Half a month after the Chunin Ninja Exams ended, Kikyo Castle.
It was a full moon. Gaara sat on a rooftop, gazing at the moon with bloodlust gleaming in his eyes. "Sasuke Uchiha, Kira Hongshi, I really want to kill you. I wonder what it'll look like when your blood splatters everywhere."
Temari and Kankuro watched Gaara from the tower opposite, their expressions fearful. "Whenever there's a full moon, that thing inside Gaara starts stirring. It's terrifying."
Just then-
"Good grief, what a headache. Don't you ever rest?"
Hearing someone speak below, Gaara slowly looked over. It was Dosu Kinuta from Otogakure, staring at him with murderous intent.
Gaara said coldly, "You... you're that guy from Otogakure, aren't you?"
There was no telling what expression lay beneath Dosu Kinuta's bandages. "Hehehe, I was planning to wait until you fell asleep before making my move. But since you aren't resting, let's settle this right here."
"Do you want to die that badly?"
Dosu Kinuta raised his wrist guard, sending sonic vibrations out of it. "I've already figured out exactly how you attack with sand. As long as I kill you here, that lord will give me even greater power and a chance to kill that bastard Sasuke."
Dosu Kinuta still couldn't let go of being defeated in an instant by Team 7. Orochimaru had promised to give him the Cursed Seal of Heaven if he killed Gaara.
"..."
Dosu Kinuta said, "I already know exactly how you attack with sand. Let's see which is faster-your sand or my sound!"
Gaara's body shuddered, and he clutched his forehead. "Good grief. Whenever there's a full moon, his blood starts boiling..."
Under the moonlight, a massive shadow gradually engulfed Dosu Kinuta, leaving him frozen in shock. "You! What! What kind of monster are you?!"
Boom!...
Shukaku's enormous arm smashed Dosu Kinuta straight into a pulp. Gaara watched the dripping blood and severed limbs, still unsatisfied. "Tch, it's not enough!"
In the tower opposite, Baki and Kabuto had watched the entire scene.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "Incredible. I never imagined this was his true form!"
Baki asked, "Is this really all right? That guy was from Otogakure."
Kabuto chuckled. "Hehe, it's fine. He's no use anymore. And here I thought he'd be the perfect choice for observing Sasuke's strength."
On a nearby wall, Gekko Hayate concealed himself with Transparent Release. Listening to Kabuto and Baki's conversation, he thought, Why is he with someone from Sunagakure?
Kabuto smiled. "The order to seize Sasuke was issued long ago. I simply failed to get him. Besides, they've already discovered that I'm a spy from Otogakure."
Baki looked somewhat surprised. "Oh? If Konoha finds out you and I were here, won't the plan to destroy Konoha go up in smoke? Some right-hand man of Orochimaru you are, getting exposed by Konoha and still daring to come see me. How foolish."
Kabuto shook his head. "No, to be precise, I deliberately let them discover me. After all, that Genin named Hongshi had already discovered my identity. There was no point in hiding anymore."
Baki said, "Hongshi? You mean that bald, dark, muscular guy? Wasn't he eliminated in the preliminaries? Why didn't you just kill him?"
Hongshi, who was currently gliding over the sea, sneezed...
Kabuto smiled. "Kill him? No, no, no. Lord Orochimaru has also listed him as a target to seize. There are four targets in total."
Baki said, "Fine. That Hongshi fellow looks so stupid. He should be easy to get, right?"
Kabuto said, "In any case, I wanted to use this opportunity to test Konoha's reaction. Lord Orochimaru is determined to get Sasuke and Hongshi."
Baki said, "If you fail, we'll pull out immediately. This is your Sound Ninja's plan, after all! Sunagakure can't take the lead. Those were Lord Kazekage's instructions."
Kabuto took out a scroll and tossed it to Baki. "Here are the battle plans. It's time to tell them about the plan. Gaara should be very excited! Well, see you."
Baki caught the scroll. "Understood."
Kabuto seemed to remember something, glancing toward Gekko Hayate's hiding place out of the corner of his eye. "Oh, right. Leave the cleanup to me. I'd like to see what sort of person has already started taking action."
