Time flies, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
At this time, Konoha was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the village Chunin began to receive daimyo and wealthy merchants from all over the Ninja World.
The location of the third session of the Konoha Chunin Ninja Exams.
" Sasuke-kun, Naruto, you must win this match! Go for it!"
Sakura cheered loudly for the two of them, but behind her came a sound of someone covering their mouth and giggling.
"Yeah, once you two win, you'll most likely become Chunin and lead other teams on missions. Then this poor guy with the wide forehead will be all alone."
A familiar voice came from behind. Sakura's lips twitched, and she turned around to glare at the voice.
"What did you say, Ino!"
"Huh? Want to fight, you broad forehead!"
The two stared at each other, but Sasuke paid no attention. His dark eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for Uchiha Itachi who might appear.
"Don't be impatient. If what Orochimaru said is true, it definitely won't start before the Chunin Ninja Exams."
Naruto murmured softly, Sasuke, forcing himself to calm down, remained silent. His right hand, usually exceptionally calm due to years of training, was trembling slightly, whether from fear or excitement.
As the sun slowly rose higher, Jiraiya sat in the audience seat when the Hokage reached the highest viewing platform, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
After looking around and watching the cheers gradually subside, Sarutobi Hiruzen his hand in invitation and then spoke.
"Today marks the day when Konoha and Sunagakure, our allied nation, join hands to Chunin Ninja Exams. I hope all contestants will demonstrate their sportsmanship..."
Before he could finish speaking, the Fourth Kazekage suddenly interrupted Sarutobi Hiruzen.
" The Third Hokage..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his head blankly and heard the Fourth Kazekage say something meaningful.
"At your age, it's time to consider candidates for the Fifth Hokage, otherwise it may be too late to appoint one."
Slightly startled, Sarutobi Hiruzen hearty laughter.
"This old man is still in excellent health; there's no need for me to start looking for a successor right now..."
"Is that so? That's a real shame. From now on, Konoha will probably be leaderless and fall into disarray!"
When these words were broadcast through the loudspeaker to the venue, Jiraiya in the audience immediately stood up, his face grim.
"Could it be...?"
Upon hearing this, many audience members couldn't help but shout and curse.
So what if he's the Fourth Kazekage? Daring to openly provoke him on Konoha's home turf, what's the difference between that and a declaration of war?
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's astonishment, the Fourth Kazekage smiled strangely, pulled the Smoke Bomb in his hand, and White Mist instantly burst forth, enveloping the entire audience.
The two guards beside the Fourth Kazekage suddenly split into four figures, each forming a hand Hand Seals.
"Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation!"
In an instant, four beams of light shot into the sky, separating the inside from the outside. Purple flames rippled and flowed, successfully dividing the high platform and the audience seating into two worlds.
" Fourth Kazekage, what is this...?"
Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's incredulous expression, the Fourth Kazekage lifted his robes, revealing a face that Sarutobi Hiruzen could not forget after many years.
" Teacher Sarutobi, you're really getting old. Even your senses have weakened to this extent. You can't even recognize a disciple you personally taught standing right in front of you?"
" Orochimaru... why did you replace the Fourth Kazekage? Could it be...?"
The speculation that surfaced in his mind stirred up a storm in Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart. Just as Orochimaru was about to speak, a familiar, long-lost voice came from beside him.
" Orochimaru, you've actually stooped so low! You want to kill your teacher with your own hands!"
Looking back, the sinister smile on his lips became even more pronounced.
"Heh, all these years have passed, and you haven't changed at all, Jiraiya."
Ignoring Jiraiya's furious expression, Orochimaru turned his head and focused his gaze on Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Although I really want to catch up with you after I kill Teacher Sarutobi with my own hands, and maybe even make you follow in his footsteps, it seems that your current opponent is not me."
As soon as he finished speaking, giant pythons attacked from outside Konoha. The symbols and Tomoe on them were clearly Orochimaru's doing.
At the same time, a small group of Anbu gathered in the audience. Upon seeing this, Kakashi silently lifted his Forehead Protector, and the Sharingan in his eye sockets rotated slightly.
"Kai, be careful. Besides the Otogakure ninjas, there's also troublesome chakra outside."
"No problem, we're in the prime of our youth now, let's see who can take down more opponents. The wager is all you can eat, Kakashi!"
He shook his head helplessly at Might Guy, who was full of youthful enthusiasm and casually added bets. Just as he was about to give a perfunctory reply, he noticed that a red shadow had appeared in the sky outside the village.
"That troublesome snake! Knowing I hate waiting, it still made me wait until now! Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets!"
Clapping clapping clapping...
Hundreds and thousands of puppets, like locusts, rushed into Konoha and began an indiscriminate massacre of all its members.
" Puppet Ninja? Sasori of the Red Sands, your organization has truly gone all out to officially attack Konoha, Orochimaru!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen angrily, but Orochimaru retorted sarcastically.
"What are you saying? All-out? This is only the beginning. Our battle will only begin after everyone is present. Look forward to it, Third Hokage!"
The next second, a cloud of White Mist rose on the distant horizon, and a huge bird descended from the sky, swooping down.
In a short while, the giant rhinoceros and wild bull that reappeared on the ground rubbed together, aimed at the distant Konoha, and raised their iron hooves.
Cursed by a vicious curse, the spirit dog, its soul forever imprisoned on iron nails, is entirely crimson and howls towards the sky.
A figure, perched atop a flying bird, landed mid-air on the high platform of the Chunin Ninja Exams venue. His pale purple eyes showed a hint of surprise, yet remained indifferent and cold, like ashes.
Outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, Jiraiya looked astonished, finding it hard to believe.
His right hand trembled slightly as he pointed to the Rinnegan peeking out from under the hood, finding it hard to believe.
"You... you are... Nagato!"
"It's been a long time, Jiraiya- sensei. I know you have many questions, but could you please make way for me so I can destroy this Konoha that killed Yahiko and Konan and took everything from me?"
In an instant, Jiraiya broke out in a cold sweat, and his words began to tremble.
"They took everything away, and killed Yahiko and Konan —what on earth happened?!"
"What happened? Danzo of Konoha probably knows the whole story better than I do."
"Now, understand pain, experience pain, endure pain, Banshō Ten'in."
A sudden whooshing sound came, Jiraiya dodged away, the spot where he had landed earlier already smashed into a huge hole.