They were all spectators

"Rumble..."

Was someone attacking Konoha?!

Deafening explosions kept ringing out. Smoke, flames, and lightning rising into the sky jolted all of Konohagakure awake.

Civilians and ninja stared toward the explosions in terror.

"What's happening?"

"Run!"

"Enemies are attacking..."

"An explosion? What exploded...?"

"Enemies! Where are the enemies?"

In an instant, all of Konohagakure descended into panic. Apart from a handful of well-trained ninja, everyone else was in utter chaos.

Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi, who had been out shopping on a date, exchanged shocked looks before immediately running toward the explosions.

"It might not be an enemy!"

"Guy was heading that way just now. If there were enemies, he would have said something already."

"Isn't Training Ground 19 over there? But if it's our own people, why is there such a commotion?"

"Who the hell knows!"

Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi picked up speed as they rushed toward Training Ground 19.

Meanwhile, all of Konohagakure stirred. Some ninja came to their senses and followed them.

"Bastards! Those two bastards!"

Inside the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi trembled with anger. He slammed his palm onto the desk, knocking all the documents on it to the floor.

"Someone, go reassure the villagers immediately."

"Notify the ninja that this isn't a war!"

"Have the ninja maintain order first. No panicking!"

"Send someone to explain things at the convalescent home for the Daimyo and nobles immediately, too!"

"Yes!"

Feeling a headache coming on, Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his head. At his age, he really did feel his energy flagging.

"Even if they're sparring, there's no need to go this far!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi made up his mind. Once this was over, Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake would be in for it.

If you have so much energy, put it into proper work, you two bastards!

Outside Training Ground 19.

ANBU members arrived in time and stopped a large number of ninja after briefly explaining the situation. Then they relayed Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders, telling everyone to turn back and reassure the villagers.

Only a few ninja were allowed into the training ground.

"Hiss..."

"Even if it's a sparring match, there's no need to take it this far."

With a cigarette between his lips, Asuma Sarutobi pulled Kurenai Yuhi into the training ground. The sight inside left him so stunned he could barely speak.

The instant his mouth fell open, his cigarette dropped.

"This is sparring? Isn't this a fight to the death?"

Kurenai Yuhi was also too shocked to close her mouth. Even for experienced jonin, the scene before them was staggering.

Inside Training Ground 19, smoke and dust gradually dispersed in every direction, but the burning flames and occasional flashes of lightning were still unleashing tremendous power.

The once-level training ground was now riddled with craters. The boulders, trees, and streams that had originally made up the landscape had been almost completely destroyed.

The training ground was thoroughly ruined. Without extensive repairs, it could never be used again.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio, led by Shikaku Nara, also arrived at the scene, clicking their tongues at the devastation around them.

"Honestly, did none of those three think about the cleanup...?"

Shikaku Nara looked thoroughly put out. They were all jonin of Konohagakure, yet they had no sense of responsibility whatsoever.

Inoichi Yamanaka surveyed the surrounding wreckage, somewhat puzzled. "Why did those three suddenly decide to spar? Kakashi is usually very levelheaded. Naraku is calm and attentive, too. Only Guy gets overly excited and hot-blooded."

"Hahaha..." The chubby Choza Akimichi smiled. "There must be a reason. We're all comrades. If a friend invites you to spar, it's hard to refuse."

Although ninja of the Akimichi Clan all seemed to be tall and powerfully built, they had surprisingly sensitive and kind personalities.

"That's true, but..."

They had gone a little overboard, but since it was a sparring match, it was no great matter, so Shikaku Nara did not dwell on it.

What concerned him was something else. On his way here, he had seen the chaos in Konoha, and it genuinely worried him.

A long peace was a good thing, but they could not forget that the Shinobi World was still fraught with danger. If this really had been an enemy attack, Konoha would have suffered devastating losses.

So, privately, he had already begun considering reporting this matter to Hiruzen Sarutobi afterward.

"Whoosh!"

Hyuga Hiashi, head of the Hyuga Clan, arrived at the training ground. As clan head, he had needed to make arrangements for his clansmen, which had delayed him somewhat.

As soon as he arrived, he spotted Naruto Uzumaki and the others crawling out of the woods nearby, looking thoroughly bedraggled.

Neji Hyuga was among them, though he appeared to be fine.

Hyuga Hiashi wanted to go over and check on him, but Neji deliberately turned away, making his desire for distance obvious. All Hiashi could do was sigh and give up.

"Truly terrifying!"

Surveying the surrounding ruins, Hyuga Hiashi shuddered as well. Damage on this scale was already beyond what a jonin could accomplish!

Which of those three-Shihōin Naraku, Kakashi Hatake, or Might Guy-had surpassed the limits of a jonin?!

As everyone surveyed the training ground, now reduced to shattered ruins, another series of booms suddenly rang out from within.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Thunderous sounds kept coming from deep inside the training ground. The flames burned even more fiercely, accompanied by violent collisions, and the ground began shaking again.

"What's happening?"

"No way. After all this, they're still not done fighting?"

"Those guys really are going to get a scolding!"

Every jonin present turned toward Hyuga Hiashi. Their meaning was clear: he could see far, so he could relay what was happening.

"Byakugan!!!"

Veins bulged around his eyes as Hyuga Hiashi looked into the training ground. His Byakugan instantly spanned the vast distance, revealing the three men fighting amid flames, smoke, dust, and lightning.

"They're at the very back! The fight isn't over yet!"

"Yes, Shihōin Naraku, Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy. That's right, the three of them are still fighting!"

Everyone was speechless. They still weren't done?

Never mind the others-how had Kakashi Hatake lasted this long with his chakra reserves?

Deep inside the training ground.

Three figures darted about, fists and feet flying. Their intertwined forms occasionally erupted with explosive bursts of flame.

"Thud!"

Kakashi Hatake took a punch to the kidney. He sucked in a sharp breath as his entire body went flying.

"Hah!"

Shihōin Naraku had exhausted the force of his strike and had yet to muster more, his fist still extended, when he sensed a kick coming from the side. Even before it connected, its ferocious force was already upon him.

"Boom!"

Might Guy's full-force kick, wrapped in green energy, punched straight through Shihōin Naraku's body. But Might Guy felt no joy at landing the attack, because in the next instant, Naraku's pierced body began burning with flames. Before Guy could pull away, a merciless elbow slammed into him.

"Bam, bam, bam..."

Might Guy hurtled into the ground like a meteor. The earth split apart as an enormous crater blasted open!