Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the chaotic spectator stands, then turned to regard the Kazekage coldly. "Well then, Kazekage, where is Orochimaru?"
The Kazekage shouted, "Begin!"
The two guards behind him took out two bamboo tubes and smashed them against the ground, releasing clouds of purple smoke. One charged straight toward Hongshi, who was still sleeping on the ground, while the other rushed toward Yuhan, who was still standing in the arena.
"Poison mist! Hmm?" Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a chill against his neck. At some point, the Kazekage had appeared behind him. "Oh! You're quite quick! But to think the Sand would betray Konoha."
The Kazekage said, "Hehehe. Treaties are nothing but a smokescreen to lull your opponents into complacency. This boring game ends here. The wheels of fate have begun to turn."
Hongshi said, "(͡°͜ʖ͡°)✧ Someone's swearing."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Are you trying to start a war?"
The Kazekage said, "That's right."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "Lord Kazekage, we should avoid armed conflict and resolve our problems through peace talks. It's not too late."
The Kazekage said, "Hehehe, have you grown dull in your old age, Teacher Sarutobi?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi showed no surprise. "Hehehe, so it really is you, Orochimaru. What a pity."
In the arena, Yuhan and Genma Shiranui stood together.
Yuhan controlled the water figures, having them carry Hinata and Kiba over to him.
Genma Shiranui said, "Take those two to the hospital. It's too dangerous here!"
Yuhan said, "Someone's coming."
"Dee dee dee da dee..."
Lord God said, "∑(❍ฺд❍ฺlll) Bro, that's what your flute sounds like?"
The Sand Ninja guard released her Transformation Technique, revealing herself as Tayuya of the Sound Five. Holding a flute, she played an unfamiliar melody that had the power to captivate the soul.
"What! Genjutsu!" Genma Shiranui had intended to use ninjutsu to stop her, but his limbs went numb, leaving him unable to move.
"Thud!" Tayuya landed before the two, kicked Genma Shiranui away, grabbed Yuhan beside him, and leaped back toward the Hokage's viewing platform.
"Damn it!" His body still numb, Genma Shiranui spat out a mouthful of blood and stared after Tayuya. "What are they trying to do!"
The spectator stands.
Sakon and Ukon were the ones leaping toward Sakura and Hongshi. Sakura punched a Sound Ninja away, only to feel a cold gust behind her. Gaara's Sand Shower was almost upon her.
"This is bad. It'll hurt the spectators!" Sakura pressed her palms together, intending to use Wood Release. "There's no time!!"
"Gentle Fist: Wind Release, Eight Trigrams Divine Wind Strike!"
Neji had already reached Tenten's side and thrust out his right hand. With his Byakugan, he naturally saw the changes unfolding around them. Combining Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm with wind release chakra, he unleashed a palm blast several times stronger, scattering every grain of sand in the Sand Shower. Then he saw Gaara and Temari charging toward them.
"Sakura, hurry up and release the genjutsu on this idiot!!" He pointed at Hongshi, who was at a thirty-degree angle to the ground, then unleashed Eight Trigrams Divine Wind Strike at Gaara and Temari again, knocking them down.
Hongshi said, "Zzzzz."
Sakura crouched and pressed her hand against Hongshi's head. "Ugh, it's all slippery. Gross. Release!"
Hongshi woke up, then waved his hand and slapped Sakura's hand away. "...Stop it. Let me sleep a little longer! Zzzz."
Sakura said, "∑(❍ฺд❍ฺlll) You idiot!! We're at war, and you're still sleeping!"
Hongshi said, "Zzzz..."
Hongshi showed no intention of waking up at all, and Sakura gave up too. "Sleep, sleep, sleep! Sleep yourself to death!"
"Sakura, watch out!" Through his Byakugan, Neji saw Sakon and Ukon rushing toward them. Predicting that their targets were Sakura and Hongshi, he immediately stepped in front of the two. "Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Rotation Palm!"
Bang!
