The third match of the Chunin Ninja Exams featured Rock Lee from Konoha against Sunagakure from Gaara.
Such a captivating match should have drawn everyone's attention, but in reality, no one was interested in the Chunin Ninja Exams anymore...
"The Art of Ninja· Manda Razo."
Orochimaru, sitting on the high platform, suddenly launched an attack. Countless venomous snakes slithered from the platform to the surrounding audience seats. The lively Chunin Ninja Exams scene instantly turned into chaos and disorder. Everyone wanted to escape as soon as possible, but the final result was severe crowding and trampling.
It should be noted that the audience, besides the Konoha, is mostly composed of nobles from various countries. For whatever reason, they should not be allowed to die in large numbers; at the very least, one or two should be left alive to prove Konoha's innocence.
Orochimaru had already achieved his goal: to use the lives of the nobles to draw the attention of the Jonin and Anbu, preventing them from providing immediate support to the Third Hokage.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was prepared, was speechless with shock. He had imagined that the Fourth Kazekage or the Mizukage, or even two Kage, would join forces against him, but the one thing he never thought of was that his disciple, Orochimaru, would infiltrate Konoha to assassinate him!
" Orochimaru..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips trembled a few times, but he ultimately couldn't utter a complete sentence.
Should I reprimand? Scold? Or should I appeal to their emotions and reason with them to reform this disciple who has gone astray?
But Orochimaru Hiruzen Sarutobi found himself powerless, just like over a decade ago when Root presented him with evidence of Orochimaru's human experimentation. He could do nothing but send out Anbu to capture Orochimaru, only to have his heart soften and let him go in Orochimaru end...
Mei Terumi, standing to the side, was completely shocked. When it comes to playing games, Konoha really knows how to play. She originally thought that the Fourth Kazekage only had similar goals to hers and that there might be a possibility of cooperation. However, she did not expect that the so-called Fourth Kazekage had already been replaced by Orochimaru, one of the Sannin Orochimaru!
However, this is a rare opportunity...
Mei Terumi was never a pedantic person. Since Konoha, the Konoha missing-nin Orochimaru, had already created an opportunity for her, she couldn't possibly refuse his kindness.
" Chōjūrō, Ao, begin the plan."
Chōjūrō and Ao, who were guarding Mei Terumi, took advantage of the chaos to approach the designated location. As long as they cooperated with the Kirigakure Ninja outside Konoha, they could unleash a large-scale Water Release Ninjutsu, using the rivers around Konoha to turn Konoha into the perfect battlefield for Water Release ninjas!
At that time, not only could they possibly destroy Konoha's leadership, but they might even have the chance to completely destroy Konoha's foundation!
As for the large number of ninja stationed in Konoha, Mei Terumi never considered this possibility. Iwagakure and Kumogakure were both putting pressure on Konoha from the border. Unless Konoha brought about its own destruction, they would not withdraw their forces back to Konoha.
The Land of Water and the Land of Fire are separated by the sea, making it impossible for them to arrive at the battlefield in advance. Therefore Mei Terumi only brought a portion of her elite forces and chose to infiltrate Konoha to carry out this dangerous mission.
" Orochimaru, it seems our goals align perfectly. Are you interested in cooperating?"
"Cooperation?" Orochimaru grinned maliciously, licking his lips, and ripped off the human skin mask belonging to the Fourth Kazekage.
"Where do you get the confidence to cooperate with me? And when did our goals align?"
Orochimaru's arrogant and domineering aura deeply intimidated the inexperienced Mei Terumi. She was ultimately too young, and there was an insurmountable gap between her and these seniors who had been famous for decades.
"Damn it!" Mei Terumi gritted her teeth. She admitted that she had underestimated Orochimaru's ambition, but the die was cast and the die was cast.
" Water Release · Water Shockwave."
Considering the master-disciple relationship between Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mei Terumi had no choice but to keep her distance first to avoid being attacked by the two of them.
Orochimaru clearly didn't want Mei Terumi to leave the battlefield; since she was a nuisance, he figured they might as well deal with her together!
"Ninja Technique· Four Violet Flames Formation."
The Sound Four — Tayuya, Jirobo, Sakon and Ukon, and Kidomaru —who had received the second form of the Cursed Seal in advance, stood in the four cardinal directions. A barrier burning with purple flames was set up, enveloping Mei Terumi was trying to leave the battlefield.
" Sealing Jutsu... Barrier!" Mei Terumi gritted her teeth. Things had taken an unexpected turn. Orochimaru or Hiruzen Sarutobi's preparations seemed a bit too thorough. Was this really not a trap aimed at her?
Mei Terumi was on high alert, things took another turn for the worse: Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi started fighting again!
" Teacher Sarutobi, you're getting old."
Orochimaru, wielding Kunai, displayed exquisite Taijutsu that made it quite difficult for Hiruzen Sarutobi to deal with, leaving a noticeable bloodstain on his gaunt old face.
" Lord Hokage!"
The Anbu, who had rescued many surviving nobles, finally realized what was happening and gathered outside the Four Violet Flames Formation. However, this seemingly fragile barrier prevented them from supporting Hiruzen Sarutobi's operation.
"It's useless, Old Man Third. Although the Four Violet Flames Formation is just a simplified version of the Four Red Yang Formation, it's almost impossible to break this barrier."
After observing for a few moments, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. Even inside the barrier, the caster was protected by the barrier itself, which meant that the only way to break the barrier was to destroy it head-on with absolute force!
" Orochimaru, it seems you've made up your mind. Then let this old man see how much you've improved in the last ten years."
Hiruzen Sarutobi ripped off his Hokage robe and threw off his Hokage hat, leaving him only in his black combat uniform. Clearly, Hiruzen Sarutobi had anticipated today's battle.
"Haha, that's right, this is the Teacher Sarutobi I know. Let me see how much strength Konoha's Professor of Ninjutsu still has left."
The conversation between the two—which resembled that of master and disciple, old friends, and even mortal enemies—completely confused Mei Terumi. However, she remembered that her only target was the Third Hokage!
The other high-ranking members of Konoha will be dealt with by the skilled members of the Kirigakure Anbu.
"Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone"
The shuriken raining down stirred a memory deep within Orochimaru's Shuriken: the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, seemingly the first Ninjutsu taught to them by the Old Man Third...
"But... Teacher Sarutobi, your reaction time is far too slow. Even if you were once Shinobi Hero, life truly is a ninja's greatest enemy. I really don't want to get old! Ninja Art: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru's tongue transformed into a venomous snake, its fangs gleaming with a dark green light, and it bit down on Hiruzen Sarutobi's neck, signifying the official start of this battle between master and disciple!