increasing his combat power once more.

The unrest at the exam grounds had been quelled by Mu alone.

But the storms in the shadows had only just begun.

Danzo's covetousness, Orochimaru's scrutiny, and Obito's secret observation—all of them began making new plans because Mu had displayed his strength today.

Uchiha Mu had already reached the summit of the new generation of the ninja world. With absolute strength, he overwhelmed all rivals and intimidated every person harboring ill intent.

And he made those preparing for the Chunin Exams finals, as well as those harboring designs against Konoha, begin reconsidering their plans.