Sakon and Ukon collided with the Rotation and were deflected to one side. "Tch! The Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist!"
Ukon said, "Hey, Sakon, we're short on time. Let's take this bald, muscular black guy over first."
Sakon said, "Tch, what a pain. Fine!"
The two threw down another smoke bomb and walked over to Hongshi. "Shit, why is this guy so heavy!"
Only by straining with all their might did the two manage to lift Hongshi, nearly resorting to the power of their Cursed Seal.
Sakon said, "Lord Orochimaru said this guy was strong. Who would've thought a D-rank genjutsu would take care of him?"
Ukon said, "He only has strong surface defenses. Genjutsu and Gentle Fist are both his weaknesses."
Hongshi pretended not to hear them. I'm immune to all genjutsu, okay? ╮(•́ω•̀)╭ Oh, except Izanami.
Sakon and Ukon likewise carried Hongshi back to where the Hokage was.
Neji saw Sakon and Ukon leaving through his Byakugan. "This is bad. They've taken Hongshi! After them!"
Hearing him, Sakura leaped up and gave chase.
"Wood Release girl! Where do you think you're going!"
But Sakura saw a wall of sand rise from below to block her path. She shattered it with a punch, but it still stopped her.
"Neji! You go after them!" After landing, Sakura stared at Gaara and Temari. "I'll handle things here!"
"All right! Be careful!" Neji stopped fighting, coated his feet in chakra, and shot off like a cannonball.
Hongshi woke up just then and gave Sakura a thumbs-up. "(͡°͜ʖ͡°)✧ Sakura! If you beat those two, I'll acknowledge your name as Konoha Cherry Blossom!"
Sakura said, "Don't worry... (งᵒ̌皿ᵒ̌)ง⁼³₌₃ If you're awake, why aren't you running away!!!"
Hongshi said, "Because I'm scared of heights. ╮(•́ω•̀)╭"
Sakura said, "That idiot!"
Gaara was already on the verge of madness. His body trembled, his killing intent almost tangible. "Konoha Cherry Blossom? Hehehe, I'll make your blood bloom like cherry blossoms."
Temari was somewhat wary of Gaara's frenzied state. "Gaara, are you really going to kill this woman?"
"Kill me?" Sakura tightened her gloves. "I'm going to send you flying!"
Lord God said, "(°ー°〃) Where did you learn that line!"
"Die!" Gaara spread his hands, and the sand behind him surged forward at tremendous speed, forming spikes.
Sakura formed the Boar seal with both hands. "I could easily beat you with Water Release, but I want to see which is stronger, Wood Release or Sand Release! Snake, Rat, Dog, Tiger. Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
"Thud, thud, thud..."
Rows of wooden stakes curved up from the ground, forming an arched wall that sheltered Sakura within.
"Boom, boom, boom." The sand struck the wooden wall, the tremendous force shaking cracks into it.
Sakura had only just learned Wood Release with Hongshi and the Three-Tails' help, yet it was already nearly as strong as steel. Her talent was truly exceptional.
"Hiding like a turtle!" Gaara taunted, condensing the sand in his hand into a spear as thick as an arm. "Temari! Use Wind Release!"
Temari opened her three-star fan. Although she was somewhat reluctant, she dared not disobey Gaara in his current state. "Wind Release: Sickle Weasel!"
"Whoosh!!!"
A fierce wind howled as Gaara hurled the sand spear in his hand.
Boom!
The Wood Locking Wall finally shattered under the combined attack, revealing Sakura beneath it with the sand spear driven straight through her chest.
Seeing his attack hit, Gaara laughed wildly and spread his arms. The sand spear piercing Sakura's chest dispersed and wrapped around her entire body. "Die! Bloom like cherry blossoms! Sand Binding Coffin!"
"Crack!" Sakura's body truly bloomed like cherry blossoms, her red blood its petals, her white bones its veins.
Yet Sakura, her body twisted, gave a slight smile. "Hehehe, you seem pretty pleased with yourself?"
"What!"