"Let the match begin!"
Sasuke attacked first, moving as fast as lightning with Taijutsu he had copied from Rock Lee!
He would use this battle to prove that he was the strongest rookie!
Gaara stood where he was, letting his sand defend him automatically.
They exchanged several moves in quick succession. With his advantage in speed, Sasuke seemed to gain a slight upper hand.
Just then, Gaara suddenly spoke, his hoarse voice tinged with indifference:
"Sasuke Uchiha... you really have gotten faster, but..."
He turned his green eyes toward Sasuke, as though stating a fact:
"You're not as strong as that ninja named Ye Chuan."
"What did you say?!"
Sasuke's movements abruptly stalled, and anger instantly flooded his face!
Intense jealousy and rage sent Sasuke's aura surging as he prepared to unleash the trump card he had spent a month practicing.
But then, something unexpected happened!
Without warning, countless pure white feathers drifted down from the sky like dreamlike snowflakes.
At the same time, a powerful surge of Chakra instantly enveloped the entire arena!
"This is... Genjutsu?!" The Jonin in the stands blanched!
The moment they came into contact with the feathers, the vast majority of the weaker spectators and Genin in the arena felt their eyelids grow heavy and fell asleep!
"Oh no!" Kurenai Yuhi reacted instantly, trying to use a technique to alert her team.
But it was already too late.
Kabuto Yakushi, the spy who had long been hiding somewhere in the arena, finally gave the signal!
The Konoha Crush Plan had officially begun!
Boom! Boom!
In the stands, Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, suddenly struck and took the Third Hokage hostage. The Sound and Sand ninja lying in ambush nearby revealed themselves at the same time.
"Gaara! We're leaving!"
Temari and Kankuro immediately rushed to Gaara's side.
Gaara had been injured by Ye Chuan during the second exam, and Shukaku inside him was already extremely unstable. This was clearly no time to fight.
The three immediately took advantage of the chaos to make a swift retreat.
Near the contestants' waiting area.
"Release!"
Hinata gave a low shout, forcibly breaking free of the Genjutsu's effects with mental strength far beyond that of an ordinary Genin.
As she looked at the chaos around her, she remembered Ye Chuan's earlier warning to watch out for anything unexpected, and her face went pale.
She immediately activated her Byakugan and searched the chaotic crowd.
"Hanabi!"
Her younger sister, Hanabi Hyuga, had come to watch the matches today too!
Just as chaos engulfed the exam venue, the large force of Sunagakure and Otogakure ninja that had long been hiding outside Konoha also received the signal to move.
They charged toward the village's outer defensive lines, preparing to coordinate the attack from outside and tear Konoha apart completely. Their ranks included plenty of experienced Chunin, with a few Jonin leading them.
To them, breaking through the outer defenses and storming into the village to sow chaos was only a matter of time.
Yet just before they reached the first defensive line, they all discovered to their astonishment that a figure was standing quietly in their path, having appeared at some unknown point.
He was a handsome, black-haired boy who looked only twelve or thirteen, holding a pure white katana, his eyes as calm as a deep pool.
One person? A kid?
The Sand and Sound ninja froze for a moment, then cruel smiles spread across many of their faces.
"Where did this brat come from? Does he want to die?"
"Kill him! Don't let him get in the way!"
"Quick! Charge through!"
The ninja at the very front did not even take the lone boy seriously, their Kunai and swords gleaming coldly.
But just as they were about to reach him, Ye Chuan moved.
His figure vanished from the spot in an instant like a bolt of black lightning!
[Soru]!
The ultrafast movement technique, which combined the Body Flicker Technique with [Soru] from the Six Powers, brought his speed to a level the naked eye could barely follow!
The next moment, he plunged straight into the enemy ranks like a phantom!
Clang!
Wado Ichimonji left its sheath, its brilliant blade sweeping gracefully through the chaotic crowd like the scythe of death!
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Fast! Too fast!
The Sand and Sound ninja charging at the very front did not even have time to react before they felt a chill at their throats, and their consciousness instantly plunged into darkness.
Ye Chuan darted through the enemy ranks like a butterfly weaving among flowers.
His Observation Haki had already mapped every nearby enemy's position, and even their intent to attack, clearly in his mind!
Every dodge was exquisitely timed, and every stroke was unerringly precise!
He used no flashy Ninjutsu, nor did he unleash wide-ranging sword energy.
He simply did what was most efficient-cutting them down!
Coated in his nascent Armament Haki, Wado Ichimonji was sharper than imagination, easily slicing through ninja armor and severing bones.
In just a few breaths, the dozen or so ninja at the front had fallen into pools of blood like harvested wheat.
Only then did the main force of Sand and Sound ninja following behind stop in horror, staring fearfully at the black-haired boy who seemed like a god of slaughter!
"Wh-who is this guy?!"
"He's so strong! He killed so many of us in an instant!"
"Since when did Konoha have a monster like this?!"
The Jonin leading the Sand ninja looked grim. He realized that this mysterious boy's strength far exceeded their estimates. If they relied on ordinary ninja charging him, he would probably slaughter every last one of them single-handedly!
"We can't wait any longer! Summoning Technique!"
The Sand Jonin made a snap decision, rapidly forming hand seals before slamming his hands onto the ground!
Poof!
A massive cloud of smoke shot into the sky!
As the smoke cleared, a gigantic three-headed python the size of a small mountain appeared on the battlefield!
Its enormous body barreled straight toward Konoha's wall, attempting to force its way through the defenses.
"A giant summoned snake? Trying to use that to open a breach?"
Ye Chuan looked up at the rampaging three-headed serpent, his eyes still calm.
"Summoning Technique!"
A bold shout rang out from the direction of Konoha's wall!
Another, even larger cloud of smoke burst forth!
The red Gamabunta made an imposing entrance, every bit as large as the giant serpent.
And standing atop his head was the white-haired Pervy Sage!
"Yo-ho-ho! Quite a lively scene! Someone actually dares to run wild on my turf!"
Gamabunta sat straight down on the giant serpent, instantly pinning it beneath his enormous weight!
Ye Chuan glanced over and hesitated no longer.
He drew a deep breath and poured Armament Haki into Wado Ichimonji!
The blade seemed to give a faint hum!
The next moment, he swung his sword fiercely, unleashing a full-force slash toward the rampaging giant serpent!
Shhhk-!!!
An immense slashing wave instantly flew from the blade and swept outward!
The slashing wave moved at an incredible speed, tearing through the air in its path with an ear-piercing shriek!
Before the giant serpent could even react-
Slash! Slash!
Its enormous heads were all cleanly severed by the immense slashing wave, like butter beneath a hot knife!
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