Chaos

The Shadow Clone sensed movement behind him and slowed his pace.

The Sand Shinobi and Stone shinobi both sped up, closing the distance.

Several Explosive Kunai appeared in the Shadow Clone's hand.

He pushed off the ground and leaped onto a tree, looking down at the approaching Stone shinobi and Sand Shinobi.

The Shadow Clone flicked both hands, sending the Explosive Kunai flying. They collided in the air, splitting into two groups.

One group shot toward the Sand Shinobi, the other toward the Stone shinobi behind them.

"Defend yourselves! Those Kunai have Explosive Tags attached!"

Several Sand Shinobi at the front hurled handfuls of Kunai at the incoming Explosive Kunai.

Clang!

Metal rang out in rapid succession. The Explosive Kunai detonated midair, sending shattered branches, fire, and smoke billowing outward until they obscured a vast stretch of sky.

At the rear, two Stone shinobi rushed forward and formed hand seals.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Two earthen walls rose in succession, shielding the Stone shinobi.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions rang out one after another. Cracks spread across the walls as dust rose. Fire and dirt from both volleys of Explosive Tags obscured most of the battlefield.

Fugaku Uchiha, who had been hidden among the crowd, struck first. "I've had enough of you Sand Shinobi! In the Land of Rain, you killed our Stone shinobi comrades for no reason. Today, I'll avenge them!"

Amid the chaos and poor visibility, Fugaku dispelled his Black Mist Invisibility and used the Transformation Technique to take the appearance of an ordinary-looking Stone shinobi.

The Stone shinobi exchanged bewildered looks. They had their grievances with the Sand Shinobi, of course.

But they had only just agreed to cooperate. Not even a day had passed, and someone had already torn up the agreement and attacked. It happened so