Kankuro and Temari shouted under their breath, then forcibly dragged Gaara out of the Arena.
"Trying to leave?"
Seeing the three of them fleeing, Genma Shiranui flicked his wrist, sending three shuriken hurtling after them. But Baki, who had been ready all along, intercepted them with ease.
With his attack blocked, Genma Shiranui snorted and looked at Baki. "This is Konoha's home base. Do you really think you can deliberately tear up our alliance and get out alive?"
"What the hell is going on?" Sasuke's scalp prickled. The match had been going perfectly normally, so why had jonin suddenly joined the fight?
"Heh. Konoha's home turf?" Baki sneered. "Take a look around."
Sasuke looked up and scanned his surroundings, only to discover in shock that many of the ninja and civilians watching had lowered their heads as though they had fallen asleep.
"A large-scale genjutsu?" After surveying the surroundings, Genma Shiranui immediately frowned and addressed Sasuke. "Sasuke, I have a mission for you. Pursue the fleeing Sand shinobi. Once the village's jonin have their hands free, they'll send backup after you. Remember, don't let a single Sand shinobi leave Konoha."
"Hmph. My fight with him isn't over yet. I can't let them run away like this."
Sasuke nodded, then looked up toward where Naruto had been earlier. "I told him I'd defeat Gaara head-on."
"Go!"
At Genma Shiranui's sharp command, Sasuke immediately surged forward and scaled the Rock Wall, which stood dozens of meters high.
"You're not leaving alive!"
Seeing Sasuke pursue the wounded Gaara and his companions alone, Baki hurled a barrage of shuriken the instant Sasuke broke through.
Clang, clang, clang...
After intercepting Baki's shuriken, Genma Shiranui said calmly, "Your opponent is me."
In the Spectator Stand, Naruto lay beside Shikamaru with his eyes closed.
*Has the battle