The One-Tail, Shukaku, slowly rose into the air, his appearance utterly ferocious.
The tailed beast grew larger within the arena, his colossal body crushing the entire fighting platform in an instant.
The shadow he cast shrouded half the venue.
As though he were finally comfortable.
Shukaku threw back his head and roared, savage killing intent erupting without end!
In the stands, Hiruzen Sarutobi kept his wits about him. He had been about to turn toward the Fourth Kazekage beside him to see what sort of answer the man intended to give him.
The next second, his pupils shook violently.
As the Kazekage's hat came off, the face that had belonged to Rasa actually began changing without a sound.
In an instant, it became Orochimaru's face.
Orochimaru watched the roaring Shukaku below with some excitement, then smugly turned to look at the Third.
"Teacher Sarutobi, long time no see."
"You never expected it to be me, did you?"
"Orochimaru...!"
At Hiruzen Sarutobi's furious roar, every ninja in the stands turned their gaze toward them.
And they all saw him.
In the Kazekage's seat, wearing the Kazekage's robes-
Orochimaru...
Temari and Kankuro both froze in the stands.
What on earth was going on? Why had Lord Kazekage suddenly turned into this unfamiliar ninja?
Baki-sensei had disappeared too...
Just what was happening...?
Naruto clutched the back of the seat in front of him.
"The Kazekage... is Orochimaru?!"
"That Orochimaru?!"
Sasuke had already activated his Sharingan, his scarlet eyes fixed on that pale, sinister face on the raised platform.
Sakura instinctively looked toward the arena-
Amid the dust-shrouded rubble, that red-haired figure still stood there.
But time would not wait for everyone to think.
Below the stands, Shukaku had already begun to rampage!
He let out an eardrum-shattering roar, his thick, massive tail sweeping