Baki was unconcerned. "Leave it to me instead. Since we're allies, Sunagakure should do its part too. Besides, only one rat showed up. This'll be easy!"
A chill ran down Gekko Hayate's spine when he heard that. Damn it, I've been spotted! I never thought Sunagakure would join forces with Orochimaru. I have to notify Lord Hokage immediately!
Gekko Hayate and Baki vanished into afterimages.
Kabuto watched Gaara laughing wildly. "A Jinchūriki. What a perfect test subject. What a pity, what a pity."
Gekko Hayate and Baki clashed. Baki dodged several shuriken. "Well, if it isn't the esteemed chief examiner. Your complexion looks much better."
Gekko Hayate no longer looked as sickly as he had during the Chunin Ninja Exams. After Hongshi had demonstrated his extremely powerful Medical Ninjutsu back then, Hayate had asked him for treatment as well. To his surprise, it had completely cured his longstanding illness and restored his health.
Baki continued, "Still, there's a difference even between Jonin. Come on, show me what you've got."
"No other choice!" Gekko Hayate drew the katana from his back, looking exceptionally mysterious in the moonlight. "Shadow Clone: Konoha-Style, Dance of the Nine Crescent Moons!"
Pop! Pop! With his chronic illness cured, Gekko Hayate's chakra reserves had returned to normal as well, allowing him to use his strongest technique.
Each of the three shadow clones split into three more and charged at Baki. Nine flashes of sword light sealed off every escape route. "Not bad! Wind Release: Turbulent Wind Technique!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Baki was a bona fide Jonin. The strength he had honed in the harsh environment of the Land of Wind was naturally considerably greater than Gekko Hayate's. Turbulent winds rose around him, wind blades mixed within them, seeking to disperse Gekko Hayate's shadow clones.
Yet six of the nine figures vanished. The three shadow clones held their katanas sideways and changed their attack. "Secret Sword: Moon Shadow!"
Like moon shadows, three flashes of sword light swept past Baki and struck him, spilling blood onto the ground.
With the strike successful, the shadow clones vanished.
But then Gekko Hayate discovered that he couldn't move his katana. Baki had gripped it tightly with his bare hands, holding it immobile.
Baki looked at Gekko Hayate. "Hehehe, the Konoha-Style Dance of the Crescent Moon and Secret Sword: Moon Shadow. To know these techniques at such a young age-Konoha really is full of hidden talents!"
Damn it! I can't pull the sword out!
Baki held the katana in a death grip. "Sharp swordsmanship, but there's nothing strange about being able to block a tangible blade like this. An intangible Wind Blade, though-how will you block that?"
A powerful whirlwind formed at Baki's fingertips. "Goodbye, young man. Wind Release: Wind Blade!"
A barrage of wind blades shot out at nearly point-blank range, slicing into Gekko Hayate's body.
Not good! Gekko Hayate pulled out a smoke bomb and smashed it onto the ground.
When the smoke cleared, only an arm, a lower leg, and a large amount of blood remained where Gekko Hayate had stood.
"Tch! He escaped?" Baki looked at the severed limbs.
Kabuto approached from behind. "What happened?"
Baki threw the katana to the ground and took out bandages to wrap his wounds. "Hmph, Konoha's ninja really are crafty. But with injuries that severe, he won't get far."
Kabuto said, "Good."
With that, the two left the rooftop.
In the forest outside Kikyo Castle, Gekko Hayate's figure gradually appeared as he released Transparent Release. Pale-faced, he leaned beneath a tree, struggling to breathe. More than twenty wounds of varying sizes covered his body, blood flowing freely. He stared blankly at the moon in the sky. "D-damn it."
With that, he lost consciousness.
Just then, a Four Symbols Seal formula appeared on his chest. The formula unraveled, spreading throughout his body before glowing blue. His wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Whoosh.
Hongshi appeared. "Hmm, his life is saved. But I can't let you ruin Orochimaru's plan yet. He still has something I need."
With that, he pressed a hand against Gekko Hayate's head. A strand of chakra sealed his mind, temporarily rendering him unconscious.