Konoha Crush Plan 9

The atmosphere was tense in a forest clearing outside Konoha. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood in a triangular formation, watching the seemingly crazed Gaara intently.

To their surprise, however, Temari and Kankuro exchanged a glance, then took several steps back, putting some distance between themselves and Gaara.

They seemed to have no intention of joining the coming battle directly. Their eyes were filled with worry and a barely perceptible trace of fear.

"Gaara's almost completely out of control! Let's keep our distance for now," Temari told Kankuro quietly, tightening her grip on the Three-Star Fan.

Gaara showed no reaction to his siblings' retreat. The half of his face that had transformed into Shukaku was twisted grotesquely, drool spilling uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth. Nothing but pure bloodlust remained in his one human eye.

He suddenly let out an inhuman roar:

"Kill!!!"

His enormous Shukaku claw swung violently. Dozens of sharp, chakra-infused sand bullets formed in its palm in an instant and shot toward the three members of Team 7 in a dense barrage!

"Dodge!" Sasuke shouted sharply. All three reacted instantly, darting behind thick trees. Sand bullets hammered into the trunks with a staccato crackle, leaving deep holes.

With his back against a tree, Sasuke quickly made several complicated gestures to Naruto and Sakura. Their long-standing teamwork allowed them to understand immediately.

"Move!"

Sasuke gave a low shout and charged out first! The piercing cries of a thousand birds erupted from his right hand again. Dazzling lightning tore through the air as he shot straight toward Gaara in a streak of blue electricity!

"That move again?!" Gaara grinned savagely. His massive Shukaku claw reached fearlessly for the lightning, bearing down with enough force to crush everything in its path. "You think it'll still work? Die!"

Just as the