Naruto's squad

Naruto was dozing off when he suddenly saw feathers drifting down from the sky. Genjutsu? But why cast genjutsu? His questions were soon answered-a thunderous explosion shook the entire stadium, and ninja from Sunagakure and Otogakure flooded the arena.

"Shino, Shikamaru, we need to find our jonin teachers and ask what we should do next. And Shikamaru, quit pretending to be asleep. You can't fool me with that," Naruto said.

"What a pain you are, blondie... Fine. Looks like Sasuke's already gone after the three Sunagakure siblings. The teachers are in the stands next door. Let's get over there," Shikamaru replied listlessly.

When the two arrived, the jonin were locked in combat with the invading ninja. Naruto immediately stepped forward, catching Kakashi's attention.

"Kakashi-sensei, we're here. What do you want us to do?" Naruto asked.

"Go after Sasuke and help him deal with those Sunagakure genin." The one-eyed jonin blasted a hole in the wall so the genin could leave the stadium. "Sakura, go with them. Naruto, you'll lead the squad. If anything happens to him, I'll lend you my summoned animal to take command."

"Summoning Technique! Pakkun will follow his scent and lead you to him. If Naruto can't give orders, listen to mine." As Kakashi finished speaking, a small pug wearing a blue shirt appeared before them.

"Yo!" the little dog called. Sakura, who had never seen a talking summoned animal before, stared with wide eyes.

"Got it, Kakashi-sensei! But there's something you need to know about that red-haired kid," Naruto said.

"What is it?" the silver-haired jonin asked.

"He's the same kind of person I am." With those words, Naruto led the squad away, leaving a worried Kakashi staring through the hole at their retreating figures.

[Hokage's stands]

"Heh heh heh, Lord Hokage, look. The chaos of war-how wonderful it is." The Kazekage gave a cold chuckle.

"I cannot agree with you. War is the cruelest thing in this world. Lord Kazekage... or should I call you Orochimaru?" the old Hokage said, his voice heavy with sorrow. He had long since seen through his former student's actions.

"Oh? You've seen through me, Teacher Sarutobi." The Snake Ninja chuckled.

"Whatever it takes, your life ends here today. I won't make the same mistake again. I won't let you remain in this world," Hiruzen said firmly.

"No, Teacher. You're the one who will die here today, and your village will be reduced to scorched earth." Orochimaru sneered, then rapidly formed hand seals. "Summoning Technique: Impure World Reincarnation!"

Three coffins rose from the ground. Hashirama Senju stepped out of the first, and Tobirama Senju emerged from the second. But a barrage of kunai interrupted the third coffin, and it vanished before the summoning could be completed.

"Orochimaru, just how cruel and twisted are you, to use them like this?" the Third Hokage asked, his voice filled with anguish.

"Little monkey? Is that you?" the First Hokage asked.

"You've gotten so old, Monkey. Were you the one who summoned us here?" the Second Hokage asked.

"No, Teacher, I wasn't the one who summoned you. It was my student. He wants to destroy our village," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. Seeing his long-departed mentor and dear friend again filled him with both joy and sorrow-joy at being able to speak with them once more, and sorrow that they were about to be used against the village he protected.

Orochimaru inserted kunai inscribed with seals into the backs of the two former Hokage's heads. The light instantly faded from their eyes, and they assumed fighting stances.

"Summoning Technique: Monkey King Enma!" Hiruzen shouted, and a huge monkey appeared before the two Hokage.

"Hiruzen, what is going on? They..."

"That's right. Orochimaru is controlling them," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, finishing Enma's thought.

Enma instantly transformed into a massive Adamantine Staff, ready and waiting for the former Hokage to strike first. Before long, Hashirama finished forming hand seals, and a thick Wood Dragon charged straight at the Hokage holding the Adamantine Staff.

[The three Sunagakure siblings]

The three Sunagakure genin leaped swiftly through the forest, keenly aware that two groups were closing in fast behind them. The first, and closest, was Sasuke Uchiha. They weren't too worried about him; after all, they had a clear numerical advantage, three against one. But they could sense at least four or five people in the second group.

"What do we do? If we fight Uchiha here, the people behind him will catch up before we can finish him off. We have to split up and shake them," Temari reasoned calmly.

"I'll keep going. Uchiha is sure to follow me, which will give me the perfect chance to kill him." A twisted smile spread across Gaara's face. "You two hold off the squad behind him."

With that, his older brother and sister split off from him to intercept the squad farther back, Kankuro in front and Temari trailing a little behind.

[Naruto's squad]