"Don't pull it out!"
Neji pressed his hand against the Communication Talisman, the vein patterns of his Byakugan spreading across the corners of his eyes. He stared at the inconspicuous stone slab beneath the VIP seats, forcibly stopping the foot he had been about to surge forward on.
"That Sealing Spike isn't the detonation point. It's changing the core flow of the Four Violet Flames Formation. A fifth person is hiding in the shadow of the formation's anchor point, with no normal chakra fluctuations."
Kakashi had already lifted his forehead protector, the Mangekyo in his left eye spinning, but he did not immediately lower his hand.
"Sasuke, there are Explosive Tags in the core. Pull out the wrong spike, and the VIP seats will blow up along with the Third Hokage."
Fugaku held the hilt of his blade, his expression frighteningly grim.
"Clan leader, give the order."
Sasuke did not look at Fugaku. He merely smoothed the collar he had just straightened, his gaze falling on the purple wall of fire.
"Neji, report the location."
Neji kept his fingertips against the Communication Talisman, transmitting his low voice into the ears of every ninja in the Konoha Military Police Force.
"Northwest corner of the VIP seats, behind the third load-bearing pillar, half a foot beneath the floor tiles. A black spike is embedded in the formation's focal point, with a stack of linked Explosive Tags beside it."
Orochimaru raised his head inside the barrier, amusement appearing on his pale face.
"Teacher, it seems even the children in your village are better at making trouble than you are."
The Third Hokage's expression was ugly. He was just about to form hand seals when the purple wall of fire forced him back to his original position.
"Orochimaru, just how much preparation did you