Konoha Crush Plan

That unfamiliar yet familiar face broke into a sinister smile.

The Third Hokage's expression changed drastically. Just as he raised his hand, the Kazekage had already gripped his shoulder.

The next instant, several figures leaped up from the four corners of the stands.

"Four Violet Flames Battle Encampment!"

Purple flames roared up to the roof, sealing off that entire area.

"Lord Hokage!"

The venue immediately descended into chaos.

The ordinary spectators had not even realized what was happening when white feathers began falling from the sky in ever greater numbers. People who had been shouting one second felt their eyelids grow heavy the next, their bodies slumping sideways in their seats.

Chiya bit his tongue hard.

The taste of blood burst across his mouth, instantly clearing his mind.

The scene before him had already become utter chaos.

People lay fallen all over the stands. Sand Village and Sound Ninja forces rushed out of the smoke and dust, blades flashing as they slashed straight at the nearest Konoha ninja. At the edge of the arena, several chunin had already collided with the enemy. With several sharp clangs, kunai struck each other and threw off sparks.

Just as Chiya was about to move, someone suddenly pressed a hand onto his shoulder.

Kakashi appeared beside him, his voice low.

"Don't run around. Stay close to me."

Chiya froze for a moment, then immediately nodded.

At a time like this, staying with Kakashi was the safest choice.

Kakashi drew a kunai with one hand, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings. He was completely unlike his usual lazy self. A Sound Ninja lunged at him from the side, but before he could get close, Kakashi flickered. His kunai had already slashed across the man's wrist.

With a snap.

The blade in the man's hand fell to the ground.

Kakashi drove an elbow into the man's chest, sending him flying.

"Sakura!"

Sakura had already broken free of the genjutsu and stood by the railing, her face pale.

"Yes!"

Kakashi said quickly, "Wake the others up! It's too dangerous here."

Only then did Sakura react. She hurried to Naruto's side and slapped his face twice.

"Naruto! Wake up!"

Naruto's eyes flew open, and he nearly jumped out of his seat.

"Who hit me?!"

Sakura did not explain. She turned and went to shake Shikamaru awake instead.

Shikamaru lay in his seat, slowly opening his eyes as he muttered under his breath.

"What a drag..."

Sakura paused.

"You were awake?"

"Just woke up."

Shikamaru sat up, but his gaze had already swept over the entire venue, and his expression grew uglier by the second.

Only then did Naruto finally realize what was going on and shout loudly.

"Huh? Where's Sasuke? Sasuke's gone!"

Kakashi finally said,

"Sasuke went after Gaara. Shikamaru, Naruto, Sakura, go bring Sasuke back. Pakkun will lead you."

"Yes!"

They followed Pakkun through a hole in the wall. After several leaps, they vanished into the forest.

At that moment, Chiya suddenly heard the sound of wind cutting overhead.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

In an instant, several figures landed around Kakashi and Chiya.

They wore Sound Ninja uniforms and forehead protectors. Their landing movements contained not a trace of waste. The person at the front flipped his palm, chakra already gathering within it.

These people were nothing like the fodder from earlier.

Almost at the same time, a deafening explosion erupted from the other side of the spectator stands.

Might Guy kicked three enemies flying with one blow, his green figure flashing through the smoke. Asuma and Kurenai were also tied down by enemies. Surrounded on all sides, they had no way to break free.

The venue had been divided into several separate battlefields.

Kakashi shielded Chiya as he took half a step back.

"Chiya, don't leave my side."

"I understand."

Chiya answered, but his fingers slowly clenched.

At that moment, those figures moved.

Kakashi knocked aside the short blade coming at him head-on, twisted aside, then drove a kick into another man's chest. The man flew backward and smashed through two rows of seats.

But before Kakashi could pursue him, two more men rushed in to fill the gap.

The others circled around Kakashi and closed in on Chiya.

One of them flashed forward, his short blade stabbing straight at Chiya's throat.

Chiya jerked backward. The blade grazed his chin, bringing a sting of pain. His hands formed seals, and chakra rolled through his throat.

"Meteor Release, Lava Bullet!"

A crimson stone bullet shot out with a whoosh.

The man twisted aside to evade it. The stone bullet slammed into the wall, exploding into a shower of sparks. Before Chiya could catch his breath, another man closed in from the right and struck toward his shoulder with an open palm.

Chiya's Sharingan spun rapidly, catching the subtle flow of chakra in the man's palm.

A sealing technique.

He stomped down and retreated.

Bang!

The palm missed and struck a stone pillar. Black curse markings immediately crawled across its surface.

A chill ran down Chiya's back.

They really had come for him.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

The moment he called out, Kakashi tried to rush over. But the five men immediately pressed forward, forcibly blocking off his path.

Kakashi's gaze turned completely grim.

"Who are you?"

No one answered.

The next instant, the people surrounding Chiya moved again.

Ino had already risen from her seat. Her face was still pale, and her legs were still a little weak, but when she saw Chiya surrounded by several people, she braced herself against the railing and took a step forward.

Chiya caught sight of her movement from the corner of his eye, and his heart tightened violently.

Don't come over.

Whatever you do, don't come over.

But Ino did not stop at all.

She clearly had not fully recovered from the genjutsu. Her steps were unsteady, yet her eyes remained fixed on him.

Chiya gritted his teeth.

He could not let her get close.

He suddenly turned and charged toward the breach on the outer side of the venue.

"Chiya!"

Kakashi immediately called out.

Chiya did not turn back.

The people attacking him paused for an instant, then all pursued him.

Just as expected.

Their target had been him from beginning to end.

Ino watched Chiya rush out of the venue, her entire body going rigid.

Kakashi realized it at the same instant, and his expression turned ugly.

"This is bad."

Just as he was about to move, the five enemies before him formed hand seals at the same time.

Wind blades swept across the area, an earth wall rose from the ground, and two short blades slashed at his vital points from both sides. Kakashi was forced to stop. He blocked three strikes in a row with his kunai, his gaze as cold as ice.

"Get out of my way."

The only response was an even denser barrage of attacks.

Chiya had already rushed into the corridor outside the venue.

It was much quieter here than inside, with only distant explosions ringing out in waves. The walls trembled, and dust sifted down continuously.

He ran fast.

The footsteps behind him were fast as well.

As he rounded the first corner, two people suddenly dropped down ahead of him, blocking the corridor.

The pursuers behind him stopped as well.

Seven people in total, front and back.

Chiya slowly let out a breath, his Sharingan locked firmly on their hands.

"You're really willing to spend this much effort on a single genin."

The man at the front finally spoke.

"Don't hold back."

His voice was hoarse.

"He won't die. Hit him with everything you've got."

The next moment, all seven moved at once.

Chiya formed hand seals with one hand and stomped hard on the ground.

"Earth Release, Earth Flow Spears!"

Boom!

Sharp earth spikes burst from the ground, forcing the two men ahead to leap into the air.

Chiya immediately changed seals.

"Meteor Release!"

The tips of the earth spikes instantly glowed red, and a wave of scorching heat blasted outward. The man in midair changed expression slightly, slapping the wall to forcibly redirect himself and narrowly avoid the attack.

But the other man had already come at him from the side.

Chiya twisted sharply and punched the man's wrist.

Crack!

The man's wrist let out a crisp snap, and his short blade fell from his grasp.

Just as Chiya was about to follow up with a kick, pain suddenly exploded in his back.

Squelch.

A blade stabbed into his lower back.